Welcome to Winnipeg! We are happy you are here with Ben Kingsley filming your new movie, Nomis. Since you are visiting my fair city, I though I would give you some recommendations about what to do while you are here. Yes it is cold. Sometimes, it is colder than cold. The cold cannot really be described by using numbers, so here is a great infographic on how to tell the weather in Canada. Really, it’s the only forecast you will need.
Source The actual temperature doesn’t really matter.
We Winnipegers are a hardy bunch. Yes, the winter is brutal but we really wouldn’t have it any other way (no matter how much we complain about it). If our winters were any warmer then we would not be able to make fun of Toronto when they call in the Army to help them clear an inch or two of snow. Really. It happened. We, however, are not afraid of the ice and cold and choose to celebrate it instead – like during our winter Festival du Voyageur!
Some important things you need to know about the Festival du Voyageur.
It is a festival celebrating our Francophone roots – specifically the voyageurs who transported fur by canoe. It’s cold here so our animals are very furry.
To participate you must wear a flannel shirt, wear a red toque (that’s a wool hat in Canadian) and have a beard. We know you have that last one covered.
The drink of choice of voyageurs is Caribou – it is a delightful blend of red wine, whiskey and, the oh so Canadian, maple syrup and served in shot glasses made out of ice. Find it at the ice bar during the night time celebrations at the Festival site.
There are two rivers that meet at a grand location called The Forks. On these two rivers, there is the world’s longest naturally frozen skating trail (take that, Ottawa!). For real. It’s even in the Guinness Book of World Records. Forgot to pack your skates? No problem! Rentals are available.
#stackhouse ? #onlyinthepeg pic.twitter.com/ZVSQknwGD2
— ? Tyler Walsh ? (@walsht) February 11, 2017
Only Canadians would think a block of ice would be warming.
We have even provided warming huts along the way in case your balls start to freeze. I know that was a concern of yours.
If skating on the frozen river is not your thing, then perhaps fine dining on the river is! Yes, it’s a thing here. RAW:almond builds, from the ice up, a gourmet restaurant on the river every year. It’s the hottest ticket in town.
After traipsing around on the ice and snow, you might feel a bit chilled. So why not warm yourself at our Nordik spa, Thermea? Yes, a Nordic spa here in the middle of the frozen Canadian prairie. With three pools of different temperatures, saunas, heated hammocks and even a warmed napping room, you will find that all your body parts will have warm blood rushing to them in no time.
Winnipeg is also home to some of the niftiest little cafes like Parlour or Thom Bergan Coffee. Or gourmet doughnuts at Bronuts or Oh Doughnuts. You can even find hand made specialty chocolates in our French Quarter at Constance Popp.
Our little city has a lot to offer if you know where look and have the right tour guide.
