Manitoba Summer Activities for Kids
Fun Places for Young Children Just Outside Winnipeg City Limits
Jun 8, 2009
Sometimes during summer vacation it is easy to run out of ideas for things to keep kids busy. Maybe you feel like you need a short getaway or just a change of pace for the day. This is a good time to get the kids and head off to rural Manitoba. You decide if it should be a half or whole day excursion. Some great places are just outside the city limits.
Doing Chores the Pioneer Way
Just north of Winnipeg, a 32 km drive on Hwy 9, is the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada. From the start of July to the end of August you will find a different theme everyday of the week. Wednesday, Children’s Day, is definitely a hands on experience. Kids get to help with chores that will bring the 1850’s pioneer days to life for youngsters.
Exploring a Marsh
Just north of the city, roughly 23 km off Hwy 67 between Hwy 7 and Hwy 8, is Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. Activities like the frog, fish and butterfly surveys will help kids learn a little more about their environment as well as these creatures and their habits. You can also hike along trails, or visit the indoor centre that is full of hands on activities.
Water Slide and SplashPark
South of Winnipeg, about a 45 km drive, is the Steinbach Aquatic Centre in Steinbach, Manitoba. It is located on Park Road East just off Hwy 12. During summer there is an outdoor pool area open with a deck and splash park. Inside is a water slide smartly contained in its own space, while the lap and leisure pools are separate. The centre also has a large a hot tub and sauna.
The leisure pool offers graduated entry that is especially nice with small children. The play area has very shallow water as well as a variety of toys on hand. There are spraying fountains and gradually deepening water as you head to the lazy river at the other end of the pool. This place can get quite busy so you may want to contact the centre and purchase your tickets before heading out.
Day at the Park
Birds Hill Provincial Park is approximately 24 km north of Winnipeg. You can access it from going down Hwy 59 to the West gate or Hwy 206 to the East gate entrance. Entry is free until 2011. You can hike trails, ride bikes, swim, have a picnic, see turkeys and deer, and visit some goats or other small animals that sometimes live near Pine Ridge Hollow and the stables during summer.
These places are not too far from the city limits and definitely worth the effort to get there. Within a short time kids can be biking and hiking trails or pretending to be pioneers and seeing how early settlers lived. They could be exploring a marsh and learning about nature or splashing in a lazy river. These are some fun places and activities for summer days.
