Where to stay

Follow the foodies to Winnipeg for its vibrant culinary scene. For high-quality coffee and tea, sweet treats, fancy cheese, and fine wine, stay in picturesque River Heights. If it's Cantonese and Szechwan cuisine you're craving, choose a hotel in historic Chinatown, close to the iconic Exchange District. Look for a room along Corydon Avenue, or "Little Italy," for patio dining and sangria sipping. Hotels in Osborne Village are an easy walk to more restaurants than you can count, and great live music for after dinner. Multicultural eateries are the norm in the West End; include the tastes of the city's many nations and cultures in your stay.

With its many live music venues, famed turn-of-the-19th-century architecture, and cultural landmarks, Downtown Winnipeg is the heart of the city. Stay here for proximity to the photographer-favorite dome at Union Station and the concerts and pro sports events (hockey, of course!) at Bell MTS Place. Also part of downtown, The Forks is the city's top tourist destination and home to several museums, including the architecturally impressive Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Look for a room in a national historic site, the Exchange District, with more than 150 heritage buildings in 20 square blocks. For more historical perspective, stay in St. James, one of the city's original districts.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of places to stay in and around Winnipeg. Consider accommodations in Fort Whyte, where active travelers can hike, bike, fish, canoe, ski, and explore local farms. Head out from your hotel room in residential East Kildonan to enjoy scenic walking and biking trails and vast green spaces. Stay by the river in South Osborne; in the winter, you can skate your way down the Red River Mutual Trail. Or, choose a room in Tuxedo, home to Assiniboine Park, which contains an English garden, a sculpture garden, zoo, and outdoor stage.