Manitoba sits in the middle of Canada, a farming province just above the American Midwest — and one that is considerably more exotic as a tourist destination than most travelers probably realize. At its far northern reaches, it is no longer a land of farmers. Just south of Churchill, which sits on Hudson Bay, is one of the world’s largest denning areas for polar bears.

Churchill and its environs are the world’s most accessible and habitable areas where polar bears live. By October and November, hundreds of the bears come to the coastline waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze so they can hunt seals. In summer, Churchill also is the place to be for spotting white beluga whales; thousands gather in the Churchill and Seal rivers.

The province is home to numerous groups of First Nations and is notable for its art galleries with extensive examples of Inuit art. There are opportunities to learn, through various hands-on experiences, about the life and customs of the province’s original inhabitants. Manitoba has great expanses of untouched wilderness. Many scenic places wait to be discovered, particularly the clear lakes and rivers which cover nearly a sixth of the province and offer a range of recreational opportunities. Winnipeg, the capital, energizes its surrounding area, and its visitors, with its cultural attractions, sports events and annual events such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The province is not well known to Americans but tends to appeal more to those on the venturer side of the personality spectrum. As is true for many northern locations, Manitoba gets most of its vacation visitors in warm weather months.

Swim and snorkel among the beluga whales in the Seal River estuary. During summer, see both belugas and polar bears at the Seal River Heritage Lodge.

Attend Winnipeg’s Theatre in the Cemetery, which is a guided tour through St. Boniface Cathedral’s cemetery. Led by actors in period costume, you’ll hear stories about local history while visiting gravesites of fascinating historical characters including the province’s founder, Louis Riel.

Participate with researchers as they study the lives of elk or the behavior of gray wolves. These are among the research adventures offered to visitors to the Riding Mountain National Park and Riding Mountain International Biosphere Reserve.

Fly to a remote lake to fish for a day.

Sea kayak on Lake Winnipegosis and Lake Manitoba, which are summer nesting sites for the American pelican and bald eagle. You can fish, too, for perch, pike and walleye.

Participate in a traditional native feast and a sweat lodge ceremony provided by the Bloodvein First Nation.

Attend the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival in the summer.

Spend a couple of days digging for fossils in the Pembina Hills. You will work alongside staff of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.

Travel across the province on a snowmobile.

Learn about traditions of life in the Arctic in a program offered by the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Sleep outside in an igloo or in a quinzhee you built yourself. Learn about making traditional clothing from skins, and ride a dog sled.

Depending on season, go hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowshoeing in the Riding Mountain National Park, and look for bear, elk and moose, even lynx or wolf, plus some of the park’s 260 bird species.

Eat traditional foods like bannock, caribou and ptarmigan. And sample Manitoba’s golden caviar.

Paddle a canoe alongside beluga whales at Churchill. Or, take a more standard whale watching tour in Hudson Bay aboard a larger boat.

Take a guided fishing trip to Selkirk, called the catfish capital of North America. The Red River has produced catfish of more than 50 pounds. Or, go fly-fishing in western Manitoba.

Try the Chocolate Spa Treatments at the Elkhorn Resort Spa & Conference Centre. Or, try a modern hamam, or Turkish bath, at Ten Spa at Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg.

See Churchill, the town on Hudson Bay that is known as the polar bear capital of the world AND the beluga whale capital of the world. Depending on the season, it also is the place to see broad carpets of tundra flowers, go sea birding or admire the Northern Lights from the comfort of an indoor viewing dome.

Camp or rent a cottage on one of Manitoba’s numerous lakes.

Learn First Nations skills such as soapstone carving or caribou hair tufting for wall hangings. Also, learn about native medicinal herbs and make a small teepee.

Bike along one of the world’s largest lakes at Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park.

Take a guided bird-watching tour through the forests and tundra around Churchill. You’ll likely spot some impressive larger animals as well; it’s that kind of place.

Watch summertime antics of polar bears at the Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge in Cape Tatnum Wildlife Management Area.

In the north, buy hand-made Inuit wall hangings and stone carvings.

View a range of wildlife at the Dymond Lake Lodge, which was built on the polar bear migration route. Besides seeing the giant white beasts, you may sight Arctic fox, caribou, moose and wolves.

Take a train journey on the Prairie Dog Central, traveling on restored vintage rail coaches that date from 1901 to 1913.

Attend the Festival du Voyageur, western Canada’s largest winter festival, held in Winnipeg’s French Quarter.

See Winnipeg from the river aboard a paddle-wheel steamer and from the sky during a hot-air balloon ride.

Stay at a country vacation farm and enjoy the local small-town fall suppers and festivals.

See Broadway-style musical theater at the outdoor Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg’s Kildonan Park.

See Inuit art at the Eskimo Museum in Churchill and at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Watch thoroughbred racing May through September at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. Place your bets, then have dinner in a restaurant overlooking the track.

For more information, consult Travel Manitoba at www.travelmanitoba.com

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