7 thrilling reasons to visit Churchill, Manitoba
Photo, Richard Voliva.
Get cozy
After a day exploring the wild, check into one of the 33 rooms at the Lazy Bear Lodge. This rustic retreat — the largest handcrafted log building in Manitoba — features a Scandinavian-style stone hearth in the dining hall and is decorated with pelts and vintage snowshoes. On the menu: birch-syrup lattes, slow-roasted bison and the best burgers in town. After dinner, bundle up and head to the viewing deck to catch a glimpse of the northern light.
One-stop shop
Load up on souvenirs at the Arctic Trading Company, an old-fashioned store where you’ll find handmade mukluks, slippers and mitts from the on-site sewing centre (every piece features one-of-a-kind beadwork). Be sure to check out the artwork and crafts from northern Canadian artists, including Inuit soapstone sculptures and caribou-hair sculptings.
Perfect pastries
A trip to Churchill isn’t complete without a visit to Gypsy’s Bakery & Restaurant, where you’ll be tempted by jumbo doughnuts and brioche cinnamon buns smothered in cream cheese frosting. If you’re more in the mood for a meal, try the fresh arctic char or the signature Portuguese-style chicken.
History lesson
A visit to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre at the Churchill Heritage Railway Station is a must. See dioramas of nearby York Factory and Prince of Wales Fort, and pose for a photo in front of the life-sized replica of a polar bear den. Be sure to save an hour for the Eskimo Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Inuit carvings and artifacts. 1 Mantayo Seepee Meskanow, 204-675-8863; 242 Laverendrye Ave., 204-675-8871.
Polar bear safari
It’s the best place on earth to spot the “lords of the Arctic.” Book a one-day tour with the Tundra Buggy Adventure, where you’ll board a heavy-duty tundra vehicle equipped with a viewing deck and cozy fireplace. Or fly into a remote wilderness lodge for a multi-day adventure. Churchill Wild has four lodges that provide the ultimate bear-viewing experience: See polar bears up close on hiking trails around the tundra. tundra.
