Wowed in Winnipeg

After a few days researching downtown – the crowds and civilization in general – I was due for a drastic change.  Do not get me wrong cities are interesting, I love visiting and meeting people, but it is just that me and downtowns get on each others nerves after a while.

So, today I was looking forward to researching the parks and trails of Winnipeg!  The same trails and parks that do not exist. Huh.. you say, how can that be?  While, let me share with you my experience. On my recent visit to the tourism info office they had no information on any of the parks or trails nor did they mention any when I asked.  Not a map of all the parks? Not an information sheet. Not a photo copy? Not even a shred of  information? Shaking my head.  They just do not get it.

It seems no matter how popular the parks and trails are for the local population, the local tourism association here must believe us tourist have no interest in exploring trails, parks, natural areas or gardens. But they sure like to push paid admission activities. Imagine that?

However, Winnipeg itself  has turned out to be a pleasant surprise.  Not only do they have a good selection of  well maintained, interesting and bustling parks they have some colorful flower gardens too. Recently,  I was floored by the quality of the Forks Historic Site  and the connecting Riverwalk located on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers downtown. Today I was equally impressed by two parks in particular – the Assiniboine Park and the Fort Whyte Park.

The Assiniboine Park was huge and it adjoined a demonstration forest. The grounds were very clean. The trails paved and consistently trampled on by bikers, joggers, dog walkers and roller bladders. The vast fields of grass lawns were well trimmed and lacking dog do do.  People were picnicking, reading, suntanning and playing Frisbee. You could smell the fresh cut grass in the air.  Beats car fumes and factory dust any day.

To my surprise the park also has one of the nicest flower garden exhibits and outdoor art collections I have come across so far in my travels. Although smaller than Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island the English Gardens and Leo Mol Gallery in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg is very much comparable in color – and it is free.

"The Bather" and moi in Assiniboine Park

The entire park is covered in various flower gardens and statues donated by various people (main picture). Good looking works of art too – not the 7-11 kind where your shaking your head asking yourself, “Where is the art in that”. Although, one should be aware some of the art is naked.  Myself, I was drawn to the naked and wildlife statues. Which to some close minded people may be offensive. Too bad, so sad.

The paths in the gardens lead you to fountains, wishing wells, awnings, benches and, yes,  more art statues. Because the flower garden is tight and more personal the colors seem to be right on top of you. So many colors in your face. And it was not always the same flower over and over again.  It was beautifully done. You cannot help but feel at peace after visiting the gardens. It left me feeling good.

Muir Lake floating boardwalk trail at Fort Whyte Centre

The Fort Whtye Centre, as they like to call it…  is actually more like a park with lakes, bison, birds and trails.  One of the best trails was a floating boardwalk route which zig-zagged on top of a lake. The water was green and murky. There were cattails. We were in wetland country.

Some sections of the boardwalk trail must of been at least 350 metres long. Some with benches on them in the middle of the lake. Others walking right by bird houses on stilts as if they were little resort cabins in the tropics.

On the main lake, again to my surprise, there were people sailing and canoeing. I also found a sod house exhibit recreated from the pioneer days. On another trail I came across a York Boat, tipi and what look liked war canoes.  It just kept coming. It was a day full of surprises.