Updated July 9th, 2021
Hello summer! After six to eight months of cold weather in the winter, most Manitobans are craving some awesome summer activities (including me). Despite irregularities in summer plans due to COVID, make your summer memorable by checking out all the wonderful things Manitoba has to offer. Who can complete this whole list?
1. Drive-in movie at Stardust Movie Theatre in Morden
3020 Thornhill Street, Morden, Manitoba, Canada
Open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night throughout the summer this is a great date night, family, or friend outing! Grab your blankets, bug spray, and snacks and get ready to snuggle in to watch a classic flick. Check out the website for new showtimes and movies up for August!
2. Strawberry Picking
This is a short season so make sure you plan ahead and take advantage of these sweet treats. There are many places around Winnipeg to go to pick at such as M & E’s, Cormier’s Berry Patch, Boonstra Farms, and Prarie Berry to name a few. Get up early to go or book a spot because they fill up fast. Some places are only selling already picked strawberries, so check online or call before you go. Highly recommend making jam or strawberry daiquiris with all the delicious berries you picked afterward. (Opened June 30th, 2021)
3. Canoe through Caddy Lake Tunnels
Grab your canoe and head out for a beautiful paddle through caves and tunnels. There are a number of campsites along the route with picnic tables and firepits you can stop at for lunch or to camp for the night.
4. Play a round of mini-golf at Grand Prix
Have you ever mini-golfed in a pirate ship? Well, now you can! I LOVE mini-golf (but actually am terrible at it) so this fun themed course kept me entertained while I was sucking. Grand Prix also has a batting cage, driving range, bumper boats, and a water balloon war game. TBH the best part is they have jumbo freezies for purchase, maybe I live under a rock, but these were the best reward after a round of mini-golf in the hot sun.
5. Hike the Mantario Trail
Challenging, but rewarding trail that gives you a great glimpse of different landscapes in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. Check out my full guide on hiking the Mantario Trail and the various lessons I learned so you don’t make the same mistakes (and there is a lot).
6. Have a round at the Beer Can
The Beer Can is a trendy beer garden pop-up located outside the Granite Curling Club at 1 Granite Way. They are open 7 days a week from 11am- 10pm. Keep an eye on their Instagram to stay up to date when you can catch some live music.
7. Cherish a smokie dog at Skinners
World-famous for their hot dogs, make the drive to Lockport to cherish one. There are two Skinners restaurants three minutes from each other. One on Highway 44 features a drive-thru if you want to grab it and go. If you prefer to sit and enjoy your time, opt for the larger Skinners beside the river. They have patio seating and a local market in the parking lot on Sundays during the summer.
8. Hike to Kwasitchewan Falls, the largest waterfall in Manitoba
You won’t believe these types of waterfalls exist in Manitoba until you see them! Starting at Pisew Falls it is a 22km roundtrip hike to the falls. Pack light and stay overnight on the trail to give yourself a break to take it all in.
9. Float down Pinawa Channel
Sit back and relax as you float down the Pinawa Channel on a single or group tube. Prefer to live in the fast lane? You can also canoe, kayak or rent a stand-up paddle board to take on the fast moving water.
10. Stop for a burger at Nite Hawk Cafe
27 West Hawk Lake Blvd
These burgers are WORTH the trip. Boasting 17 different burgers on their menu with the availability to make any vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free and toasted buns, these burgers will have your mouth watering thinking about the next time you can eat one.
11. Go backcountry camping
Find a secluded spot along the river, lake, or in the bush and pitch your tents! You’ll find it much more relaxing and private than staying in a campground.
12. Stay in an OTENTik at Riding Mountain National Park
No need to worry about bringing tents or a stove to cook with, this oTENTik has it all. A little cabin in the woods is the perfect summer vacay and alternative to tent camping if you feeling like a more glamorous outdoor vacation.
13. Grab a bite to eat at Half Moon Drive-In
Get ready to be transported back to the 50’s. This restaurant looks super retro and includes all your fav diner foods such as hot dogs, burgers, fries, and of course milkshakes! Only the drive-in is open right now, but it is still worth the trip!
14. Admire the colorful water at Little Limestone Lake
The beautiful bright blue water will have you thinking you are somewhere in the Bahamas instead of in Manitoba. Go for a swim, rent kayaks and enjoy this little piece of Manitoba treasure.
15. Relax on the beach at Grand Beach
Remember your sunscreen and beach toys for this adventure. You can make it a day trip or camp overnight at the campground nearby. If you get snacky during the day, there are a few shops to buy food and ice cream at!
16. Sip on a cold bevy at the Common patio
There is nothing quite like a cold drink on a hot day. The drink list at the Common is full of local breweries creations. The outdoor bar allows you to grab a drink and find a spot on the large patio area facing the river.
17. Have a picnic beside Tulabi Falls
The perfect spot to sit to listen to the fast-moving water and enjoy your surroundings.
18. Car camping at one of our incredible provincial parks
Car camping aka when you have to pay to book a campsite that has amenities. My friends use this phrase to describe NOT roughing it camping (backcountry). Manitoba has so many nice provincial and national parks to explore like Grand Beach, Birds Hill, Riding Mountain, Spruce Woods, and Grass River Provincial Park.
19. Go go-karting at Thunder Rapids
Have a need for speed? Rip around the track on the Thunder Karts with 9 horsepower engines. If you prefer something a little slower, go for the Indy or Double Karts. However, I highly recommend the Thunder Karts as the other ones make you feel like you are on a very slow-moving theme park ride.
20. Take on the Spirit Sands and Devil Punch Bowl Hike (Spruce Woods Provincial Park)
Lace-up your runners and head out early in the morning to tackle this hike. Start with the Spirit Sands loop as it has little shade and it is deadly midday when the sun reaches its peak. Then, head on to do the Devils Punch Bowl trail. Pack two water bottles as there is no potable water along the trail and prepare to have sand in your shoes before you’re finished!
21. Walk the suspension bridge at Wekusko Falls
Located near Snow Lake, a stop at Wekusko Falls is a must on any northern Manitoba road trip. You can camp in the campground beside the falls and walk across the bridge to follow some walking trails. Stop in the middle of the bridge to look down and watch the water crash over itself as it drops off a huge ledge right below the bridge. Check out the full blog on the Northern MB Road Trip here!
22. Check out Fete Ice Cream
Winnipeg’s newest homemade ice cream shop is adorable, delicious, and SWEET! Their homemade ice cream tastes exactly like the description. Maybe opt for a smaller size such as the bite-size if you can’t handle super sweet things anymore (I got the bite-size and still needed to lay down after to recover from the sugar coma). They also have dairy-free, and gluten-free ice cream so everyone can enjoy it! Don’t miss checking out their dog wall of fame and try to see how many Mavericks you can spot (I found three).
23. Admire the cliffs at Steep Rock, MB
Large cliffs towering over the water, this is another place you won’t believe exists in Manitoba. The massive rock landforms are located on the shores of Lake Manitoba and are made up of limestone. Go and enjoy for the day or opt to stay in the campground overnight, either way, you can’t miss taking a trip to see these this summer.
24. Have a picnic at Assiniboine Park
Assiniboine Park is the ideal picnic location. It has tons of space and places to walk around, a duck pond, beach volleyball courts, firepits, and spots to book to host a larger gathering and a new pop-up bar called the Cargo Bar. The best part is Sargent Sundae is just a bridge walk away to satisfy any ice cream cravings.
Interested in more to do in Manitoba? Check out our Ultimate Manitoba Road Trip!
