Fair warning: This is not your everyday summer holiday.
Outdoor adventures in Churchill, located in Canada’s central province of Manitoba, will make you feel like you’re truly living your best life. From encountering polar bears to witnessing friendly beluga whales in their blue-green paradise, one thing is certain. You’ll come home with bragging rights to last you a lifetime.
Read on for six of the best summer adventures in Churchill – and the world!
1.Aqua-gliding
Picture this: you’re lying on a floating mat tethered to a zodiac, gliding along the Churchill River or Hudson Bay. One by one, smiling beluga whales approach to say hello and pose for photographs. As you witness hundreds of happy belugas frolic and play together during this incredible water adventure, you’ll wish you could jump in and join them.
2.Witness polar bears from above
One of the best ways to witness polar bears roaming freely in their natural habitat during summer is from the air with Custom Helicopters and Hudson Bay Helicopters. The latter works closely with biologists who study polar bears and other arctic wildlife, giving them the upper hand when it comes to knowing the favourite hang-out spots of these magnificent beasts. Wapusk National Park is home to one of the world’s largest polar bear maternity denning areas, not to mention arctic fox, wolverine, moose and incredible bird life. Keep the camera close at hand!
3.Romance the rails
Sometimes the journey is more life-changing than the destination. When you board VIA Rail in Winnipeg, the only dry land connection to the remarkable community of Churchill, don’t be surprised if you disembark as a new person at the other end. This two-day, two-night rail journey covers 1697 kilometres of incredible northern landscape and abundant wildlife easily viewed through comfortable carriages. The breathtaking topography changes from prairieland to boreal forest and glittering lakes, until finally the tundra dominates as you approach the shores of Hudson Bay. Expect impeccable gourmet cuisine throughout this unforgettable rail journey.
4.Step back in time
Take a boat tour from Churchill to the historic Prince of Wales Fort and discover an important part of Canada’s heritage. Admire the strength of this stone structure that has prevailed for more than 250 years at the mouth of the Churchill River. Imagine a time when this area was a bustling hub for fur traders and the local Cree and Dene peoples, before peace was threatened between England and France. Immerse yourself in a bygone era as you explore the ruins of the fort that took 40 years to build under the harsh survival conditions of the Arctic.
As you travel to and from the Fort, you’ll stop mid-way to interact with hundreds of belugas that fearlessly approach the boat, their curious natures and friendly greetings guaranteed to melt your heart.
5.Explore Churchill
The tiny town of Churchill is brimming with history and an eclectic local culture that will make you fall in love with this colourful community. Take a cultural tour of the township so you don’t miss any of the highlights, including the ‘Polar Bear Jail’ on the outskirts of town. Once a military morgue, this special building is now a holding station for ‘troublesome’ bears who wander into town, before they are relocated back into the wild.
Cape Merry, overlooking the Churchill River, offers sweeping views of the town, Hudson Bay and the Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site. Many local tours also include an exploration of the Ithaca shipwreck, an almost century-old vessel resting 20 kilometres east of Churchill since 1960.
Visit the Itsanitaq Museum to see some of the world’s finest collections of Inuit carvings and artifacts, dating back as far as 1700 BC. Discover the inspirational street art of Churchill, called SeaWalls CHURCHILL, led by celebrated local artist Kal Barteski. These colourful murals are designed to educate on the need to protect the world’s oceans.
6.Active water fun
Jump on a kayak and explore the Churchill River, or try your hand at stand-up stand-up paddleboarding. No matter what your level of ability, you won’t experience it like this anywhere else in the world. Imagine spying the snow-white belugas drifting beneath the surface as you slowly glide along the serene waterway under a bluebird sky. It doesn’t get better than this.
Getting there
Air Canada has direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Vancouver, with connecting services to Winnipeg. From Winnipeg, VIA Rail offers a sleeper train to Churchill, and flights are available on Calm Air or First Air.
www.travelmanitoba.com
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