If you have a business or pleasure trip to Canada in your future and it happens to be in or near Winnipeg, there will be plenty of things to do. You will not have to worry about feeling bored in this capital of the Manitoba province. The city is home to more than half a million people.
If you enjoy animals in general or zoos in particular, stop by the Assiniboine Zoo. Found in the park of the same name, the zoo is open year round. Be sure to have your camera at the ready because there are around two thousand animals here that always seem to be ready to pose for picture taking. If your hotel is near the park, you can reach it by foot if you travel the foot bridge on Portage Avenue. Otherwise try to approach from either Corydon Avenue or Roblin Boulevard.
If you don't want to spend time with the wildlife of the zoo, there are other things to see in the park including a sculpture garden. There is a conservatory and an area for shows of music or movies as well as an opportunity to return to your childhood for a few minutes and grab a ride on the miniature railroad.
If you have an interest in human or natural history you will enjoy the Manitoba Museum. The museum is found on Rupert Avenue and houses many exhibits on a great number of topics from history of all kinds to science and hands on exhibits. If you are traveling with children or enjoy things like robots and space travel yourself, be sure not to pass by the Science Gallery while you are visiting the museum.
Plan to spend enough time at the museum because there is also a huge planetarium on the premises. You will be able to see the sky at night with thousands of stars sparkling for your entertainment, and all within the confines of the planetarium.
Sometime during your stay in Winnipeg, remember to check if there are any festivals going on while you are there. In fact, it is often called the "City of Festivals." The festivals are held all throughout the year at various locations but one popular place for some of them is the Forks National Historic Site found in the center of Winnipeg. This park has some lovely walking paths if you want to get some exercise in and the site is full of history. Research about Fort Rouge and a visit to the historic site will be even more interesting for you.
If you want to get a bit more adventuresome than a zoo, museum, or park, consider Adventure Junkie Tours. The tour company with the fun name (there are many adventure junkies!) offers many kinds of tours and you will have to know which one would be most interesting to you. The decision will include whether you want an air, land, or water tour. What is the difference?
Air Tour: Hang gliding, hot air ballooning, sky diving
Water Tour: Sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, or canoeing
Land Tour: Polar bear trip, dog sledding, mountain biking, back packing
Personally I'm not fond of heights or flying, so the air adventures wouldn't be at the top of my choice list, but I think the dog sledding, polar bear trip, and sailing sound great. Well, as long as the tour company would keep me far enough from the bears to look but not touch, that is!
If you want a more romantic or at least more calming sail than a kayak or canoe, try a paddlewheel boat. Paddlewheel River Rouge Tours offers this kind of tour and you can see the city from the river. If you don't want an afternoon tour, try a dinner cruise or dance cruise instead of a traditional sightseeing tour.
If you still need another activity try a vintage rail ride on the Prairie Dog Central Railway. An old steam engine or a diesel locomotive will be in the lead and the railroad trip will take you about two and a half hours. You will be stopping at markets for some quick shopping and the sights you see will include farmland and prairie regions.
Last but certainly not least is that you may enjoy a drive to the Bison Prairie outside of Winnipeg. There are wetlands, woodlands, a huge aquarium, and grasslands here at the Fort Whyte Center, too.