Are You Coming Home This Summer?

Summer is that time of the year when travelers make a journey to their home, where they grew up, where their parents live.

Is that your summer this year? If so you are in luck. This summer you won't have to worry about being stuck at the same old family gatherings, you have options of activities and events to take your family too thanks to Manitoba Homecoming!

Manitoba Homecoming has taken it on as their mission to provide fun, family entertainment all summer long. They have concerts, festivals, you name it they have it. My favourite part of this initiative is that you get to see Manitoba like you've never seen it before. Especially if you grew up here you may have over looked what MB has to offer, just like I have. But with Manitoba Homecoming highlighting all the festivals and putting on concerts you now have the chance to experience Manitoba in a new light.

To see everything Manitoba Homecoming has planed for this summer click HERE.

So if you are coming home this summer make sure you take in some of the Homecoming events and experience what Manitoba has to offer!

Cheers
Best Western Pembina Inn & Suites

On a Gloomy Day

I'm not going to lie to any of you, Winnipeg has it's fair share of undesirable days. Whether it be snow, rain, wind or -40 degree temperatures we often have to spend a lot of time indoors.

Today is one of those days, it's a bit chilly and rain is coming and going. Not the best day to be walking around the Winnipeg Zoo, but who wants to be stuck in a hotel room for the day, even if they are wonderful rooms.

Depending on your interests there is lots to do in Winnipeg that will keep you warm, dry and entertained.


If you like the arts
The Winnipeg Art Gallery or the WAG is a great gallery to visit. They have great exhibits and sometimes like this one We Are Sorry admission is free.

The installation, by artist Cathy Busby, has been mounted in conjunction with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission whose seven national events are intended to offer healing to those whose lives have been impacted by the Indian  Residential School system, and understanding to all Canadians. The first of these events will be held in Winnipeg June 16 to 19. (WAG website)

If you like to shop
Winnipeg has two major shopping malls, one which is very close to our hotel.

St. Vital Shopping Centre is about a ten minute drive from the hotel and the second largest shopping mall in Winnipeg.

Polo Park Shopping Centre is the largest shopping mall and about a 20 minute drive from the hotel.

Winnipeg also has a few great pocket areas that have good shopping. Although the shopping is good they are independent stores that are not in a mall so you will have to walk from store to store, not always the best when the weather is bad.

However both Osborne Village and the Exchange District have very interesting stores that you won't find in every city across North America.


If you like to golf
Yes I said golf, it can be done when it's not nice outside. Meet The Golf Dome where you can take lessons, go the the driving range, and play a round of mini golf.

Good food within 2KM of the hotel

There are so many places to eat in Winnipeg, it can be extremely overwhelming. Even close to the hotel there are numerous places to grab a bite that will be satisfying. But after some time spent on the road do you really want to eat at yet another nation wide chain restaurant? Sometimes yes, that is all that will satisfy your whole family or the picky eater you're traveling with.

So what is there to eat close to the hotel? Lots! Let me list a few of the choices you'll have:

Applebee's: Located a mere 1.3Km South of the hotel you can drive or walk, if you're up to it.

Earls: Also located 1.3 Km South of the hotel. Although it is close I would recommend the Earls at the St. Vital Shopping Centre. It is further away but it's a nicer location and I've found the food there to be better.

Pony Corral: If you don't want to walk more than 50 meters, this is the place to go. Right beside the hotel the Pony Corral has a mish mash of food that is pretty good. I should also note that this is a local chain restaurant but very popular in Winnipeg so I feel it fits here. 

Tony Roma's: Only 800 meters from the hotel this is my first recommendation for a great place to eat. The food is amazing (ribs and wings especially!) and the price is always really good.

Now you have an idea of the food in our neighbourhood. It's good, well priced and will remind you of your hometown. But trust me this is not all there is to eat in Winnipeg, as time goes on I'll tell you about more of my favourite places to eat in Winnipeg.

Cheers,

Janis Schellenberg
Marketing and Sales Manager
Best Western Pembina Inn & Suites

Fun for the Whole Family?

This is always an issue when traveling with your whole family, what can you do that will entertain everyone? Sometimes, no matter how hard you try you'll never impress everyone, and someone will always be bored. However, while you are in Winnipeg there are some things you should try that might satisfy everyone.




If you've ever been to Winnipeg or just Google searched our city the name The Forks may have popped up. To the average traveler The Forks can seem like a huge tourist attraction that is congested and over priced. Yes, some times during the summer season this is true; however, many native Winnipeggers hang out here as well because of all it has to offer, especially in the summer.

The Forks is located in our downtown by our two rivers, the Red and the Assiniboine. So naturally it was a meeting place back when we all traveled in canoes, but now that we all travel in our gas (or electric) powered vehicles The Forks remains a meeting place.



So other than a meeting place what makes The Forks worth visiting? Like I said before it really does have thing for the whole family to do. For example, often the littlest children get dragged along to what the older kids want to do. But at The Forks the little ones can play at the Manitoba Children’s Museum and sometimes it’s even fun for some of the older children too.

The Manitoba Children’s Museum has lots of fun activities for the kids, this summer that includes an exhibit called Attack of the Bloodsuckers! Where your kids will learn all about bloodsucking insects like mosquitoes, leeches, ticks and more and how they are important to the ecosystem and how to keep them out of their system.



For more information on the Children’s Museum click here.



Now for the kids who would rather wander around and explore neat little shops, they can check out the boutiques The Forks has to offer. Everything from jewelry, hemp made clothing to pottery and ceramics is all in the shops at The Forks.



What about your son who just needs to burn off some energy after spending hours or days traveling? Well he is in luck because The Forks also has a skate park for him to jump on his skateboard and roll around in. The Plaza at The Forks is one of Winnipeg’s best skate parks, and the best thing is skaters of all ages can get together and enjoy their love for skating. Click here to learn more about The Plaza at The Forks.

Alright, now that we have the kids taken care of, what can mom and dad do at The Forks? Well once you have tired out the kids you can take them all on the Riverwalk. The Forks Riverwalk is a stone pathway that stretches along the Assiniboine River from The Forks all the way to the Legislative building.

So now hopefully you stand a chance at impressing the children and entertaining them for an afternoon! If you’ve been to The Forks, let us know how your experience was by leaving us a comment below.



Cheers,



The Best Western Pembina Inn & Suites