...to try the ordinary outdoor winter experiences which to others may be seen as being "extra-ordinary".

We are entering a season of magic known as "winter getaways". I am not talking about going south. I’m talking about Manitoba getaways, outdoors! What if you were from a country that has never seen snow, and we said to you..."Come to a place where you can walk on water; where you can see crystals that float in air, refracting light; where the stories of wildlife are etched on a white canvas that you can track by snowshoe; and the warmth of a wood-fired stove converts stored sunlight into heat in a home constructed entirely of Canadian logs?" Fantasy or reality. This is reality. You can go to many places in Manitoba where any of these are daily offerings from December through March. And, we often take it for granted.

We have festivals and events during the winter that would be considered exotic in many other countries of the world. Festival du Voyageur, Loppets, Christmas Bird Counts, ice-fishing, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing are part of the winter menu.

As Travel Manitoba’s Outdoor Ambassador, I would personally like to invite you to do one of three things this winter with your friends or family members: Try snow-shoeing if you have never tried it; visit Festival du Voyageur if you have not been recently; or go to a national or provincial park for a short getaway to experience northern lights or night snow-shoeing and spend at least one night near the park. Make it an extra-ordinary getaway! Have a great winter season!

Celes Davar
www.earthrhythms.ca

Winter in Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) will make you love the season like no other holiday destination can! The pace is relaxed during these cooler months and yet there is still plenty to do and see.

Experience the diamond bright sparkle of pristine white snow as it blankets the 2900 square km of protected natural areas in western Manitoba’s parkland. The rich beauty of winter wilderness will reveal itself to you through the many bird and mammal viewing opportunities that await you. Feel the sun’s radiant warmth under the vast blue sky. Let the bracing air refresh and rejuvenate you as you step out of doors to enjoy cool weather sports such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and skating. With over 400 km of groomed trails, you will be able to explore many different examples of the regional landscape such as the boreal forest, aspen parkland, and the spectacular views of the eastern escarpment.

Are you searching for an intimate getaway? Many of the area’s hotels and accommodations remain open year round. Your choices range from a four-star hotel with a full service spa and an award-winning restaurant, to bed-and-breakfast establishments with likeable and gracious hosts. And nothing says "romance" like going for an enchanting evening skate on Wasagaming’s well lit outdoor rink complete with ice trails that wind their way through the spruce forest. Our clear night skies are the perfect place to see the wonder of the night sky including our breathtaking Northern Lights.

During daylight hours you can explore favourite summertime haunts to see how winter works its magic and reinvents your special places with garlands of shimmering frost, snow and ice. Or you can work your way into the very interior of the park to explore areas that are inaccessible in warmer months. The choice is yours!

Do you love camping? Join the growing number of intrepid adventurers who camp in winter! There are many ways to explore RMNP including our campgrounds whose primitive sites remain available for campers to use all year. And, as long as you register as a backcountry camper with Visitor Services, you can take part in an emerging trend called, "random camping". This low-to-no-environmental-footprint experience has taken as its motto, "Leave no trace". You are free to set up camp just about anywhere and spend the night in places where it is quite possible that you are the first person to ever sleep in that exact spot.

Another advantage of winter camping is that you don’t even need a tent! You’ll have no trouble staying warm as you build your own quinzee, which is a type of snow hut, and then again as you bunk down for the night in your snug little shelter. If you prefer a few more creature comforts than a quinzee can provide, RMNP has Cairns Cabin located on the Ochre River Trail, or the yurt in the Wasagaming Campground. Reservations for both of these accommodations can be made by calling 204-848-7275 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 204-848-7275 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Our natural hospitality starts when we greet you upon arrival and continues throughout your stay. Located in a spectacular parkland setting, nestled adjacent to the world-renowned Riding Mountain National Park, Elkhorn provides an all-season playground for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike.

The Solstice Spa provides an opportunity to journey on a path to wellness by soaking in the mineral pool and experiencing distinctive spa services. The use of completely natural products enhances the spa experience. Come restore and maintain mental, physical and spiritual harmony in your life.

At the Elkhorn Resort, the beauty of thousands of square kilometers of unspoiled wilderness is rivaled only by the luxurious facilities of a first-class resort hotel. Each of our oversize guest rooms, most with fireplaces and private balconies, have been completely renovated and complimented with tastefully appointed comfortable furnishings to ensure you enjoy a great night’s sleep.

Our elegantly decorated and modern two, three and four bedroom chalets are the perfect accommodation for family and friends seeking comfort and privacy. Each chalet features all the comforts of home – wood fireplaces, gas barbeques, outdoor decks, color televisions, DVD players, satellite cable, fully-equipped kitchens, dishwashers and microwaves. Enjoy a piece of paradise. Our chalets are available for rent or ownership as fully deeded Vacation Ownership condominiums.

For great recreation and relaxation in a wilderness setting, Elkhorn Resort and Solstice Spa are the natural choice. Explore unlimited out-country trails and pathways. Keep your eyes wide open for the spectacular scenic views that may include wildlife. Black bears, moose, buffalo, elk, beaver and many others inhabit the park area.

Come celebrate the Solstice and let the charm of the Elkhorn inspire you….

Located just 3 hours from Winnipeg and 1 hour from Brandon
For information on our Resort, Spa Rates, and a comprehensive calendar of events please visit our website: www.elkhornresort.mb.ca

Contact Information
Solstice Spa at the Elkhorn Resort & Conference Centre
Box 40
Clear Lake, Manitoba
R0J 1N0

Fellow Adventurers,

Some 300 years ago that Great Company of Adventurers, known as the Hudson Bay Company, was being accused of not carrying out expansion of the British Empire as contracted, but rather they were "asleep by the frozen sea"; resting securely in the endless flow of "gold" (beaver skins) coming from the New World to fill their coffers. Much has changed on the Hudson Bay coast since the early days of the fur trade and its wilderness bounty now provides a new treasure in the form of wildlife viewing opportunities. In search of these wildlife viewing adventures, the folks at Churchill Wild have most assuredly not been “asleep by the frozen sea”.

Churchill Wild specializes in operating world class wilderness lodges with fly-in access only in the heart of the most prolific polar bear viewing areas of the planet. These remote lodges - Seal River Heritage Lodge, Dymond Lake Wilderness Lodge and now, Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, boast all the creature comforts of home including private rooms with ensuites, lounges with fireplaces, viewing decks, fine wine and gourmet dining, and even high speed internet. But outside your comfortable surroundings is an endless expanse of some of the most exclusive wild places left on earth. Our wildly remote locations ensure that your polar bear encounters are second to none with professional guides providing exceptional on the ground viewing and photography experiences. That's right - walking with polar bears! And what's more, we are seeing more and more polar bears on our summer tours by land and sea with our best day this August coming in at 21 different bears sighted at a single location!

If the bears don't keep you busy in the summer how about swimming with our beluga whales, or hiking through the wildflowers, birding on the coast, sea kayaking and even nature’s light show, the Aurora Borealis. Fall of course brings the ever increasing numbers of bears near the lodges to photograph, along with arctic fox, wolves and countless caribou on their treks south. The ice bear season this year at Seal River was blessed not only with some incredible polar bear action but also 75% of the nights were clear, offering marvelous northern lights observation. Plan now for your visit in 2010 to one of Canada's most exclusive polar bear encounters, space is limited and our rooms book up early!

Churchill Wild
Wildly Remote & Exclusively Fulfilling

Keep sending in your unique Manitoba moments. Send us your favorite Unforgettable Manitoba story, photo or video to itsmymoment.ca and you'll be entered to win a Manitoba Homecoming 2010 VIP travel package to see the entire province. Full contest details available soon. In the meantime, here's a great moment from Al Adducci:

YANKS IN MANITOBA

This year marks the 40th anniversary in which my wife and I first (and annually, thereafter) traveled to Manitoba. The story of our first year's travel, although a bit long, reveals a great deal about the country and the special nature of its citizens.

Longtime, avid campers and fisherman, my wife and I drooled at the trophy-sized lake trout pictured on the front cover of a Travel Manitoba magazine we first saw at a Spring Show at Northern Illinois University in 1969. Being typical Americans, we had no idea where Manitoba was, but quickly learned that despite its exotic sounding name, it was located in the country to our north, Canada.

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