Hashtag Lakelife

I had the pleasure of showing a few places out in the west beaches area of Lake Winnipeg so I went early to make the most of it.

I grew up going out to Winnipeg Beach with my paternal side of the family so there are a lot of memories and reminiscing.

Matlock is a nice stop when heading up that direction. The piers are always a relaxing place to stop. The morning was cool, almost sweater weather, and I managed to still have over half a cup of my favourite Starbucks drink when I rolled in. Nothing like a warm chai latte, a light sweater and a moody sky over the lake to help you zone out for 20 minutes.

I visited with my parents at the marina. I can't believe I didn't think to take a picture there as the marina and pier with all the boats is a nice sight. From the south parking lot you have a unique perspective of the water tower through the bushes and cattails on the edge of the park. It always makes me want to pick up my paint brush. 

We decided to hit up The Emporium for lunch where I enjoyed a delicious home made crepe and my friend enjoyed the Drunken Chicken pizza. The Emporium is known for their crepes, pizzas and drunken chicken. If you go after 4pm they are wood fired pizzas. It is a really nice little place.

While waiting between showings we took a drive though downtown Winnipeg Beach. I didn't have time to take a walk on The Boardwalk to find my grandparents plaque or to stop at Dairy Bee to reminisce about gramma and grampa taking us for ice cream but we did come across a place that looks old but has only been there since 2012. We decided to pop in as it was right up my friends alley with all the unique decor. It is called Candies & Curiosities. Such a nice little place and they had a few treasures that took me back. 

There are so many more great places to check out if you are in the beaches area. The jam busters at Fred's (on the highway) are a great addition to a picnic, there is an off leash dog beach in the provincial park area near the water tower, there is the artesian well on the corner of Laurel and Grove, a new walking bridge just north of that, the waterfront park, and so much more. It is a leisurely drive down highway 9 and is less than an hour from the north perimeter. If you wanted add a few stops to your trip you could also see the locks in Lockport, Lower Fort Gary on highway 9, and the marine museum in Selkirk. 

What are your favourite spots to stop in the west beaches areas?

Loud, hot, fast, summer fun!

We love going to the oval dirt race track for some loud, hot, fun on a Thursday evening. The closest one to Winnipeg is Red River Co-op Speedway just off Highway 75 near St. Adolphe. You can save a couple dollars per ticket by picking them up at any Red River Coop Gas Station but beware that they do run out of tickets sometimes so it isn't always best to wait till you get to St Norbert (the last one not the way out of the city) to buy them.

We decided pretty last minute that we were going and texted a few friends to see if anyone else was available. We went July 5th and they were celebrating Canada Day which just passed. They had some make up races to do from a previous rain out in June so we were getting extra races and fireworks. Jay and Irka decided to join us even though they would be late.

So we took a couple blankets to sit on and one to use to save them a spot. We went early so we could get dinner at the concession. They have things like burgers, hot dogs, pizza, taco in a bag, fries, chicken burgers, chicken fingers and a few other things. Their chicken fingers are really good, breaded chicken filets and we always enjoy their burgers or taco in a bag. They offer a large assortment of condiments including all the taco fixings, sourcrout

Some things you may want to bring besides something to sit on: If you have sensitive hearing you should bring earplugs. I do notice adults and really young children seem to wear them the most and Jamus says it really makes a difference to his ears to have a set. It is nice to have a pair of cheap sunglasses to keep the dirt out of your eyes. Some nights you could also need sunscreen or mosquito repellent. And it does cool off some nights towards the end so a sweater is always nice to have. If there is a chance of rain you may want to have a poncho and something to put down on your car floor as if it does rain it is a muddy mess in the parking area.

There is a ton of free parking. If you prefer to park close you can pay for VIP parking for $5 or if you need accessible parking and have a permit you can drive right up to the gate where VIP parking is and park for free by showing them your accessibility permit. They will also give you a lift in a golf cart if you let the parking attendant know you need assistance as the seating is up on the hill.

The races were so much fun. The fireworks show was really impressive as well. They did a great job!

Have you been to any of the race tracks in the province?

Winter with Kids

When it's so cold outside all you may want to do is stay inside and keep warm and cozy. Then you find a small human tugging at your leg wanting to run and jump and be entertained! Now what!?

Well there are a number of great indoor activities in and around Winnipeg to do with your little ones over the winter:

Kids City is great for letting them run wild while you sit back and watch, with two different locations in the city 550 Archibald and 801 Century, you shouldn't be too far from either of them. Open daily to the public and also available for party bookings. 

If you are in Selkirk they have their own version called Kountry Kids Jam Center at 511 Robinson Ave. 

With slides, climbing structures and bouncy houses you can stay for hours until the kids are finally tires enough to go home. There are also snack shops at every location for refuelling!

Children's Museum 

A fun and interactive time for all ages located at 45 Forks Market Rd. 

Manitoba Museum

Another great learning experience for kids and fun too with a number of interactive exhibits as well as seasonal running exhibits (check the website for the latest) Here there is also the planetarium which is a great time for kids of all ages.