Sponsored Content
Pembina Valley: Heartbeat of a Manitoba summer

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/07/2016 (3689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cattails ripple in the breeze as the sun sets on a perfect Manitoba summer day at Delta Marsh. A zinging tee shot soars toward the tenth green at Kingswood Golf Course in La Salle. Bruce – an 80 million year-old Mosasaur measuring more than 13 metres – makes yet another friend at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden.

If you’re thinking a long trip is necessary to experience these quintessential summer destinations, think again. Find it all – and much more – in Manitoba’s Pembina Valley Central Plains region. And if you live in Winnipeg, you’re less than an hour away from escaping the stress of the city.

Bordered by the Red River to the east and the Manitoba Escarpment to the west, the boundaries of the Pembina Valley Central Plains region stretch south to the United States border and north to the marshy tip of Lake Manitoba. It’s here you’ll find the true heart of the province, encapsulating everything that makes Manitoba a summer dream.

Nature lovers have come to the right place. Cypress River’s Millennium Wayside Park (cypressriver.ca/trans_canada) features a wetland discovery trail through wetland and upland habitats complete with boardwalks, floating docks and interpretive signage. Learn about the elusive salamander at Saint Leon’s Interpretive Centre (saintleon.ca), located at Round Lake and part of the Trans Canada Trail. The spring migration spectacle includes thousands of salamanders as they move from pond to pond.

If it’s an adrenaline fix you’re looking for, make plans to visit Hywire Zipline (hywirezipline.ca), Manitoba’s highest and longest zipline. Soar up to 200 feet high and 1,000 feet across enjoying the sweeping views of the Pembina Valley, with professional, safety conscious guides.

Or settle in for a day of bull riding, bronco busting, tie-down roping, bareback riding and steer wrestling at Manitoba’s only pro rodeo, held in Morris (manitobastampede.ca). For family fun, spend the weekend taking in the action at a variety of fairs. From the Plum Coulee Plum Fest to Manitou’s Honey, Garlic & Maple Syrup Festival, there is a festival every weekend in the Pembina Valley Central Plains region. Or if you are a music lover check out the five music festivals in the region with the oldest being Back 40 in Morden.

Splish and splash on a hot summer day at one of the many outdoor water parks in the region. There are heated outdoor pools in Emerson, Morris and Manitou for starters. The Altona & District Centennial Park includes a heated outdoor pool with 133-foot waterslide, splash area with water geysers, cannon and jumbo spray sunflower. There is also a Junior Olympic size pool. The Treherne Aquatic Centre includes a heated pool, with beachfront entry, lazy river and mushroom sprinkler.

Gaze into the stars while watching a movie at the Stardust Drive-In – Manitoba’s only surviving drive-in theatre. The Stardust, built in the early 1960s, is a Morden institution and the perfect way to spend a warm summer night.

History buffs will relish an afternoon at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum (ag-museum.mb.ca). Located on 320 acres near Austin, the museum is home to over 500 pieces of machinery along with the Homesteaders’ Village which tells the story of early life on the prairies. Or visit the Manitoba Dairy Museum Complex in Saint-Claude featuring everything connected to the province’s robust dairy industry, from early practices to modern processing.

For an amazing September excursion, sign up for the Pembina Valley Central Plains Challenge: An Amazing Race from Sept. 2 to 4. Teams will compete in the two day challenge for a $1,000 grand prize while exploring the beauty of the region and engaging in some friendly competition with over 50 challenges. For all the details, and to enter your team, visit pembinavalleycentralplainstourism.com.