Delightful Dauphin

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2021 (1682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s home to some of the biggest rural celebrations in the province. Between Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival and CountryFest, Dauphin attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually to take in the music and magic of this quintessential Prairie city. And while the big parties are reason enough to visit, Dauphin has much more to offer, all year long, from unique boutiques and fabulous food to exhilarating trails and inspiring museums. Come have a look.

Where to stay

Dauphin’s surrounding communities are rich with things to do. And places to stay. North Mountain Adventures near Ochre River offers two cabins on the farmyard, each fully equipped for a relaxing stay in the country. Melanie and Craig MacCarthy and their family make visitors feel right at home with access to their chicken coop where overnight guests are encouraged to collect farm fresh eggs for breakfast and enjoy complimentary locally roasted Garage 41 coffee. It’s a treat to wake up and watch the horses graze right outside your window. A short stroll through the woods takes you to the meandering Ochre River for a private dip.

Bed and breakfast fans will love the historic Sir Edgar House, right on Dauphin’s main drag. It’s one of the oldest homes in the city, boasting a formal dining room, plenty of woodwork and a breezy porch. Hosts Cordell and Loralyn Lind serve up a scrumptious breakfast and plenty of good conversation. After you’re fuelled up, take a stroll through the city’s leafy streets, right out the front door.

Dauphin’s newest accommodations are at the Best Western Plus on the southern edge of the city. A thoroughly modern lounge sets the tone for plush surrounding and upscale amenities including the breakfast room, exercise room, heated saltwater pool with a waterslide and a delightful outdoor space for morning coffee or afternoon chats. Plus it’s pet friendly!

What to do

Northgate Dauphin will get your blood pumping, no matter what activity you choose. Gather at the trailhead and enjoy a picnic lunch under the tall timber frame canopy then set out on the path of your choice. The 26 kilometres includes trails for mountain bikers, fat tire bikers, hikers and trail runners. There are modern bathrooms at the entrance along with micro-cabins if an overnight stay is in the cards.

There’s still plenty of time to hit the beach and Rainbow Beach Provincial Park on Dauphin Lake is the destination. Only 15 minutes from Dauphin, the sandy shoreline and shallow waters make for great family fun. There are also picnic areas, firepits, a golf course, playground and campground. And not to be missed, The Food Pit, serving up the Double Rainbow burger and Hawaiian Parfait. An off-leash dog beach is located at the eastern edge of the main beach.

Highlights inside the city include CNR Station and Dauphin Rail Museum, Fort Dauphin Museum and the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection — all paying tribute to days gone by with awe-inspiring scenes and quality exhibits. Feel like seeing a flick? The CountryFest Community Cinema is a four-theatre venue operated as a non-profit and one of the rare new rural theatres constructed. It shows first run films and has a virtual reality room too.

Farmers’ markets are bursting right about now as garden production hits a high point. Head to The Mountain Market in Kelwood, roughly an hour away from Dauphin. The bustling market is location at The Kelwood Barn, also home to The Mountain General Store and The Farmer’s Daughter restaurant. There’s handmade ice cream and fresh cut flowers along with plenty of baked goodies. Spend some time in town checking out the barn quilts and Kelwood Arboretum Garden.

What to eat

The slogan is “Buns almost as nice as Baba’s” at Western Bakery, and the claim holds true. In fact they may be better than Baba, especially on Saturdays when sticky buns go for a steal at $5 for half a dozen. The bakery is stocked to the rafters with deliciousness including a vast selection of breads. You may get lucky and pop in when perogy bread is on the shelves. It includes bacon, sour cream, garlic, potato flakes and lots of green onions and it’s sliced a little thicker for maximum flavour.

There’s a little something for everyone at J & J Steamers where coffee is king but a vast selection of tea plays a close second. There’s also soft serve ice cream, flavoured popcorn, bubble tea, mini donuts, candy apples and an eclectic selection of handmade treasures inside the shop.

Shel’s Souvenirs

Pick up a logoed hoodie from Dauphin’s own Prairie Supply Co. The downtown shop stocks clothing, footwear and skate and snow merchandise geared toward the young and young at heart.

As the name suggest, Hodge Podge carries a bit of everything in this iconic Dauphin boutique, but it was the adorable gnomes that caught this writer’s eye. It’s a great place to browse and pick up a few deals too.

MUST SEE

Keep your eyes open for the Dauphin Bronze Statue Project. Each statue is assigned a guiding principle to represent the foundations upon which the community was built — optimism, curiosity, perseverance, etc. In addition to being heartfelt and beautiful, they make great locations for selfies.

shel@shelzolkewich.com