When Canadians think of beautiful scenery, they usually think of the mountains of British Columbia and Alberta or the grandeur of the Bay of Fundy and Niagara Falls. Often, they discount places like the province of Manitoba as a travel destination, citing the flat landscape. However, areas such as the beaches of Lake Winnipeg are well worth seeing. In summer or winter, the varied landscapes of Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg’s eastern shore are ideal places for people of all ages and interests to visit.
Weekends at the Lake in Manitoba
Almost every Friday during the summer months, the highways going north from Manitoba’s capital city, Winnipeg, are crowded with cars, many topped with canoes or kayaks or pulling trailers, interspersed with recreational vehicles of all kinds. The beaches of Lake Winnipeg are only about an hour’s drive north of the city, an easy trip for many people in the Winnipeg area.
Visiting Grand Beach Provincial Park
The sixth largest lake in Canada is home to the Grand Beach Provincial Park, which includes what the information on the Manitoba government website describes as one of Manitoba’s most popular beaches, frequented since the 1920s, when visitors from Winnipeg would travel by train for the day or the weekend to see the dunes, some reaching twelve meters high, or to swim in the huge lake. The beach has continued to be popular ever since. At about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north and 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) west of Winnipeg, the beach is easily accessible by car.
Swimming and Other Summer Activities at Grand Beach
Grand Beach is ideal for a quiet day of swimming or exploring the dunes. The beach slopes gently into the lake so that even small children can go quite far out into the water before they reach their depth, and the sand itself is soft and white. Every year the dunes shift through the influence of the wind and weather, giving visitors something new to see each time they go there. Water sports such as parasailing and swimming are very popular, while children enjoy running through the dunes and building sand forts.
The beach has much more to offer than waterfront activities. One of the highlights of the Grand Beach area is its rich bird life. Nearby marshlands provide many opportunities for bird watching, and the bushes perched on top of many dunes also provide shelter for birds. Astute bird watchers could even catch a glimpse of the endangered piping plover. Hiking and fishing are popular activities, and off road activities are also available. The Grand Beach Tourism website also highlights the Summer Winds Family Music Festival in July, a half marathon, hang gliding, arcades, and much more. With so many summer activities, long-term visitors can always find something to do.
Winter Sports and More at Grand Beach
With the advent of winter comes a very different array of activities. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are activities people of all ages can enjoy, while ice fishing on the frozen lake and snowmobiling around the area attract many visitors as well. Hiking, skating, and mountain biking are a few of the other activities available. Even in cold weather, Grand Beach has much to offer, including several restaurants and hotels in the area where visitors can relax after a long day.
Grand Beach on Manitoba's Lake Winnipeg is an ideal place to relax and to enjoy the beauties of the outdoors. With activities for people of all ages and amazing sights to see, a visit to the park and its beach can be a rewarding experience.
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