Winnipeg to Ontario — Arranging a Great Weekend Road Trip
Everybody needs a vacation from time to time. You can always get in your vehicle and go on a weekend road trip if you don’t have time for a weeklong getaway. Only have a few days to go from Winnipeg into Northwest Ontario? Well, there is always a solution. Let us share with you our balanced schedule of things to do and places to visit. In just one weekend, you will tour Canada’s biggest collection of Aboriginal burial mounds, enjoy a cruise, wash your hair in a waterfall, and indulge in a ton of delicious cuisine! Has your immigration consultant Winnipeg helped you move to Canada? So, now you have a lot of things to see in this country.
Day 1: Friday
After work, depart Winnipeg immediately (or, if possible, slip out early!). Go to the Harbourfront in Kenora after a two-hour drive on the Trans-Canada Highway. Take a Lake of the Woods dinner cruise on the MS Kenora. You may learn about the history of Lake of the Woods while admiring the breathtaking vistas. Cruises on Friday nights typically depart between 6:45 and 9 p.m. Plan ahead, review the itinerary, and purchase tickets online.
Visit the Lake of the Woods Brewing Comp. for a few locally brewed craft beers after the boat ride. Sultana Gold, Tippy Canoe, Happy Camper, Big Timber, Forgotten Lake, and, of course, the Firehouse Ale, which honors the taproom’s location in the former Kenora Firehouse, are the six flagship beers, all of which are appropriately named after beers made in Northwest Ontario. They provide a late-night menu in case you are hungry, and they are open until 1 am on Friday and Saturday.
Day 2: Saturday
Enjoy the wonderful breakfast at the Lake-Vu Restaurant. There is nothing like the All-Dressed Hash Browns! Particularly after consuming too many beers at the LOWBREWCO! HoJoe Coffee & Eatery, located just on Main Street, is another option for a light breakfast.
Take a 45-minute journey to Sioux Narrows after breakfast. To reach the Highway 71 turnoff, go east on the Trans-Canada Highway for around 20 minutes. Take Highway 71 south for another twenty-five minutes. The Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre, located in Sioux Narrows, just off the highway, is where you should spend the remainder of the morning. Explore the Center to view displays of vintage fishing gear that locals have kindly contributed, as well as a recreation of the well-known single-span wooden bridge. View an antique Boston Whaler, an original Haas boat, a variety of vintage engines, and much more. You could be fortunate enough to be present on a day when they are doing a session.
Go south to Nestor Falls after lunch. Don’t forget to stop at the waterfalls. As you drive straight over them, you won’t be able to notice it. Park in the lot to your right, then go a short distance to the waterfalls to take in the scenery. After there, continue south until you reach Highway 71’s terminus. Fort Frances is about 35 minutes away after turning left (east) onto Highway 11. Point Park is located on the east side of town. Sit and take in the scenery, or go for a walk around Rainy Lake’s shoreline. You can cool down by swimming in the lake if it’s hot. The Big Chair makes for a great backdrop!
Day 3: Sunday
After breakfast, drive about one hour west on Highway 11. The Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Center is where you will arrive. You would never expect to find this treasure while traveling on the highway that passes through agricultural country. An Aboriginal historic site, Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung, has been occupied for at least 5,000 years. It is home to Canada’s biggest collection of burial mounds (17) and related community sites (30).
Through a “living” museum in a natural environment that hasn’t altered throughout time, the Interpretive Centre gives visitors the chance to go back in time and experience the history, customs, and culture of Aboriginal people. Make sure to see the holy burial sites. Also, there is a restaurant in the center where you may have lunch. Particularly delicious is the wild rice soup. Reviews of Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung on TripAdvisor are mostly positive.
It’s Time to Depart
Once your tour of the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Center is complete, you may begin your journey home. There are two options available to you. First, take a 40-kilometer detour to the east, then continue north on Highway 71 until you reach the Trans-Canada, where you will turn left and go west on Highway 17 in the direction of Winnipeg. You may take an alternate route that passes via the United States and is around forty-five minutes quicker than passing through Ontario if you have your passport with you. Travel Highway 11 west until you get to Rainy River.
After that, you will enter the United States and arrive at Baudette, Minnesota. After reaching Warroad in the northwest, continue north on MN-313 and cross into Manitoba. Travel west into Winnipeg on Highway 12 toward Steinbach until you get to Highway 1. With memories and a ton of pictures to show it, you’ll return home feeling content that you were able to take a little vacation.
