NOT YOUR TYPICAL TRAVEL COMPANY
HOME   CONVENTION GROUPS  ::
 
 
  Guided Sightseeing Tours and Partner Programs    

Winnipeg City Sightseeing Tour

(3 hours)

Tour Winnipeg, the wonderful city of trees! This tour includes the Forks National Historic Site, Winnipeg's "meeting place", with its unique outdoor historic site and indoor market of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Across the Esplanade Riel Bridge, you will visit Winnipeg's French Quarter (St. Boniface) and the beautiful St. Boniface Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Western Canada. The Cathedral's cemetery features the grave of Louis Riel, the famous Métis leader and founder of Manitoba. You will tour through the Exchange District, with its exceptional collection of terra cotta and cut stone architecture. This thriving and unique neighborhood is home to an array of restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries, and Winnipeg's Theatre District. Its cobblestone streets and friendly pedestrian environment also contribute to its popularity as a period backdrop for today's movie industry. You will also see the Legislative Building, the beautiful homes of Wellington Crescent, and Winnipeg's 393-acre Assiniboine Park, where you will have the opportunity to walk through the unique Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, which features bronze sculptures, porcelains, paintings, and sketches by celebrated Winnipeg artist Leo Mol.

Tour Includes:

  • Guided 3 hour city sightseeing tour
  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Winnipeg Historical and Manitoba Museum Tour

(4 hours)

Discover Winnipeg's unique history as the "Gateway to the West" and the "Chicago of the North". Depart for one of Canada's National Historic Sites, the Exchange District. See the office towers, warehouses, banks, hotels, theatres, and the architecture of the bustling 1880's and early 1900's. You will stop for a private guided tour of the Manitoba Museum capturing moments of time across Manitoba's landscape in their nine interpretive galleries. The Museum's newest gallery, the Hudson Bay Gallery hosts a collection of over 10,000 artifacts and written documentation establishing the Museum as an International Centre for Northwestern North American Fur Trade Research. Following the Museum visit, you will continue to the Forks National Historic Site and Marketplace. Located in the heart of Winnipeg at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, this "meeting place" has hosted historical events that span over 6000 years. Visitors nowadays will find unique shopping and dining experiences suitable for everyone's tastes.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Admission to the Manitoba Museum
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Transportation Through Time Tour

(4 hours)

We begin at the Western Canada Aviation Museum where you will see a wide variety of vintage aircraft on display. The Western Canada Aviation Museum offers a unique mix of history and science. Enter through 'Gate 1' - the original Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) passenger terminal. Step back in time and let the pioneer aviators of the north take you on an inspirational journey through time. Your visit will be filled with tales from the sky, great ideas (and not so great ideas) in flight, and a true appreciation for the adventuring spirit. Then you will visit the Winnipeg Railway Museum, which offers a collection of vintage rail cars, cabooses, and the prairie's first locomotive the "Countess of Dufferin". Finally you will visit the Fire Service Museum of Winnipeg. This station was once the oldest active fire station in Canada. The Museum features hand and horse-drawn, steam, and early motorized fire apparatus, artifacts, photographs, and records dating back to the 1880's.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Admission and entrance into the Western Canada Aviation Museum, Winnipeg Railway Museum, and the Fire Service Museum of Winnipeg
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/1163505804_becd37cdd9.jpg

In Plain View Winnipeg - Artists' Studio Tours

(3 hours)

You are invited into the world, homes, and studios of Winnipeg visual artists and see where they live and work. This tour highlights the wonderful cultural diversity of this city whose neighborhoods are home to local artists, where they pursue their chosen creative careers. Visit and chat with the artists about their artwork in their studio environments from basements to self contained studios. Sneak a peek into their world, where you will experience art in many media - paintings, ceramics, sculpture, watercolor, printmaking, glass art, jewellery-making, and more. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to experience an intimate look into the personal world of the artist and view original art in the setting in which it has been created.

Tour Includes:

  • 3 hour tour to local artist studios
  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Escorted tour throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Mural Tour of Winnipeg

(2 hours)

Since 1994, Winnipeg's Mural Program has been an integral part in keeping graffiti and grime off the walls of various city buildings. There have been over 200 award winning murals that have brought students, community groups, coal businesses and Government agencies together to bring art to the street. This cooperation of artists, students, and the business community creates a sense of pride for all citizens of Winnipeg. This tour allows you to view some of these excellent murals.

Tour Includes:

  • 2 hour guided mural tour throughout Winnipeg
  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cosmopolitan Winnipeg

(6-7 hours)

Winnipeg is a multicultural city. Come along as we learn about three of them. We will visit Oseredok, the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre. The centre was created to house a museum, archives, library and art gallery, and it's currently the largest Ukrainian cultural institution of its kind. Learn the art of pasanky in a hands-on workshop making your very own painted Ukrainian egg. Continue to the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach Manitoba. Drive outside the city and immerse yourself in the Mennonite way of life at this 40 acre site. You will tour the village and enjoy a traditional lunch. You will return to Winnipeg's French Quarter to visit the St. Boniface Museum. Originally built for the Grey Nuns who arrived in the Red River Colony in 1884, the structure is an outstanding example of Red River frame construction. The museum presents an impressive collection of artifacts that reveal the lives and culture of the Francophone and Métis communities of Manitoba, including a special exhibit about Louis Riel, the "father" of Manitoba. You will participate in a sash making workshop to take home as a handmade souvenir.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Tour escort throughout
  • Entrance into the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre, Mennonite Heritage Village, and the St. Boniface Museum
  • Workshop fees
  • Traditional Mennonite lunch

Note - other cultures can be added or replaced - contact Heartland Travel for more information

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Winnipeg Garden Tour (June - September only)

(3 hours)

Get away from it all on this peaceful and relaxing tour of some of Winnipeg's best known gardens. Surround yourself in beauty and see the the many flowers, grasses, pots, and plants that make these gardens truly beautiful. We will drive by some of Winnipeg's finest gardens and learn about some of the most popular flora that is grown in the region. We will also tour the lovely English Gardens and the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden at Assiniboine Park. We will guarantee you leave this tour with the knowledge and inspiration to create something unique at your own residence!

Tour Includes:

  • Guided 3 hour tour of some of the residential and public gardens in Winnipeg
  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Entrance into Assiniboine Park

Optional Inclusions:

  • Lunch can be included
  • Visit to a local garden centre

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs287.snc4/40704_418481314023_133705984023_4706413_3445626_n.jpg  

Magical Musical History Tour

(3 hours)

Roll up for the Magical Musical History Tour! Join local music historian and author John Einarson as he guides you through the streets of Winnipeg on a very unique one-of-a-kind tour of the city's illustrious rock 'n' roll history. See the house where Neil Young lived and began his song writing career, where he made his first recordings and played his first live performance; see the house where Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of the Guess Who wrote These Eyes, No Time, and others as well as where Burton Cummings composed Share The Land, Rain Dance, and more; see the school where Neil Young sat on the steps "and dreamed of being a star"; where Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) was first conceived; the house Terry 'Seasons in the Sun' Jacks grew up in; the spot where Neil Young met Joni Mitchell; plus much much more. The tour features a video of vintage photos and music as well as John's colorful stories and points of interest. In the 1960;s Winnipeg was the rock 'n' roll capital of Canada. See and hear why on this exciting tour.

Tour Includes:

  • 3 hour guided rock 'n' roll tour throughout Winnipeg
  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Parkland Mews Peregrine Falcon Recovery and Education Centre

(2 hours)

Parkland Mews is a one-of-a-kind Falconry and Bird of Prey Education Centre located just south of Winnipeg. Parkland Mews was established in 1995 and focuses on the recovery of the endangered Peregrine Falcon through a captive breeding and release program. Your time at Parkland Mews gives you a unique experience that allows you to interact and view Peregrine Falcons while also focusing on the recovery efforts of the endangered species. You will see an indoor flight demonstration by a Peregrine Falcon, learn the history and facts about falcons and the ancient art of falconry. Also you will see a Deutsch - Drahthaar which is a breed of dog well suited to tracking and flushing game birds. You then get to observe and participate in a re-creation of a hunt and learn why they make a great partner with the falcons.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Entrance into Parkland Mews plus interpretive program
  • Peregrine Falcon up close indoor flight demonstration
  • Deutsch - Drahthaar hunting demonstration
  • Tour escort throughout

Note - this tour can be combined with Fort Whyte Alive and / or Oak Hammock Marsh - a lunch can also be added - contact Heartland Travel for more information

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The French Quarter

(3 hours)

Across the Esplanade Riel from downtown Winnipeg and The Forks is St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter. This area has grown into a cultural centre for it is the largest French speaking population west of Quebec. You will see the St. Boniface Cathedral - Basilica. The original cathedral, built in 1908 was destroyed by fire in 1968. The remaining walls were incorporated into the design of the new church, creating a dramatic facade facing west across the Red River towards downtown Winnipeg. This is the resting place of Louis Riel, Métis leader and founder of the Province of Manitoba. You will then stand within the oldest building in Winnipeg and the largest oak log structure in North America, the St. Boniface Museum. The museum depicts the lives of the French and Métis people and was the former Grey Nuns Convent.

Tour Includes:

Transportation by highway equipped motor coach

Entrance into the St. Boniface Museum

Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Winnipeg Arts Scene

(6 - 7 Hours)

You will start with a fascinating peek into the studios of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School where the students of the RWB learn the practice art of dance. You will get an inside look at the wardrobe and shoe departments and get a glimpse of the students of the world renowned company rehearsing from the observation room. After the ballet school, you will continue to Ted Motyka's Dance Studio, the same studio used in the filming of "Shall we Dance" with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere. Learn to "shake it up" with your very own private dance lesson. Lunch will be held at Brio's on the upper level of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG). Following lunch, you will head for a guided tour of the WAG. Established in 1912, the WAG is western Canada's oldest public art gallery, mandated to develop and maintain Manitoba's visual arts heritage. As one of Canada's leading galleries, it collects and exhibits works of art by Manitoba, Canadian, and International artists. Time will be allowed for a quick stop in their Gallery Shoppe to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Tour of Royal Winnipeg Ballet School
  • Dance lesson at Ted Motyka's Dance Studio
  • Lunch at Brio's
  • Entrance into the WAG
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Shop Till You Drop

(5 hours)

Get ready to shop till you drop today! Start your day in the historic Exchange District of Winnipeg. This area of the city is known as the original centre of commerce and culture in the early boom years of Winnipeg. The stores and galleries in the district are located in historic buildings and warehouses that have even been used as Hollywood movie backdrops and sets. Stores in the Exchange District include: galleries, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and antiques. After this, head to the Nygard Fashion World. Brands you'll shop for include: Nygard, Alia, Tanjay, and Bianca that are at great everyday low prices. After Nygard, head to Osborne Village for an eclectic mix of chic and shabby! Osborne Village is a unique place concentrated on four city blocks and has many boutiques, cafes, and specialty stores. After Osborne Village, head to Corydon Avenue, also known as Winnipeg's Little Italy. Known for its Italian restaurants and gelato shops, Corydon Avenue also has some great shopping. Once you are finished here, head to Academy Road. This area of the city is known for its specialty food shops and wine stores.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation to / from your hotel by motor coach to:
    • The Exchange District
    • Nygard Fashion World
    • Osborne Village
    • Corydon Avenue
    • Academy Road
  • Tour escort throughout

Note - lunch can be added in as well as a visit to a mall - contact Heartland Travel for more shopping suggestions and ideas

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Amazing Place Winnipeg

(4 hours)

The Amazing Place adapted from reality TV, is now available for your team building development. Amazing Place Winnipeg integrates communication skills, strategy, teamwork, and a race against the clock. Suitable for everyone, as no special skills , athletic ability, or experience is required. Amazing Racers navigate, problem solve, and strategize together while completing Amazing Race styled challenges and questions.

Sites that could be used are:

  • The Manitoba Museum
  • The Manitoba Legislative Building
  • St. Boniface Cemetery
  • Western Canada Aviation Museum
  • The Forks National Historic Site of Canada
  • And much more

Teams will receive envelopes upon arrival at each of the sites listing various questions or tasks they must perform or locate within a specified time. Scores are tallied upon completion and a winning team is declared at the end of the day!

Tour Includes:

  • Fully escorted and supervised by Heartland staff
  • Chartered bus for travel to each site / attraction
  • Any applicable admissions into the attraction / sites
  • Supplies to complete individual tasks

Tour options that could be included:

  • Colored bandanas for team participants
  • Bottled water for participants
  • Prizes for the winning team

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Fort Whyte Alive

(3 hours)

Come and explore this nature centre showcasing more than 600 acres or prairie, lakes, forest and wetlands. Highlights include a 40 head bison prairie exhibit, hiking trails with a bison viewing mound, family tree house, bird feeding stations, songbirds, deer, prairie dog compound, and floating boardwalks. The Interpretive Centre is home to the Aquarium of the Prairies, indoor bee hives, dioramas and much more. Upon arrival at Fort Whyte, interpreters will provide the group with a brief background of the centre and indicate its mission and mandate. You will also tour the Alloway Reception Centre and receive an explanation of resource efficient construction materials, and operating systems. In addition, you will be taken on a People of the Prairies walk. This will include history of the plains bison and the Aboriginal relationship with them. You will explore the "bison box" demonstrating Aboriginal use for bison, visit the buffalo rubbing stone, pioneer sod house, Red River cart, Aboriginal encampment, bison viewing mound, and the buffalo hunt drive lane.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Entrance into Fort Whyte Alive
  • Tour guide throughout

Note - more tour options are available at Fort Whyte - contact Heartland Travel for these options if the above does not suit your groups needs

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Historical Voyageur Canoe Tour

(4 hours)

You will trace the route of the Voyageurs and discover fascinating facts about Winnipeg's early history during this memorable tour on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. People have been drawn to the "Forks", the junction of the two rivers and the exact spot where they city was founded. For over 6,000 years, this is where your tour begins. Learn the history of the First Nations People who first settled in the area. You will then cross the Red River to visit the grave of Louis Riel whom many consider to be the founder of the province of Manitoba and learn of the role he played in the Northwest Rebellions of 1869 - 70 and 1885. Authentic Fort Gibraltar is the next stop where you will find out about the fierce competition between the Hudson Bay Company and the Northwest Company, two bitter fur trade rivals. The tour concludes at the Forks or Alexander docks where one can continue exploring the province's history with an optional visit to the Manitoba Museum.

Groups of 6-10 will paddle in a reproduction of a Voyageur canoe while groups of 2-3 people will travel in heritage cedar and canvas canoes. The length of the tour is between 3 and 4 hours. Picnic lunches and souvenir Voyageur sashes are optional while soft drinks and water is provided.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by Voyageur canoe
  • Tour guide throughout
  • Entrance and interpretive programs
  • Soft drinks and water

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Oak Hammock Marsh

(4 hours)

Oak Hammock Marsh has been voted one of "Canada's Best Outdoor Sites" awarded by Attractions Canada. The facility is a birder's paradise set in a reclaimed 36-square kilometer marsh and tall grass prairie setting. Oak Hammock Marsh provides home for more than 295 species of birds and thousands of species of mammals, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. You will start in the Interpretive Centre with a 5 minute introductory film, then a 45 minute guided tour of the exhibits followed by a 45 minute guided canoe tour outside in canoes to see some wildlife. There will also be time to visit the Marsh gift shop to purchase some unique gifts and collectable's.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Tour guide throughout
  • Entrance into Oak Hammock Marsh
  • Interpretive program

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Mennonite Heritage Village and Royal Canadian Mint

(4-5 hours)

The Mennonite Heritage Village brings to life the Mennonite way if life from the 16th century to present day. The forty acre site spreads out from a village street, in a pattern reminiscent of Mennonite villages found throughout southern Manitoba illustrating the early settlement buildings and the gradual shift to various business enterprises. See Canada's only working windmill and enjoy a traditional Mennonite lunch before you journey back to the future to the Royal Canadian Mint. The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, is a high-tech, high volume manufacturing facility. All of Canada's circulation coinage is produced here, literally billions of coins each year. You will see all their state-of-the-art equipment in action and have the opportunity to lift and hold a gold bar worth over $300,000! Browse their boutique for exclusive gifts and collectible items.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Entrance into the Mennonite Heritage Village
  • Lunch at the Mennonite Heritage Village
  • Entrance into the Royal Canadian Mint
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Lower Fort Garry and River Road

(4 hours)

Visit historical Lower Fort Garry. Relive the drama of the 19th century fur trade era at this National Historic Site of Canada. Lower Fort Garry is the oldest stone fur trade centre still intact in North America. Upon arrival, you will be taken to the theatre in the visitor's centre for a welcome speech and film. Following the film you will be taken on a guided interpretive walk outside, through several of the resorted fort buildings such as the Big House, home to the Associate Governor of Rupert's Land and the Hudson's Bay Company, fur loft building where pelts of fox, wolf, beaver, raccoon and other animals are stored. Other highlights include the men's house, guest cottage, blacksmith's shop, farm manager's cottage and native encampment. Upon completion of the Lower Fort Garry tour, board the bus and begin your drive down the Red River Road Heritage Parkway. You stop briefly at Lockport with its historic St. Andrews Lock and Dam, pass by Captain Kennedy House Museum (built in 1866 by Captain William Kennedy, an explorer, entrepreneur and trader), St. Andrews-on-the-Red Anglican Church (the oldest stone church in Western Canada) and the St. Andrew's Rectory National Historic Park.

Tour Includes:

  • Transportation by highway equipped motor coach
  • Entrance into Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada
  • Guided tour of Rover Road Heritage Parkway
  • Tour guide throughout

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Hermetic Code Tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building

(1.5 hours)

Do you ever wonder why the Manitoba Legislative Building has sphinxes on it? Have you wanted to learn about the symbols and hidden meanings behind the mystical architecture of the building? Join your guide for a tour of decoding the famous symbols and architecture that makes the building truly unique. Meet inside the building and begin your understanding of this magnificent building. Your guide will uncover trails of occult clues concealed in the buildings architecture including: hidden hieroglyphic inscriptions, numerical codes, and Freemasonic symbols so intelligently masked it has escaped historians and visitors for nearly a hundred years! Is it possible that the Manitoba Legislative Building is really a conduit of magical power? Is this building's location in the centre of North America a site for numerous earth energies? Come and find out for yourself!

Tour Includes:

  • One and half hour guided Hermetic Code tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building
  • Meeting with Frank Albo (if he is the one doing the tour)

Note - Tours can be customized to include a slide show presentation prior to the tour at a pre-determined location - this is done by Frank Albo only - contact Heartland Travel to find out about his schedule of when he is in Winnipeg - if Frank Albo is not in town, then another tour guide will conduct your tour

__________________________________________________________________________________________________