Winnipeg, Manitoba - Golden

Winnipeg, Gateway to the Prairies Winnipeg is an iconic place! The capitol of Manitoba and the gateway to the prairies. Winnipeg is a stoic city situated in a golden sea of wheat. It's full of great art and architecture, it's got an intriguing history that was integral to the development of the country, and it's full of friendly people who embrace life and are proud to come from the 'Peg.' The GCAT crew had never been to Winnipeg before and didn't know what to expect. What we found was both invigorating and impressive. The name "Winnipeg" comes from the Cree First Nations people and means "muddy waters" from where the city was built at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. The Winnipeg area was a trading centre for Aboriginal Peoples prior to the arrival of Europeans, the French, who built their first fort there in 1738, and Winnipeg today is still one of the largest French speaking cities in Canada. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Winnipeg was one of the fastest growing cities in North America which laid the foundation for all the great architecture found in the city today. The University of Manitoba, founded during this period, was the first university in Western Canada and is still a catalyst for innovation and energy in the city now. Today culture and the arts were vibrant and world class, the restaurant menus spanned the globe, and the architecture is a stunning blend of both old and new. Plus, the GCAT crew was surprised with a few fabulous 'city secrets' our tour guide for the day, Don Finkbiner, enlightened us to on our tour of the city. A few of these included the Manitoba Legislative building which amazingly disguises itself as a temple, the bustling downtown corner of Portage and Main which was immortalized in the Winnipeg native Neil Young's song 'Prairie Town,' the grave of the famous revolutionary Louis Riel in a gorgeous spot next to the Red River, and the newest building project - the incredible Bilbao-esque human rights museum. All of these things just added to the allure of Winnipeg. By the time we said good-bye to Don and Winnipeg, the city ended up being the biggest surprise of all the cities we toured across Canada. Dynamic, beautiful, cultured and only getting better Winnipeg and all it's proud 'Peggers' had something to brag about -- thought the modest bunch never would. But the GCAT crew will do the bragging for them! Winnipeg is great and worth a visit. If you don't already know how great it is you'll be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy your visit! Visit our site: http://www.greatcanadianadventuretour.com/ Join us on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/GreatCanadianAdventureTour http://twitter.com/#!/CanadaAdventure