Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/161247
63 Go north to Thompson to learn more about the culture and tradition of Manitoba's northern First Nations at the Heritage North Museum. The log cabins display mounted animals, a boreal forest diorama, an authentic caribou hide tipi and a woolly mammoth tusk and fossil. Then follow Thompson's Spirit Way, a 2.5 km walking path that leads from the Heritage North Museum to 16 points of interest with historical, cultural, geological, industrial and artistic perspectives. Along the way, look for the 35 wolf statues painted by Manitoba artists that reflect the area's significance as a major wolf habitat. Also along the way you'll be hard pressed to miss the 10-storey mural of a wolf – a photo real 86-foot high reproduction of a Robert Bateman painting. DAY 5 Learn about Manitoba's Icelandic settlers in the Interlake community of Gimli – home to the New Iceland Heritage Museum. Its 18-foot mural, a historical painting that "comes to life" and other multi-media museum exhibits share the history of the region's people and nature. The kids will enjoy Saga & Legends gallery, complete with a pint sized reading room. M u lt i - D ay Fort Dauphin Museum See history live and in the flesh with a visit to H.P. Tergesen & Sons Store – the oldest operating store in Manitoba. Managed by fourth generation Tergesens, the building, including its pressed tin and hardwood floors reflect the era of its construction in 1899. Peruse the shop's collection of books, clothing, souvenirs and other general story merchandise. DAY 6 Complete your museum marathon in Morden at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre. This museum is home to Canada's largest collection of marine reptile fossils. While the museum's ever-popular fossil digs are on hold for the winter, see the fossils on display at the museum, including Bruce, a 43-foot long Mosasaur, who swam in the seawater that covered Manitoba 80 million years ago. Also on display at the museum is the world's first public exhibition of a woolly mammoth blood component. Heritage North Museum Spirit Way Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum D e s t i n at i o n P l a n n e r DAY 4 PHOTO: hans pfaff