Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/514227
11 wim with beluga whales, come face-to-face with majestic polar bears and marvel at the spectral aurora borealis during an adventure in Manitoba's North. Each season brings enchanting new experiences, from early spring when mother bears and cubs emerge from their dens south of Churchill, to late fall when male bears spar on the shore of Hudson Bay while they wait for their winter hunting grounds to freeze over. In summer, beluga whales gather by the thousands in the Churchill and Seal River estuaries to give birth to calves, feed and enjoy exfoliating body scrubs on sand and rocks in the shallows. Known as canaries of the sea for their songs and chirps, belugas are curious and friendly. Whether you're seated in a kayak, on board a Zodiac boat or swimming among them in a dry suit, you'll swear the Zen-like whales are smiling when they swim over to get a closer look at you. Polar bears can swim for more than 100 kilometres at a stretch, but you're most likely to lock eyes with North America's largest predator on land, particularly in October and November, when they gather in large numbers at the bay. Guides say they never tire of seeing guests' faces light up at their first sighting of a bear, but save space on your camera — there are always more to come. Tour operators offer everything from photography excursions to all- encompassing tours that include bird- watching, swimming with belugas and polar bear viewing aboard tundra vehicles equipped with observation decks. You can add a helicopter tour to get an aerial view, and there are many more area attractions. Northern Manitoba's diverse ecosystem supports three species of fox, Arctic hare, caribou and some 30 other mammals. Hundreds of species of birds including owls, ptarmigan, snow geese and gulls thrive where the boreal forest meets the southern edge of the Arctic tundra, and the fishing is fine where freshwater rivers spill into Hudson Bay. Embark on a dog-sledding ride, tour the 18th-century Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site and Cape Merry, and visit the Eskimo Museum or Arctic Trading Post to peruse collections of Aboriginal and Inuit art and artifacts dating from 1700 BC. The Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre at the Churchill Heritage Railway Station contains exhibits on the human and natural history of the area, along with helpful staff and interpretive programs. And you can immerse yourself in a northern experience with a learning vacation at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, where you can focus on everything from birds and winter ecology to the aurora borealis and, naturally, polar bears and belugas. Wapusk Adventures focuses on bird- watching tours to see hundreds of species such as the rare Ross's gull, golden eagles and tundra swans. Sea North Tours has Zodiac boats and a 32-passenger tour boat that's specially designed to run quietly and safely among beluga whales. And Frontiers North Adventures' Big 5 Safari is named for its quest for polar bears, beluga whales, black bears, bison and moose. Both the Big 5 Safari and Churchill Nature Tours' Marvels of Manitoba Tour include a jaunt to Riding Mountain National Park before guests head to Churchill for beluga-watching excursions and polar bear viewing treks. Frontiers North is one of two companies licensed to operate within Wapusk National Park. Guests can maximize their time on the tundra with overnight stays in sleeper units on board the train-like Tundra Buggy® Lodge and rise with the sun to take Tundra Buggy tours during the day. The Wat'chee Lodge is open for a short time each spring, when indigenous guides lead photography excursions as mothers and cubs emerge from Wapusk's world-famous polar bear denning area. Outside park boundaries, an escort provides expert tips during photography tours with the Great Canadian Travel Company, which offers a range of services in all seasons. Churchill Wild operates three secluded fly-in lodges with viewing towers and deluxe accommodations for small groups. Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge is close to a huge denning area 250 kilometres southeast of Churchill. The secluded Dymond Lake Eco Lodge, 30 kilometres north of Churchill, offers guests a variety of bear-spotting options, and the Birds, Bears and Belugas tour at the Seal River Heritage Lodge includes snorkelling adventures with whales and daily ground-level excursions to see birds and bears from July until mid-November. You can start the day with a hearty breakfast at Gypsy's Bakery & Restaurant, and cap it S off with dinner in front of a roaring fire at the Lazy Bear Lodge, or with a pint and eclectic game-based pub fare at the Tundra Inn. The Lazy Bear Lodge offers polar bear viewing treks as well as a three-day Wilderness Expedition — an adventure on the South Knife River, where you may run into rapids as well as black bears, moose and wolves. Spend a week, or take a whirlwind one-day trip to see the highlights. Frontiers North Adventures and Heartland Day Tours offer one-day excursions from Winnipeg that allow for a full-day on a Tundra Buggy. > everythingchurchill.com Northern