Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/59721
WINNIPEG 21 Nature Playground – Assiniboine Park THE HEART OF THE CONTINENT Steeped in history and heritage, Manitoba's capital city is also a flush with cultural riches. Arts and entertainment, sports, fine dining, casinos, shopping, nightlife and even wildlife are abundant in our urban playground. Aboriginal encampments date back 6,000 years at The Forks, at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, and the site is still a hub of community life, with its scenic riverwalk, shops, restaurants and attractions such as the Children's Museum. At the geographic centre of North America, Winnipeg is a bustling centre of culture and commerce. The future home of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Forks also hosts the Pride Winnipeg Festival, Canada Day festivities and the International Children's Festival. The Exchange District, with its 19th century architecture, art galleries, nightclubs, theatres and eclectic cafés and shops, comes alive in summer. Thousands of theatre fans flock to the Winnipeg International Fringe Theatre Festival in July, and jazz fans take in free concerts at the futuristic Cube in Old Market Square during the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival in June. Family-friendly attractions nearby include the Manitoba Museum, Planetarium & Science Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Manitoba Legislative Building, where Hermetic Code tours explore the historic building's mystic architectural origins. The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera and a thriving theatre community that includes the outdoor Rainbow Stage fill the performing arts bill. Assiniboine Park's Children's Nature & Adventure Playground is a must-see and you'll want to take a boo at the Zoo, which is now home to the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. There's more wildlife at Fort Whyte Alive, an urban refuge for deer, bison and waterfowl. And no visit is complete without a walking tour of the French quarter of St. Boniface. Its historic attractions, scenic walkways and romantic bistros are yours to discover. Sports enthusiasts have a lot to cheer about with Winnipeg Jets hockey, Goldeyes baseball and Blue Bombers football teams. And golfers and skateboarders alike enjoy world-class facilities. In June, kids of all ages take to the midway at the Red River Ex, which is just a few furlongs away from thoroughbred horse racing action at Assiniboia Downs. Royal Winnipeg Ballet