5 UNWIND ALONG THE RIVER Along the Assiniboine River corridor in the centre of Brandon is a network of 17 kilometres of trails and the Riverbank Discovery Centre, which encourages locals and visitors to connect with this river ecosystem that defines the land. The newly designed Festival Park features a covered outdoor stage with amphitheatre-style seating and picnic shelters. It has become a gathering place for seasonal celebrations such as Canada Day fireworks and a winter ice skating oval. Stop in the visitor interpretive centre to browse or head down to the water's edge to rent a kayak and explore the river and wildlife up close.
6 ADMIRE ART The Art Gallery of Southwestern
7 EXPLORE THE GRAND VALLEY Grand Valley is a tiny provincial park and campground hidden
Manitoba is an arts and culture hub in the historic downtown that's definitely worth popping into. Check out the latest exhibit in the main gallery space, which regularly features local works. The downtown is also dotted with eye-catching (yet faded) ghost signs painted on the side of buildings, a nod to Brandon's prosperity at the turn of the 20th century. More recently, a handful of modern art murals have popped up, re-energizing the streets and providing Instagram-worthy photo ops. Brandon Tourism offers a great self-guided walking tour of the murals on their website. You can see most murals in the downtown vicinity in a 45-minute walk. For the artisan types, the annual Apple + Pine Market is a much anticipated craft show that happens every fall and is a great way to find a souvenir while supporting local.
away in the Assiniboine River valley just west of Brandon along the Trans Canada Highway. It's worth a stop to check out Stott National Historic Site, a former bison impoundment and Indigenous village. Interpretive signs along the 1.5-km self-guiding Buffalo Chase trail explain the process of a historical bison hunt and its significance to the First Nations and Métis communities of the area. A viewing tower also gives visitors a wonderful look at the scenic river valley.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN BRANDON’S VIBRANT ART SCENE AT THE ART GALLERY OF SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA.
SAVOUR MANITOBA | SPRING/SUMMER 25 21
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