Things To Do in Winnipeg

U-Puttz Black Light Miniature Golf reimagines the prehistoric world, creating a scenario in which dinosaurs were hit with neon fluorescent fairy dust instead of a giant meteor. Visitors perfect putts across its 18 glow-in-the-dark holes passing by dinosaurs, deep-sea dwelling creatures, and craggy volcanoes. Inside glow party rooms, kids celebrate birthdays, snacking on burgers and hot dogs from the on-site eatery and practicing their reflexes on arcade games.

Since fur traders and explorers first voyaged along the shores, lakes, and rivers of the province, Manitoba has celebrated a rich tradition of sailing. At 1020 hours on August 5, 1965, a group of yachtsmen and sailors drew from this history to inaugurate the first provincial sailing association, embarking on a storied career of legendary races and regattas, expert-led lessons, and an expansion of a network of affiliated clubs. Throughout the years, mariners at Sail Manitoba have promoted the thrill and joy of sailing through a biannual magazine, admirable performances at boating competitions, and informative courses. With teams of CYA-certified instructors on hand at affiliated marinas, students can easily learn the figurative as well as very literal ropes of sailing, or brush up before their mandatory boaster licence exams.

World Soccer Academy's goal is to elevate Canadian soccer to an elite level with training regimens culled from the world's finest soccer programs. The Academy instills sound fundamentals in young trainees with the help of the Coerver Method, a methodology developed by the late Dutch soccer manager Wiel Coerver designed to develop skills in a pyramidal fashion, beginning with individual ball-handling and advancing to more nuanced material, such as group attack tactics and covert hand-balling.

Though committed to fostering young talent, the Academy's seven-stage player development program prescribes proper training methods for players of all ages. The Academy also sponsors WSA Winnipeg, a team of elite players that compete against squads from Toronto, Michigan, and St. Louis in the USL Premier Development League.

When red panda cub Kiah tumbled into the world in the summer of 2012, she joined both an endangered species and a family of zoo animals that number more than 2,000 and sort into nearly 200 different species. Kiah’s new home, Assiniboine Park Zoo, has been welcoming creatures like her for more than a century—the zoo traces its roots to 1904, when the city Parks Board acquired native animals such as bison and elk. In the decades since then, the zoo has spread over 80 acres, blossoming into one of Tourism Winnipeg’s Top 10 Must Sees.

Today, visitors can glimpse the stripes of a siberian tiger or a zebra, marvel at Asiatic lions, enjoy other big cats such as snow leopards and cougars. While passing through the tropical oasis of Toucan Ridge, they can peer at South and Central American animals and plants, such as caiman crocodiles and goeldi monkeys. Next door, air-locked entry vestibules open into the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden’s two 2,000-square-foot quonsets open from late spring to early autumn.

Although these exhibits are impressive, the zoo hasn’t been content to rest on its laurels. Instead, it has initiated a massive, multiyear construction project, the first part of which opened in January 2012: the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. Part of the upcoming 10-acre Journey to Churchill exhibit, the IPBC aids orphaned cubs from northern Manitoba, supports research efforts that help polar bears survive, and educates the public about the bears’ plight and our fragile Arctic ecosystem. Next up in the zoo’s construction plans is the Polar Playground—an interactive, indoor play area—will open in January 2013.

• For $99, you get an eight-session adult Learn-to-Row program (a $200 value). • For $125, you get a two-week, eight-session youth summer camp (a $250 value).

The Manitoba Paddling Association functions as the provincial sport governing body for local competitive canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boating. The association encourages the community to stay physically fit while still having fun through a variety of events such as races, year-round programs, and annual Dragon Boat festivals. Events change according to the season, and include summer camps that school beginners in the kayaking basics, spring training that introduces tougher techniques for competitive teams, and winter programs that offer opportunities to stay fit on shore, such as cross-country skiing, indoor circuit and strength training, and swimming laps in the snow.