Summer 2020 is going to be the summer of day trip adventures for this family and I think a lot of other Winnipegers, as social distancing protocols limit the type of activities and events we can do. I have been mapping out and planning day trips that I can take the girls on weekly that have us back at home and in our own beds that night.
This week we headed west on Hwy 2 to Souris, MB to see their swinging bridge, approximately 3 hours from Winnipeg.
First, we stopped at five different towns to take pictures at their roadside attractions
1. Elm Creek, MB: World's Largest Fire Hydrant
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2. St. Claude, MB: World's Largest Smoking Pipe (the girls also really liked exploring the flower garden beside the pipe that included some unique bird houses and a little library)
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3. Treherne, MB: Glass Bottle Buildings (when we arrived the buildings were closed and we were given access because we were there at the right time, its possible that they may be closed to view the inside of the buildings but you'll still be able to see the outsides which are very unique and worth the stop)
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4. Holland, MB: Windmill (there is a miniature golf course that is open July and August from 10am to 8pm which you can buy tickets at the Windmill to play.)
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5. Glenboro, MB: Sara the Camel (we stopped at the Drive In restaurant approximately a block west on Hwy 2 from Sara the Camel for ice creams)
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Once we arrived in Souris it as time to explore
When we arrived in Souris my plan was to stop at the swinging bridge and head home. I quickly changed my mind when I realized how great the town was. Did you know that Souris host a population of PEACOCKS, what have earned the distinction as honorary ambassadors of their community? The peacocks roam free and you can hear their calls as you walk around town.
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Canada's Longest Swinging Suspension Bridge - 604 feet
Something many of you will be thrilled to hear, there is an open port-a-potty on the east side of the bridge where we parted because with little ones and road trips bathrooms because VERY important.
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Museums & Heritage Sites
On the west side of the bridge you can walk right over to Hillcrest Museum (where we found peacocks sitting on the porch roof, which startled the girls when he called out and made us laugh). It doesn't open until July 1st but the grounds where fun to walk and we got to look at the vintage fire engine and farm equipment.
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The Souris Railway Museum and The Plum - Heritage Church Museum (a beautiful purple building that my daughters loved) are just across the street from the Hillcrest's farm equipment area and also open in July.
Victoria Park
We headed back over the bridge and jumped in the van to drive over to Victoria Park. This would have definitely been something we could have walked from but as I wasn't sure how long the girls would last and in case I got lost (since it was my first time in exploring Souris) I thought it best to do it in the van. This is definitely a spot to check out when you are in town as its 50 acres along the banks of Plum Creek. When we pulled in there was a family set up shore fishing and others at the boat launch. We drove first to a parking lot close to the walking trail that led us up to the look out tower so we could get a panoramic view of the town/river. Girls loved it...I'm terrified of heights but I sucked it up to enjoy the view.
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Before we called it a day and headed home, we stopped at the Souris Elks Playground that is in Victoria Park after a lot of begging from the girls. This was a very nice playstructure that the girls LOVED playing at. And bonus...BATHROOMS! The bathrooms are located right behind the park and were open and operating when we were there.
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Souris Outdoor Pool
So one of the spots that weren't open yet because of COVID-19 that my girls REALLY wanted to visit was the Souris outdoor pool. We saw it when we were driving through the Victoria Park. I didn't grab any pictures of it but it has FOUR slides, a lazy river, and spray pad features in the shallow end. We will be packing our swim suits the next time we stop!
That's a Wrap
Overall the trip that is 3 hours straight trip from Winnipeg to Souris took us 10 hours! Five hours to get to Souris with all the stops along the way that included two bathroom breaks, two hours to explore and play in Souris, and then 3 hours to get home to Winnipeg. I hope you have fun when you take the trip and be sure to tag @mackidwinnipeg on Instagram if you post photos of your day trips. We look forward to our next adventure. Email me at carmenk@macaronikid.com if you have suggestions of where we should go.
