If Vancouver is Canada’s version of Sydney, then Winnipeg is Melbourne. It’s undeniably trendy, with a strong craft-beer scene, a design quarter and a world-class museum. Add to that fab food and a focus on protecting (and showcasing) Canada’s wildlife and the ‘Peg, as the locals call it, rivals ‘Van City when it comes to culture.

Things to do

If you love hops, you’ll want to check out Winnipeg’s great breweries and microbreweries.

If you’re a history buff, call into churches and past relics, visit the city’s fascinating French Quarter (the French were in Winnipeg, you ask?) as learn about the Franco-Manitobans who helped shaped this wonderful city.

Visit the city’s award-winning museums, and head to the top of Israel Asper Tower of Hope for fantastic views of the city.

Wildlife

One of Manitoba’s biggest attractions is its wildlife, most notably the polar bear. Your first port of call to see these beautiful creatures should be Assiniboine Park and Zoo. Be sure to walk through the aquarium-like tunnel so you can see the cubs swimming around you. If it’s a warm day and you have kids in tow, check out the playground and pack a picnic to enjoy under the trees.

Once you’ve learnt a little about the bears, you’ll want to hop a flight to Churchill, a frontier town on the edge of sub-Arctic Canada. The residents share their world with wild – and huge – bears and you can go on a number of tours to get up close to them. Churchill is also the place to snorkel and kayak with pods of beautiful beluga whales – just be prepared for the cold.