Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives May 30 2015, Page 105

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 30, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE E6 L o o k i n g f o r m o r e i d e a s o f t h i n g s t o d o whi l e ou t a n d abou t i n S ou t hw e s t M a n i t oba ? Be sure to v isit u s on li ne a t ww w. touris mw estman. c a an d re qu es t a co py o f th e 20 15 S ou th we st Man it ob a Tr av el Guide . Biking at Turtle Mountain Provincial Park Canoeing at William Lake Swimming at Adam Lake Where in Manitoba can you find rolling hills, lush wetlands, mixed grass prairie, hardwood forests and even sand dunes? Why, the parks of the Westman region are home to these diverse landscapes, which make this the perfect summer destination for all kinds of outdoor adventures. One of Manitoba’s most popular parks is Spruce Woods Provincial Park ( manitobaparks. com ). And while you can find all sorts of trails for cycling or horseback riding through this park’s blue green spruce forests, the surprise here is the five kilometre square tract of blowing sand dunes that rise 30 metres above the surrounding prairie. This desert area is home to Manitoba’s only lizard – the prairie skink – as well as the Western hognose snake and two species of cacti. Hike through the sand and to the Devil’s Punch Bowl, an eerie pond formed by underground streams before retiring for the night at one of the park’s many campsites. Stop in Carberry ( townofcarberry. ca ) just 15 minutes from the park to check out the Gingerbread House, a charming Queen Anne style home and garden. The small but beautiful Rivers Provincial Park ( riversdaly. ca ), just 40 km north of Brandon, is located on Lake Wahtopanah, which means “ canoe people”. So head out on the water for a leisurely paddle or to fish for pike, walleye, and perch. The park has fully serviced campsites, a beach, and concession. The nearby town of Rivers offers loads of recreation, including golf, tennis and boating. The rolling hills of Turtle Mountain Provincial Park ( manitobaparks. com ) rise up 245 metres from the prairie and are dotted by more than 200 lakes and wetlands. Watch for moose, white- tailed deer and beaver along the trails – which range easy to challenging. Hikers that conquer the steep trail to Turtle’s Back summit are rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of southwest Manitoba. For fishing fans, stocked waters at Bower and William Lake are popular for smallmouth bass, and rainbow and brown trout, and pike fishing is particularly good at Adam Lake. Visit the nearby communities of Killarney ( killarney. ca ) – home to the Shamrock Drive- In with nightly movies and July and August, and Boissevain ( boissevain. ca ) – with its giant outdoor art gallery featuring over 20 murals. Get your 2015 Westman Discovery Passport Having a chance to explore heritage and history at 25 museums in Southwest Manitoba is a reward all its own, but you could also win prizes when you have your passport stamped at one of the museums in the Westman Discovery Passport guide until Oct. 15. Collect eight stamps to be eligible to win a deluxe weekend for two at Elkhorn Resort Spa & Conference Centre, valued at $ 1,000. Collect four stamps to enter two draws for mini iPads, and just two stamps for a chance to win Tourism Westman Passport T- shirts! Download a passport at tourismwestman. ca or find one in the Southwest MB Travel Guide. WESTMAN EVENTS PICK UP YOUR FREE COPY OF THE 2015 Westman Passport! Visit participating Museums from May - October and receive stamps for a chance to win some GREAT PRIZES! Av ai la bl e st ar ti ng M ar ch 2 01 5 at P ar ti ci pa ti ng P ar tn er L oc at io ns , va ri ou s Re gi on al T ou ri sm B oo th s an d Tr av el M B To ur is m Bo ot hs a cr os s Ma ni to ba . Al so a va il ab le f or d ow nl oa d at to ur is mw es tm an . c a Participating Locations are: Antler River Historical Society Museum, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Beckoning Hills Museum, Brandon General Museum & Archives, Carberry Plains Museum, Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Daly House Museum, Elgin Museum, Hart – Cam Museum, Hillcrest Museum, International Peace Garden, Irvin Goodon Wildlife Museum, J. A. V. David Museum, Manitoba Automobile Museum, Minnedosa Heritage Museum, The Moncur Gallery, The Plum Museum, The RCA Museum, The Seton Centre, Shoal Lake Mounted Police Museum, Souris Railway Museum, Strathclair Museum, Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Museum, Virden Pioneer Home Museum, Waskada Museum Discover Westman! Westman’s WONDERFUL WILDERNESS June 3 – 7 Manitoba Summer Fair ( Brandon) June 13- 14 Celebrity Golf Tournament ( Miniota) July 1 Canada Day Actvities ( various communities) July 10- 12 Ag Fair & Rodeo ( Souris) Minnedosa Fun Fest ( Minnedosa) July 11 Gallery In The Garden ( Birtle) July 11 – 12 Minnedosa Agricultural Fair ( Minnedosa) July 15 Shoal Lake Ag Society Fair ( Shoal Lake) July 18- 19 Deloraine Fair & Races ( Deloraine) Shirt Sleeve Classic Curling Bonspiel ( Miniota) July 23 – 26 Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede ( Austin) July 24 – 26 Brandon Folk Festival ( Brandon) July 25 Plumas Agricultural Fair ( Plumas) July 31 – Aug 1 Birtle Agricultural Fair ( Birtle) July 31 – Aug 2 Ponderosa Days ( Cartwright) Rockin’ the Fields ( Minnedosa) Rivers Provincial Park E_ 06_ May- 30- 15_ FT_ 01. indd E6 5/ 29/ 15 1: 42: 22 PM