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Winnipeg
with VIA Rail Canada's "Canadian" This www.hotelfun4kids.com
Visits ... was planned to highlight Winnipeg as a Family Vacation Destination and
explore train travel with kids on VIA Rail Canada.
Riding the Rails
with VIA Rail Canada
Our journey to Winnipeg began in Toronto, at
Union Station, a major hub for VIA Rail Canada trains
travelling to eastern and western Canada, as well as to the
United States via Amtrak.
Never having travelled by train with
children before, were were pleasantly surprised by the
relaxed atmosphere with which VIA Rail Canada's service
attendants welcomed our family aboard the
"Canadian", VIA Rail's western transcontinental
train.
As our journey to Winnipeg was an
overnighter we choose to travel with sleeper cars as
part of the "Silver and Blue" class. This
afforded our family two adjoining cabins with four berths as
well as all meals served in the dining car.
During the day, with the wall removed
between the two cabins, our quarters provided a spacious and
private place to watch the passing scenery and for the kids,
a place to spread out their toys and play. Each cabin
comes complete with a sink area and toilet. We found
it quite fascinating to note how compact and well equipped
the cabins were.
As the train left Union Station, our car's
service attendant helped us settled in our rooms, went over
the dinner seating and took a few moments to familiarize us
with the train before we settled back to enjoy the view.
The boys decided to take advantage of the
Activity Car as soon as possible. First it was up to
the Park Car's Panoramic Dome to check out the view and then
before long, Sarah, our activity co-ordinator
had them hooked up to the Nintendo, playing bingo and
provided them with VIA Rail's cardboard trains and activity
book.
Between enjoying the scenery and playing
chess in the activity car to taking advantage of the train
stops that allowed disembarking for some fresh air, a walk
up to the engine and grabbing some snacks for the kids, our
trip seemed to go very quickly. Go to Tips for Family Train Travel
for more tips on enjoying train travel with kids.
At night (or whenever you wish) our service
attendant arrived to open up the beds. We choose to
leave the
 adjoining wall down - it is stored in the wall, so
the beds would be doubles. I don't have to tell any parent who wanted
the top bunks, which was fine with us. At first I was
a little concerned about the boys falling out of the beds,
but low and behold, there are harnesses that attach to the
ceiling near the head of the bed for just that reason.
Dining on board the "Canadian" for
Silver and Blue
 passengers is part of what made this train
trip such a wonderful experience. The gracious
servers, delicious meals and the kid's menu with all their
favourite choices, catered to our whole
family.
After a great night's sleep we were
refreshed and ready for our arrival into Winnipeg, but
wishing we were continuing on to Vancouver, this train's
destination. We had such a great experience on VIA
Rail we were looking forward to the return trip home by
train.
See VIA Rail Canada offers ways for Families to Travel and Save with Summer "Kids Travel Free" and Seniors' "Take Someone for a Free Ride" Promotions.
Winnipeg's Kid-Friendly Attractions
Winnipeg, the Capital of Manitoba offers
families plenty of kid-friendly attractions to
explore.
The Forks
The first on our visit was The Forks, a
unique riverside gathering place that houses unique shopping
opportunities in The Forks Market and plenty of open space
for year round outdoor activities. Located downtown,
steps away from Union Station, seasonal events at The Forks
include outdoor skating and tobogganing in the winter as
well as concerts and festivals throughout the year. Go
to Current Events at The Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba
for more information.
The Forks is part of a 9 acre Historic Site
operated by Parks Canada dedicated to preserving the
significance of the side with year round walking
trails. The Manitoba Theatre for Young People also has
its home at The Forks. The Theatre's season runs from
mid October to Early June.
Don't miss riding the elevator to the top
of The Forks Market up to the lookout for a great view
of the area.
Manitoba Children's Museum
Also located at The Forks is the Manitoba
Children's Museum. Six large and two small permanent
exhibits foster the museum's mission of providing "An
environment that nurtures the power of the imagination and
the spirit of exploration and
self-discovery".
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The Television Studio grabbed our attention
at this Museum as we did our own
rendition of the news. |
Go to The Manitoba Children's Museum - A One of a Kind Museum in Western
Canada for more information.
Manitoba Museum
(formerly the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature)
To get a sense of Manitoba's history one of
the best places to start is the Manitoba Museum.
Immediately upon entering the
Museum the feeling of travelling back in time to Manitoba's
beginnings as you stand beneath the Bison display. The
layout of the galleries takes you into the various natural
regions of Manitoba through the beginnings of man's
influences on Manitoba and finally to the introduction of
trade and urbanization of the province. A focal point
of the Museum is the Nonsuch, a replica 17th century
Ketch.
Go to The Manitoba Museum - Manitoba's Heritage
Centre for more information.
The Museum also houses a Planetarium and
Science Centre that require separate admission or you can
purchase a Value Pass that includes one day admission to all
three sections.
If you are visiting the Museum with
children, the Science Centre is a must visit. There
are plenty of hands on interactive exhibits that parents and
kids can enjoy together. Our pick was the new Water
World centre. Here kids can play with boats, pumps and
more. While you may get wet, it is a lot of
fun 4 kids.
Assiniboine Park Zoo
 Assiniboine Park, located on the banks of
the Assiniboine River is the home of Assiniboine Park Zoo,
considered one of the world's coldest major zoos and known
for its collection of hardy creatures native to northern
North America and similar regions in Europe and
Asia.
This zoo offers families a pleasant stroll
at a very reasonable admission price with plenty of animals
to view. Of special interest for families with younger
children is the Kinsmen Discovery Centre which features
animals in their natural habitats, interactive displays and
a barnyard petting area.
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A statue dedicated to Winnie the Bear is
also located in the zoo and for kids who have grown up with
Winnie-the-Pooh, its a great opportunity to explore the
history behind the story. |
Family-Friendly Accommodations in
Winnipeg
During our visit to Winnipeg, we stayed at
Canad Inns Fort Garry, one of five Canad Inns locations in
Winnipeg that have received a rating of 4 under the Hotel
Fun 4 Kids™ Rating Program. Go to Canad Inns, Winnipeg, Manitoba - Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Rated Destinations
for details on each location and its facilities. Winnipeg Parent
Newsmagazine's readers recently choose Canad Inns as the "Best Winnipeg Hotels",
showing that we are not the only ones who think these hotels
are great for families and kids!
| Fort Garry offers 14 Themed family suites
that include a separate room with bunkbeds and Nintendo just
for the kids as well as the Canad Inns trademark feature of
the Splashers complex with pool, water slide and kiddy pool
See Canad
Inns - Children and Family Facilities. |
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While Winnipeg may be known as "Winterpeg" by
some, summer is a great time to visit this interesting city
and VIA Rail Canada's special summer family "Kids
Travel Free" and other promotions make taking the train
a great family experience.
For more information on VIA Rail Canada's summer
promotions go to VIA Rail Canada offers ways for Families to Travel and Save with Summer "Kids Travel Free" and Seniors' "Take Someone for a Free Ride" Promotions
One of the special features of www.hotelfun4kids.com"Visits
..." is the unique opportunity for you to ask us
questions about the Visit location. Go to www.hotelfun4kids.com/contactus.htm
to submit your question and we will do our best to answer
it.
Go to VIA Rail Canada's Policies, Fares and Services for Children on the Train
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