8 Things to Do in Winnipeg on a Quick Road Trip Stop

If you’re driving across Canada and planning a stop in Manitoba’s capital city, this list of things to do in Winnipeg goes beyond the main highlights. We’ve included a mix of well-known attractions and a few lesser-known experiences we found during our visit. Some are free, some have a small entry fee, but all are easy to enjoy as a family.

You’re probably already planning to visit the Assiniboine Park zoo, The Forks, and probably also the Human Rights Museum. But Winnipeg has so much more to offer: interactive galleries, floating boardwalks, and even a butterfly garden inside a botanical dome.

We first visited Winnipeg during our second road trip across Canada. We had three nights and four full days to explore the city and its surroundings, and we packed a lot in. This guide pulls together our favourite family-friendly stops to help you plan your own adventure.

P.S. If you drive to Winnipeg from the East, please don’t miss the Whiteshells Provincial Park and the Center of Canada Park (one of the best roadside attractions on a cross-country road trip!)

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Things to Do in Winnipeg downtown

1. Walk Through History in Old Saint-Boniface

Just across the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge, you’ll step into Saint-Boniface, It’s Winnipeg’s French Quarter and home to the largest Francophone community in Western Canada. The vibe changes as soon as you cross the river, with European-style buildings, cafés, and heritage landmarks. 

It’s like the Quebec City of the West.

We joined a 1h30 guided walking tour that starts at Tourisme Riel and includes stops like the Saint-Boniface Cathedral ruins, City Hall, and the Collège Universitaire. It’s a great way to learn about the area’s French-Canadian and Métis history, including the life of Louis Riel.

🗺️ Family tip: To be honest, my kids were a bit too young to fully appreciate it, but I loved every minute of it. If you have younger kids, consider walking part of the route on your own so you can go at your own pace.

The tour ended at the Saint-Boniface Museum.

Saint-Boniface Museum

Housed in Winnipeg’s oldest building, the Saint-Boniface Museum is a small but powerful stop, especially if you’re exploring French and Métis heritage. Inside, you’ll find artifacts, photos, and exhibits that tell the story of Louis Riel, the Métis leader who played a major role in Manitoba’s history.

2. Eat, Shop & Relax at The Forks Market

The Forks Market is one of the best spots in Winnipeg for a family-friendly lunch break. It’s a vibrant food hall inside a former train warehouse, filled with local vendors, coffee shops, and unique eats… all in one cozy, casual space.

We grabbed lunch at Wienerpeg (hot dogs + pulled pork sandwiches = happy kids), followed by frozen yogurt from Fro-Gurts and a latte from Fools & Horses. It was nice that everyone could choose what they wanted and sit down together in the shared seating area. No restaurant battles here.

You’ll also find small shops selling books, games, and gifts.

💡 Note: All Forks parking lots are paid. Don’t forget to grab a ticket!

3. Explore History at The Forks National Historic Site

Right next to the market, the Forks National Historic Site is a large green space packed with history, art, and room to roam. This riverside spot has been a gathering place for over 6,000 years, and today it blends public art, historic landmarks, and family play areas.

You’ll find interactive sculptures, a recreated prairie garden, and a viewing platform where you can watch the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. If you’re traveling with young kids, don’t miss the Fort Parka playground. It has a boat structure and water features that are a big hit in warmer months.

During summer, you might catch a guided Parks Canada tour, but you can also explore on your own using their free self-guided tour. During our visit, we enjoyed some of the Parks’ Canada displays.

🧭 Family tip: Look out for the iconic red Parks Canada chairs scattered around the site. There are two sets of red chairs at the Forks National Historic Site. And don’t miss the Winnipeg Sign (located near the main festival stage).

4. Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is one of Winnipeg’s most iconic buildings (it’s worth a visit just to admire the architecture). And it’s the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to human rights. 

While the topics can be heavy, the museum does a great job of making the experience interactive and accessible, even for school-age kids.

There’s a motion-activated light game on the second floor that was a big hit with our kids, and the architecture itself is fun to explore. And don’t miss the glass elevator ride up to the Tower of Hope. The view over the city is amazing.

That said, if you’re visiting with younger children, some of the exhibits might go over their heads. During our visit, we didn’t stay as long as I wanted, because the kids were getting bored sadly. It’s still a valuable stop, especially if you’re ready to have meaningful conversations afterward.

You can check the museum’s website for age-specific guides or suggested routes for families.

Are you planning on visiting a few museums while in Winnipeg?
If so, you might want to consider purchasing the Winnipeg Attraction Pass. This pass will give you access to 5 of the most popular attractions in Winnipeg including Manitoba Museum,  Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Royal Canadian Mint and FortWhyte Alive.

5. Discover Science & Space at the Manitoba Museum

If you only visit one museum in Winnipeg with kids, make it the Manitoba Museum. It’s three attractions in one: the Museum Galleries, the Science Gallery, and the Planetarium. 

You can choose one section or bundle them together for a full afternoon of exploring. I would recommend planning for at least 2 hours (but you’ll most likely need more!)

Start with the Museum Galleries, where you’ll see wildlife dioramas, Indigenous artifacts, and the full-size replica of the Nonsuch, a 17th-century trading ship docked in a recreated port town. It’s one of the most impressive museum exhibits we’ve seen in Canada.

Then head downstairs to the Science Gallery, where kids can test pulleys, build bridges, and try hands-on experiments. If you have time, the Planetarium offers live and narrated shows about space.

 💡 Free street parking is limited—give yourself a few extra minutes to find a spot

Enjoy Dinner in the Exchange District

After visiting the Manitoba Museum, why not enjoy a good meal in the Exchange District. This historic neighborhood is full of charm, with brick warehouses, boutique shops, and a growing list of family-friendly restaurants and it’s just a quick walk from the Manitoba Museum. 

We ate at Corrientes Argentine Pizzeria, and it was delicious. The pizzas are baked fresh with a South American twist, and the empanadas were a big hit with the kids. The vibe is casual and welcoming.

Other Things to Do Around Winnipeg

6. Get Outside at FortWhyte Alive

FortWhyte Alive is a huge outdoor space with trails, lakes, wildlife, and tons of hands-on experiences for kids. It’s the parking place to get into nature without leaving the city.

You can walk across the floating boardwalk, spot the resident bison herd, and let the kids grab a net to scoop for critters near the water. There’s also a Nature Centre with interactive exhibits and an onsite café if you need a snack break.

We loved how calm and open it felt. It was the perfect stop after a few days of museums and city sights.

The trails are stroller-friendly, and there are plenty of benches if you need to take breaks along the way.

If you’re hungry after walking one of the many trails at FortWhyte Alive, you can grab lunch (or a snack) at Buffalo Stone Cafe.

7. Climb Inside Planes at the Royal Aviation Museum

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is a great stop if your kids are into planes, engines, or just love to climb and explore. The bright, modern space features more than 20 aircraft, including bush planes, passenger jets, and helicopters, some of which you can actually sit inside.

There’s a Kids’ Zone with hands-on aviation-themed activities and a fun flight simulator for older kids. Outside, when the weather’s good, little ones can try the pedal planes.

✈️ Family tip: The Royal Aviation Museum is located near the airport, so it’s a great stop before or after your flight if you have extra time.

8. Take a Tour of the Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is where every single Canadian circulation coin is made (there is one in Winnipeg and one in Ottawa). And it’s a surprisingly fun and educational stop for families.

You can only visit the Mint on a guided tour, which lasts about 45 minutes and includes a look at the coin-making process from start to finish. We learned that they also make coins for more than 70 other countries!

Kids can see real gold bars, touch displays, and watch machines in action behind glass. The guides are engaging and explain things in a way that works for both adults and school-age kids.

Younger kids might lose interest toward the end, but the first half is very visual and interactive.

Final Thoughts: What to Do in Winnipeg?

Winnipeg surprised us….in the best way possible. We came in with a short list of things to see and left with way more memories than we expected and a strong desire to visit again!

The city offers a mix of outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, and easy wins for families.  While some attractions like The Forks or the Zoo are well known, others—like FortWhyte Alive or the Royal Canadian Mint—felt like hidden gems we were glad we didn’t skip.

My boys LOVED the Aviation Museum, FortWhyte Alive and the Manitoba Museum… and of course everything we did at Assiniboine Park. I personally LOVED visiting Saint-Boniface (as a French-Canadian, everything related to  French culture and language interests me!).  

We visited over four days, and we’d absolutely come back. There’s still more to explore, and for families crossing the country or just passing through Manitoba, Winnipeg is 100% worth the stop.