Stop in St. Boniface for brunch and a stroll

Start your day in Winnipeg's French neighbourhood, St. Boniface, to fuel up for the day. You’ll find this historic neighbourhood just across the Provencher Bridge, but once you’re there it feels like another world.

Fuel up at La Belle Baguette, a charming bakery and café known for flaky croissants, decadent quiches and rich croque monsieur sandwiches. Don’t leave without picking up a pumpkin spice croissant (available September only!), pear almond danish, maple chai crème brûlée cookie or an ube croissant. Wash it down with a latte, cappuccino or hot chocolate and don’t forget to purchase a few extra pastries for the road.

If the sun’s out, grab a seat on the leafy patio and take in the view of heritage homes and tree-lined streets. Then stretch your legs with a short walk through the neighbourhood. The Université de Saint-Boniface campus is particularly lovely this time of year and Taché Avenue offers a peaceful view of the Red River through fall-coloured trees.

A short stroll away, you’ll find one of Manitoba’s most iconic landmarks – Saint Boniface Cathedral. Originally built in 1818, it's the oldest cathedral site in Western Canada. While fire destroyed much of the grand 1908 structure, its majestic stone façade and partial walls still stand, offering a dramatic backdrop to the newer cathedral that was thoughtfully designed by architect Étienne Gaboury in 1972. Located at 190 avenue de la Cathédrale, the site invites quiet reflection, especially in autumn when the surrounding trees change colour.

Visit St. Adolphe for fall fun in the fields

Next head south of Winnipeg to the town of St. Adolphe and to everyone's favourite fall destination, A Maze in Corn. This family-friendly attraction boasts a winding corn maze, pumpkin barn, pony rides, hay rides, petting zoo and a hay bale climbing structure. Rubber boots for the corn maze are highly recommended. They also offer a haunted forest close to Halloween that will scare the boots right off you. Pro tip: the pumpkin barn, which opens early October, is the perfect spot to get some truly Insta-worthy fall photos of your little ones.

Take a stroll along the Friendship Trail, a 2.7 km loop that starts south of the Pierre Delorme Bridge and winds along the Red River through an ornithological reserve. This trail is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts who want to observe birds during their annual fall migration. Nearby, there’s a playground tucked in the woods for a perfect family fun forest adventure.

Final stop in St. Joseph for prairie history

Wrap up your day in St. Joseph, about an hour west of St. Adolphe. This quaint village is home to the Musée St. Joseph Museum. Set on 19 acres, the museum is a reconstructed pioneer village with more than 20 buildings to explore, including a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and general store. It also houses one of the largest collections of stationary engines in western Canada, along with a fascinating vintage camera exhibit. Be sure to check out the Laurent Fillion camera collection to see how this ubiquitous tool has transformed from its earliest forms to what it is today in little over a century.

Original blog by Nisha Tuli.