Have a Weekend Staycation at The Forks in Winnipeg

Posted June 10, 2024

Maybe you live in Winnipeg (and maybe have for your whole life) or maybe you live outside the city and are looking to shake things up--whichever it is, The Forks is an ideal spot to get away for a weekend. If you've never spent more than a few hours at a time here, you'll be delighted at how much there is to do.

Book a room

Conveniently located across from the The Forks Market, The Inn at the Forks is the perfect place to rest your head for a weekend. Spoil yourself and upgrade to a gold room and veg out in a pad that might have been larger than your first apartment. Along with plenty of space to stretch out, you'll be treated to stunning views of the city and surrounding area.

Visit the Forks Market

There's a reason The Forks welcomes more than four million visitors a year. With its myriad of shopping and dining options there is so much to explore. Head to McNally Robinson for the latest bestseller (we highly recommend a book sitting waterside on the patio outside, perhaps with a cold brew in your hand), stop in at Jenna Rae Cakes for a colourful array of macarons, Coal & Canary for locally made candles or The Forks Trading Company for sparkling treasures of the wearable and edible kind.

Once you've shopped until you dropped, it's time for lunch. To name just a few necessary lunch spots: Habanero Sombrero offers up a variety of delicious tacos, Red Ember is the place to go for wood-fired pizza, while Weinerpeg delights with gourmet hot dogs. Get it to go and head outside to the patio where the Common is serving beer on tap and wine from around the world. Find a spot to sit and bask in the greenery and sunshine of the summer.

There are numerous walking paths around The Forks that can be visited on foot or by bike (if you're a guest at Inn at the Forks, they rent bikes out for free--just ask at the desk). Along with the public art throughout the property, you can walk by the river, cross the foot bridge into St. Boniface and take in the tall grass prairie landscape that grows all around.

To get deeper into the history of the site, take a walking tour with Parks Canada. Or, get around on your own and have fun along the way with a rental from Bee2gether Bikes.

Go Gourmet

Inn at the Forks is not only a great place to spend the night, it's also home to one of the top spots to eat in the city. Smith Restaurant features hand crafted cocktails, locally sourced ingredients and an eclectic menu of items with French and Canadian flair. Opt for a dinner of appetizers and feast on truffle fries, steak tartare, battered cauliflower fritters and arctic char flatbread. Wash it down with a handmade cocktail made with vodka, thyme, lemon and a touch of cranberry juice.

Get Pampered

Riverstone Spa, located inside the Inn at the Forks is a favourite spot to rest and relax. We recommend an aromatherapy massage complete with full body exfoliation, massage, scalp rub and paraffin wax back treatment--it'll have you glowing from head to toe.