Things to do with children in Winnipeg: Assiniboine Zoo

Winnipeg was somewhere we spent a couple of nights during our Trans-Canadian road trip. Winnipeg is a mass of wonderful things to do with children. If you are visiting, the hardest part will be narrowing down what you want to do. If you are a regular reader of the blog, you may have seen my recent article on the stunning Assiniboine Park. Whilst in Winnipeg, we also visited Assiniboine Zoo.

So, what can I tell you about this incredible place. I have to be honest and say that the zoo was one of our favourite days during our trip and that was entirely because of these beautiful polar bears. We were all really looking forward to seeing them, but I honestly don’t think any of us were prepared for just how incredible they were. They are captivating.

The polar bears are part of The Journey to Churchill experience, where you can also see snowy owls, seals, artic fox and so on, but the polar bears are an absolute stand out part of the day.

You can watch them in multiple places in their outdoor enclosure and then there is this spectacular indoor area where they literally swim over the top of you. You can reach out your hand to touch the glass and they will touch back with their huge paws on the glass from under the water. Honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

I’ve included the entry prices to the zoo below, I think these prices are very fair when I think about the size of the zoo and all the fantastic things to see and do as a family.

The polar bears were by far our favourite at the zoo and we kept having to go back and have “just one more look” The photos don’t really do them justice, so I’ve tried to capture them in a video reel you can find at the end of this article.

I mean…just look at this face!

There is even a polar bear themed cafe you can watch the bears from and then a polar bear indoor play area, perfect to shelter from any rain showers. The little boys played in here for ages. It is really well set out is lots of fun for children.

Our second favourite animal at the zoo was probably the goats. They are so entertaining to watch and we thought they had an amazing enclosure over at Aunt Sally’s Farm. It is really bright and colourful and they have loads of obstacles to climb on to keep life interesting for them.

What’s really lovely is that within this area there is also a children’s playground, themed in the same way as the goat enclosure. It has been beautifully designed, so compliments to whoever is responsible for that. The boys were able to climb themselves whilst watching the goats climb around.

Our dinosaur fan was fascinated by the animatronic dinosaurs at the zoo as well as the indoor exhibition and learning centre. The dinosaurs moved and made noises and were set outside, making it a really authentic experience.

The zoo butterfly garden was another favourite. We loved walking through there and seeing the various colours and sizes of butterfly. We also enjoyed our visit to the kangaroos, you are actually able to walk into the the enclosure, where you are met by helpful staff who are happy to chat and answer any questions you might have.

This is an absolutely outstanding day out for a family, with something for everyone. There is so much to see and do, but the polar bears stole our hearts – it was hard to walk away from them!

Here’s a little flavour of what to expect if you are heading there on a visit. If you are planning to go to Winnipeg, do make time for this place.

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