Brains and Bronzed

One of the biggest positives the pandemic brought on was the opportunity to explore our own province! Recently we had the chance to visit 2 towns in Southern Manitoba, and share with you my Morden-Winkler Weekend Itinerary!

Quite possibly the best part about these Morden and Winkler is that they’re just 15 mins apart, making it super easy to explore both in one visit, or even one day. We spent two days here, sleeping overnight in Winkler at the Quality Inn for their Stay & Play Golf experience (more on that here), but you could easily cut this down to even just a day by choosing some of your favourites from my must-do list here!

DAY 1:

Lunch at Charley B’s

Once you arrive in Winkler, the first stop must be Charley B’s Classic Grill! A locally owned and locally sourced gem in Winkler that came highly recommended by many. Using ingredients from local farmers and producers, Charley B’s offers diner style food with a high quality twist. I opted for the Thai Chicken Burger and Nico for the Om-Egg-a Burger, plus a Mennonite Poutine on the side. If you’ve never tried a Menno Poutine, you MUST. Cheese curds, and cream gravy with onions and farmer sausage, it’s a must try. If you’re looking for just a quick snack or something sweet, their small batch ice cream is truly one of a kind in MB! With always changing flavours, I was lucky enough to try a scoop of the Pumpkin Chai Ginger Snap, and others included Bourbon Salted Caramel or Peanut Butter Cheesecake.

Deadhorse Cider

I love a good brewery or winery, but neither are easy to come by in Manitoba… that is until we found Winkler’s own Deadhorse Cider, a must visit cidery! We were lucky enough to get a tour and tasting at the family-owned orchard and cidery where the Manitoba apples are harvested, crushed, pressed and fermented to make delicious cider! Many locals sell their own apples to be turned into delicious cider! My personal favorite? The award-winning reserve “Life is Rosé” Cider, made from Morden’s own Kerr Apples, picked after a frost when they are a dark red giving the cider it’s rosé colour. Their Reserve collection features other limited edition seasonal ciders such as Strawberry Rhubarb and even a Bourbon Cider, all barrel aged ciders with a delicious twist that we got to sample during our tour. While Deadhorse Cider’s orchard and tasting room is not quite ready to be open to the public, they’re planning some exciting things coming soon and as soon as they open, you must stop by for this unique southern MB experience! Until then, I recommend you stop by to purchase some cans or bottles and maybe get a sneak peek of the property.

Winkler Arts + Culture Centre

Make a pit stop at the Winkler Arts + Culture Centre and check out the exhibits. Winkler Arts + Culture’s mission is to provide opportunities to share art in its various forms, so it’s a great (free) opportunity to discover some of the cultural influencers on the region! Also, the beautiful outdoor garden also offers the perfect view of the Winkler water tower and infamous butterfly sculpture — an ideal photo spot!

Walk around Bethel Heritage Park

A Heritage Site of Manitoba, a midday or morning walk around Bethel Heritage Park is essential! It’s a downtown gem, referred to as Winkler’s Central Park for good reason! Featuring a stunning fountain, gardens aplenty, and historic storyboards that educate on the town’s roots, this park is also a gathering spot for live theatre, concerts and other events in the warmer months.

Shop at Copper & Sparrow

During your walk downtown, there are tons of cute shops to explore, but a must visit is Copper & Sparrow! A mother and daughter owned boutique filled with beautifully curated pieces, everything from clothing to gifts, shoes to home decor. I could have spent hours shopping in this warm and aesthetic space. I likely also could have spent my whole bank account…

DAY 2:

Coffee at Whitecap Coffee

Rise & shine with a latte and pastry from Whitecap Coffee to start the day. Checking out a new town’s local coffee shop scene is a favorite pastime of mine, and Whitecap is definitely at the top of the list with their specialty coffee drinks, gelati and baked goods.

Walk at Winkler Discovery Nature Sanctuary

With coffee in hand, take a visit to the Winkler Discovery Nature Sanctuary. A hidden nature oasis in an urban landscape, the sanctuary provides a safe haven to birds, animals and plants, and a relaxing spot to walk around and discover. It’s 32 acres with a 1.9 km loop trail, filled with beautiful views from start to finish.

Lunch at Flavors of Mexico

You may not think you’d find Manitoba’s best Mexican food in Winkler, but I’m confident you will. Stop by Flavors of Mexico, a family owned and operated restaurant for the most delicious Mexican cuisine for lunch. We had heard great things about it, but until you try for yourself… it’s truly hard to explain just how good it is. We opted for Chips with White Queso and Pico de Gallo to start, and while it was extremely difficult to choose our main entrees because everything sounded delicious, we chose the Fish Tacos and El Pastor Tacos and they were *chef’s kiss*

Morden Sign

Now time to explore Morden! Along the quick ride over, stop by the Morden sign and pay a visit to Bruce, a replica of a 43-foot long mosasaur (extinct marine reptile) unearthed just 10 km from Morden and the world’s largest mosasaur on display. If Bruce has you intrigued… check out the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre to explore Canada’s most extensive collection of marine reptile fossils and learn about life in the Western Interior Seaway from the late Cretaceous period of earth’s prehistory.

Shop Stephen Street

Once you hit the town of Morden, Stephen St. is the place to be. It’s the town’s most happening street, filled with everything from shops, to coffee shops, bakeries, breweries and restaurants. We stopped in at Pure Anada, a natural cosmetics company that started locally right here in Morden and has now grown across the country thanks to their line of ethically made, organic products that are safe for our bodies and chemical-free. This picturesque small town street gives off Hallmark movie feelings just walking through — I can only imagine how nice it would be during the holiday season! Stop to see the town’s clock tower at The Morden Dominion Post Office along your way.

Drinks at Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom

After shopping, stop by Rendezvous Brewery & Taproom for some drinks! Offering craft beers to suit every palette, we opted for a flight of 4 in order to try a few different brews. While we stopped in for a drink before dinner, they offer a pub-style menu — Nelly’s Soft Pretzel with Beer Cheese Dip caught my eye! They also brew their own, so don’t forget to pick up a few cans on your way out!

Dinner at Bella’s Castle

A bucketlist spot that’s been on my list for years, we finally made it to Bella’s Castle! A beautiful spot to stay overnight in one of the stunning castle suites, stop by for brunch or a cocktail, or like we did, dinner. We sat in the beautiful courtyard and it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had! I truly felt like I was on vacation with such a beautiful atmosphere, amazing food (we had the Butter Chicken and Penne Carbonara) and Bella’s Castle just behind us.

Movie at Stardust Drive-In

End your night off with a movie from the comfort of your car at Stardust Drive-in Theatre. One of just two retro drive-in theatres in Manitoba (and the closest to Winnipeg!), you can watch a movie at Stardust for just $10 a person and cozy up in your front seats, truck box, tailgate or even on a lawn chair outside. We grabbed some popcorn and hot chocolate from the concession and had the most fun… despite falling asleep under the stars midway through.

If you find yourself looking for somewhere not too far from the city for a weekend getaway, or even a day trip, rest assured you’ll find lots to do in Mordern-Winkler with my 2-day itinerary, plus so much more to discover! I can’t wait to head back next summer and experience the towns in the July and August heat!

Looking for more to do in Morden-Winkler? Check out my experience golfing in Morden-Winkler with the Stay & Play Golf Package! Or, check out my Gimli Staycation Itinerary here!

This trip was done in partnership with Travel Manitoba, but all experiences and opinions are my own.