I’m going on a month-long blogging road trip through Manitoba this summer!
… and it starts in two days!
I’ll begin my journey in Winnipeg this Wednesday where I’ll be meeting up with the fine folks at Travel Manitoba who are generously hosting me for the month, who have set me up with an incredible itinerary, who will be joining along for part of my journey.
From July 17 until August 14 I’ll be blogging, photographing, Tweeting, and Instragramming my way across the province, revealing its secrets, including experiences you probably didn’t even think existed, let alone in Manitoba!
I’ll also be crowd sourcing ideas for some of my activities along the way. This includes restaurant suggestions! If you live in Manitoba, or you’re originally from Manitoba, or if you’ve spent any time there, please follow along as I’d love to have your input!
To join in the conversation, you can follow along realtime with the hashtag #exploreMB.
You can also follow me on Twitter @BCRobyn and on Instagram @BCRobyn.
If you’re on Facebook, be sure to like Travel Manitoba for updates along the way.
Of course, I’ll also be posting regular blog posts here, so leave a comment and let’s have a discussion right here on the blog!
And for the skeptics, I know what you’re thinking. “What are you going to do in Manitoba for one month?” But that’s precisely the reason why I’m going. I think Manitoba, like the Canadian prairie provinces in general, is completely underrated as a summertime destination. Or at least that’s the perception I’ve observed out here in BC. So in one way, I see this as an amazing opportunity to debunk these myths. Yet I’m also looking at this as an opportunity to showcase the province’s rich history, vibrant culture, and wilderness experiences to the curious, the appreciative, and the unsuspecting.
There’s also the personal connection. My maternal grandparents and great grandparents were born and raised in Manitoba, in places known as Fisher Branch, Hodgson, and Beausejour. I won’t even begin to tell their stories, but I do have a feeling that after one month in Manitoba, it will still only feel as though I’ve been scraping at the surface.
Finally, having only visited Winnipeg and Gimli for a week in the summer of 2011, I’m absolutely honoured to be able to return to Manitoba and to have this opportunity and time to properly get to know a place in a way that so many people only dream to.
#ExploreMB?
Yes please!
Do something on Flin Flon, still the best place-name origin story ever: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flin_Flon
“The town’s name is taken from the lead character in a paperback novel, The Sunless City by J. E. Preston Muddock. Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin piloted a submarine through a bottomless lake where he passed into a strange underground world through a hole lined with gold. A copy of the book was allegedly found and read by prospector Tom Creighton… “
I know, isn’t that fantastic? I’d love to visit Flin Flon. In fact, I think I worked with a guy from Flin Flon!
Looks like someone is in for an adventure!
That said, I’m looking forward to vicariously living through you for a bit.
Good luck and post lots, you’ll be glad you did looking back! 😉
Yeah, no kidding – the tables have turned now, haven’t they? Well, not really, but do follow along! And thanks for the blogging advice. I hope to update as frequently as possible. I’ve got a busy itinerary, but it just means more adventures to talk about, right? 😉
You got that right!
Hi Robyn!
What an amazing experience you will have! I moved to MB/Canada 6 years ago and absolutely love it! 3 years ago I started a womens outdoor adventure group called Experience Manitoba! We would love for you to join us on one of our adventures. http://www.meetup.com/Experience-Manitoba-Group/events/127691382/ We will be touring Fort Whyte Alive by bicycle and all sorts of other activities. On another note, I would love to meet with you for a bite to eat and show you the restaurant experiences I enjoy!
Sand x
Hey Sandy, I’m loving this province so far! It’s truly shining right now in the summer sun. And the womens outdoor adventure group sounds like it’s right up my alley. I’d love to meet up. Send me an e-mail (robynmhanson at gmail) and I’ll see if I can make it happen. I have a pretty packed itinerary but there are gaps here and there. I’m leaving Winnipeg tomorrow but will be coming back periodically throughout the month. Talk to you soon!