Manitoba is a wilderness and nature lovers’ dream. Despite its size, the central Canadian province has a small population concentrated in the south. It boasts complete tranquility and quiet in its wide-open spaces.

This infinite countryside of prairie flatlands, forests and sub-Arctic tundra is peppered with 100,000 lakes and marshes, offering spectacular sunsets from every direction. Rising dramatically from the landscape is Riding Mountain National Park, just one of Manitoba’s numerous reserves. Bison roam free in this vast recreation area, which allows biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, snowshoeing and wildlife tracking of moose, elk, beaver, black bear, lynx, wolves and hundreds of species of migrating birds.

Accommodations reflect the destination: farm stays, remote fly-in lodges, ranches and wilderness adventure camps. Churchill, a sub-Arctic seaport on the northeast border, offers a surreal nature experience year-round. In summer, you can kayak or snorkel with the 3,000 beluga whales that gather here to feed and calve. In October or November, take a tundra buggy tour to remote Wapusk National Park, one of the world’s largest polar bear den sites. Come winter, the Northern Lights dance across the sky.

Winnipeg, the capital, is known for its performing arts, including its ballet troupe, symphony orchestra and opera, as well as museums, shopping, theaters and restaurants. Other regional attractions include the mining town of Flin Flon, Mennonite heritage village of Steinbach and horse-drawn covered wagon rides through Spirit Sands desert. For a taste of culture, time your visit for Folklarama in Winnipeg, a multicultural celebration, or the Icelandic Festival in Gimli.