Destination: Churchill Manitoba
Churchill is a town on Hudson Bay in the far north of Manitoba, Canada. It's best known for polar bears that inhabit the area in the fall, and in summer for the beluga whales when are on view in the Churchill River. The area also offers the chance for wintertime Northern Lights visibility and seasonal bird-watching.
This was their website for a number of years. The content below is from the site's archived pages.
Churchill's current website with all the latest news and information for visitors can be found at: http://everythingchurchill.com/
Kayak with beluga whales.
Howl with huskies.
Dance with northern lights.
History, culture, adventure, wildlife.
Churchill beyond polar bears.
Destination Churchill wants you to enjoy the best that Churchill has to offer in all the seasons. Here is a quick summary of activities and services offered by the partners who are part of Destination Churchill. Scroll down this page for more details on each company, and click through to their Web:sites to book.
~~~
NB from BJ Wilkes: Located under the aurora oval, Churchill is home to some of the most magnificent displays of the northern lights on earth for over 300 nights of the year. With peak viewing season from January to March, I decided to take my family north during the kids' February school break to experience them. I wasn't too concerned about the cold. We live in a rural area in upstate New York where it can get really frigid. We decided to book our Northern Lights adventure through an online site called Frontiers North Adventure. The kids wanted to go snowshoeing and to take a dog sled ride through the boreal forest. This company offered the opportunity to capture this incredible night sky phenomenon from directly on the tundra, conditions permitting, surrounded by the beautiful northern landscape. We were all eager to go.
As I was organizing the trip, booking airline tickets, finding a dog sitter, pulling out suitcases and beginning the initial packing, I accidentally dropped a suitcase on my partner's gorgeous Ray Ban glasses. I heard the crunch and knew they were broken. Fortunately I was the one who originally purchased them at this great site where I could order a replacement. They have a large selection of Ray Bans and that model was still available. The prescription for the lenses was already part of our records there. I called customer service and placed the order. A week later the new glasses arrived, just in time for our trip.
Meanwhile the rest of our plans to visit Churchill and some of the surrounding areas were firming up nicely.
~~~
Churchill, Manitoba proudly sits on the edge of the Hudson Bay – the most northern town in the province, and an accessible way to touch the arctic. Travellers best know Churchill as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”, but it also claims “Beluga Capital of the World”. This just scratches the surface of what you can see and do in Churchill.
Churchill, Better than you can imagine!
 Getting to Churchill |
||||
 |
1005 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Churchill can only be reached by air or by train – unless you are arriving on a northern cruise. Churchill is Canada’s only port with direct access to the Arctic Ocean. Train service is provided by VIA Rail, either from Winnipeg (which takes approximately 2 days) or from Thompson (a train journey of about 14.5 hours). Trains for Churchill leave Winnipeg on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. From Thompson, trains leave for Churchill on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. South-bound trains depart Churchill on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Several airlines fly to Churchill from Winnipeg and Thompson. Calm Air offers several flights daily from Winnipeg to Churchill and a weekday flight departs from Thompson. Check Calm Air’s website for the most current Flight Schedule. Same day return travel is possible from Winnipeg or Thompson for day tours.
|
|||
|
What does it cost? |
~~~~~ | |||
 |
A trip to Churchill is cheaper than you might think. For example, sample two night vacation pricing in the summer could be CDN$ 639 per person. This would reflect air from Thompson, two hotel nights based on double occupancy and two tours. Pricing will vary depending on the time of year, what level of accommodation you wish, and the type of tours that you wish to buy. Check out our listings under Best of Churchill to find both individual services which allow you to put your own vacations together, or find a tour operator who can put it all together for you. Calm Air is offering a special summer fare for $400.00 Thompson to Churchill return, taxes included. The requirement to stay overnight on Saturday is waived with this fare, but it is subject to availability in July and August. Day trips are available each weekday from Thompson to Churchill. Quote code M0775YQ when you are ready to book. Call reservations at 1.800.839.2256 or check us out online at http://www.calmair.com<
|
|||
|
Ideas for your Churchill holiday
|
~~~~~ | |||
Picture your perfect vacation in Churchill. Here are some ideas for planning your own vacation.
|
||||
|
|
You Are: A family of four with school age children and want to make the most of your summer holiday, and are a little bit budget conscious. |
|||
|
|
Your Plan: Drive up to Thompson, taking several days and camping along the way. Plan on a couple of days in Thompson to explore the Spirit Way walk, visit the zoo then fish and swim at beautiful Paint Lake Provincial Park. Leave your vehicle in secure parking, and take the train up to Churchill. You have two full days and there is a lot to show the kids! Start with a boat tour to see beluga whales and visit Prince of Wales Fort ' imagine the first fur traders huddled here through those winters. Learn about bear safety at the Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre, then stroll the town, visiting the gift shops to find a souvenir for Aunt Martha. Be sure to learn about the Churchill Rocket Research Range ' the launching silos which dominate the horizon will intrigue young scientists. All too soon it's time to get back on the train to Thompson and home. ~~~~~ |
|||
|
|
You Are: Young professionals with a yearning for adventure and unusual experiences, but limited time. You’d like to travel this summer. |
|||
|
|
Your Plan: Fly directly to Churchill. Jump right into the excitement by first kayaking on Hudson Bay and then changing to a wet suit to swim and snorkel with the beluga whales. Rent a truck, and poke around every road that you can find: climb the Goose Creek Marina Viewing Tower, nip into the Wildlife Management area, then find 'Miss Piggy'. It's amazing what you can see with just 20 km of road! Ramp up the excitement with a helicopter tour to view the unique ecosystem and wildlife of Wapusk National Park. Not bad for one day. Change the pace and go out to a remote lodge, where you will likely see a polar bear, and really touch the arctic. Relax (briefly) before returning to your job and amazing your friends with your stories. ~~~~~ |
|||
|
|
You Are: A retired couple with a love of learning and a passion for nature and history. |
|||
|
|
Your Plan: It's hard to decide when to go, since all seasons have attractions. Choose late spring and begin with a leisurely drive to Thompson. Take the train on the way up, but plan on flying back down, since you want to see the land from the air. Flowers and birding are your priorities for the first few days: started with a naturalist led hike and then explore a bit on your own. Follow the signs of the self-guided Akudlik Marsh trail and you may add a few species to your birding life list. Find the best time to take a tundra buggy tour, and maybe you will see the bears coming off the ice. Now turn your attention to history. Visit the Eskimo Museum, the Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre and the historic church that houses the stained glass window donated by Lady Jane Franklin in memory of the numerous expeditions sent to find her husband's expedition. Bundle up and take a boat tour to see coastal birds, seals, beautiful ice formations and possibly the first beluga whales of the season. So much to enjoy! ~~~~~ |
|||
|
|
You Are: A romantic couple looking for a distinctive honeymoon and willing to travel anytime. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
And of course Churchill is world famous for its polar bears. The best season to see bears is October and November. If that is your priority, book early, since space is limited and tours are popular. Be sure to include other activities as part of your itinerary. Then plan to come back in a different season, when there are so many other experiences to relish ' those beluga whales virtually are in your back yard! Churchill ….. Easier than you believe! |
||||
~~~~~
Destination Churchill wants you to enjoy the best that Churchill has to offer in all the seasons. Here is a quick summary of activities and services offered by the partners who are part of Destination Churchill. Scroll down this page for more details on each company, and click through to their Web:sites to book.
See you in Churchill!
| Sport & Adventure | Leisure & Wildlife | Lodging | History & Culture | Shopping & Dining | Transportation | |
| Calm Air |  |
|||||
| Eskimo Museum | |
|
||||
| Four Points Sheraton (Winnipeg) | |
|
||||
| Frontiers North Adventures | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Great Canadian Travel | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hudson Bay Helicopters | |
|
|
|
||
| Iceberg Inn / Hunter's B&B | |
|||||
| Northern Nights Lodge | |
|||||
| Parks Canada Agency - Wapusk National Park / Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site | |
|
|
|||
| Polar Inn & Suites / Polar U-Drive | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Seaport Hotel | |
|||||
| Tamarack Rentals | |
|
||||
| The Tundra Buggy® Adventure | |
|
|
|
||
| Tundra Inn | |
|
|
|
||
| Wapusk General Store & Wapusk Adventures | |
|
|
|||
| Wat'chee Lodge | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to our Sponsors: |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
