St. James
Located along Portage Avenue, the greater St. James area was one of Winnipeg's original districts, with the Royal Canadian Air Force 17 Wing base located in the heart. Today, sunny St. James is a cluster of boutiques, restaurants, cafés and specialty stores. It is also home to the city's largest shopping mall CF Polo Park, as well as numerous other big box retailers.
While here, be sure to visit Grant’s Old Mill, an 1800s flour mill, and the Historical Museum of St. James. The latter displays furnished rooms with period pieces from 1860-1890. Here, you will also find the 1911 Municipal Hall Building, which houses exhibits from the St. James-Assiniboia area and surrounding parishes.
More than 160 species of prairie plants grow around the Living Prairie Museum, a tall grass prairie reserve located along Ness Avenue. The interpretive centre displays information on prairie history and offers guided hikes.
While Assiniboine Park is technically located in Tuxedo, it is accessible from St. James by a pedestrian bridge over the Assiniboine River. This beautiful green space features a zoo, duck pond, restaurants, new children's adventure playground area, Qualico Family Centre, trails, fields, English gardens, restaurants, a pavilion and a stage.
For more outdoor fun, hit the links at Assiniboine Golf Club, a challenging 9-hole public golf course with an 18-hole layout.
It’s impossible to resist a banana split at Sargent Sundae, a cash-only, ice cream lovers' paradise where Winnipeggers flock to all summer long. Those with a sweet-tooth can also try High Tea Bakery's stellar dainties, drop-dead gorgeous cakes, and other unforgettable treats.
St. James is home to a handful of the city’s craft breweries, as well — Barn Hammer Brewing Company, One Great City, Half Pints Brewing, and Torque Brewing are all scattered throughout the neighbourhood.
For fun the whole family can enjoy, you can attempt to escape from the fun and challenging rooms at Real Escape Canada, or head down Portage Ave to try the immersive virtual reality game centre Activate Games (the first of its kind!). Kids will jump for joy (literally) at Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park, and hours of fun are to be had at both Speedworld, Manitoba's only indoor kart track, and Kid City indoor play centre.
