It was on this day in 1870 that Manitoba became a province of Canada. Sometimes referred to as The Keystone State because of its central position and keystone-like shape, covers a huge area of land, from the southern border with North Dakota to the frozen wastes of Hudson Bay to the north.
It has a reputation, even within Canada itself, of being a little dull. This is deeply unfair, though you can see where the reputation comes from. Most of the southerly, more populated area of the province (and, therefore, the part most people see and make judgements on) consists of thousands of square miles of prairie, most of it given up to growing crops and raising cattle. It is, in short, a little like Iowa or Nebraska - amid all those acres of corn and wheat, not a lot happens on a day to day basis.
But that's to overlook the other opportunities that Manitoba has to offer. The geography of the place isn't uniform at all. To the north, the province is rocky and hilly; although none of the peaks exceed three thousand feet, this is remote, wild country which is ideal for hiking and outdoor adventurous sports. Unless you're really tough and experienced, the best time to try these is during the summer months - in winter northern Manitoba is beset by Arctic wind and snow. In fact, if you were sufficiently adventurous there are times of the year when you can get to the northern coast of the province and just keep walking on to the sea of Hudson Bay. Owing to global warming patches of the Arctic ice cap aren't as consistently frozen as they used to be, but it is still, in principle, possible to walk from any point on mainland North or South America right to the North Pole using this route.
Adventurous activities are also available further south in Manitoba. Lake Winnipeg is the largest body of water in the Americas that is entirely enclosed within a single state or province. Sailing, rafting and kayaking are available on the lake, its tributary rivers and its smaller neighbor, Lake Winnipegosis.
The city of Winnipeg itself is a very civilized, relaxed place. If you like music and the arts this is the place to come: the Centennial Concert Hall is home to a symphony orchestra as well as the world famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet.