Eastman Stories

Road Trip along the Lord Selkirk Highway

You don't have to travel far to enjoy a good old fashion road trip!

By Eastman Tourism

March 8, 2021
Read time: 24 min

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy a good old fashion road trip! The Lord Selkirk Highway begins at the Pembina-Emerson Border Crossing and runs approximately 101 km north, along on the Red River’s west side, to Winnipeg.

Along the highway are the Municipalities of Emerson/Franklin and Ritchot that are perfect for your road trip destination! Both Municipalities have amazing adventures waiting for you; whether your interests are nature, history, food, and anything in between, you can enjoy it in Ritchot and Emerson/Franklin.

*Disclaimer*

  • Stay home if you have been travelling or do not feel well. Here is an excellent resource if you are quarantined. This will help you find people in Manitoba who are willing and able to help you while quarantined. Help Next Door Manitoba
  • Go out with people within your household, but practice social distancing (2 metres away) with other groups.
  • Please call ahead before visiting a business and inquire about their regulations to enter the building, such as capacity, sanitation, etc. Also, consider using curbside pickup where possible.
  • Please practice Leave No Trace. Clean up after yourself and leave nothing behind, such as trash and waste.

 

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Rural Municipality of Emerson/Franklin

There are tons of things to see and do in the Rural Municipality of Emerson/Franklin! In the Municipality are the communities of Arnaud Carlowrie, Dominion City, Emerson, Fredensthal, Green Ridge, Ridgeville, Rosa, Roseau River, Senkiw, Tolstoi, and Woodmore each with their own activities and charm.

From taking in the stunning Roseau River, going for adventures in the breathtaking natural landscape, to exploring the history through museums, historic sites, and buildings, you can find your next adventure.

Things to do

If you love to hike and explore nature, trekking through the Senkiw Bridge Loop is a must! This trail is part of the Crow Wing Trail/Trans-Canada Trail and offers various scenic beauty. With a mix of prairie landscape, some forest coverage, a gorgeous view of the Roseau River, and even some historic farm sites, you’ll never want to leave this trail!

A fun fact about the Senkiw Bridge is that it is the oldest swinging cable bridge in Manitoba! Built in 1946, it was constructed to enable students living on the south side of the river to attend Senkiw School on the north side. It replaced the hand-powered basket and pulley system that had been used since 1916. For more historical facts about the bridge, please follow this link.

 

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Are you looking for a great selfie location? Then head over to Dominion City and snap some photos of Manitoba’s biggest sturgeon monument. The statue was built in honour of the biggest sturgeon caught in Dominion City, Manitoba.

The statue is a reproduction and matches the actual size of the sturgeon. Weighing in at 406 pounds, measuring 15 ½ feet long, aged at 150 years, and was a female full of eggs, Sandy Waddell was lucky enough to catch this monster on October 27, 1903.If you’re looking for a way to express your creativity, then a visit to Bridgehill Pottery Workshop should definitely on your activity list! This unique shop not only sells one-of-a-kind pottery but would love to help develop your “voice” through design. These three-hour sessions are more than just about clay; it’s about honing in on your creative side!

Whether you’re just starting or have been designing pottery for years, visiting Bridgehill Pottery will be an exciting journey where you can learn or sharpen your skills.If you love history, then the RM of Emerson/Franklin is just the spot! With self-guided tours and viewings of historic sites and buildings, you could spend days exploring their exciting history. With 23 cemeteries (some of which are the oldest in Manitoba), historic buildings such as Emerson Town Hall, Franklin Museum, The Tolstoi Ukrainian Church, Fort Dufferin, and much, much more, you never know what treasures you can discover.

 

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Eat & Sleep

With all these fun activities, you definitely need more than one day to experience them all. The RM of Emerson/Franklin has many accommodations and restaurants that will satisfy your cravings and wants. Kai Hua Chinese Restaurant is one place to grab some delicious food! Located in Emerson, you can indulge yourself in some tasty Chinese cuisine.

If you’re looking for a place to rest and lay your head down for the night, Tolstoi Country Cottage is just the place to do it. Tolstoi Country Cottage is a fully outfitted cottage nestled by trees in the center of Tolstoi, making it the perfect spot to view wildlife. You’ll even find that deer and wild turkeys will wander about the grounds.

Built in the 1920s, any vintage lover will appreciate and admire the collections of authentic vintage décor throughout the house. But don’t worry. The kitchen, bathroom, and appliances are all modern!

Rural Municipality of Ritchot

The Rural Municipality of Ritchot is made up of the communities of Glenlea, Grande Pointe, Howden, Île-des-Chênes, St. Adolphe, and Ste. Agathe. These communities offer amazing experiences, fun adventures, and has diverse activities.

Things to do

Visiting Mennonite Landing mixes the joys of nature and the fascinating, rich history. Mennonite Landing is the site of the first landing of Mennonite settlers in western Canada. On August 1, 1874, the steam-powered riverboat called the “International” landed here with the first contingent of 65 families. Between 1874 and 1880, some 7000 Mennonites came to Manitoba from German-speaking colonies in South Russia (Ukraine).

Today, you can visit this site to learn of the history and stories that took place here. View the monument, experience nature, take in the Rat River and Red River site, and have an incredible time while there.The Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre are back in action! Visits are by appointment (with at least 24-hour notice), but you can still have all the fun!

During your visit, you will learn how food is made in Canada through exciting and interactive exhibits. Learn about every aspect of food production from farming practices to retail sales, leading visitors from the farmer’s wheat field to the kitchen table. Follow this link to learn about their rules and regulations due to Covid-19.

Both the Municipalities of Emerson/Franklin and Ritchot have sections of the Crow Wing Trail, so while you’re in St. Adolphe, visit 6.38 km of fantastic trail. Along the way, you can see many magnificent sights. This section has the highest known concentration of Chimney Swifts in the province, has incredible opportunities for spotting wildlife, and is simply stunning.

Follow this link for the local map.

 

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Eat & Sleep

If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy a meal, then visit Aline’s Thai & Pizza! Whether you want to try something new or even joy their option to build your own pizza, you will fall in love with their selection! With options like their Special Thai, Greek, Chicken and Spinach, Veggies, and more, there’s a flavour for everyone. Pick your style of crust – all of which are homemade! Whether you’re in the mood for regular, thing, gluten-free, or professional thin, you can have it your way!Lucky Luc’s Bar & Grill is both a fabulous restaurant/bar and a great hotel! On their menu is a variety of options, so no matter what you’re craving, you can find it! With appetizers and starters, enjoy Garlic Cheese Toast, Chicken Wings, Thai Sesame Crispy Shrimp, Deep Fried Pickles, or more! Please your tastebuds with soup or salad; you’ll find Baked French Onion Soup, Asian Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chicken Salad, and more. Or try out their wings! With 40 different wing flavours, it will be hard to choose. Enjoy a burger, wrap, or sandwich with delicious sides like Fries, Onion Rings, Garlic Toast, or Poutine.

Spend the night at Lucky Luc’s Hotel and enjoy the modern décor. Amenities include a full washroom, air conditioning, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, and desk/work area.

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