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MADE IN MANITOBA 24 G O I N G P L A C E S | F A L L 2 0 1 5 travel manitoba Bonding with Belugas Churchill's other claim to fame as a wildlife hot spot Second in a two-part series on a roadtrip to northern Manitoba by Lea Currie "B aby beluga in the deep blue sea. Swim so wild and swim so free . . ." The famous lyrics of Raffi's chil- dren's song "Baby Beluga" dance through my head as I finish packing. Fortunately for my husband, Mark, I keep the tune to myself. I'm in our room at ompson's Best West- ern hotel, getting ready for our plane ride to Churchill. Celebrated as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, this remote Manitoba outpost of less than 1,000 can also boast a second world capital designation – that of the beluga whale. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of belugas swim north to the shallow coastal waters of Hudson Bay where the capelin fish are plentiful. It's a feeding frenzy for these Arc- tic creatures – and a photo frenzy for tourists who flock to Churchill for some of the best whale-watching on the planet. Upon landing in Churchill, Mark and I are whisked to our home for the next three nights. Lazy Bear Lodge (www.lazybearlodge.com) is exactly what I had in mind for our Hudson Bay getaway – the quintessential northern lodge, complete with heavy wood panelling, stone fireplaces and hunting trophies whose eyes seem to follow my every move. But we don't have much time for checking out the accommo- dation. e promise of whales is too enticing. First up is a kayaking trip on the Churchill River. Along with eight other guests, we meet up with our guide, Tress, the lodge's kayaking expert. We're all excited, but I swallow some of my giddiness for fear of looking childish. Once out on the river though, there's no way I can hold back my enthusiasm. I point and exclaim in delight as our group's numbers multiply quickly – pods of belugas now surround us. We paddle farther out and they make a game of Beluga-spotting in Hudson Bay. Have a whale of a time in your own backyard during a summer tour to Churchill. Contact CAA Travel to book today!