Just outside the town of Watrous, Manitou Beach is a recreational institution, a landmark for day trips for locals and visitors alike. Remarkably, the water of Little Manitou Lake – “manitou” is Cree for “god” or “supreme,” because the people believe in its healing powers – is five times saltier than the ocean, fed by underground springs that have high contents of the minerals sodium, magnesium and potassium. This gives the lake a salinity about half that of the Dead Sea – you float no matter what! The region’s other claim to fame is historic Danceland, a 465-square-metre step back in time (to 1928, to be exact) with a rare horsehair-sprung maple dance floor.
Dozens of cool summer events make it easy to peg your visit. These include a farmers’ market every Saturday, a flea market every Sunday morning, a chainsaw-carving festival, a busking festival and an annual artist-studio trail. A beer at Mike’s Beach Bar and an ice cream at Burger Buoy are summer rites. And the people at Salty Cinema Drive In Theater are excited about their new projector this year. Birders can nerd out at nearby Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, seeing spectacular populations of geese, sandhill cranes, ducks and other migrating species – at least 100 in all.
