I like to stay in hotels that have history and character--so Winnipeg's Ramada Marlborough was a great choice! The Marlborough is situated on the edge of The Exchange district, which is a 30 block area of downtown Winnipeg, located North of the famous corner of Portage and Main. While I'd driven through Winnipeg numerous times, I was astounded to discover this fascinating area. Early development across the prairies relied on rail lines, so with 24 lines coming into Winnipeg by 1910 it's easy to see how swift the growth would have been. Today this district is the location of 62 of Winnipeg's 86 heritage structures. For more information on Winnipeg's historic Exchange Districut, visit http://www.mts.net/~heritag2/exchange.htm

I'll be the first to admit that my favorite part of the hotel turned out to the Regal Beagle -- the comfortable English-style pub. With its authentic dark woodwork and sculptured metal ceiling, it maintained much of the hotel's original charm. Staff was friendly, so we learned lots about the area. When supper time rolled around I didn't feel like dressing for the elegant historical dining room, so inquired about their menu. It had a great selection, and the food arrived quickly. Before I tasted it I knew I'd made the right choice, as it smelled delicious. David and I both enjoyed our meals--and the prices were just as great as the taste. Saturday night we enjoyed the easy listening music of the duo, Guilty Pleasures -- two young women with an entertaining style and good choice of music. I must admit the beer and hot wings added just the right touch as well!

Rated by AAA with a 3 diamond rating, the hotel rooms are all completely modern. They were small and cozy, in line with the era they'd been built in. With older hotels I always wonder about the predictability of the heating systems since I've been alternatively baked and frozen, but the Marlborough renovations guaranteed perfect individual temperature control. We were able to dry out our damp snowmobile clothes and then cool the room down for a restful sleep.

Our stay at the Marlborough was for the December 13 & 14th WSA Snocross racing event, so we enjoyed the downtown Christmas lights both getting to the hotel and leaving. Inside, the hotel was also decked out for the festive season. In fact there were several Christmas party groups enjoying the historical atmosphere during the weekend as well. Another of the feature attractions new to hotel was a dinner theatre--Murder at the Marlborough was running during our stay. While we were busy with our racing schedule and didn't get an opportunity to enjoy the show, others assured us it was great. And, since we'd already experienced the culinary expertise of the chef I'm sure it was a delicious meal!

For full details on staying at the Ramada Marlborough (including directions), click to: http://reservations.canadianhotelguide.com/hotel/10005072-10209747O.html

Ramada Marlborough Hotel Winnipeg
331 Smith Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 2G9

Reservations:
Phone: 204-942-6411
Toll Free: 1-888-298-2054
Fax: 204-942-2017

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