Located on the 58th parallel north, the Canadian subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba has a population of just 900 permanent residents. But this low population largely compensates for the 500,000 visitors who come there throughout the year. They come for the Arctic wilderness, the infamous polar bears, the mischievous beluga whales and of course – perhaps most special of all – the Northern Lights.
Churchill’s cuisine is just as diverse as his landscape, incorporating tundra dishes of wild game like caribou and elk, fish like trout and burbot, vegetables like leafy greens and potatoes, and arctic berries. And for the lucky few adventurers who make it this far north, there’s an unforgettable way to experience it all.
On select days in February and March, travelers can hop aboard a Tundra Buggy (a large traveling vehicle specially designed for polar bear viewing) and embark on a remote culinary journey down the frozen Churchill River surrounded by vast subarctic nature, frozen fields and huge snow banks caused by windblown snow. After a short drive through the vast frozen landscape, guests will arrive at the banks of the frozen river overlooking Hudson Bay, where Dan’s Diner, an unusual pop-up restaurant, awaits.
Seated in a converted Tundra Buggy with panoramic windows and skylights, diners can view the Northern Lights while enjoying a deliciously curated multi-course menu featuring regional and local dishes inspired by land and sea. Churchill sits directly below the Northern Lights oval, making it one of the best places to see the Northern Lights with over 300 nights of auroral activity.
