Getting there: Churchill is 620 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Calm Air (1-800-839-2256; www.calmair.com) and Kivalliq Airlines (1-877-855-1500; www.kivalliqair.com) offer two-hour flights between the towns. Travelers also can take the Hudson Bay train from Winnipeg or Thompson, Manitoba. The overnight train from Thompson covers about 300 miles and can take more than 16 hours (1-888-842-7245; www.viarail.com).
When to go: Beluga tours run throughout July and August. It's also a good time to see sub-Arctic flowers and some of 250 species of birds. Northern lights may appear during the summer, but peak January through March. Churchill is considered one of the world's top three places to witness the aurora borealis. Ask about a bear-safe viewing area.
More information: Travel Manitoba (1-800-665-0040; www.travel manitoba.com) or community of Churchill (1-888-389-2327; www.churchill.ca).
LISA MEYERS MCCLINTICK
