Here is the thing about Winnipeg that is both obvious and easy to overlook: It is a foreign city. You have to cross a border to get there; the people speak with a noticeably different accent; they have their own currency; the signage is in both English and French.

When you plan your visit, you will need to be aware that Canadian holidays don't always match ours. Canada Day is always July 1. Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday in October. For a road trip, you will need to note that distances are measured in kilometers rather than miles, and gas is sold by the liter, not the gallon.

Winnipeg is such an exotic destination - and it's an easy seven-hour drive away: I-94 to Fargo, I-29 to the border, and then on to Manitoba on Highway 75.

What will you want to see and do when you get there? "Where Winnipeg" lists the following among the top 10 attractions (for a complete list, go to www.wherewinnipeg.com and click on "Winnipeg Icons").

Assiniboine Park - One of Canada's largest urban green spaces, home to a tropical conservatory, sculpture garden, zoo, gallery and restaurant.

Esplanade Riel -A walkway that connects the historically French suburb of St. Boniface with the English downtown area, the Esplanade was completed in 2003 and named for Louis Riel, who led the unsuccessful Métis rebellion and was hanged by the British as a traitor in 1885.

The Forks - The place where the Assiniboine River flows into the Red was a rail yard in the 1890s. A century later, the waterfront was turned into a space for shopping, outdoor activities and entertainment. The Red River famously flows from south to north here. You will cross it on I-94 between Moorhead and the I-29 interchange in Fargo. Be sure to take a look at it there, the better to be amazed by its breadth and grandeur 250 miles downstream.

The Golden Boy - A gift from France, the 17-foot tall sculpture sits atop the dome of the Manitoba Legislative Building. He was removed and regilded in 2002.

The Mint - All of Canada's coins, 15 million a day, are produced here. Tours are available.

The Nonsuch - Just one of many exhibits in the Manitoba Museum, this is a replica of the ship that sailed into Hudson's Bay in 1668. (If you visited Winnipeg in ages past, you will remember the place as The Museum of Man and Nature.)

Of course the most famous of Winnipeg's tourist draws is Folklorama, which runs from August 3 to 16 this year. The event takes place in more than 40 pavilions located all over the city, representing cultures from Ireland to Israel. For more information, and to order a copy of the 2008 brochure when it's available, go to www.folklorama.ca

Our neighbor to the north has joined us in becoming a nation of foodies. There's lot of good dining to be had in Manitoba. The Winnipeg Free Press food critic's recent picks included Oui Bistro (French), Café Dario (Colombian) and Tomato Pie (Italian.) Try Asian cuisine for at least one meal -Winnipeg has a long tradition of authentic Chinese restaurants. The Free Press recommends Sun Fortune, with a 259-item takeout menu (and you may want to take out - the place is always crowded) or Double Greeting, a 30-year-old dumpling and noodle house.

Finally, it will cost you more these days because of our weak dollar, but Winnipeg also has a stunning variety of shops, malls and boutiques.

As of this writing, driving back into the U.S. from Canada, U.S. citizens are required to show a passport or both a government-issued identification (like a driver's license) and a birth certificate.

For a downloadable copy of the 2008 Winnipeg Visitor's Guide, go to www.destinationwinnipeg.ca and click on Publications.