If you were to throw a dart in the exact center of a map of North America, would you know where it would land? Here’s a hint: The city was recently listed as one of the “Top 20 Places to Visit in the New Year” by National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Yes, Manitoba’s capital and the geographic center of North America, Winnipeg has been added to a prestigious list of 20 “it” destinations for the coming year, sharing the bill with New York City, Bermuda, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Côte d'Or, France.

“This year’s Best of the World list truly represents travel’s superlatives,” said Maggie Zackowitz, editor in chief of National Geographic Traveler.

Winnipeg, which is often affectionately called the Gateway to the West, Peg City and even The Slurpee Capital of the World, is now adding “must-see destination” to its list of nicknames. And sorry Canada, Winnipeg isn’t sharing the moniker. It was the only Canadian destination to be included on the prestigious 2015 list.

Just what makes Manitoba so superlative?

In the words of Kimberly Lovato, who wrote the Winnipeg article for National Geographic Traveler, “Winnipeg is a whistle-stop on rail and road trips across Canada; polar bear and beluga whale enthusiasts know it as the starting point for their journey north to Churchill. But this unpretentious prairie city proves itself worthy of more than a glance from a train window.”

The city has a lot going on. It just hosted the 103rd Grey Cup, last year it welcomed the Canadian Museum for Human Rights—the only museum in the world dedicated to human rights awareness—and it is welcoming a variety of new dining establishments and recreational facilities.

For travelers ready to check out this must-see destination, here are just a few things to see in 2016:

Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Canada’s first national museum built since 1967, opened in September 2014. This stunning structure, which is redefining Winnipeg’s skyline, was designed by Antoine Predock and sits at the forks of two rivers on land that has been an aboriginal meeting place for thousands of years.

Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Park Zoo
Churchill’s beloved polar bears are the main attraction at the new Journey to Churchill exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo, which also houses the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. Seven polar bears make their home here, five of which are orphans from Churchill.

But while watching polar bears frolic their way through 10-foot wide acrylic tunnels can be a fun way to pass the time, the new exhibit is also a significant research projects which also educates visitors on how climate change affects the habitats and the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic region.

In 2015, the zoo also welcomed the 4.7-acre McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre, with four Percheron horses, an exhibit that reminds visitors of Manitoba’s rural roots. Attendees can enjoy barn tours, wagon rides in summer, and sleigh rides into Assiniboine Park in the winter.

Thermëa, by Nordik Spa-Nature
This luxurious new spa opened in early 2015 and features a stunning open air setting, in the midst of a wooded pine forest, that is as attractive in summer as it is in winter. The spa replicates the experience of ancient Scandinavian spas, and is home to cold waterfalls, outdoor fireplaces, steam baths, hot and temperate pools, saunas and tranquil relaxation areas.

Hermetic Code Tour in the Manitoba Legislative Building
Since 2009, visitors have been unravelling the mysteries of the Manitoba Legislative Building, which is studded with hieroglyphics, freemasonic symbols and numeric codes. The Hermetic Code Tour is the perfect activity for those who loved the Da Vinci code, or anyone with a sense of intrigue. Architectural historian Dr. Frank Albo guides the tours, revealing clues that were so carefully masked, they’ve escaped historians for years.

Ready to go? Contact Tourism Winnipeg or Travel Manitoba for more information.

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