Sandwiched between North Dakota and Nunavut, Manitoba has never been the busiest chunk of tourism real estate in North America. To independent travellers, this is a good thing: Canada's undiscovered province offers uncrowded beaches, innumerable lakes and forests and unlikely cultural attractions, especially in the gritty/cool capital, Winnipeg.

First published in 2006, A Daytripper’s Guide to Manitoba immediately became an indispensable tool for visitors from abroad, Canadians passing through and Manitobans who simply wanted to get to know their own backyard. The new edition, revised for 2010, is an even more comprehensive guide to cities, towns and natural attractions in every corner of the province.

Plunder a small-town gift shop. Eyeball turn-of-the-last-century architecture. Commune with nature in wild areas that still feel wild.

And forget what you think you know about the Canadian prairies – the only thing flat about Manitoba is the Trans-Canada Highway.