Exploring the northlands of Canada doesn't always mean hopping on a bush plane that has skis instead of wheels. VIA Rail, Canada's national train service, has a long-haul route between the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and the town of Churchill, Manitoba, which sits more than 1,000 miles to the north. Before arriving in Churchill, passengers spend 36 hours passing through the natural landscapes of the province. This town, which sits on the shores of Hudson Bay, is often referred to as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Tourists can view these mammoth white bears from specially reenforced buses called “tundra buggies” (pictured). Polar bears congregate near the shore of the bay in late fall and early winter. For summertime travelers, it is possible to see of a number of migrating bird species on land and to spot beluga whales in the waters near Churchill.