Inuvik

Alestine's

The Bus

Fish and chips, local cuisine, desserts and views of the delta all served up from a big yellow bus. Bring a sticker from the business or organization to add to the bus.

Check Facebook page or call for hours

Arctic Rim

A small unmarked building that is the closest thing Inuvik has to an outdoor sports store. Stocks limited camping supplies including stove fuel (liquid, isobutane, and propane canisters), bear spray, and freeze dried food. Also carries hunting and fishing gear.

Cloud Nine Restaurant

Great food. Has muskox burgers. But since it's at the airport, most people would not drive there just to enjoy a meal at the restaurant.

Closed Sun·Burgers $22-24, fish & chips $27, soup $9

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Craft Store

Crafts (fur hats, seal skin slippers, carvings, paintings, jewellery and more) made by local members of the Inuvialuit. All proceeds go to the individual artists.

Late June-end of August: Mon-Fri 9:30AM-5PM, Sat noon-4PM. Rest of the year: Mon-Fri 9:30AM-5PM

Mad Trapper Pool Hall

Once upon a time the Trapper had a house band or two and a packed dance floor on Friday nights. Now it's a pool hall, although like most such establishments the game is often a pretext for downing pitcher upon pitcher of beer, especially if you don't know the right end of a cue from the wrong one. Still retains a dive-bar flavour.

Mavis Jacobson Northern Arts & Crafts

Carving, scarves, mittens, beaded jewellery and souvenirs sourced directly from local Indigenous peoples. Check her Facebook posts for latest products and hours.

Midnight Sun Mosque

North America's northernmost mosque. Not too distinctive architecturally, except for the (purely functional) minaret.

Midnight Sun Recreation Complex

Great swimming pool: lanes, "lazy river," large water slide, volleyball net and basketball net. Also a canteen selling food and drinks, an 85' x 200' arena, 2 squash courts, a children's play zone, fitness centre, a community hall and meeting rooms, and a 4-sheet curling rink and lounge.

News Stand

One of two convenience stores, surprisingly diverse selection.

Mon-Thu 5AM-3AM, Fri-Sun 5AM-midnight

NorthMart

The first and last place you'll go for anything you need: if it's not here, it's probably not available in town. In addition to the medium-size supermarket, there's a drug store and what are probably the northernmost KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in the world. The front section's outdoor section is also a good place to look if you need one last item before going off into the Arctic wilderness. There is also a beautiful mural painted on the wall in front of the store.

Originals on Mackenzie

Carvings, prints, post cards, walrus ivory, glassware, jewellery and souvenirs.

Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 10AM-5:30PM

Our Lady of Victory Church

Igloo Church

Probably Inuvik's best-known building, there are reasons to check out this prominent downtown landmark even if you aren't a devout Catholic celebrating Mass away from home. This distinctive circular domed church, with its exterior painted to look like an igloo, was built in 1960, making it one of the oldest buildings in town. Inside it features artwork by Inuit artist Mona Thrasher. Church staff sometime offer scheduled tours providing a behind-the-scenes look at the building, including its unique roof and basement areas.

Stanton

A slightly smaller alternative to Northmart on the north edge of town. Selection is more focused on bulk quantities and dry goods.

The Roost

One of few places in Inuvik for popular take-out food like burgers, Chinese or pizza. Food isn't great but at least it's filling. You can also eat in the backroom if you prefer.

Mon-Fri 11AM-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun 3PM-midnight·$15 for burgers, $23 for combo

The Royal Canadian Legion 220: McInnes Branch

The Legion

Come by the legion in the evenings for drinks, and community. Note the legion is open limited hours and is a membership based organization but everyone is welcome. To commemorate Remembrance Day each November 11th the legion serves its legendary moose milk.

Arctic Market

Sells products by local growers, artisans, crafters and bakers.

Great Northern Arts Festival

Has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July, around the end of the midnight-sun period. Participating artists come from across the north, as far way as Newfoundland, and even some from Alaska; while artists and art lovers come from all over the world to appreciate their work. Everyone one with the northern spirit is welcome to have bannock and caribou stew and see the best of the best in Arctic art. Some artists are even creating their pieces on site, so you can see first hand how to turn a stone into a magnificent figure of polar bears, walrus or Inuit faces.

Inuvik Muskrat Jamboree

Annual event in March or April. Dog team, snowshoe and skidoo races, tea boiling contest, harpoon toss and muskrat skinning.

Inuvik Sunrise Festival

The annual Sunrise Festival happens in January, usually around the time Inuvik's month-long polar night ends with a 15-minute day as the sun breaks over the mountains to the south. The event combines various native traditions with modern ones, such as the fireworks that can't be displayed at Canada Day celebrations due to the midnight sun. Every year it keeps getting bigger.

Gwich'in Craft Shop

Selling traditional arts and crafts made by the Gwich'ins.

Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM

Lil Ava's

Pizza and pasta.

Medium pizza $35-40, pasta $31

Mamaqtuq

185 MacKenzie Rd

Tue-Sat 7AM-2PM, 5-9PM·Entrees $28-35

Fiddle and Flow Festival

Music festival in mid-August.