A Northern Holiday – What to do in Canada in Winter
The air gets colder, the snow falls more steadily, and Canada suddenly becomes a winter wonderland!
I love Canada’s winters because it feels like Christmas all day, every day.
There are so many great things about this country during the winter that make Canada my favorite place to be–whether you’re from Canada or not!–and this blog post will highlight some of those reasons why Canada rocks in winter!
The Canadian Rocky Mountains
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are Canada’s best winter destination. The Rocky Mountains are a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but they become even more breathtaking during the winter months due to the snow!
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It is no surprise that Canada’s national parks see a significant increase in visitors during this time as well, more than double! It seems like everyone wants to take advantage and make some unforgettable memories while enjoying Canada at its finest.
The Canadian Rockies offer so much for travelers, including:
- easy access from Calgary or Vancouver
- Johnstone Canyon Hiking
- ski resorts galore
- dog sledding, ice fishing, and other outdoor activities!
There isn’t another place on Earth where you can enjoy such a fantastic variety of things, all within driving distance!
Reindeer in Canada
Canada is home to various wonderful winter animals, and Canada’s reindeer population is no exception. Reindeer are an iconic symbol of the holiday season, so it makes sense that they have chosen Canada as their home!
Did you know Canada has over 30,000 caribou, including wild and domesticated herds? Some people even believe Canada’s amazing creatures inspired Santa Claus’ famous sleigh team (all eight reindeer).
Whether or not this story was true, we know that there isn’t another place on Earth like Canada during the winter months.
The country truly comes alive and offers never-ending activities and things to see while staying cozy inside with Canada’s winter-themed food and drinks. Canada is truly a magical place during the holidays!
Skiing in Canada
Skiing is Canada’s most popular winter sport (although we love watching our hockey teams play), and there are so many incredible places to enjoy this activity in Canada. Canada has some of the best ski resorts available for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
Also, cross-country skiing and long walks with snowshoes are done throughout Canada from coast to coast!
Canada offers skiers an extraordinary amount of variety with (just a few mentions):
– Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
– Castle Mountain Ski Resort
– Lake Louise Ski Resort
– Mont Tremblant Ski Resort
Montréal Canada
Montreal is another unique Canadian destination during the winter months! I have been to Montreal several times, and it has always been a blast. Even in the dead of Canada’s harshest winters, you can still find fun things to do in Montreal that don’t involve skiing or snowmobiling. There are plenty of both around if you’re interested. However, there are several other things to do in this culturally rich city. For example: did you know that Montreal boasts North America’s largest underground city?
In fact, one whole section known as The Underground City comprises over twenty miles worth of interconnected tunnels where people walk from shop to shop without ever having to go outside!
Talk about convenience, not only for business owners who want their shops open even in Canada’s worst weather, but also shoppers who don’t want to brave the cold!
This winter, try to check Montreal off your Canada bucket list so hopefully, you can visit and make some magical memories. Just remember to bring your Canada jacket because it gets COLD! 🙂
Quebec City
Quebec is another fantastic destination for Canada’s winter travelers. If you haven’t heard of this city, it’s about three hours drive from Montreal and well worth the trip! You can see picturesque houses nestled in the snow on top of a hillside with an icy river running through town.
It truly feels like something out of a fairy tale.
There are tons of great places to eat too. If you’re looking for some good food while visiting Quebec, look no further than “La Banquise,” which makes THE BEST poutine that I have ever had in my life!
It would be criminal not to try eating here in Quebec because their fries topped with cheese curds and gravy are absolutely mouth-watering!
Toronto
Let’s not forget about Canada’s most famous city, Toronto! I’m sure you’ve heard of Canada’s largest and best city before since it has become so popular, and deservedly so, for its multiculturalism and diversity.
There is truly something for everyone in the heart of Canada to experience during any time of year, but especially when all of those beautiful Christmas lights are glowing brightly overhead!
Even if you’re planning on visiting another Canadian destination this winter season like me, make sure that you check out one or two festive holiday events while there because they will bring even more magic into your trip too. The activities don’t stop with just experiencing some fantastic light shows and festivals.
There are also ice skating rinks at Nathan Phillips Square and holiday markets at St Lawrence Market. Canada’s Wonderland has more than just a few of the things that you can do to make your Canada winter vacation truly unforgettable!
Toronto is one of Canada’s favorite destinations for locals and visitors alike because it has everything you could want in an urban center.
Some notable attractions are the Toronto Zoo (home to over five thousand animals!), Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (the largest indoor aquarium in all of Canada), CN Tower (one of the world’s tallest freestanding structures), and Casa Loma Castle. Don’t miss out on checking them off while visiting this fantastic city.
Vancouver
This amazing city has tons for people to do and see during any time of year, but even more so if you come during Canada winter! The snow-covered mountains are breathtaking and impossible not to admire. There are plenty of outdoor activities that will keep your adrenaline pumping, like skiing at Whistler or simply going sledding down Grouse Mountain.
If you’re looking for some indoor entertainment while visiting Vancouver, don’t worry because they have lots to offer here too.
Places like Science World (where you can experience all kinds of science-related things) and Canada Place (a beautiful building with so many great attractions inside) are worth spending some time there.
Vancouver is truly a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone to enjoy during the Christmas holiday season! If you really want to get into the spirit, make sure that you check out their Winterfest event; it’s five days of fun festivities like ice skating on Robson Square Ice Rink, where they even bring out real snow too. Vancouverites know how rare this is since most years only see about an inch or two falls from the sky.
Calgary
There are so many great activities for everyone during the Canadian winter season, whether they’re looking to escape the cold weather by staying indoors or enjoying some outdoor fun too.
If you want a little bit of both worlds, then check out Canada Olympic Park (a winter sports facility with lots of amazing adventures here) and their famous zipline course; even if it is freezing outside, don’t hesitate because your experience will be unforgettable!
Canada Olympic Park offers ice skating with their Bow Valley Rink for some winter fun outdoors. They even host hockey games here too. If you don’t mind getting a little cold, you will love the fast-paced action!
Calgary has plenty to offer during the Christmas holiday season, so make sure that your stay in Calgary is extra magical with all of these great attractions! If you’re looking for something festive, then definitely check out The Enmax Conservatory, where over 100,000 beautiful lights will be shining brightly overhead.
You can enjoy this amazing light show while enjoying a delicious hot chocolate or simply taking in the sights and sounds until January 31st, when everything closes down again.
Winter in Canada
Canada is a beautiful country, and I hope that after reading this blog post, you will consider visiting Canada during the Canadian winter, or at least add it to your bucket list.
There isn’t another place on Earth where you can find such a fantastic variety of things all in one location.
Canada truly does make for a magical holiday destination because not only are there so many great activities around every corner, but Canada has some of the most down-to-earth people who want to help others feel welcome and safe too!
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