While not everyone is a fan of winter, the chilliest season of the year is an altogether different experience when spent in the wilds of Canada. Just take a look…
1. Drive the Ice Road
An arctic ice road tour from Yellowknife takes you past frozen lakes, diamond mines and arctic wildlife. Make like an ice road trucker.
2. Make like a Mountie
Head for the Royal Centre for Mounted Police in Regina and learn all about these horsey coppers.
3. Sip Cocktails in the Sky
Admire Toronto’s dazzling lights from the Roof Lounge of the 18th floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel.
4. See Santa
Celebrate Santa in Toronto in a stunning festival with floats and parades and candy galore. There’s even a free winter warmer breakfast!
5. Tea Off
Take tea in Ottawa’s Fairmont Chateau Laurier for crust free sarnies, warm scones and tea served by your own ‘tea sommelier’.
6. Stand by your Spud
For pure potato worship, visit the Potato Museum on Prince Edward Island followed by a photo with the giant spud outside the town of O’Leary.
7. East is East
On Cape Spear sits Newfoundland’s oldest lighthouse. Wander, explore and be at the most easterly point in North America.
8. Eyeball an Iceberg
Gaze in awe at the giant rocks of glacial ice as they float to Newfoundland from Greenland on their graceful journey.
9. Viking Banquet
Visit L’Anse aux Meadows to see the historic site of an 11th century Viking community and wolf down a great Viking feast with some full-on Viking theatre.
10. Niagara Falls
Feel the gentle spray from these iconic and magnificent falls as you sail on the Maid of the Mist.
11. Whistler Blackcomb
Delight in some of the best powder and one of the largest ski and snowboard resorts in the world.
12. Quebec Winter Carnival
Visit Carnaval de Québec, the world’s biggest celebration of winter, for snow baths, night parades, ice fishing, live music, snow sculpting, romantic sleigh rides and husky dog-sledding.
13. Polar Bears
In Churchill, Manitoba these white fluffy creatures pass through the town on their way to the ice.
14. Away to the Highlands
Walk some or all of the 298km long Cabot Trail through National Park and stunning Canadian scenery.
15. Visit Green Gables
On Prince Edward Island lies the recreated home and village that bring the story of Anne of Green Gables to life.
16. French Fancy
Be whisked straight into a fairy-tale with a trip to Le Château Frontenac Vieux, in magical Quebec City.
17. Whale Watching
British Columbia is the place to see the magnificent gentle giants of the sea.
18. Winterlude
For fine dining, wine tasting, snow playgrounds, skating and more, hurry to Ottawa for the Winterlude festivities in February.
19. Snow Bonhomie
Celebrate all that’s wintery in a place that knows how with these Canadian festivals; Ice Magic, Lake Louise; Winter Carnival, New Brunswick; Snowking’s Annual Winter Festival, Yellowknife and SnoBreak, Newfoundland.
20. Ice Wine
Frozen grapes, harvested in December, create this heavenly sweet potion.
21. Husky Dog Adventures
Tour the beautiful Yukon for 5 days on sleds pulled by our furry, hard-working four-legged friends.
22. Sugar Shacks
Get a sugar rush from pancakes with maple syrup, baked beans with maple syrup, bacon with maple syrup while learning about…maple syrup!
23. Keep Warm, Eat Chocolate
Chocoholics, hurry to Rimrock restaurant in Calgary for Monday night’s ‘Death by Chocolate’ dessert buffet.
24. A River to Skate on
Well, a canal to be precise. Skate the 5 mile long Rideau Canal in Ottawa!
25. Winter on the Rails
Take the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary, through the magical Rockies for unsurpassed views.
26. Get your Snow Shoes on
For incredible snow-fun, get your snowshoes on for a hike. You can even heli-snowshoe if you dare!
27. Catch a Frozen Fish
Enjoy ice fishing in the comfort of a lodge or resort and be sure to bag yourself a cool catch.
28. Northern Lights
There is nothing as magical as the night sky glittering green and gold from the Aurora Borealis. Yellowknife is the best places to see it so settle down, light a fire and don’t forget the marshmallows.
29. Ice Hotel
Drink ice cold vodka, enjoy a hot tub and sleep on ice beds in the enchanting cathedral of ice called the Hôtel de Glace, in Quebec.
30. Winter Spa
While the snow falls outside, cosy up in an inn by a fire with a full-body massage and a maple syrup scrub and let your thoughts drift like a snowflake.
