From the hot springs of not-quite-dormant volcanoes near Whistler to urban winter festivals and the awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern Lights, you will surely be captivated by the stunning beauty of Canada in winter.
Ice skating, Lake Louise, Alberta
The pure waters of Banff National Park ice up in the winter months, giving skaters the most spectacular natural rinks on Earth.
These spaces, together with some purpose-built, make the whole region an ice skaters’ dream.
The Fairmont Banff Springs:
An open air rink equipped with shelter and a roaring fire keeps skaters warm on the coolest nights.
Admission: Free.
Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre:
This is an indoor rink. Skates available for rental for use on site only.
Admission: $5
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise:
This picturesque area is right at Lake Louise falls.
Admission: Free.
Downtown Rink at Banff High School:
An easy to get to arena at the local high school.
Admission: Free.
Train Station Banff:
An ice rink with low boards perfect for a game of shinny or outdoor hockey. Open daily, with lighting to permit skating into the early evening.
Admission: Free.
Bow River:
When conditions allow, an oval-shaped arena is cleared on Bow River.
Lake Louise Recreation Centre:
This outdoor rink is on Village Road in Lake Louise and includes a hockey/ice skating rink.
Admission: Free.
Hot springs in Whistler
Whistler is surrounded by a bountiful array of delightful hot springs – from the magnificent Keyhole, Sloquet Hot Springs, to the Skookumchuck.
Sloquet Hot Springs is a series of small, artificial pools fed by a hot waterfall. The pools stretch from the waterfall to the big cascading Sloquet River.
Admission: $5
Skookumchuck Hot Springs is a well-liked and picturesque campsite along the banks of Lillooet River.
It is the base for a quirky set of hot baths fed by warming natural springs.
Admission: $7.50
The hot springs at Keyhole, (also known as Pebble Creek Hot Springs) 100km from Whistler, rise to the surface near the colourful ice-melt water of the Lillooet River.
If you like waterfalls, the spectacular Keyhole Falls is located just a couple of kilometres upriver from the hot springs.
Winterlude Festival Ottawa (January 29 – February 15, 2016)
Celebrate winter in the capital during three busy weekends in February.
Organisers say you should have your ice skates handy or rent some to glide along the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen ice skating rink.
Most activities are held on the weekends: learn-to-skate clinics, a hockey tournament, a winter triathlon as well as children’s entertainment.
However, the ice sculptures, Rideau Canal skating and the Snowflake Kingdom children’s playground are open on weekdays (with the exception of Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Snowflake Kingdom).
Food lovers will be rewarded with one-off gourmet events put on by the capital’s finest eateries.
This includes pairings of food and wine, cooking displays, and winter repasts.
For more information go to the Winterlude website.
Quebec Winter Carnival (January 29 – February 14, 2016)
From the French colony’s earliest days, the people of Quebec indulged in a boisterous custom of gathering just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry.
The premier winter carnival in the world’s snow capital, Quebec City, first happened in 1894.
This year more than 200 activities are scheduled across the city, with Bonhomme’s World the focus of the 17-day celebration.
Last year more than half a million visitors thronged to the event, which includes ice bumper cars, gourmet French food and whiskey.
In a carnival first, Bulles Whisky et Cie will showcase more than 100 products and cocktails.
Admission: $30 (Bulles, Whisky et Cie only)
Aurora viewing in Yukon/Northwest Territories
In this part of the world, autumn and winter are generally good seasons to see the Northern Lights. Stand awestruck at midnight in midwinter as the icy snow crunches under your boots as coloured curtains of creation crackle above you.
The extended darkness and abundance of crystal clear nights provide plenty of chances to watch the Aurora Borealis at midnight.
While many cultures have legends about what creates the Northern Lights, the beautiful enchanting radiances are caused by charged particles from the sun hitting the Earth’s atmosphere.
Sugar shack (Sucrerie de la Montagne)
Visit Sugar shack (Sucrerie de la Montagne) and learn how to tap a maple tree.
A sugar shack, as the name implies, is a place set among maples, where the trees’ sap is turned into maple syrup.
Sucrerie de la Montagne is a true “sugar shack”, but with a major difference – tourists can learn how to tap maples for themselves.
Set in a forest of century-old maples on Mont Rigaud, the shack takes guests into the past, giving them look at colonial life in Quebec and Canada.
The tree is tapped with a spout, the sap is then gathered in a bucket and taken to an old fashioned evaporator, where it is turned into maple syrup.
At Sucrerie de la Montagne, sugaring off time comes with a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh or wagon and an all-you-can-eat spread.
Prices: Around $30 (adults).
To find out more about Canada and book your visit, go to keepexploring.com.au
