Top Places to Visit in Canada in Winter
Many tourists travel to Canada during the winter season to enjoy the snow-covered peaks and winter adventure activities. Despite the cold temperature, the country's icy shores and frozen lakes attract many travellers. The country offers various winter activities that are perfect for spending a winter vacation. Winter activities such as ice-hockey, snowboarding, and skiing are deeply linked with Canadian culture. A wide variety of winter sports, including dog sledding are available in Canada and they can be tailored to traveller’s skill level and interest.
Canada celebrates many winter festivals. The Carnaval de Quebec, celebrated in Quebec City, is one of the largest winter carnivals celebrated in the world. The Winterlude is a three-week winter festival celebrated in Ottawa. The winter (November to April) and fall seasons in Canada are widely famous for the northern lights Aurora Borealis. An added advantage is that the winter season attracts fewer crowds than the summer season. Here are a few destinations to visit in Canada to enjoy the winter visit.
Alberta
Alberta encompasses a diverse landscape, which includes lakes, remote deserts and mountains. The landscape and frozen lakes during the winter months increase the beauty of Alberta. The helicopter tours offer an aerial view of the snow-covered city, which looks stunning. A must-visit tourist destination in Alberta is Banff National Park, which has iconic lake destinations like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, surrounded by mountains. It is a perfect spot for a canoeing and hiking experience. Jasper National Park in Alberta has scenic hiking trails and it is the best place to see the northern lights.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta exhibits dinosaur fossils and the history of prehistoric life. The Icefields Parkway is a scenic driveway route that has popular scenic spots like Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, etc.
British Columbia
British Columbia (BC) is a coastal region in Canada's westernmost province. The temperature is milder in British Columbia than in the interior regions. The province offers many winter activities and it is a hub for ski resorts. BC features over 13 popular ski areas from beginners to advanced, tailored to all skill levels. A few notable ski areas are Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks, Big White and Cypress Mountain. Many ski resorts offer snowshoeing, a great way to enjoy the snow landscape at a slow pace. It is also perfect for kids.
Winter camping will be an ideal choice for a thrilling experience that includes hot springs and campfires. Muncho Lake Provincial Park, Fort Nelson, and Dawson Creek are a few destinations in BC that are good for seeing the northern lights.
Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park
The most prominent peak within Alberta, Mount Edith Cavell offers various hiking and climbing trails, along with spectacular glacier views. Given its great alpine scenery, the place is perfect for hiking in Jasper National Park.
Considered a mixture of summer and winter landscapes, this peak is named after a celebrated British Nurse from World War I. What is this place like during winter? If you are an adventure lover looking to spend some quality time with nature, choosing ski trails with various difficulty levels to reach this place and witnessing its raw natural surroundings is something you would be eager to explore!
Tofino
Tofino is a small and beautiful region situated on Vancouver Island. It is a stunning destination to stay in Canada. Storm-watching along the coast of Tofino during the winter season can be a thrilling activity for visitors. The whale migration in Tofino starts between February and March, so visitors can get a great chance to see the grey whale towards the end of the winter season. The Tofino region is famous for rainforest hiking trails. The rainforest areas in Tofino are unique, and there are many long and short trails.
Walking between the giant trees will be more exciting. The hiking trails in the Pacific Rim National Park are the best because they have stunning viewpoints. Do not miss out on exploring the Hot Springs Cove in Tofino.
Nunavut
The Canadian province of Nunavut is part of the Arctic Circle. It is the best winter destination to experience the harsh weather conditions. The capital city of Nunavut, Iqaluit, is famous for the Inuit culture which is exhibited through local events, festivals and arts. The Iqaluit territory also has archaeological sites that trace back to the Thule people. A popular winter activity in Nunavut, Canada, is ice fishing. Many agencies offer ice fishing tours where visitors drill holes in the frozen lakes and catch fish. The tour includes traditionally practiced fishing techniques and a few insights.
A noteworthy winter activity in Nunavut is the igloo building workshop. It is a fun winter activity that teaches the techniques to construct traditional igloo shelters using snow blocks. The workshop also includes valuable survival skills.
Ottawa’s Winter Magic at Rideau Canal
The winter season transforms Ottawa into a perfect destination for tourists. Ottawa is famous for the celebration of the world’s largest winter carnival, the Winterlude Festival. It is an annual carnival which is celebrated every February. The festival includes activities like ice carvings and programs along the Rideau Canal Skateway. A popular outdoor winter activity in Ottawa is Cross-country skiing. Gatineau Park in downtown Ottawa has a 200 Km long skiing trail. A famous winter sport, Tobogganing, is enjoyed throughout Ottawa. It is an ancient and traditional form of transportation used by the Indigenous people in Canada.
Ottawa has a popular shopping destination, the ByWard Market. The market has a farmer’s market and a variety of restaurants, food stalls, shops and bars. It is the best place to shop for fresh products and enjoy delicious meals.
Ontario
The Canadian region of Ontario is well-known for the famous tourist attraction in Canada, Niagara Falls. The Algonquin Provincial Park features a lot of walking and hiking trails which include diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes. With so many lakes, the Ontario region turns out to be perfect for water-based activities like scuba diving, rafting, kayaking and surfing. Art lovers can take a visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario. The Museums and Art Galleries in Ontario feature a wide collection of Canadian art.
The winter resorts in Muskoka, Ontario, are famous for winter activities such as ice skating, snow tubing, etc. Certain places in Ontario that are the best places to see the northern lights are Manitoulin Island, Pukaskwa National Park and Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve.
Canada’s Frozen Falls
As famous as the place gets in summer, this place in Canada becomes even better during winter. One of the country's most renowned locations, the Niagara falls become host to a range of activities during winters too, including some unique events like the Winter Festival of Lights.
Winter is also one of the best times to visit these iconic falls as this is the time one can witness the fall's partially frozen part! A frozen landscape unlike any other, this popular place cannot be skipped if you want to witness the most magic of Canadian winters.
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As a land of cold and snow-capped peaks, with winters that last almost half the year in many regions, Canada is the perfect place for many winter sports, one of them being skiing. In fact, skiing has become one of the most popular recreational activities that draws tourists from all over the world to Canada. Learn more at Top Skiing Locations in Canada.
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