Winter Getaways in Western Canada
Family Vacation Spots Offering the Best in Winter Fun
Great family-oriented winter getaways in Western Canada and you don't even have to ski.
There are so many enjoyable activities to do in the winter, and these Canadian destinations offer them all. Try one for your family’s next weekend getaway.
Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia
Silver Star is a ski resort with a Victorian inspired village located in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, but it also hosts a variety of other great activities. You can go tubing at the Tube Town Adventure Park, ice skating on Brewers Pond, or have your kids try snowmobiling on the Mini-Z snowmobiles track. The adults can take a guided snowmobile tour seeing beautiful vistas of the mountain or set out on a sunset snowshoe excursion while their kids are busy in an arts and crafts class. Every evening there are family-oriented activities such as Nintendo Wii sports game night and the Silver Star Idol singing competition. If your children have never skied or snowboarded, they can try both in the resort’s Discover Programs. If you are there in early February, head to nearby Vernon for their ten day winter carnival, featuring a hot air balloon fiesta and snow sculpture competitions.
Banff, Alberta
Banff is one of Canada’s most famous ski resorts but again, there is so much more to do there in the winter. You can take a guided ice walk through Banff’s Johnson Canyon where you wear cleats and explore blue ice formations during the day or at night using head lamps. If you are thrill seekers you could try ice climbing where you actually climb the frozen mountain waterfalls in Banff National Park. You can skate or go ice fishing on Lake Louise, or take a horse driven sleigh ride along its shores. After a long day you can relax in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, an outdoor mineral pool surrounded by beautiful views of the mountains. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is probably the most luxurious and famous place to stay, but families may want to try the Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets with their indoor water slides and two-storey play zone. In late January there is the Ice Magic festival, with prize winning ice sculptors and activities for kids where they can learn how to drive a dog sled or sculpt snow, navigate the Enchanted Forest ice maze, and watch a presentation of the musical the Snow Queen.
Kimberley Alpine Resort, British Columbia
The Kimberley Alpine Resort is another great ski resort offering so much more. You can take a one hour dog sled tour through the woods, skate on the outdoor rink, try cross country skiing on more than 33 km of machine groomed double tracked trails, or experience the sport of curling, a game where you sweep a “rock” down the ice onto targets. You can also try the Mountain Descent, a two hour tour where you take the gondola up the mountain and then embark on a scenic snowshoe excursion back down. Your kids will have fun learning skiing or snowboarding at the A&W Rootbeer’s Kids Camps, and you can unwind at one of the area's mineral hot springs such as the Lussier Hot Springs in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. In late February check out the Winter Games – four days of Nordic and alpine events. You could also drive into the town of Kimberly and enjoy its European charm as you wander through the Platzl, a downtown walking area lined with shops and restaurants.
The ski resorts of Western Canada are equipped to offer activities for everyone, even the non-skier. Your family will love a snow filled vacation as much as they love the beach. For more great winter getaways, please see my articles, Winter Getaways in Eastern Canada and Winter Getaways in the Northeastern U.S.
