One of the best ways to make the hectic holiday season a little less harried is to take a deep breath and plan an escape from your to-do lists. With this in mind, we’ve put together a roundup of some of Canada’s top spots for holiday getaways.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Quebec City, Quebec
Atmospheric Old Quebec‘s 17th-century homes and storefronts transform into a mesmerizing winter wonderland with the famous annual German Christmas market, Marché de Noël Allemand de Québec. It is among the biggest outdoor markets in Canada and features free indoor and outdoor shows, musicians, and a seemingly endless array of shops selling snacks (roasted chestnuts, anyone?) and handcrafted gifts.
If you’re looking to party on New Year’s Eve, head to Quebec City’s legendary Grande Allée. The massive boulevard is the place to be at any time of year, but it goes all out on New Year’s with cafés equipped with welcoming heated patios, ice bars, live music, and spontaneous street dancing.
Outdoorsy, adventure-seeking Canada holiday travelers won’t want to miss the chance to do a sunlit or nighttime tour of Quebec City’s surrounding snow-peaked mountains via snowmobile with Nord Expe.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
In the mood for a mini road trip, some figure skating, and dazzling lights? You can combine all three at Canad Inns Winter Wonderland. Feast your eyes on more than one million lights spread across dozens of holiday-themed displays from the cozy warmth of your car. Along the way, you can pop by the outdoor skating rink for a spin on the ice.
During the day, head to FortWhyte Alive wildlife preserve and recreation for “Santa in the Forest” photo ops, snow-filled scavenger hunts and holiday storytelling by an outdoor fire. Check the calendar to find your ideal Canada holiday getaway events.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
If you’re longing for a snow-covered, storybook setting, head to Charlottetown’s beloved Christmas Festival. The largest open-air Christmas market in Atlantic Canada is jam-packed with local artisans and food vendors, as well as holiday movie showings, horse and wagon rides, petting zoos, Christmas singalongs, and more.
Go trekking through the snow old-school style with a snowshoeing adventure. Take advantage of a unique Charlottetown winter experience with Snowshoes in the City program. There’s nothing like gliding through picturesque Charlottetown (or the nearby countryside) after a fluffy snowfall on a pair of snowshoes, which you can grab at the Charlottetown Parks & Recreation Office.
Some Charlottetown hotels or inns offer guests complimentary loaner snowshoes, and curated snowshoeing trail guides are also available.
Stay at Delta Hotels by Marriott Prince Edward to enjoy its convenient location near the festivities downtown.
Edmonton, Alberta
How could anyone resist a visit to Candy Cane Lane? A residential neighborhood in Edmonton pulls out all the stops to celebrate the season with every house decked out in festive flare. As Edmonton’s iconic holiday event, Candy Cane Lane has been held annually for more than 50 years. The route is closed to pedestrians, so you can walk (or cross-country ski) thus wonderland, or see the homes via horse-pulled sleigh.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon lays claim to one of the longest-running and most popular holiday light shows in Canada. The BHP Enchanted Forest is an extravaganza of drive-through custom-designed light shows in an enchanted forest setting.
Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @Nutrien Plaza is an outdoor family-friendly favorite, where skaters hit the ice under the glow of Christmas lights and accompanied by holiday songs. Don’t worry if you haven’t packed skates; they are available to rent for free or with a donation.
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