Great, white winter vacations

Is heading south out of the budget this year? Why not look for a winter vacation that’s a bit closer to home?
Feb. 19, 2010 | By: Alison Dunn

Sure, we’d all like to beat the winter blues with a vacation to sunny climes and faraway lands. But while a winter getaway to Mexico or the Caribbean sounds great, for many of us it’s just not an option.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get away a little closer to home, however. There are plenty of great options for winter vacations in Canada that won’t break the bank.

Winter coast-to-coast

Just like many of us can’t take off for a sunny climate, a trip to the Olympics in Vancouver was probably out of the question for most of us. But that’s no reason why you can’t take a trip out to B.C., according to Tourism BC.

“Rumours and misinformation are fuelling the notion that visitors can’t afford to visit BC before or during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and that it will be too crowded. Not true,” says Margo Pieff with Tourism BC. In fact, once the Olympics are over, there’s still plenty of winter fun to be had in B.C. at the various ski resorts.

If the Rockies aren’t your style, why not hit the East Coast instead? Newfoundland and Labrador offer a number of exciting packages, and according to Newfoundland and Labrador tourism, nothing beats heading to a place where life itself is cloaked in a blanket of snow to quiet the soul and elevate the spirit.

The province offers a whole lot to do in winter, and even more space in which to do it. Whether it’s snowmobiling or snowshoeing over wide open barrens and winding, wooded paths delicately padded with 200 inches of snow, or hitting slopes of Marble Mountain Ski Resort (some of the best skiing east of the Rockies and west of the Alps) there’s plenty to do in Canada’s eastern-most province in winter.

If you can’t make it, fake it

If winter sports aren’t your thing but your budget won’t allow for a beach getaway, consider hitting an indoor waterpark to fake it this winter. Niagara Falls, Ont., offers a few great indoor waterparks, including Great Wolf Lodge and the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark.

Both offer package deals to families looking to spend a few days pretending winter doesn’t matter. The Fallsview, for one, is directly across the street from Niagara Falls and has sixteen waterslides (some as high as six stories), a massive indoor wave pool, year round sundeck and activity pool, a "beach house" aqua play area and much more.

Or, if you’re going to be in Edmonton, don’t forget the West Edmonton Mall. While the mall offers 800 stores and services, its also home to nine theme parks and attractions, including the world’s largest indoor amusement park, the world’s largest indoor wave pool and the world’s largest indoor permanent bungee tower. You can’t help but have fun with attractions that size.

Try a “staycation”

One of the hottest buzzwords in vacation circles isn’t even a vacation at all: it’s something called a “staycation,” where you take a vacation, but stick close to home. An economical alternative to a vacation, the idea is that you spend your vacation doing activities nearby, saving money but still getting away from your hectic everyday life.

Need some ideas for a staycation? Try hitting a local hill for tobogganing, or the local skating rink for a fun day of skating. You can try hiking, snowshoeing or hit up a local ski hill for some outdoor fun.

If the outdoors isn’t your style, why not hit local museums or tourist destinations? If you’re in Toronto, for example, you can check out the Royal Ontario Museum, the CN Tower, or the Ontario Science Centre for starters.

Finally, a staycation doesn’t even have to be that elaborate. Try organizing a family board game night, a video game night, or get creative with cooking or baking for a day. The point is to break up your normal routine with some fun activities to feel like you’re getting away from it all.