Winter vacations in Canada run beyond the normal skiing and snowshoeing. Canada has made an industry out of offering interesting vacation packages that can include caving, heli-skiing, ice hotels and more. Of course, if you want to hole up in a resort and eat comfort food and get massages, that's a possibility too!
1. Stay at the Ice Hotel Quebec
Photo: ©Xdachez.com
The ice hotel in Quebec is the only accommodation of its kind in North America.
Like an igloo, thick ice walls insulate the interior of the ice hotel and protect guests from the wind. However, sleeping in an ice hotel is not exactly cozy. The temperature inside an ice hotel runs between -3°C and -5°C and unless you're prepared and have listened carefully to sleeping instructions, you may be in for a chilly, early awakening.
Nevertheless, the artistry and work that has gone into the Quebec Ice Hotel and staying overnight there is a unique experience.
2. Toronto Theatre Experience
Photo Courtesy Tourism Toronto
Toronto is one of the world's major theatre destinations after London and New York City. Toronto's winter theatre lineup features a range of the most popular shows. Many hotels offer theatre packages where guests can get significant theatre ticket discounts.
See T.O. Tix for ticket information or ask at your hotel. Also, see the Top 10 Toronto Theatres.
Round out your urban adventure with shopping in Toronto, including at the famous Toronto Eaton Centre or visit some of Toronto's best attractions and highlights.
3. Be Good to Your Body at Ste Anne's Spa
Photo: Ste Anne's Spa - View. © 2007 Jane McLean, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Voted by British Vogue Magazine as one of the world's top 10 destination spas, Ste Anne's is in Grafton, Ontario - about 75 minutes east of Toronto, or 3-1/2 hours from Niagara Falls.
Originally a farmhouse, the property has grown to include several buildings that provide retreat in the way of spa treatments, meditation, exercise, and healthful food in an atmosphere of relaxation and acceptance that is free of pretense.
4. Ski One of Canada's Best Ski Resorts
Photograph: Henry Georgi / Getty Images
Ski resorts in Canada stretch right across the country, with the best being in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. The top 10 ski resorts in Canada represent the best of the best by any standard – long runs, sharp drop offs, and spectacular scenery plus a range of activities, such as heliskiing and glacier skiing.
5. Get Adventurous in Newfoundland
Photo courtesy East Mountain Lodge
Newfoundland is a gorgeous province; the people have a hospitality and friendliness that stands out even to fellow Canadians. In winter, its countryside offers activities to make the most of cold temperatures and snow
Newfoundland and Labrador are home to some of Canada's best groomed, marked snowmobile trails. Eagle Mountain Lodge opens onto hundreds of miles of rarely travelled trails.
Descend into the magical silence of the subterranean world with Cool Caverns Cave Tours.
Ziplining is a year-round activity and MarbleZip Tours will guide you through a zigzag from mountain platform to platform along across the picturesque Marble Mountain Gorge directly above Steady Brook Falls.
6. Try Winter Kiteboarding in New Brunswick
New-Brunswick’s Acadian Islands have emerged as a hot spot for kiteboarding, both in summer and winter. Club Wind & Kite is one of the leading schools for this activity, with others in Quebec and BC where water and wind provide the necessary conditions.
7. Visit Winterlude in Ottawa
Ottawa has plenty to offer visitors year-round, but in winter, one of the biggest draws is the Rideau Canal, which freezes over and becomes a 7.8 km (just under 5 miles) skating rink. In addition, Winterlude (weekends in February) offers plenty of winter festival activities like ice carving, concerts, sledding and more.
See more of Canada's best winter festivals
.
8. Eco-Luxury Polar Bear & Northern Canadian Wilderness Experiences
Photo © Jeremy Woodhouse / Getty Images
The only eco-tour operator in North America where guests have the opportunity to view polar bears from luxury lodges, Churchill Wild launched numerous new packages back in 2010 and a new destination ecolodge, all of which give guests the opportunity to view polar bears in their natural habitat.
