If you’re planning a vacation this winter, skip the temptation to go south for a little island warmth and stay closer to home – travel here in Canada instead. No matter if you prefer big-city culture, mountain skiing, a just-for-two getaway or family fun, you’re sure to enjoy a homegrown vacation in the winter wonderland that is Canada. There’s so much to do and see that before long, you’ll be saying cheerfully, “Beach, shmeach!”

The Canadian Rockies
It’s unanimous: Our very own Canadian Rockies provide some of the world’s very best skiing, shopping, accommodations and just plain winter fun. The Rockies, to the west of the prairies of Alberta, have the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Ski season here runs from December through February. If you enjoy resort life, with luxury shopping and fine dining, choose from Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise and, of course, the former Olympic site at Nakiska.

If your style is a bit more laid back or if you’re budget-conscious, consider the wonderful alternatives like Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton Lakes. These parks have a more rustic style, but the downhill skiing is just as good, and the million-dollar views are just as spectacular! No matter which of these national or provincial parks you choose, you’ll be in for the vacation of a lifetime.

“I love the Canadian Rockies,” says ski enthusiast Angelique Mosier of Montreal. “The skiing is the main thing, but it’s also really interesting that the various areas are just so different from each other – philosophically speaking that is! You can really get into the whole apres-ski scene at the major parks, you know, lots of designer shopping and fabulous dining, or you can stay at a more down-to-earth place where you ski a lot, and the food and atmosphere are a lot simpler. It just depends on what appeals to you – you get the great skiing and marvelous scenery no matter where you go in the Rockies.”

No ifs, ands or buts about it, skiing is the big draw of the Canadian Rockies, but if you prefer staying horizontal to schussing down mountains, cross-country skiing may be just the sport for you, and most resorts offer this Nordic sport. Love the outdoors? Along with both types of skiing, you can also try ice fishing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more. Snowmobiling can be daring or staid. Spend a whole or half-day exploring the backcountry of the Rockies, and be sure to bring along your camera to photograph the wildlife and scenery.

If adventure is your middle name, resorts in the Rockies offer dog sledding or skijoring (cross-country skiing with a sled dog). For the more sedate among us, photo tours, hay rides and riding in horse-drawn sleighs are also popular.

If you’re going to the Rockies this year, you might want to think about traveling in January to enjoy two special events: the International Ice Sculpting Competition (teams and individuals carve blocks of ice into temporary pieces of art; there’s even a “Little Chippers Station” in the village of Lake Louise) and the Banff/Lake Louise Winter Festival. Celebrated annually since 1916, the Winter Festival offers an art walk, family winter carnival, torchlight parade, Mountain Madness Relay Race and more.

A Capital Secret
“Ottawa, our capital, is one of Canada's best kept secrets,” says Louise Crandall of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies. Crandall adds that Ottawa’s Winterlude is one of the largest winter festivals in North America. “Winterlude takes place over three weekends in February and offers a large variety of outdoor activities popular with families. It features snow and ice sculptures, a kid's playground in snow, races, cultural events and much more at venues all around the city.”

Ottawa is a great city for families, according to Crandall. “It offers history, culture and four-season outdoor recreation. Running through Ottawa is the world's longest skating rink, the 5-mile Rideau Canal," she says. "There is a large range of accommodation from [Bed and Breakfasts] to five-star hotels. Popular with families are the many suite hotels. One major attribute of the city is that most of its attractions, hotels, shopping and events are within walking distance of each other.”

Quebec City’s Winter Carnival
You need a big party, as winter can be bitterly cold and is known to last half the year! And what a party the Quebecois throw – more than a million out-of-town visitors travel to Quebec City each year to enjoy its Winter Carnival. And like all good carnivals, participants must go a little crazy in their celebrations.

There are other winter carnivals, but they’re pale imitations of this 17-day-long extravaganza. Why not rent an igloo and sleep in it for the night? Many do! But the igloo is the humblest of the buildings made from ice. There are many elaborate ice castles and sculptures that fill the city at Carnival time.

Most of the festivities, like dogsled races and snowmobile races, are held outdoors. Perhaps the most daring, though, is the Snow Bath, an annual event when the locals strip down to their bathing suits and frolic in the snow.

There are more traditional events, too. Many formal dances and parties take place throughout the city during carnival time, culminating in a huge parade that comes before the most important ball of all, Bonhomme’s Ball. This formal Viennese-style party is hosted by an emcee and is a dress-to-the-teeth occasion.

Don’t mention the cold of winter and the long dark days if you go to Quebec City for Winter Carnival. Just join in the spirit of the natives who are doing their best to push it away with an abundance of joie de vivre!

Family Fun Far Off the Beaten Track
“I would choose Corner Brook, Newfoundland as a great family destination,” says Shelley Hibbs-Blackmore of Codroy Valley, Newfoundland. “Corner Brook has Marble Mountain, which is the best skiing east of the Rockies. For kids, it has various parks and hiking trails, not to mention the tube sledding.” Hibbs-Blackmore notes that along with indoor sports such as arena skating, Corner Brook has shopping malls aplenty. “I think that Corner Brook, Newfoundland is a very family-oriented area.”

“Churchill, Manitoba is famous for its polar bears that wander through the town,” says Crandall. “Visitors can go on the tundra in special vehicles and observe the bears from close up. Bird watching, dog sledding and whale sighting are popular too. Churchill is a small Arctic seaport on Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba. The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) can also be viewed there, and aboriginal experiences and arts and crafts are also available. Visitors can fly or take a train to the town. A small number of wilderness lodges, small hotels and [Bed and Breakfasts] are available.”

No matter how wild or tame your sense of fun, you can find it right at home in Canada. Whether you’d prefer to jump into the snow in your skivvies in Quebec City, walk about the streets during Ottawa’s Winterlude, ski breakneck down a mountain in Lake Louise or shop until you drop in Banff, your perfect adventure is waiting for you in Canada this winter.

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• Talk about it!