Taking a yearly vacation usually involves packing a suitcase full of bikinis, boardshorts, sunscreen, and sarongs. There’s no better way to spend a week or two away from the office than by sitting on the beach as palm trees sway in the wind and waves come crashing to shore. Right?

The scene described above is indeed an amazing way to spend vacay, but it’s certainly not the only way to do it. If you consider yourself more of an adventurous type and you want to spice things up this year (or should we say, cool things down), a trip to the Great White North is a must.

We’re not just talking about any trip to Canada, but one that involves bundling up and exploring the great outdoors as temperatures drop and snow covers the ground. It might take some convincing to convert the traditional beach-going vacationers to a trip that involves coats, scarves, and hand warmers. Let’s start with these 5 reasons to plan a trip to Canada once the temperatures drop:

• Skate on the World’s Largest Outdoor Rink
• Stay at a Famous Ski Resort
• Experience Canada’s Wintertime Festivals
• Book a Canadian Rockies Train Ride
• Behold the Phenomenal Northern Lights
• Take a Dip in the Hotsprings of Western Canada

Skate on the World’s Largest Outdoor Rink

Rideau Canal connects Canada’s capital city to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River. As soon as temperatures drop, a portion of the canal is dedicated to a beloved wintertime activity – ice skating. Once the temperatures of Ottawa drop below freezing, tourists and locals alike head to Rideau Canal to strap on a pair of skates.

Skating on the canal is quite possibly the biggest tourist attraction during Ottawa’s winter season. A major reason for this is that it’s the world’s largest (and second-longest) outdoor skating rink. After gliding around on a pair of skates for a while, you can take a break with a Beaver Tail, a delicious doughy pastry, and a cup of hot cocoa.

Stay at a Famous Ski Resort

All of the best opportunities for snowboarding, sledding, tubing, and backcountry skiing Canada has to offer can only be accessed during the winter season. This is yet another reason to head to Canada only after the temperatures have dropped. If you plan on ripping down the slopes and shredding day in and day out, the best way to do that is to stay at a famous ski resort out West.

The Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort has always been a popular choice among snow-loving travelers. It is one of the largest ski resorts in all of North America with the greatest uphill lift capacity. The coolest part of staying at this famed ski resort is its Peak 2 Peak Gondola that connects the Whistler and Blackcomb mountain peaks.

Experience Canada’s Wintertime Festivals

Canada has no shortage of year-round festivals, many of which happen during the winter months. Most Canadians have become somewhat immune to cold weather, so they have no trouble celebrating outdoors, even when temperatures dip below zero.

Visitors to Canada are welcome to join in on the fun, but be sure to bundle up before attending these winter fests throughout the country:

Quebec Winter Carnival (Carnaval de Quebec)

QWC is the largest winter festival IN THE WORLD. The carnival’s origins date back to 1894, and ever since that year, the fest has continued to grow in popularity and attendance. Nearly 500 tons of water are used to create massive ice sculptures. Spectators come to cheer on events ranging from dog sledding to sleigh racing.

Ottawa’s Winterlude

One of the largest attractions of the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa is skating on the Rideau Canal. If skating isn’t your cup of tea, there’s plenty to keep you busy at Winterlude. Chow down on Beaver Tails, check out Christmas light installments or catch a snow sculpture competition.

Niagara’s Winter Festival of Lights

There are over 125 animated light displays at the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls. The main attraction is the light show that illuminates the falls themselves. Spotlights illuminate the falls in a rainbow of colors – a sight that over 1 million people come to see each year.

Whistler’s World Ski & Snowboard Festival

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival is a 10-day event in Whistler. You can probably guess what it’s all about. This is where the best snowboarders and skiers in the world come to compete. After watching the competitors, feel free to wander around Whistler to watch live music performances, catch films, even cheer on dogs at sledding competitions.

Jane