Skiing at Whistler

Perhaps one of the most well known places to vacation and ski in Canada, let alone the world, is Whistler, British Columbia.  Both skiers and snowboarders alike recognize this Canada resort destination as a powdery, snowy paradise amidst B.C.’s coastal mountains.  Whistler Village boasts several top-notch hotels such as the Four Seasons and the Westin Resort and Spa.  A standard daily lift ticket is around $80.

While there, take a zip line tour! Experience the sensation of flying through the air at tremendous speeds.  Companies offer tours that combine some hiking and some zip line rides with education and information about the surrounding ecosystems.  Most tours offer a safety training and orientation.

Hiking & Cycling in Saskatchewan

The Big Muddy Badlands have been formed by millions of years of environmental and historical happenings.  Today, thousands of tourists from all over flock to the badlands to witness the amazing scenery.  This area, located in south central Saskatchewan, just north of the Canada/USA border, has been punctuated with landmarks – both natural and man-made – that tell its exciting story.  Nature lovers and history buffs will enjoy a landscape that holds so many secrets.

While there, camp out in Coronach.  Comfortable campgrounds offer the experience of a lifetime.  Catch something special at one of the local fishing holes, and then take an interpretive tour.

River Rafting on the Ottawa River

Warm water all summer long combines with impressive rapids to make Canada’s premier river rafting destination – the Ottawa River.  The Ottawa is situated along the border between Quebec and Ontario.  Take a guided tour down the Main Channel or guide your own raft down the Middle Channel.  Serene scenery framed by waterfalls and artistic rock formations is balanced by challenging rapids and waves.

While there, go bungee jumping on the Ontario side.  You’ll enjoy stunning views of the Ottawa River from atop the 150-foot tower.  Plunging toward the sparkling waters of the river below will top off this experience of a lifetime.  Book your jump along with your river rafting adventure for a great deal on both.

Climbing the Canadian Rockies

There’s no greater adventure or better way to experience the Canadian outdoors than to climb the Rocky Mountains.  A mountain-climbing escapade to Canmore, Alberta can be a life-changing experience.  The amazing vistas are ones witnessed by very few.  Experienced and well-equipped climbers will enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.  Novice climbers can benefit from the safety of guided tours.

While there, stay at the Canmore Mountain Lodge and let the outdoor hot tub melt away the exhilaration while you take pleasure in views filled with snowy-peaked mountains.

More often than not, adults fear nature more than children do. Therefore, it may come as a surprise when your child takes to nature quite easily. If camping in the woods does not sit well with you, then why not pitch a tent in the backyard. You will find all the activities and crafts that usually come along with camping right in your own backyard, except the campfire.

Here are some ways to ease any fears that your child may have with the thought of camping:

• Let you’re kids participate in the planning of the camping trip
• Think about camping in the backyard as a way to introduce camping to you’re children
• Go camping with other adults that have children, so that they have someone to play with and are not doing it on their own. Sometimes other children act as a good role model for them and show them there is nothing to be afraid of, plus it doesn’t hurt to have other adults around to watch the kids too.
• Let each child have their own flashlight that they can use as much as they want. Therefore, you may want to bring along some extra batteries.
• With younger children that are having difficulty sleeping, you could take them for a slow drive around the campground. When they fall asleep you could easily move them from your car to their sleeping bag,
• Masks sounds of the forest that they are not used to with soothing music or discs that play lullaby’s
• Make sure to bring any comforting item they like. This may be a pillow, stuffed animal, or favorite blanket,

Buy them a disposable camera or let the kids make a memory jar for them to remember the camping trip. You could have them take photographs of the camping trip, then let them make a book for them to write all their memories in with the photos after you have the film developed.

Family board games and cards are a great thing to play with the family when there is nothing else to do. Even in the case that you camp in the backyard, make it so that there is no electronic games, phones, or TV. Doing things like this is a great way to spend some quality time with out distractions with the family.

Image courtesy Flickr.com

Just 2 hours north of Toronto, ATVs rider’s heaven is found at the Seguin Recreational Trail. In Ontario, the Park-to-Park trail system links many existing or once established trail systems for public use. Whether you are an ATV enthusiast, a hiker or a biker, the Trans Canada Trail system is a self sustainable network for the public. The Sequin Trail is the major east-west spine of this vast system and covers about 75kms from from Highway 11 to Highway 400/69.

Originally, the trail bed was a base for a railroad system used to haul lumber from the Ottawa river to shipping yards on the Georgian Bay. The Sequin Trail is now maintained by the Parry Sound District Ministry of Natural Resources and managed by Park-To-Park Trail. This means the trail is kept clean and safe year round. No matter what the season, ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts can ride the trails of Ontario.

As this vast system of public trails is managed and maintained regularly, there is a fee to use them. Pricing depends on how you are using the trail system. As an ATVer, you need a permit.

1. Permits are issued to the person, not the machine/vehicle.
2. You must be at least 16 years of age.
3. You must sign a condition of sale contract.

You can buy a trail pass online or via one of many locations listed on this site.

If you don’t yet have an ATV or want to travel with other enthusiasts, you can go with arranged ATV tours. There are many ATV adventure packages through various local companies. Or join a yearly arranged event – there are many to choose from in 2009.

Some upcoming ATV events in Ontario include the Can-Am Spring Jam, Haliburton ATV Associaton yearly events, and the VMuts Rallies. Make sure you pre-register or apply for membership as some of these events are members only. You will also want to be prepared by making sure you have your trail pass purchased before you look for events to join.

If you are still thinking about buying an ATV so you can join in on the fun of Ontario’s trails and meet other ATV enthusiasts, you may want to look for ATV reviews online (they also have snowblowers).  Join one of the local ATV clubs and ask around to see what other people are buying or using now. Make an informed decision on the right ATV for you and your family.

Skiing in Northern Ontario’s ski resorts is something that shouldn’t be missed. Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sport can all be part of your spring break. Blue Mountain is Ontario’s largest ski resort and it has over thirty trails for you to try out. The Blue Mountain inn offers many package deals for March break that allow you to hit the slopes for a low price.

If you want to stay in Toronto and visit a ski resort, try the Horseshoe Resort. It’s just over an hour away from the city and allows you to get the big city experience of staying in Toronto while still being able to ski.

Near Ottawa, you also have your choice of ski resorts. Mont-Ste. Marie is the area’s premier ski location. The hills here aren’t as steep as they are other places in the province, but it’s a great park with 12 runs. Camp Fortune is only fifteen minutes from downtown and offers good cross country trails and night skiing.

No matter where you choose to spend your spring break in Ontario, you’ll be able to ski, snowboard, tube and enjoy the powdery snow.

Ski season is in full effect until early April so try out the North Shore slopes while you are there. The Whistler-Blackcomb site will be the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can catch a preview by staying in Cypress, the largest of the North Shore ski resorts. Cypress Mountain is full of activities for visitors of all ages. In addition to downhill skiing, there is a cross-country area, snow tubing and other activities during the evening.

Grouse Mountain is another of the North Shore slopes. This ski resort has 20 runs and a terrain park. You can take a gondola ride up to the top of the hill without having to ski back down. Seymour Mountain makes the third of the slopes. It has a variety of winter sports like tubing, tobogganing and dog sledding.

Interior British Columbia offers some of the greatest powder skiing in the province. You can start at Big White in Kelowna, BC, travel less than an hour to Pentiction, BC and Apex Ski Resort, then on to Silver Star in Vernon, BC. But don’t stop there, you absoultely can’t forget Sun Peaks Resort, just a 45 min drive from Kamloops, BC.

While there are many great spring skiing locations in British Columbia, it depends on what you are looking for to find the best experience for you and your family. If it’s hard core powder hound skiing you seek, try Big White and Sun Peaks. Perhaps it’s more a family outing you are looking for – in that case, Silver Star and Sun Peaks have lovely city villages that aren’t too commercialized. Or go for the more remote locations like the Fernie Alpine Resort in Fernie, BC, or Kicking Horse Mountain near Golden, BC. No matter where you go in Beautiful British Columbia, there are fantastic ski resorts.

Here’s a great video showing Sun Peaks Resort