Escape to a Canadian Mountain Town this Winter
Five of the season’s best high-altitude destinations.
Roll into Fernie, British Columbia, park on the main street, artfully lined with century-old brick buildings and step into ankle-deep snow light enough to stuff a pillow. Above town, the fluted ridgelines of Polar Peak vanish enticingly into the blank whiteness of a mid-winter storm. Exchange a warm smile with a local walking arm in arm with the Griz, the town’s beloved, white-bearded, snow-summoning mascot. Fernie celebrates snow in a big way. Experience it – and four other iconic Canadian mountain towns – this winter.
Safety is in everyone’s best interest. Plan ahead for the best experience. Visit CanadaNice.ca for travel resources.
British Columbia
Fernie
Fernie Alpine Resort lights up the night.
Photo: Dave Heath
The Spot
- A gritty mining history lives on in Fernie’s architecture, like the 1909-built Imperial Bank of Canada building that now houses the Brickhouse Bar and Grill. But Fernie also has winter sports in its DNA: The so-called “Fernie Factor” can transform a predicted 10 centimetres of snow into an awesome 25-centimetre dump.
What to Do
- Downhill attractions include Fernie Alpine Resort’s five inbound bowls and cat skiing at Island Lake Lodge. Then enjoy the town, from taps and treats at Fernie Brewing Company, a craft brewery that opened in 2003, to a treatment at Spa 901.
Where to Stay
- Click into your boards next to Lizard Creek Lodge’s outdoor hot tub and slide down to the Elk Chair to start your day.
Quebec
Mont-Tremblant
On the boards above the town of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.
Photo: Association de Villégiature Tremblant
What to Do
- Grab a mug of Glühwein or espresso on the outdoor patio at Au Grain de Café. Then head to Domaine Saint-Bernard to cross-country ski on more than 80 kilometres of groomed trails winding through the forest next to the Diable River.
Where to Stay
- From your suite at Ermitage du Lac, it’s an easy stroll among the colourful, peak-roofed stores, cafés and chalets of the pedestrian village to ice skating on the big outdoor rink near the chapel.
Alberta
Banff
Banff Avenue offers breathtaking mountain views in Banff, Alberta.
Photo: Paul Zizka
The Spot
- First ski resort in the Canadian Rockies – check. Hot springs – check. An hour and a half from Calgary – check. Couple all that with one of the most recognizable mountain skylines north of the 49th parallel and you’ve got an ideal mountain escape.
What to Do
- Banff’s diverse dining scene befits a town twice its size – think The Bison for elk tartare or Nourish Bistro for a vegan version of their “World Famous Nachos.” And its bustling downtown is not too far from two Rocky Mountain jewels, Sunshine Village Ski Resort and Lake Louise Ski Resort, while Mount Norquay Ski Resort is 15 minutes away.
Where to Stay
- Fairmont Banff Springs, known as “Canada’s castle in the Rockies,” was built in the late 19th century, as was the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, on the shores of nature’s five-star outdoor skating rink – incomparable Lake Louise.
Ontario
Blue Mountain
Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain, Ontario – one more luxurious reason to visit.
Photo: Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain
The Spot
- This resort community 150 kilometres north of Toronto retains a small-town charm. Forty downhill trails cut through hardwood forests, all of them leading to a bustling village of boutiques, cafés and restaurants wrapped around the north side of Mill Pond.
What to Do
- Trade skis for skates and explore the Woodview Mountaintop Skating Trail, a 1.1-kilometre ice path overlooking Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment. Then head to Twist Kitchen & Cocktail for après drinks, steak frites and Thai curried jackfruit.
Where to Stay
- At Westin Trillium House, steps away from the Hike N’ Tube sliding park and Lift Plaza, cozy up to your suite’s fireplace after a day on the slopes.
Alberta
Jasper
Getting lifted at Marmot Basin Ski Resort, Jasper National Park, Alberta.
Photo: Marmot Basin Ski Resort
What to Do
- Start your day, as many active Jasperites do, with Eggs Jasper at the Athabasca Hotel, where the local twist on eggs Benny comes sprinkled with pine nuts and raisins. Stroll downtown to experience the winter playground that Jasper is today, from ice walking and climbing in magical Maligne Canyon to groomed Nordic skiing at Athabasca Falls.
Where to Stay
- Chateau Jasper puts you a short distance from the craft taps at Jasper Brewing Company and other restaurants and pubs.
