Your Future Getaway
The Wandering Wagars
Mediaplanet spoke with travel bloggers, the Wagar family, who travel the world seeking out adventure, culture, and educational experiences. Instead of shying away from the cold, opting to face it head-on, they share their experiences travelling during winter in Canada.
How does your family plan and prepare for Canadian winter adventures?
Winter adventures are a way of life when you live up north, so families have to decide if they're going to run from it or embrace it. My family chooses to face the winters head on with adventures that keep our blood pumping and our spirits high. Experiences like skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking keep our adrenaline up and our bodies warm while Christmas markets, winter festivals, and hot apple cider along the skating trails offer warmth for the spirit.
Travelling This Winter?
of Spain
Spain’s winters are more idyllic than one might think. With cool, sunny weather, it’s the perfect time to experience this unbelievable country. Katherine Cappellacci
Lasting from December to March, winter in Spain tends to be milder and less rainy than the rest of Europe. With many tourist hotspots experiencing colder temperatures, travelers can enjoy exciting traditional festivals and warming seasonal dishes. Plus, there’s spots in the south that stay balmy all year long.
Visiting the country’s world-famous cities provides endless, top-notch sightseeing opportunities. There’s musical entertainment on Madrid’s Gran Via, football matches and iconic Gaudi architecture in Barcelona, Guggenheim Museum exhibitions in Bilbao, Seville’s famous flamenco shows, Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso and home to many art museums, and Valencia’s operas and incredible seaside views. With international airports and connecting high-speed trains, it’s easy to experience these profoundly historic yet strikingly modern urban hubs.
An ideal holiday getaway
And for a great day trip, explore one of fifteen Heritage Cities – such as Segovia. The town carries legacies of the Roman Empire including its quintessential, 160-arch aqueduct. It’s their historic quarters, relevant sites, cultural events, and incredible gastronomy that make
What advice would you give Canadians families looking to book a getaway this winter season?
Embrace the cold and get outside! If you're visiting big cities like Winnipeg, Ottawa, or Toronto, you'll find amazing skating trails that are perfect for beginners to experts. If skating isn't your thing, you'll find incredible winter hiking trails where a thermos of hot chocolate will keep you fueled up as you walk past frozen waterfalls. If the cold weather intimidates you, look for some of Canada's amazing museums like the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto or the dinosaur-filled Royal Tyrell Museum just outside of Calgary, Alberta.
these unique centres a must-see. Then, a quick flight south brings tourists to some of the most outstanding beaches and ecotourism in Europe. Boasting an average winter temperature of twenty-four degrees, the Canary Islands are a must-see destination with tons of things to do. Enjoy water sports like scuba diving and wind surfing, sunbathe oceanside, or hike one of the archipelago’s four national parks. Tra verse these stunning, volcanic landscapes on cycling trips or try rock climbing and caving. Five of the seven islands are declared Biosphere Reserves where visitors will find greenery, desert, and Spain’s highest peak and World Heritage site, Mount Teide.
Something for everyone
The year-round springtime weather and Spain’s commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable practices makes these islands a nature lover’s paradise – and the country’s top-rated wine industry benefits, too. On Lanzarote, visitors marvel in sustainable winemaking on volcanic soil where grapes are harvested by hand. Spanish wine is top-rated worldwide and a major attraction. On the mainland, there’s countless routes available. Travel
one of the many traditional growing regions and revel in wine-making lessons, tastings and food pairings, and so much more. In particular, the popular northern Rioja Alavesa Route bring tourists though an exceptional microclimate that’s home to prestigious Rioja wines. Combining traditional processes with state-of-the-art technology, this route includes stops at some of the most incredible wineries including one designed by Frank Ghery. Described as “an animal galloping over the countryside,” this winery’s remarkable architecture is as magnificent as the wines they make inside.
Take in a True Awe-Inspiring Canadian Experience this Winter
An unforgettable winter adventure awaits you in this unspoiled wilderness wonderland located in northeastern British Columbia.
Anne Papmehl
For Canadians seeking solitude, wide open spaces, and plenty of invigorating activities, Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) is the perfect winter escape.
This area in northeast British Columbia is under the spell of an iconic Canadian winter from late November through to the end of March. Despite the sometimes-frigid temperatures, locals have learned to embrace this time of year and invite other Canadians to join them.
Overnight snowfall is often followed by bluebird days leaving the landscape crystallized and glistening under the golden light of a warm sun and spectacular natural beauty.
While you won’t find any fancy resorts here, you won’t have line-ups and crowds to contend with either. The area offers a cozy small town feel within a snowscape paradise of frosted trees and a pristine, scenic environment.
Located at the 58th parallel, this northern marvel lies directly beneath the “Aurora Oval” and the pathway of the Northern Lights, where you can see some of the most awe-inspiring night sky displays.
This Arctic dreamland is a polar playground for those with an adventurous spirit, offering an array of activities not found elsewhere in today’s ever-expanding world. It’s as ideal for the ecotourist or winter hiker hoping to catch some glimpses of wildlife as it is for winter sports enthusiasts wanting to do some skating, skiing, ice fishing, or snowshoeing. There are also cafes, museums, and galleries for unwinding, socializing, and taking in a bit of local culture.
Top Five Activities to Enjoy
To feed your adventurous spirit, here’s a list of the top five winter activities you can enjoy at NRRM from November through March.
Chase the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights, as they whip and dance overhead in a spectacular light show, is a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. Thanks to the area’s remote location, where there is minimal to no light pollution, you can enjoy an unobstructed viewing opportunity. You might also consider attending the annual Northern Lights Festival typically held in March.
Snowshoe or Ice Hike
With snowshoes or winter cleats attached to your hikers you are explore a variety of winter wonderland landscapes from lakes lined with black-spruce or towering mountains to frozen streams tucked in-between canyon walls.
Stride through towering aspen at the Demonstration Forest
The Fort Nelson Demonstration Forest is a popular destination for cross-country skiing. As you glide through the crisp and serene boreal forest, you’ll see why so many locals love it. Take advantage of the community fire pit while you are there.
Go out searching for wildlife
Take a drive along the Alaska Highway in the NRRM and you’re likely to encounter moments that will take your breath away. See wild moose, caribou, elk, wood bison, Canadian lynx, and wolves in their natural habitat.
Take a road trip to the Liard River Hot Springs
One of Canada’s largest natural hot springs and only Boreal Forest Hot Spring is best enjoyed during the quiet of winter, and the drive up is filled with opportunity for adventure and wonder. Do it in a day trip or spend the night at a lodge along the way.
