Jump aboard as we travel on the North Polar Express to the ski destination stations, ready to host with the most in downhill delights, festive fun, and Christmas charisma!
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler’s quaint village atmosphere is postcard-perfect all year long and its beauty is amplified in spades during the Christmas holiday season. Expect Instagram-perfect scenes around every corner, lights sprinkled in abundance, numerous organized family activities and truckloads of the white stuff at North America’s leading ski resort.
Guests love visiting Blenz Coffee to select a decadent and frothy hot chocolate available in milk, dark or white chocolate to accompany them while meandering through the West Coast winter wonderland of over 350,000 light bulbs! On Christmas Eve, Guests can take in the annual Christmas Eve Carol Service hosted by the Whistler’s Children’s Chorus and Whistler Singers groups.
Ice skating at iconic Whistler Olympic Plaza is both a popular choice and a must for anyone spending Christmas in Whistler! The outdoor rink is set in the heart of Whistler village, surrounded by captivating mountain views and twinkling lights. Guests will be inundated with all the holiday feels as they glide across the ice. Also located at Whistler’s Olympic Plaza are fun and free family activities for kids every afternoon during winter break! Families can also enjoy the ‘Whistler Holiday Experience’ where your young ones are invited to partake in a game of mini putt, blow off steam in the bouncy castle, get creative with crafts and take a ski break with video games. For Guests arriving earlier in December, partake in or enjoy the parade of Santa Clauses carving up the slopes, as Whistler Blacomb Ski Resort invites the first 100 people dressed up as Santa or Mrs. Claus to ski for free on ‘Dress like Santa Day’. 'Grinches' not interested in running into any Santa Claus characters will find fresh tracks and solace while heli-skiing with Blackcomb Helicopters.
Whistler’s Riverside Camping & RV Resort is a terrific place to call home base and wonderful place to dream of Sugar Plum fairies. This year-round, full-service campground is centrally located and offers Guests forested campsites to complete their idyllic Christmas holiday.
Banff, Alberta
Guests seeking non-stop family fun, holiday attractions, slopes, sensational sights, and Christmas lights will delight in all that Banff has to offer during the holiday season.
Banff presents a European-inspired Christmas Market, creating jovial shopping experiences featuring hand-made goods and goodies from local artisans. Families won’t want to miss the enchanting tale “In Search of Christmas Spirit” told by illuminated animal puppets, along the picturesque trail in the Cascade of Time Garden, sprinkled with Christmas lights, sculptures, and realistic sound effects.
Family-centred fun continues with a journey to ‘Mountaintop Christmas’ at the Banff Gondola, which scales Banff’s Sulphur Mountain. Little elves and their parents will tour Santa’s Workshop, partake in cookie decorating, Christmas crafts and holiday-themed games included with the cost of gondola admission! Warm up with a jaunt down Banff’s Bear Street on Hot Chocolate Trail throughout the holiday season. Sip and sample your way through 20 hot chocolate concoctions at Banff’s best restaurants and cafes, delivering classic flavour favourites and more ‘spirited’ chocolatey offerings. Hot chocolate pairs perfectly with a Beavertail for a complete sweet treat!
Christmas Eve brings long-time tradition to Sunshine Village Ski Resort where a torchlit procession evokes anticipation and wonder as skiers make their way down the mountain in seamless synchronicity. For thrilling day-time adventures, Sunshine Village is an ideal resort for families with skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, offering ample runs of varying terrain. For an elevated ski experience, try CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures and gift yourself a plethora of powder!
Guests will fully embrace their Rocky Mountain Christmas while retreating at Banff’s year-round campground in a winter-ready RV at scenic Tunnel Mountain Village II.
Lake Louise, Alberta
Nestled deep within a forest of trees is the renowned and spectacular Lake Louise. Holding top spot for the most photographed lake in the world, winter holiday views here are like real-life snow globes. Astonished Guests soak in beautiful turquoise water views, remarkable snow-capped mountain reflections framed by twinkling Christmas lights. Chateau Lake Louise acts as a Guest holiday hub with special attractions like their famed outdoor carved Ice Bar, serving ice wine and hot chocolate with lakeside views. The Chateau rents cross-country skis, snowshoes and ice skates making it easy to create fun holiday memories while immersing yourself in this picture-perfect scene.
Experience fresh mountain air while on a Brewster Sleigh Ride to the end of Lake Louise and allow nostalgic festive feels to envelop. Hold tight to warm blankets and cozy next to loved ones on cushy upholstered seats while gliding across the snow, enjoying overwhelming peace and serenity in those moments.
Boasting some of the most versatile terrain covering 4,200 acres, Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of the largest ski hills in North America and is found on most serious skiers’ bucket list of dream vacation destinations. With breathtaking mountain views found on the Lake Louise Gondola, champagne powder, and an abundance of bluebird-sky days, your winter vacation will achieve ‘peak’ potential for perfection.
Tremblant, Quebec
Searching for a quintessentially Canadian Christmas? Look no further than idyllic Mont-Tremblant. This Quebec ski village not only ‘sings’ Christmas cheer, Tremblant shouts it from Laurentian’s mountain-tops! From the main street spanning old town to the new town district, Guests strolling down these can’t help feeling they may have been magically transported to a charming European Christmas village! Last minute shoppers rejoice as they find perfect gifts on Old Town’s Boulevard, brimming with bakeries, gourmet shops, luxury boutiques and antiques dealers.
Christmas Eve Day welcomes Santa Claus to a special meet-and-greet with the little ones, who are sure to be eager to share they will not be tucked into their normal beds this evening. Later in the afternoon, children will be filled with merriment after receiving a gift at the holiday parade and delight in the sights of holiday characters like Rudolph, Santa’s Elves, and the Grinch!
Guests can take in magnificent outdoor beauty while enjoying a skate on Lake Mercier, dance at the outdoor disco, join in the Christmas carolers in Tremblant’s town square, participate at an ice sculpting workshop, sip hot cocoa next to an inviting fire, or find favourite places to feast on piles of crepes!
From enjoying Mont-Tremblant Resort’s skiing and snowboarding fun to hopping on a horse-drawn carriage ride, Tremblant is sure to deliver the most in mountain holiday magic.
Rustic winter camping is available at Camping Parc National du Mont-Tremblant de la Diable, a thirty-minute drive away from Mont-Tremblant.
Blue Mountain, Ontario
Find loads of fun, snow and holiday magic at Blue Mountain Village and Ski Resort! During the day, find yourself lost in sparkling fervour lining village walkways and lights showcasing picture-perfect shopfronts and eateries. Sing along to the holiday music pouring into picturesque streets and meet new friends at one of the community fires, emanating warmth and cheer. As evening falls, Guests will notice an inviting glow around Mill Pond and through the village, marking the Holiday Light Trail featuring millions of enchanting lights, garland and larger than life displays. Conduct a musical light show alongside interactive installations at the ‘Dream Tree’ or ‘Topsicles’ play stations and meander over to marvel at trees twinkling in time to the tunes in the ‘Singing Forest’.
To experience a new kind of thrill on the hill, take a heart-racing ride through snow-covered forests on the year-round Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster. Traveling at speeds of up to 42 km/hour, Guests are guaranteed amazing views of the Niagara Escarpment and pictures capturing your ‘wind blown’ look. Blue Mountain features night skiing, a Hike n’ Tube Park, axe-throwing facility, Plunge Aquatic Centre as well as fat bike and snowshoe guided tours and rentals! Blue Mountain caters to every family member’s Christmas holiday activity wish list, with an offering of attractions longer than Santa’s Wish List! Weekends between mid-November and early January welcome talented street performers, offer comfortable warming stations, a horse drawn carriage and Santa.
Blue Mountain Campground is happy to host your family friendly year-round and can accommodate your winter-ready RV! For a lower-cost option, Blue Mountain offers heated underground overnight parking for $20 per night!
Tips for Happier Destination Winter Holidays
- Ski towns and villages during winter break book up faster than Santa demolishes a plate of freshly baked cookies. Holiday hunters who hesitate booking campsites, hotel rooms, special Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meal reservations and tickets to limited availability special holiday events may not experience the most in Christmas magic. It is advisable Guests plan their destination winter holiday prior to snow’s first fall and before the ski resort’s opening day.
- Be sure to research your destination prior to your departure day to discover a trove of unique, free, and festive fun! Many resorts offer free children’s activity centres, special theme days, free hot beverage stands and pop-up Christmas-themed entertainment. Plugging event details into your cell phone’s calendar with reminders can help maximize your family’s merriment.
- Consider bringing board games, downloaded Christmas movies on a device and art supplies to make decorations in the event the weather is a touch too frosty for outdoor fun.Are you feeling inspired to take a destination Christmas ski vacation in 2024? It’s never too early to start planning and certainly not too late to ask Santa (as long as you are on the ‘Nice’ list)! CanaDream RV believes everyone deserves a wonderful Christmas. The Naughty and the Nice will delight in cozy chalet accommodations with the convenience and cost-savings of kitchen amenities on wheels! CanaDream RV helps create your magical and memorable destination Christmas vacation; book yours today!
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