For a powder-packed family adventure, gather Mom, Dad and every little elf for cool celebration in Canada’s westernmost province. Hit the heights during Grouse Mountain’s
Peak of Christmas celebrations: 3,700 feet in the sky, this Vancouver mountain-top setting offers sleigh rides through the forest, glides along the 8,000-square-foot outdoor skating rink, Christmas classics at the
Theatre in the Sky and a visit with Santa and his reindeer, November 28 – December 24. For another outing of the elevated kind, make your way to nearby Cypress Mountain; beginning in November,
Starlite snowshoe tours will have you searching the skies, while decadent
Chocolate Fondue Tours feature exploration through pristine forested trails topped by, you guessed it, fondue by candlelight at the historic Hollyburn Lodge. In the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, family togetherness will take a turn in the saddle at the wondrously scenic Echo Valley Ranch & Spa. Set in the heart of cowboy country, the ranch will offer a wealth of nature-based winter frolic for its guests beginning in December: snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing and outings on horseback will set the woodsy scene. Post adventure, guests can settle in for ahhh at the ranch’s Baan Thai spa – a sanctuary which specializes in both western and Asian therapies. Continue north and see for yourself why winter is cause for celebration in Prince Rupert. This season marks the 14
th annual
Prince Rupert Winterfest, a two-day testament to the elements, December 4 – 5. Festivities begin with the
Lighting of the Trees at the Court House, complete with musicians and carols, followed by a Saturday pancake breakfast with Santa, a boisterous parade and an evening on the harbour capped with fireworks and views of ships dressed in festive finery. On Vancouver Island near Victoria, The Butchart Gardens blossom December 1 – January 6 with tens of thousands of twinkling lights, an outdoor skating rink and festive décor spread over 55 acres. As an additional draw, the new year-round Rose Carousel in the Children’s Pavilion is set to debut December 1.
www.grousemountain.com;
www.cypressmountain.com;
www.evranch.com;
www.prspecialevents.com;
www.butchartgardens.com 
