skating Archives - Hike Bike Travel

A Winter Visit to the Forks in Winnipeg

If there's one place you must visit in Manitoba its the Forks in Winnipeg, named for its location where the Assiniboine River meets the Red River. Archaeological digs prove that people have been visiting this area for 6,000 years including Aboriginal bison hunters, fur traders, railway workers, immigrants and tourists. The Forks in Winnipeg ranks as the number one tourist attraction in the city, hosting around four million visitors per year. You'll quickly see the…

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What You Can Do on a 3 Day Winter Getaway to the Kootenay Rockies

What can you do and where can you go if you have three delicious days to spend on a winter getaway? If you've never been to the Kootenay Rockies, put this area on your must-visit list. In particular plan stops in Kimberley, Invermere and Panorama along British Columbia's famous Powder Highway. Here's how a 3 day winter getaway can unfold, assuming a Calgary start. The drive from Calgary through both Banff and Kootenay National Parks…

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Cypress Hills, Alberta: An Affordable, Fun Winter Playground

Down in Alberta's southeast corner within sight of the Sweet Grass Hills of Montana sits Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a four season beauty that has escaped the notice of almost all Albertans. Of course the folks in nearby Medicine Hat and parts of Saskatchewan know its winter secrets but do you? Mike Ratcliffe, the Head of Visitor Services in Cypress Hills tells me that "the park is a winter playground with loads to do including downhill…

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87 Fabulous Things to Do in Canada in Winter

Canada, Skiing
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Canada in winter is the place to be if you love snow, cold and the outdoors. Unfortunately for many getting through a Canadian winter is an exercise in endurance and survival, with days and weeks checked off on the long road to the May long weekend. But it really doesn't have to be that way. Invest in warm clothing. Change your mindset. And then try one of these 87 fabulous things to do in Canada in…

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10 Activities That Will Get You Excited for Winter in Alberta

Alberta, Biking, Skiing
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With snow finally making an appearance, November is the time to get pumped for winter in Alberta. Say no to winter blahs by filling your weekends and holidays with a host of exciting outdoor adventures. From skiing to dogsledding, skating to snowshoeing, ice-climbing to fat tire biking - there really is no excuse not to get outside. Invest in the clothing so you can enjoy those sunny, blue sky days, even when the thermometer dips to…

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7 Adventurous Things to do in Jasper in Winter

If you are a traveler with an adventurous spirit then you'll love Jasper in winter. For a diverse selection of things to do in Jasper in winter, you'll be thrilled at what's available both in town and in Jasper National Park. Try downhill skiing or snowboarding at Marmot Basin Marmot Basin is a ski and snowboard resort close to Jasper. Some hotels offer a shuttle service or you can pay approximately $15 and take the…

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Skating, Skiing & Biking the Lake Windermere Whiteway

You'll find Lake Windermere in the Columbia Valley between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell Mountains to the west. It is the winter home of the Lake Windermere Whiteway, a recently declared Guinness World Record holder with the title as the longest naturally frozen skating trail in the world with 29.8 kilometres of cleared ice. The longest natural frozen ice skating rink in the world By the time December rolls around and…

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Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa

I look at the car thermometer. It reads -14°C without the windchill at 2 PM. Then I look at my husband - and he's got a giant smile plastered all over his face. The one thing he likes to do more than anything else in the world is skate. And one of the best places in the world for skating is the Rideau Canal in Ottawa - also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cold temperatures be damned!…

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10 Fun Things to do in Montreal in Winter

Looking for fun things to do in Montreal in winter? I think I can safely say that I've got you covered. Below I've suggested 10 things to do - from dogsledding to outdoor music festivals to a romantic skate at the top of Mont Royal. So if you're looking for a good time - and you dress for the outdoors, you'll find Montreal delivers in spades. It's one of Canada's great winter cities! Check out…

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A Guide to the Top 11 Outdoor Skating Rinks in Canada

I grew up skating, left it for almost two decades and rediscovered the joy of skating again this fall- albeit inside on speed skates on the Calgary Oval. But outside is really where I want to be and with that in mind I've researched where I think you'll find 11 of the best outdoor rinks in Canada. My Guide to the Top 11 Outdoor Skating Rinks in Canada #1 The Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Canada The…