Article
5 Places to Stay and Play in Canada This Winter
November 17, 2025 5 Minute Read
Are Canadians feeling patriotic enough to embrace domestic winter vacation options?
While Caribbean and Mexico getaways are only a short flight away, there are plenty of Canadian experiences to help fight the winter blues and show your national pride this holiday season.
“There's so much to do in Canada all year round, but especially during the holidays,” says CBRE Hotels Senior Vice President Nicole Nguyen.
“Each market offers a variety of different opportunities and experiences for those looking to make the most of their holiday season.”
Here are five places to stay and play in Canada this winter.
New Spa Experience at Lake Louise
Lake Louise is famous for its electric blue hue in the summer, and heavy snowfall provides ideal ski conditions in the winter. Hit the slopes at Lake Louise Ski Resort, which boasts some of the best verticals in Canada, with a 935-metre (3,068-foot) descent.
For après ski head to Farm & Fire to warm up with chili-vodka infused hot chocolate. It’s one of the festive-themed drinks offered in Lake Louise’s Hot Chocolate Trail and comes topped with a torched cinnamon marshmallow.
Basin Glacial Waters, an indoor-outdoor thermal bathing experience at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, just opened its doors this fall. Basin offers a self-guided hydrotherapy sequence that’s perfect for unwinding at the end of a day on the slopes. Basin aims to set a new worldwide standard for thermal spa luxury and will be the flagship for Fairmont’s new wellbeing platform.
Quebec City Instead of Europe
If Europe was on your radar for a holiday destination, skip the six-plus hour flight and head to Québec City instead. From early December to mid-March, Québec City’s narrow cobblestone streets and Châteauesque architecture make for a magical winter wonderland experience that easily rivals that of London or Paris.
Petit-Champlain, a small historic neighbourhood and UNESCO World Heritage site, is adorned with festive garlands, fir trees, and shiny golden bells at this time of year (think walking through a living Christmas card). Petit-Champlain is also one of the best areas for shopping. Check out Atelier La Pomme for original fashions by Quebec designers and Fromagerie Ferme Audet for their one-of-a-kind goat milk ice cream.
At day’s end indulge in braised rabbit leg cassoulet at the beloved Le Lapin Sauté, or nibble on a charcuterie platter with foie gras and brioche at Terrior vins et compagnie.
Go North, to Churchill, Manitoba!
This isolated town in northern Manitoba is a magnet for nature lovers and one of the best places in the world to see polar bears. Natural Habitat Adventures offers a seven-day excursion from late October to mid-November that has visitors board a heavy-duty Arctic Rover and get close to one of nature’s largest land predators.
Back in town, Churchill’s Kelsey Street has an array of interesting attractions and dining options. Browse one of the world's oldest collections of Inuit carvings and artifacts at Itsanitaq Museum; materials here date to the Pre-Dorset period ~1700 BC.
Afterwards, enjoy a hearty dinner at Café at Lazy Bear Lodge, which offers an authentic Arctic menu using traditional Indigenous ingredients like bison, elk and Arctic char. Their slow-roasted Manitoba bison served with red wine rosemary jus is a visitor favourite.
Get Your Festival Fix at Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s picturesque, Victorian-era charm is on full display during the town’s annual Icewine Festival in January. Queen Street is transformed into a winter palace where guests can sample Niagara’s world-renowned icewines while enjoying food from area vendors and performances from local artists. Admission is free, though purchasing a VIP pass to the festival gets you exclusive access to cozy glass-lined snow globes, gourmet snacks and a complimentary icewine and cheese tasting.
Don’t miss Niagara-on-the Lake’s Heritage District. Pop by Greaves Jams & Marmalades for an extensive selection of homemade condiments. Stock up on coffee or tea at the Victoria Gallery (their chocolate raspberry and caramel crunch blends come highly recommended) and explore the many quirky Christmas decorations at Just Christmas, the oldest Christmas shop in Canada, which sells festive décor year-round.
Mummer’s the Word in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Each year during the holiday season, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians go mummering. Dressing from head to toe in masks, sheets, lampshades and other items found in the attic, they head out to sing and dance while calling on the homes of friends and neighbours.
One of Newfoundland’s oldest traditions, the Mummers Festival runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 13 this year and includes everything from an “ugly stick workshop” to full-blown jam sessions.
Save some energy for a stroll along St. John’s iconic pedestrian-only George Street. Packed with bars, pubs and restaurants, the street is the epicentre of the city’s nightlife. Start your tour of George Street at The Newfoundland Embassy, a venerable pub with an extensive selection of local beers on tap. Then head to Green Sleeves for traditional Celtic music, beer and fried seafood. The local pan-fried cod tongues with pork scrunchions and tartar sauce are a must-try.
Your holidays will never be the same again – and you didn’t even have to leave Canada!
Recent Insights
-
CBRE’s Jeremy Deeks and John Fisher helped relocate ATCO to a new office building in downtown Edmonton, one of the city’s largest and most impactful office relocations in over a decade.
-
CBRE has sold seniors residence The Hygate on Lexington in Waterloo, ON, to Sienna Senior Living Inc. for $93.3 million.
-
With AI it’s a case of overestimating impacts in the short term and underestimating impacts in the long term.
Stay In The Know
Subscribe today and join hundreds of professionals who get the latest blogs delivered straight to their inbox.