Banff 
Around Alberta are so many exciting and different ways to enjoy a holiday getaway with loved ones: head up north for calm and tranquillity; head south where it might be a bit warmer; vacation in Alberta’s Rockies with a bit of luxury; or travel east to the Lakelands for fun in the snow and plenty of ice-fishing.
And when you book your Christmas vacation, you’ll have a wide range of accommodation styles in which you can stay. In cities and towns like Banff, Jasper, Edmonton, or Calgary, there are several hotels and deals over the holidays and popular downhill ski resorts. On the more rugged yet cozier side of vacations, you can choose a winter camping or glamping site around places like Canmore, Kananaskis, or Cypress Hills.
Contents:
- Ranches & Resorts
- Winter Glamping: Cabins, Trapper’s Tents, or Dome Camping
- Cities & Towns
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I. Ranches & Resorts
1. Castle Mountain Resort
Castle Mountain Resort
The Castle Mountain Resort is a place for fun winter adventures, unique activities, and cozy sleeps. The resort at Castle Mountain features a ski/snowboard hill with a terrain park and cat-skiing (and Snowcat sightseeing), where they bring you to the untouched powder across the mountain in a giant snowcat. For a more relaxing weekend, you can book their Full Moon Snowshoe and Fine Dining Experience, or just spend it on the hill!
Where: HWY-774, AB (Near Pincher Creek)
2. Sierra West Cabins & Ranch
These rugged yet comfortable cottages and cabins will make for an incredibly picturesque holiday weekend or week. The log cabins are located in the ranch’s Cowtown, a replica of an old-fashioned western town. All of this amidst the snowy Rocky Mountain and foothill scenery make for perfect family photo opportunities!
When: Year-round
Where: Directions
Located 18 km North of Lundbreck on Hwy #22 – the Cowboy Trail
3. Thanksgiving Ranch
Thanksgiving Ranch
Enjoy a custom rocky mountain experience at Waterton Lake’s Thanksgiving Ranch. They have several suites you can pick from, horseback rides you can book, winter hiking and snowshoeing, fat biking, and a wonderful 3000-acres on which to stargaze.
When: year-round
Where: midway between Waterton and Pincher Creek ( SE 26-4-1-W5M, Pincher Creek)
4. Rockin’ R Guest Ranch
Enjoy life on the Range this holiday season with a Rocking R Guest Ranch Winter Escape. Your weekend package includes a sleigh ride or tobogganing in the afternoon, followed by hot tubbing, and the Ranch’s signature hot chocolate. You’ll also receive a hot breakfast to enjoy in the privacy of your own cabin for both mornings. You can add even more to your weekend with hot stone massages and private dining options.
When: year-round
Where: 234051 Range Road 243, Strathmore
5. Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures
Winters at the Moose Mountain Ranch are picturesque and can be quite romantic, too. Over your stay, enjoy sleigh and wagon rides around the Ranch, equestrian riding tours, hearty meals, and a stay in their cozy guesthouse. Choose from an immersive Winter Week Vacation, or their shorter Winter Weekend in the Country.
When: Open Year Round
Where: Bragg Creek
6. Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino
You can experience luxury and pampering this Christmas and holidays a few ways at Stoney Nakoda. The resort describes itself as the “basecamp of the Rockies,” so you also have the entire Canmore, Kananaskis, or Banff area to explore while you stay in one of their many room options. They also offer several packages to include winter activities like dogsledding or playing at their casino.
When: Year-round
Where: 888 Nakoda Way, Kananaskis
7. Kananaskis Mountain Lodge
Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, Autograph Collection
You may not want to even leave this Mountain Lodge, as the hotel offers a fitness centre and pool. However, you will probably want to leave and enjoy Kananaskis at Christmas, with all its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and local dining/shopping. The Lodge even offers promotions for the Nordic Spa.
When: year-round
Where: 1 Centennial Drive, Kananaskis Village
8. Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort
Winters at the Lodge offer several opportunities for exploring your beautiful surroundings this holiday season in Waterton Lakes. Right from the hotel you can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis, or you can set out on foot to explore the trails. From now until April 30th, you can also book special Date Night Packages that include dinner, chocolate-covered strawberries and wine, and a one or two night stay in a deluxe king suite.
When: year-round
Where: 101 Clematis Ave, Waterton Park
II. Winter Glamping: Cabins, Trapper’s Tents, or Dome Camping
Credit: Mount Engadine Lodge
1. Cougar Creek Cabins
Your Christmas getaway might just need a cozy cottage, hidden from people and noise. The Cougar Creek Cabins are a nice little getaway in the where you can explore on snowshoes or skis, or head to nearby ponds for skating. There are three different cottage styles to choose from when renting your holiday retreat.
When: year-round
Where: Hinton
2. Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park
The winter cabins at this northeastern park area are in the centre of the large Lac La Biche. The area is great for ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing, with comfy cabins to come home to at the end of a day outside. You can sit around a roaring fire, stargaze, and cook a cozy meal.
When: October 1 – April 30
Where: Lac La Biche
3. Mount Engadine Lodge
The warm and cozy accommodations at Mount Engadine in Kananaskis are all available through the winter and year-round. Choose from Glamping Tents, Cabins, Lodge Rooms, or Yurts for your holiday getaway- all of which are heated. And to make the vacation a little more special, you can add on dining or wine packages. Or to save a bit on your getaway, book a Winter Weekday Special which saves you on room rates from Monday to Wednesday.
When: Year-round
Where: 1 Mount Shark Road 36 km South
of Canmore, on Smith Dorrien Highway
4. Refuge Bay
Refuge Bay
Experience wonderful R&R this Christmas with Refuge Bay’s geodesic glamping domes. From your dome you’ll encounter bayside sunsets/sunrises, starry night skies, and bright winter sun. For an elevated experience, add on their Charcuterie Boards, or Homemade Smores Packages. The amenities included in the price offer a wood-fired sauna, showers, firepits, and barbecues.
When: year-round
Where: near Cherhill – North of Lac Ste. Anne (~ 1 hour from Edmonton)
5. Prairie Creek Inn
The Prairie Creek Inn
These cabins make a comfy and cozy winter option for those in search of a holiday retreat. The Prairie Creek Inn is in the scenic Rocky Mountain House area, where you can appreciate mountain and foothill views, a variety of outdoor and indoor activities, and their quaint cabins. The lodging choices include luxuries like 2-person soaker tubs, cozy cabin décor, patios, or bottles of wine.
When: year-round
Where: Rocky Mountain House
6. Cypress Hill Inter-Provincial Park
The beauty of Southern Alberta can peak in winter, especially around the large Cypress Hills. There are several cabin options here for the winter which sleep anywhere from two to eight people. And around the park are several ways to enjoy this southern winter wonderland: cross-country and downhill skiing, fat biking, kick sledding, ice fishing, skating, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
When: year round
Where: Elkwater
8. Bearberry Cabins
Enjoy the southern foothills and plan a Christmas stay at Bearberry Cabins! This resort offers year-round glamping in their Luxury or Honeymoon lodges. These secluded cabins are nearest to Sundre and are surrounded by foothills, mountain views, and several creeks and small lakes. In the winter, the surrounding trails are groomed for skiers with a sauna waiting for you afterwards at the lodge. And while you enjoy all of this, watch for plenty of birds and wildlife.
When: Year-round
Where: Near Sundre
9. Old Entrance B n’ B Cabins
The Old Entrance B n’ B sits next to the Athabasca River in the Rockies outside of Hinton, with a variety of cabin options available. They also offer equestrian trail rides you can add to your stay, a perfect way to explore Alberta’s West. Within a short drive from Old Entrance is William A. Switzer Provincial Park which offers skating and cross-country skiing: Kelley’s Bathtub is a good spot for both activities.
When: Year-round
Where: Near Hinton
III. Cities & Towns
1. Grande Cache
The town of Grande Cache in Alberta’s northwest is a beautiful location any time of year. And in the winter, this Rocky Mountain area is the perfect holiday getaway for nature-lovers, and anyone wanting to truly escape in winter.
Accommodations
If you want to brave a real holiday adventure, winter camping is available at Sulphur Gate PRA. Most of the town’s hotels are along Highway 40, or you can opt for a Wilderness Cabin near town.
Things to do
East of Grande Cache, along Highway 40, you’ll pass Pierre Grey’s Lake Provincial Park which offers many ways to enjoy the snow. Ski the 15km of cross-country trails, icefish, snowshoe, and keep a good watch for some winter wildlife. The trails, parks, and campgrounds all provide breathtaking views of the still snow over the mountains and river valleys, so going out for photo walks with a warm drink can be a simple way as well to get fresh air.
2. Grande Prairie
You may not consider Grande Prarie as a Christmas Holiday getaway, but the city offers plenty of outdoor winter activities from skiing and snowshoeing to fabulous day trips.
Accommodations
Sandman Hotels has various offers including every second night free and Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre is offering a $25 food credit for every night stay.
What to do over the holidays
Explore Northern Spirit Light Show at Evergreen Park, take a dog-sledding tour with Elevation Sled Dogs, check out all the fun at Muskoseepi Park, Nitehawk Adventure Park, and go fat biking at Wapiti’s multi-use trails.
- Things to Do During Winter in Grande Prairie
- 20 Outdoor Winter Adventures in and Around Grande Prairie
3. Jasper
Welcome to the ultimate winter wonderland! Jasper is Alberta’s more northern mountain National Park, with several reasons to visit over the holiday or Christmas break. But you’ll want to consider booking your hotels or accommodations soon, as they fill up quickly.
Accommodations
For places to stay, you can choose from several of the townsite’s main street hotels, or venture further outside town to the Pyramid Lake Resort, or the Jasper House Bungalows. Winter camping is available for the more adventurous crowd through the Parks Canada website. The Wapiti Winter Campground features electric hookups, flush toilets and showers, and a firepit.
Things to Do over the Holidays
Jasper is known for winter fun with outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, pond or lake skating, fat biking, ski touring, ice climbing, or hiking the Maligne Canyon. Or you can purchase lift tickets to one of the most popular ski/snowboard hills in North America: Marmot Basin.
This time of year is also perfect for stargazing in Jasper NP.
4. Edmonton
As a true winter city, Edmonton lights up over the winter, from the locally famous Telus Trees, the Legislature Building, Jasper Avenue, City Hall, and neighbourhood displays like Candy Cane Lane. The snow and lights combine to create a beautiful holiday glow.
Accommodations
Popular festivals, and the recreation you can enjoy at the River Valley, mean you might want a central room or place to stay- downtown and the Ice District, and Whyte Avenue all have several options. However, south-side airport hotels will also get you close to the southwest branch of the river if you are here for some cross-country skiing.
Things to Do over the Holidays
You can catch brilliant light displays in a few Edmonton spots: Candy Cane Lane, Magic of Lights at Castrol Raceway, Zoominescence, Holiday Festival of Lights (GlowYEG) at the EXPO, or the Winter Wonder Forest.
The ample amount of parkland in Edmonton also affords the city chances for recreation with long stretches of groomed cross-country ski trails, skating ‘iceways,’ and walking trails. Gold Bar, Capilano, and Rundle Park in Edmonton’s northeast are all connected via the river valley, and are a one-stop-shop for cross-country skiing, skating, and walking trails. Hawrelak Park in Edmonton’s Central River Valley also offers these activities.
Winter Wonder Forest
5. Calgary
Calgary is as much a winter city as Edmonton is and offers just as much in terms of holiday or Christmas fun. And on top of the local events, the Rocky Mountains are only a 40-minute drive away.
Accommodations
There are many hotels to choose from in downtown Calgary, and near the popular Stephen Avenue. You can also choose from several in the city’s northeast near the airport.
Things to Do over the Holidays
There’s no need to stay inside and avoid the cold of Calgary: Zoo Lights will be returning this year to show off thousands of LEDs all across the Calgary Zoo over the Christmas Break! This walk through the zoo is a magical experience for younger kids and a unique way to enjoy a bit of fresh air.
For a more adventurous day, you can try snowtubing at WinSport Tube Park, or sled down one of the city’s toboggan hills. If you bring your sled, you won’t want to forget skates either, as Calgary has 9 major outdoor rinks.
WinSport Tube Park
6. Banff
It is no secret that Jasper or Banff can offer tons to do all year, and all the activities in the winter. As Alberta’s southern Rockies Park, Banff makes a great holiday getaway for anyone in southern Alberta, Calgary, or Red Deer.
Accommodations
Choose the ultimate lap of luxury from the Banff Springs Hotel, famous for its spectacular architecture, views of the Rockies, and its location right in town. Along the main streets of the town are several other luxurious resorts, family-friendly hotels, and price-friendly motels.
Winter hiking in Banff can take you to some special views of frozen waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and frosty foothills. Popular trails include Johnston Canyon and Tunnel Mountain. Banff is also home to the 3 ski resorts, famous for the hills, but also the surrounding scenery. It is worth a visit even if you’re not staying here or skiing. There are many other relaxing winter activities to take part in like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and pond skating.
This year, an immersive multi-sensory winter experience that merges multimedia, storytelling and nature for a new and inspiring perspective will debut at Banff Gondola.
Photo Credit: Canadian Tourism Commission
7. Canmore/Kananaskis
Canmore is not quite as far west as Banff but still offers all the same types of winter fun. Canmore is also well-known for popular local dining spots with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With Kananaskis surrounding the town, you’ll have the option of several activities like skating, winter hiking, fat biking, or skiing/snowboarding. Just south of town is the Nakiska Ski Area, perfect for all levels and abilities. You can even plan your whole getaway at Nakiska Resort as the hotel has dining and stay/play packages.
The Canmore area is also home to an amazing, underground world of caves and you can join for a half-day, small-group guided cave explorer tour with all equipment included.
But if you’d prefer to just relax or unwind, there are also several area hotels, spas, or hotel-spas around Canmore ready to pamper you after a day in the snow. Many of Canmore’s spas are near Highway 1 or Benchlands Drive, the two main thoroughfares.
Canmore Caving
8. Pincher Creek
Do you have an ugly Christmas sweater at the ready? Pincher Creek wants everyone in town to dawn their UGLIEST Christmas sweater on December 17th! So, if your vacation brings you here then, don’t forget to take a photo and tag it on social media with #PincherUgly2021. Pincher Creek is a wonderful town at Christmas, with their Pioneer Village being taken over with decorations, food trucks, and Santa.
If you are here for the week of Christmas, or after Christmas in the Village, you can take advantage of all the winter fun this entrance to the Rockies has to offer. You’ll come across many accommodations on your way into town on Highway 6 which intersects with their Main Street. On Main you can find all the local dining and bars, too!
If you’re coming to Pincher Creek this Christmas for the outdoor fun, you can continue west to the Castle Mountain Ski Resort for downhill skiing, or to Syncline (along the same highway) for cross-country skiing. For more trails to enjoy with skis, snowshoes, or on foot, you can head directly south from Pincher Creek to the Beauvais Lake Provincial Park where there are 14 different trails.
9. High River
Christmas is celebrated all December in High River with several local events taking over the town for the holiday season. From December 3rd until the end of January you can stroll through George Lane Park to enjoy spectacular Christmas light displays or skating on the pop-up rink. Holiday-themed markets will pop up, as well as chances to meet Santa. A December visit to High River can also include outdoor winter activities to keep you warm all day: sledding hills, cross-country ski trails, and hiking trails are located all throughout the town.
10. Lethbridge
A southern getaway in the middle of winter might not be a bad idea. Lethbridge is a wonderful city to explore all year round with stunning surrounding landscapes, and even more a short drive away, the city’s rich Indigenous history and culture you can explore through events, museums, and shopping, and a huge variety of accommodations.
Over the holiday season, the city’s largest attraction, Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, hosts a stunning Winter Light Festival. The festival includes a colourfully lit walk through the snow-covered gardens, and the grounds are available for larger private bookings too.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
