Banff 
No matter what type of holiday or Christmas vacation you’re after, there is a way to make it happen in Alberta. These holiday getaway ideas for Christmas and New Year’s in Alberta offer vacations perfect for any type of group, too. Plan a romantic retreat, a memorable family vacation, or a way to bring multiple families together!
Within Alberta are chances for relaxing getaways, day trips, adventurous experiences, outdoor fun on the ice or in the snow, and several ways to stay in these destinations overnight. Plus, there are many holiday, Christmas, and New Year’s activities or celebrations to enjoy all across the province.
Cozy Winter Cabins
- If the mountain scenery is part of your ideal Christmas getaway, you can still choose between north, central, or southern Alberta. Cabins and resorts with holiday availability in these mountain regions include Miette Mountain Cabins, Rocking R Guest Ranch, or Expanse Cottages.
- Central Alberta is an expansive region that could provide you with foothill scenery, badlands adventures, or outdoor fun close to Alberta’s major cities. Bookings are available with the picturesque Bearberry Cabins, or Kikino Silver Birch Resort. Find several more private cabins here.
- The Charmed Resort in Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass area have availability for a handful of their fantasy-like cottages for the holidays, including over Christmas and New Year’s. Also, nearby with open Christmas and New Year’s availability (and a 2-night minimum) are the Crowsnest River Chalets.
Holiday Glamping in Alberta
Share the magic of Alberta’s winter wonderlands on a romantic holiday glamping getaway! These glamping options around the province will bring your vacation to quiet, peaceful, and cozy lakeside or riverside locations.
- Get the ultimate glamping experience with these winter dome accommodations available for the holiday season in central Alberta: Refuge Bay, Glamp Good both offer clear dome accommodations for rest, relaxation, and stargazing.
- The luxury tents from the Painted Warriors Ranch in southern Alberta have Christmas availability and adventure add-ons to consider like snowshoeing, archery, or horseback riding.
- Choose between a few ways to stay this December with the Old Entrance B&B near Hinton and Jasper: they offer lodge rooms or suites, cabins, and riverside teepees.
Outdoor Adventures in Alberta for the Holidays
Within Alberta, there are chances to experience almost any winter activity or adventure: camping and glamping, downhill skiing or snowboarding, pond and lake skating, and many other family-friendly activities. These adventures could be as simple as a 1-5km winter hike, a day hike in the Rockies, or as thrilling as possible!
- One of the more unique and exhilarating ways to enjoy the winter scenery in Alberta is through the handful of sled dog tours. Tour with sled dogs in Jasper this December with SunDog Tours, or choose from various options near Calgary.
- Cross-country skiing is a perfect activity for so much of Alberta’s varying terrain and landscapes. And a great place to start, no matter where you’re staying for the holidays, is with Alberta’s Provincial Parks. A few notable parks with longer trail systems include Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, West Bragg Creek PRA, or Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
- Cypress Hills Provincial Park is one of the Alberta parks with the most opportunities for outdoor adventure, including downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, and winter hiking.
- Snowmobilers will likely want to plan a holiday getaway around Alberta’s best snowmobile trail,s which many would argue are part of the Golden Triangle. This large and expansive trail area is found between Whitecourt, Swan Hills, and Fox Creek.
Christmas in Alberta’s Smaller Towns
Make the holiday getaway or day trip all about exploring somewhere new in Alberta. On the other hand, if family getaways and visits bring your holiday plans anywhere near these smaller towns and cities, you’ll have several ideas on how to spend your time.
- For many Albertans, there is no more convenient option to visit than Sylvan Lake. This smaller lakeside town, off the QEII, is almost exactly halfway between Edmonton and Calgary, is near Red Deer, and offers a variety of accommodations. Plus, Sylvan has a great deal of winter and holiday fun, including skating on the lake under holiday lights, more lights to see on the shore, and New Year’s fireworks over the lake.
- Guarantee yourself a snow-covered Christmas with a trip to Alberta’s northern cities, towns or communities. Festive fun is found in Grande Prairie at Evergreen Park, and the nearby Provincial Parks, or Slave Lake, where you’re surrounded by winter wonderland scenery.
- A holiday trip to Alberta’s southern towns may make your getaway a bit warmer but could make it a lot snowier at the same time. Find your festive fun, several accommodation options, festive dining, and more, in locations like Fort McLeod, Lethbridge, or Medicine Hat. Each location also offers interesting history and attractions to explore, as well as nearby provincial parks.
Visit Sylvan Lake
Christmas in Calgary
As Alberta’s mountain and winter city, Calgary may be your getaway destination or your base camp for Rocky Mountain adventure. The city is within close enough proximity to Banff and Lake Louise to create a fun holiday day trip out of these mountain areas. But as a full-scale winter city, expect plenty of holiday and winter fun right in Calgary and without the cost or crowds of the mountains.
- When it comes to Calgary’s winter and outdoor recreation, you’ll still be able to get incredible views of those nearby Rocky Mountains, especially from the more elevated parks like Glenmore Ranch or the municipal Nose Hill Park- both excellent options for a winter walk.
- Calgary’s North Glenmore and Bowness Parks are both perfect family destinations for winter fun. Enjoy cross-country skiing, ice skating, or crokicurl, at either park.
- Combine the outdoor fun with festive experiences like ZOOLIGHTS, the Enchanted Festival at Spruce Meadows, or the Lions Festival of Lights.
- Have your holiday dining taken care of while you’re on vacation with Calgary restaurants like the Yellow Door Bistro, Oxbow, or Flower & Wolf.
- There is no shortage of holiday entertainment this December in Calgary. Get tickets to the Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker, or Theatre Calgary’s A Christmas Carol, both on until the end of the month.
- Get your kids’ or family photos with Santa Claus at almost any mall in Calgary until December 24th!
Christmas in Edmonton
As Alberta’s riverside winter city, Edmonton is rich with festive, holiday, and outdoor experiences to fill a week or weekend. The heart of the city, downtown Edmonton, is a great place to find hotels and hotel deals, while several more options surround the airport and West Edmonton Mall. During that stay, the adventures could include outdoor recreation and visits to the warmer indoor attractions. Plus, those looking for Christmas and festive fun will find it throughout Edmonton, with light displays, dining, cocktails, cafes, and New Year’s events.
- The holiday light displays in Edmonton include indoor displays such as Glow Yeg; free outdoor displays such as the Legislature grounds and Candy Cane Lane; and ticketed outdoor events such as the Magic of Lights.
- Book a festive Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day meal in the city. Restaurants such as Braven, the Harvest Room, and Kindred Food & Drink offer specials for in-person holiday meals.
- Enjoy winter recreation of all kinds in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley. The parklands have ski trails and hills, expansive snowshoe spaces, and ice skating (Victoria and Rundle Parks).
- Celebrate the New Year with the dining and the city’s free fireworks at Churchill Square. More notable events include the World Waterpark Beach Ball or Champagne in the Chateau at the Hotel MacDonald.
Alberta’s National Parks for the Holidays
Jasper and Banff National Parks are often the first thought for anyone planning a ski resort-style of Christmas getaway. However, these parks, and Alberta’s southern park, Waterton, all offer several other activities, experiences, and attractions, whether you ski and snowboard or not! Each of these parks are also centred around main villages with restaurants, takeout, bars, hotels, and rental properties.
- Over the past six months or so, Jasper National Park and Parks Canada staff have worked hard to have park reopen wherever possible to allow for visitors to enjoy the expansive winter wonderland. Iconic hotels like the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge host their holiday events, while winter recreation is abundant near Pyramid Lake Lodge. And as you browse the shops or dine of the village, consider joining for various holiday celebrations.
- Whether you feel like ice skating, downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, fat biking, or pure and utter relaxation, Banff National Park has something for every interest. Relax in the Upper Hot Springs or at a hotel spa, and hit the hundreds of winter trails open to bikers, skiers, hikers, and snowshoers. And from now until December 31, the town of Banff is alight with In Search of Christmas Spirit.
- Waterton National Park, the quietest of Alberta’s mountain parks, is also the southernmost park in Alberta. The park surrounds the large Upper, Middle, and Lower Waterton Lakes, and covers some of the province’s most pristine wilderness areas. As a hiking mecca from spring to fall, the park transforms into a paradise for snowshoers and cross-country skiers. There aren’t as many open services or shops as in the other two parks, but visitors have all they need for a quiet holiday getaway.
Celebrating Christmas on Alberta’s Big Ski Hills
Let it snow! If you’re planning a ski and snowboard vacation for Christmas 2024 in Alberta, then lucky for you, there is enough mountain snow already to ensure plenty of powder by the holidays. These major ski resorts in Alberta not only bring your holidays to the wonderful winter scenery of the mountains, but also near small towns, villages, or National and Provincial Parks.
- Castle Mountain Ski Resort in Alberta’s southern mountains offer the large downhill area on the mountain, plus onsite lodging (with limited availability for the holidays), New Year’s Eve fireworks, a New Year’s Day Lodge Party, onsite dining, and access to cross-county ski trails.
- Pass Powderkeg, also in the south and near Blairmore, is a large park with several runs for all skill levels. These runs provide stunning views of the town and valley below and are fully lit for night skiing. Plus, catch Santa himself on the hill.
- Nakiska Ski Area, while close to Banff, is south from the main Highway 1, and within the Kananaskis region. The ski hill is also near the Kananaskis Village with the Nordic Spa, dining options, and lodging.
- Any one of the “Big 3” ski hills in Banff National Park will make for a memorable winter vacation. These resorts include Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mt. Norquay, and are located near Banff’s most iconic spots to visit during the rest of your stay.
- Marmot Basin is Jasper’s only, but huge, ski resort and hill. The area offers a full-service chalet and lounge, is near many hotels and cabins, and provide all equipment rentals.
Alberta’s Smaller Slopes for the Holidays
There are several advantages to planning a ski or snowboard trip around Alberta’s smaller hills this holiday season: you’ll avoid some of the bigger crowds you’d see in the mountains, save money on lift tickets (or possibly travel costs), and have calmer environments for kids to enjoy the runs. Plus, each of these locations offers equipment rentals to make things easier for beginners.
- Red Deer’s Canyon Ski Resort isn’t exactly small, as the main hill sits on the high banks of the Red Deer River with over 20 runs. On top of skiing and snowboarding, the Resort also offers snow tubing and a lodge with a lounge and cafeteria.
- Bring your holidays to Alberta’s snowy southern regions this December with a trip to the Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Cypress Hills Provincial Park. The views from the top of the hills give you a 360-degree view of the park before taking the green, blue, or black diamond runs back down to the lodge.
- Ski, snowboard, or tube your way down Kinosoo Ridge in Cold Lake. The smaller park and hill are beside the lake’s shores with excellent views from the top! Find the chalet at the bottom of the hill with warm-up areas and the Ridge restaurant.
- Snowy fun at Whitecourt’s East Link Park includes skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. This scenic hidden gem in north-central Alberta usually hosts holiday events, too, for the week of Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
- Nitehawk Year-round Adventure Park in Grande Prairie is officially open for the winter season and are likely to receive even more snow by the winter and Christmas break. The park offers runs for skiing and snowboarding, and the Aquaterra Tube Zone, and are set to host a “Fresh Air” Family New Year’s Eve party.
Spa Getaways for the Holidays in Alberta
Soak, relax, unwind, and rid yourself of any holiday or Christmas stress with Alberta’s spa experiences! These are all slightly different from the next with a wide array of treatment types from which to choose.
- The pools, hydrotherapy, saunas, and many lounge areas are all outdoors, set against the winter mountains, creating a gorgeous holiday scene at the Pomeroy Lodge’s Kananaskis Nordic Spa.
- The Rocky Mountain Fairmont hotels, being the Jasper Park Lodge, Chateau Lake Louise, and Banff Springs, all provide luxurious spa experiences, festive holiday settings, festive dining opportunities, and premier accommodation options.
- The Rimrock Resort & Hotel in Banff provide its own luxury spa experience, as well as various savings packages.
