12 Things Other Than Skiing You Can Do In Canada This Winter

Are you ready for the ultimate winter adventure? Embrace the snow and be sure to visit Canada before the most underrated season is gone.

1. Hit up the Sliding Centre in Whistler for chilly thrills.

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Feel like an athlete when you soar down an icy slope in a bobsled, luge, or skeleton. This undeniably exhilarating adventure is for all ages, and depending on your thrill of choice, you could reach speeds up to 100 km/hr!

2. Glide over incredible snowscapes by way of snowkiting.

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Let the wind literally carry you away in Quebec. No matter your age, as long as you know the basics of downhill skiing, you can learn snowkiting, a thrilling activity that leads you across snowscapes via traction kite. Oka, Quebec, is a great place to start.

3. Hit up Carnaval de Québec.

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Get up close and personal with other winter partygoers in Quebec City at one of the largest winter festivals in the world. Play floor hockey, check out the ice palace, slide down the ice slide, attend whiskey tastings, and even become a bowling ball when you try giant bowling.

4. Reach new heights by taking ice climbing lessons in the Canadian Rockies.

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Go on an exhilarating ice climbing excursion with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Alberta. Take a lesson if you're a beginner or join a group of fearless pros and challenge yourself on a multi-pitch climb if you already know the ropes. The ice climbing (and frozen waterfall climbing) in Canmore and the Canadian Rockies is an adventure not to be missed.

5. Go winter camping in the gorgeous glacial valleys at Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier.

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Stay overnight in the most beautiful glacial valley in Quebec. During the day you can go on a snowshoe expedition in the backcountry, hike and watch wildlife, go tobogganing for a fun thrill, and ride a fat bike. When you're all tired out, sleep in your tent then wake up and do it all over again.

6. Pedal your way through the mountains on a fat bike in Kananaskis Country.

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Explore the gorgeous, snowy trails through Alberta Parks when you rent a fat bike to explore the Canadian Rockies. You could even take a guided tour through Kananaskis Outfitters and ride through a frozen waterfall. This new(ish) activity is becoming a big winter trend because of how the thick tires can seamlessly carry you over all types of snowy conditions.

7. Brave the water by winter surfing...

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Check out Canada's surf capital of the world, Tofino, British Columbia, where surfing is enjoyed year-round as the temperature of the water stays at a consistent 10°C (50°F). With 35km of surf-able coastline, riders of all levels can enjoy the winter waves.

8. ...or go deep with cold water diving.

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Prepare to be dazzled by the deep seas during wintertime in British Columbia. Compared to warm water diving, the two experiences are like night and day, as the sights are drastically different (but equally as beautiful) in the winter. Get up close and personal with giant Pacific octopuses, wolf eels in their lairs, and the astounding colors of the reefs.

9. Get your drink on at the Niagara Falls Icewine Festival.

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Icewine is a very sweet dessert wine made from frozen grapes. It's an incredibly delicate process that can only happen when temperatures reach −8 °C and must be picked quickly with short notice. Celebrate the best of these unique Icewines while eating delicious culinary treats made to pair perfectly. This winter wonderland event also has dancing, ice sculptures, and more.

10. Celebrate the start of winter at SnowDays Festival in Banff.

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This annual event is jam-packed with live music, events like a cardboard sled derby, snowshoe lessons, ice skating, ski and snowboard competitions, and the Ice Magic Festival.

11. Have a signature Canadian excursion on a maple syrup and helicopter experience.

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Hop into a helicopter and head for the pancakes, of course. Learn how maple syrup gets produced when you take a tour of the production facility at Wheelers Pancake House in Gananoque, Ontario. This sweet treat is not to be missed.

12. Skate along the longest naturally frozen trail in Winnipeg.

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Soak in the sights along the Red River Mutual Trail at The Forks, which holds the world record for the longest natural skating trail. Enter for free, and while you’re on the trail, grab a bite to eat at various food vendors, go ice fishing, get toasty in a warming hut, and practice your triple axels.

An endless amount of memorable winter adventures are waiting for you in Canada.