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3 things to do over the holidays

Things to do over the holidays - Toronto Christmas Market

The holidays are no doubt one of the busiest times of year. Do yourself a favour and make some time to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the holiday season in Canada. Here are a few things to do over the holidays.

 

1. Explore shops in your neighbourhood

Things to do over the holidays - shop local

With the holiday season in full swing, we hope your holiday shopping is all wrapped up – literally. If you’re still trying to find something for those couple of difficult to shop for people, avoid the malls and shop local for great holiday gifts.

Aside from finding one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones, shopping in your neighbourhood helps support the local economy!

 

2. Go to a holiday market or festival

Toronto Christmas Market

In Toronto, the Distillery District’s annual holiday street market embraces a historic, festive theme in the city. It runs until December 23rd and is a great way to spend the evening socializing under the brilliant lights while browsing the local vendors.

QuébecAdabra

Quebec City also has an impressive holiday festival. QuébecAdabra is inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and runs until January 4th. The German themed holiday market offers large scale illuminations, coloured light shows and Christmas carols from various choirs.

 

3. Do an outdoor activity

Things to do over the holidays - get outdoors

Calgary’s WinSport is the most visible legacy from the 1988 Olympic winter games. It offers family friendly skiing and is a great option whether you are a beginner or a high performance athlete. You can also experience what it’s like to ride in a Bobsleigh (piloted by a professional) at 120km speeds through twists and turns down the legendary Olympic sliding track.

Tube parks are becoming increasingly popular and nothing says wintry family fun like tubing. The Coca-Cola Tube Park in Whistler, BC is one of Canada’s biggest and best. The park has seven lanes ranging from small hills to large slopes that will make you feel like you’re flying through the crisp winter air.

We cannot talk about outdoor activities without mentioning skating. Canada has the most skating rinks in the world and The Forks Outdoor Skating Trail is one of the best in the country. The trail runs 9 km long and has unique warming huts built by artists and architects from around the world as part of a competition on either side. There are many spectacular places to skate across Canada. Check out our 10 favourite outdoor skating rinks across Canada.

 

Far too often we get caught up in the gift giving aspect of the holidays and don’t think enough about the time we spend making memories with friends and family. Resist the urge to retreat inside and indulge in our great Canadian winter.

Look for activities on 411.ca and see what’s available near you!

Dwight has a double major in Marketing and Business. He is passionate about helping small businesses grow and enjoys writing to provoke thought and start conversations.