The holidays are here, and it’s time to hit pause, cozy up, and savour some much-needed downtime. Whether you’re embracing the great outdoors, diving into a new read, or baking up a storm, this list has everything you need to make the most of your holiday break. Let\u2019s make this Christmas both relaxing and memorable!<\/p>\n
There\u2019s nothing quite like snuggling up with a good book while the snow falls outside, a blanket wrapped around you, and a mug of your favourite warm beverage in hand. Whether you\u2019re looking for a story that pulls at your heartstrings or one that makes you laugh (and maybe cry just a little), and from my research, these two picks will totally hit the spot:<\/p>\n
I love tackling my reading list over the holiday break because there\u2019s nothing quite like getting in a great read by the fire.<\/p>\n
And a latte in hand, of course. Throughout the winter break, our family is always caught in some kind of adventure snowshoeing around the lake or hitting the slopes. Getting in that fresh mountain air and snowy views really hits the spot after a couple days of lounging. For the ultimate cozy vibes, I always grab a latte before heading out, because why not? I can\u2019t think of anything I\u2019m looking forward to more.<\/p>\n
Need a great spot to explore? Chester Lake Trail<\/strong><\/a> in Kananaskis is close to Calgary and is a favourite for its Instagram worthy views and beginner-friendly terrain. For some more hiking ideas, you can check out my blog here<\/a> on some of the best trails in Western Canada.<\/p>\n If skating is your thing, head to Lake Windermere Whiteway<\/strong><\/a>, the world\u2019s longest ice-skating path. Lucky for you, it\u2019s just a few hours away from Calgary in Invermere, BC, which means you don\u2019t have to travel far to get those iconic winter views. It\u2019s a magical way to spend a winter\u2019s day, trust me. Need skates? Check out Inside Edge Boutique & Sports<\/strong><\/a> in Invermere\u2014they\u2019ll have the rentals covered.<\/p>\n For a dash of adventure, try dog sledding in Canmore. Our family often gets a bit distracted by all the cute pups, but honestly, what more could you ask for? It\u2019s a classic holiday activity, and it\u2019s always amazing to see the sleds set to the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. A couple of great options to check out are Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours<\/strong><\/a> and Howling Dog Tours<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s an experience you won\u2019t forget, and perfect for the entire family!<\/p>\n 5. Get Baking (and Snacking)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Nothing says \u201choliday spirit\u201d like the smell of fresh-baked treats. Keep it simple this season with these festive favourites:<\/p>\n Put on a family-friendly classic that\u2019ll bring up all the nostalgic feels. My pick? Home Alone<\/strong><\/a> (1990). Kevin\u2019s hilarious antics never get old, and it\u2019s guaranteed to keep the kids entertained while you sneak in a quick nap. Bonus: you can join them for the finale because it\u2019s just that good. If you\u2019re having a day just to yourself to indulge in one of your Christmas favourites, The Holiday<\/a> is it.<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve gone through all these ideas, remember that the holidays are your chance to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with the activities and people that matter most to you. The holiday break is what you make it, meaning it can be full of all the activities or tons of rest. The choice is yours.<\/p>\n Cheers to a restful and fun-filled Christmas break!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The holidays are here, and it’s time to hit pause, cozy up, and savour some much-needed downtime. Whether you’re embracing the great outdoors, diving into a new read, or baking up a storm, this list has everything you need to make the most of your holiday break. Let\u2019s make this Christmas both relaxing and memorable! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":1249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/116"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1248"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1251,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions\/1251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/julieshipleystrickland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}3. Skate Lake Windermere<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Experience the Magic of Dog Sledding<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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6. An Afternoon Movie with a Nap<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n