While I love calling California home for the constant sunshine and proximity to the beach, when Christmas rolls around, I’m always ready to head north for snow! I’ve heard so much about Christmas in Alberta and this is seriously on my bucket list. With the picture perfect mountains and the pretty much guaranteed snow, I can only imagine how magical the holidays are in Alberta. So, I’m doing some research and found these 5 amazing places where I’d love to spend the holidays.

fairmont-jasper-park-lodge

Where: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s also the home to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Surrounded by the area’s natural beauty, this 700 acre luxury resort is open year-round but Christmastime is said to be truly special. The hotel offers various Christmas-themed events, starting with Christmas in November.

Christmas Package: Jasper Festival of Christmas Package
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge offers up a special holiday package that includes all kinds of great things like an in-room Christmas tree, complete with a tree decorating kit. How cool is that? This package also includes: Christmas eve reception with a visit from Santa, stocking decorating, Santa’s workshop craft class, Christmas cookie bake, holiday movies, stargazing with S’mores and so much more.

More information: Package available between December 23, 2014 and January 3, 2015. Rates start at $379 CAD. Click here for more details.

bragg-creekWhere: Bragg Creek
Just 19 miles west of Calgary is Bragg Creek, a hamlet near to the Rocky Mountains, Kananaskis Country, the Elbow River and Elbow Falls.

Christmas Special: Bragg Creek’s Spirit of Christmas Event
I’ve always wanted to meet Santa’s reindeer and you don’t have to go as far as the North Pole to do it. Bragg Creek’s Christmas event brings the reindeer to you! Visitors will also get to visit with Santa Claus, do some ice sculpting, ride in horse-drawn wagons, and enjoy face painting and storytelling.

More information: This event will take place December 6-7 and December 13-14, 2014. Find more information here.

 

 

chateau-lake-louise
Where: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
If celebrating the holidays in the mountains sounds like a dream, you can make it a reality at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, about 30 minutes from Banff. This majestic hotel is situated right on the shores of Lake Louise and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful place in the world.

Christmas Package: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Christmas Holiday Package
The best part of this package is the Christmas holiday sleigh ride. Package also includes accommodation at the Fairmont’s luxury mountain resort, self parking for one vehicle, breakfast daily and a Christmas-themed welcome amenity. The hotel also offers guests an array of holiday themed activities such as Christmas tree decorating and fun in Santa’s workshop.

More information: Package available from December 22, 2014 to January 1, 2015. Rates start at $449 CAD. Click here for more information.

prairie-christmas
Where: Prairie Gardens and Adventures Farm
About 15 miles north of Edmonton, you’ll find the Prairie Gardens and Adventures Farm. By the sounds of it, this is the perfect place to go if you’ve got kids (so I’m filing this one for future!)

Christmas Special: A Prairie Christmas
There’s so much Christmas cheer here, you’ll want to make sure you go early to fit it all in. You and the kids can take a Polar Express train ride with Santa, enjoy a festive lunch at Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, sip hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, participate in the gingerbread man interactive story and attend an elves workshop. There are all kinds of other crafting workshops and delicious eats to enjoy so go early and go hungry.

More information: A Prairie Christmas Weekend runs from December 13 to 14, 2014. Admission starts at $10.95 per person. Click here for more information.

post-hotel
Where: Post Hotel & Spa
I stayed at the luxury Post Hotel & Spa, a Relais & Chateaux property in Lake Louise this past summer and it was spectacularly beautiful. And I’d just love to see it in the wintertime. Covered in glistening snow, I’m sure it’s transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

Christmas Special: Holiday meals
On Christmas Eve, Chef Hans Sauter will prepare a special four-course meal for guests (in addition to the regular menu) and on Christmas Day, a traditional Post Hotel turkey dinner will be served up. For New Year’s Eve, the hotel hosts a black tie optional gala affair with a champagne reception, eight course dinner and dancing to a live band. New Year’s is welcomed with one of the hotel’s most celebrated traditions, the New Year’s Day brunch.

More information: For more information on booking any of these events, click here.

For more help planning your visit to Alberta, visit TravelAlberta.com or follow @TravelAlberta on Twitter.

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