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Home > Other Activities | |
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Winter Vacations in Western Newfoundland
Looking for an escape? If you're planning a winter vacation in Canada, Marble Mountain Ski Resort is your holiday headquarters. Marble Mountain's vertical drop is the highest in Atlantic Canada. Nearby Corner Brook is the snowiest city in Canada. And Newfoundlanders are known for being the friendliest people in the world. Do you want to learn to ski? The Marble Mountain Snow School offers daily lessons in skiing, snowboarding, and and programs designed especially for kids. Marble Villa is Marble Mountain Resort's condominium-style hotel and the only true ski-in / ski-out accommodation at Marble Mountain. Affordable and convenient, these slope side ski accommodations include kitchen facilities and beautiful views of the ski slopes and the Humber Valley. Getting here is easy with direct flights and affordable all-inclusive ski vacation packages including airfare, car rental, lift passes and slope side accommodations. And while we're obviously biased to skiing and boarding, we must admit that other winter activities do in fact exist – and they're loads of fun too! So we figured we'd take a look around this gorgeous area of ours and see what else you can get up to in the cold months. What we found was pretty astonishing! Snowmobiling The wind against your chest, breathtaking scenery constantly refreshed in your view, the purr of the engine under your hands... When it comes to really getting out there and covering the miles as you explore, there's no better way to do it than on a sled. Fast, safe and comfortable (thank you hand-warmers), snowmobiling is easy enough for a novice, yet exciting enough for an old hand. Accessible right from the base of Marble Mountain, you'll find over 1200km of trails on which to travel. Many routes take you deep into the backcountry, an area that is pretty much inaccessible at any other time of the year, making it a great destination for an overnighter (thank you snowmobile cargo-carrying-capability). Even if you're familiar with the area, a guided tour is the smart way to go. If you're up for the ride of your life, check out My Newfoundland Adventures. Zip Lining Humans have wished for the power of flight since the time we turned our eyes to the sky and watched the birds soar. Today, we can experience it in a plane or helicopter of course, but without the wind rushing past your ears and the exhilaration of free fall it's just not the same thing. Enter zip lining. It's about as close to self-powered flight as you'll ever come. All the freedom and excitement you're after, yet safe as houses. Located at Marble Mountain Gorge directly above Steady Brook Falls, Marble Zip Tours has got what you need to try this awesome activity. According to their website, you'll "zigzag from platform to platform along zip lines up to 1000 feet long and 300 feet high, at speeds up to 80 km/hr!" Plus, there's even awesome scenery to boot as MZT's location offers a breathtaking peek into the Gorge's 200-foot waterfall and so much more. We're sold. Go here for details. NOTE: Marble Mountain offers a great Ski, Zip and Stay package. Click for details Snowshoeing Quiet as a mouse, you pad along, practically floating above the snow. Even the birds remain motionless, allowing you the chance to watch them hop and dance and sing. There's a serenity about snowshoeing that you'll find in no other pursuit. Silent and gentle, it's how those in the know manage to get out for a stroll no matter how deep the snow. Play it safe by 'shoeing a familiar walking trail, or load up your backpack and do a little exploring. However you make it happen, there's a number of places to rent snowshoes around Marble. Here in Steady Brook, you can pop into the Marble Inn Resort or go to www.explorenewfoundland.com. In Corner Brook, check out the Blow-Me-Down Trails for group snowshoe times and gear rental: http://blowmedown.ca Strap on your snowshoes today! Ice Climbing You've always loved to pit yourself against the elements, test your abilities, and find out just how strong (mentally as well as physically) you really are. Well, there are few other winter sports that allow such a test as ice climbing. And it's not just for extreme athletes. Oh no, from gentle inclines for beginners to straight-up verticals for the adventurous and practiced, there's a climb out there for everyone. But be warned, ice climbing is not something you should tackle without a guide. Not only can a trained instructor assess the condition of the ice itself to see if it's suitable, they'll outfit you with all the necessary safety gear and knowledge. Out here on the west coast of Newfoundland, many of our less turbulent waterfalls freeze in winter, creating ideal climbing conditions. Check out the full-day climbing clinic offered by My Newfoundland Adventures if you seriously want to learn how to climb, or one of their less intensive programs if you'd just like a little taste. Dog Sledding Ever since you saw the Call of the Wild, you've been dreaming of standing up in the traces, yelling "MUSH!" to a team of hardy Husky dogs. Dog sledding is a very Canadian pursuit. And with our snowy west coast, and "big land" of Labrador to the north, it's very much part of our province's culture too. Near to Marble, we found a number of dog sledding options through My Newfoundland Adventures. Whether a half, full or two day trip, they'll take you into the Long Range, Tableland or Blow-me-Down Mountains where you'll sled through some astonishingly beautiful sub-arctic tundra. For serious enthusiasts, they even offer a six-day exhibition into "Newfoundland's ultra-remote Northern Peninsula," which has been rated the number one Canadian dog sledding expedition. Or check out the Viking Expedition through Gros Morne National Park offered by Les Ski Doux. Sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime trip to us! Cross-Country Skiing Nature enthusiasts know that the first rule of exploring is "leave nothing but footprints." And when skiing cross-country, you can avoid even those! With just two parallel tracks marking your journey, XC skiing is a great way to unwind and connect with nature. Relaxing or exhilarating, depending on the route you plan, cross-country is accessible to everyone, from beginner to expert. Near to Marble, you can strap on skis and head to Gros Morne National Park. Check out ski and trail info here. If you need a few lessons, a guide or equipment rentals, try Blow Me Down Trails. |
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