"There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing" – Sir Ranulph Fiennes 

I love getting outside but even with all of my cold weather gear I confess that a bit of the joy is diminished when it’s -30C. The adventures get shorter and my hesitation to adventure takes a bit of extra motivation!  

For the month of January The Gift Designers is focusing on Health & Wellness and I thought I’d give some of my recommendations for Outdoor Winter fun. 

Snowshoeing: Snowshoe rental is quite affordable and it gives you access to some incredible trails that would be extra challenging during the winter months. Take a look at West Bragg Creek’s trail guide at https://braggcreektrails.org/ West Bragg Creek has a portion of their trails designated as Off-Leash so the whole family and even your fur baby can join in!

Cross-Country Skiing: Check out the Canmore Nordic Centre for over 65 kms of groomed trails! Lessons and Rentals are also available and if skiing isn’t your thing you could check out winter disc golf and orienteering.   

Ice Skating: I’ve not visited the North Glenmore Park Ice Trail this season but it was incredibly charming last year. 700+ meters of track as well as a skating rink, fire pits, picnic tables, and patio lights made for a beautiful winter evening or weekend activity. Take a look at https://www.calgary.ca/csps/parks/locations/ice-trails.html to see the current ice status. 

Whether you are skating, skiing, snowshoeing, sledding or just roaming the pathways of Calgary I encourage you to warm up with a hot beverage for a good cause during the month of February. Since 2011 YYC Hot Chocolate Fest has been tickling taste buds and supporting Meals on Wheels. For a full list of competitors go to https://yychotchocolate.com/ or download the app and rank the drinks you’ve enjoyed.  

Have fun no matter how you enjoy the outdoors this winter!

Designer Courtney