- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- home style today articles
- home style today q&a
- traveling today articles
- traveling today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Snow, Glorious Snow!
Winter Travel in Canada
By Michele St. Martin
Ottawa is a great city for families, according to Crandall. "It offers history, culture and four-season outdoor recreation. Running through Ottawa is the world's longest skating rink, the 5-mile Rideau Canal," she says. "There is a large range of accommodation from [Bed and Breakfasts] to five-star hotels. Popular with families are the many suite hotels. One major attribute of the city is that most of its attractions, hotels, shopping and events are within walking distance of each other."
You need a big party, as winter can be bitterly cold and is known to last half the year! And what a party the Quebecois throw – more than a million out-of-town visitors travel to Quebec City each year to enjoy its Winter Carnival. And like all good carnivals, participants must go a little crazy in their celebrations.
There are other winter carnivals, but they're pale imitations of this 17-day-long extravaganza. Why not rent an igloo and sleep in it for the night? Many do! But the igloo is the humblest of the buildings made from ice. There are many elaborate ice castles and sculptures that fill the city at Carnival time. 
Most of the festivities, like dogsled races and snowmobile races, are held outdoors. Perhaps the most daring, though, is the Snow Bath, an annual event when the locals strip down to their bathing suits and frolic in the snow.
There are more traditional events, too. Many formal dances and parties take place throughout the city during carnival time, culminating in a huge parade that comes before the most important ball of all, Bonhomme's Ball. This formal Viennese-style party is hosted by an emcee and is a dress-to-the-teeth occasion.