Is the holiday hustle and bustle leaving you ready for a vacation? You could win an unforgettable getaway by entering our annual photo contest!

Our first place winner in the Voting category will receive a Dream Getaway to Revelstoke. If our readers give your photo the most votes, then you’ll get :

•  a 2 night stay in a Luxury 2 Bedroom Suite for 4 at the Sutton Place Hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (approx value $700)
• Adventure Tower Combo for 2 youths and 2 adults courtesy of SkyTrek Adventure Park ($175 value)
  
• Family Pass Gift Certificate for 2 adults & 2 children courtesy of Enchanted Forest ($38 value)
• 2 Full Day Paddle Board Rentals courtesy Free Spirit Sports ($100 value)
• 4 Complimentary Day Passes to The Revelstoke Railway Museum (value $40)
• $30 Gift Certificate courtesy Crescendo Oil & Vinegar
• Daily Group Pass for Mt. Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks courtesy Parks Canada

We’ll also have a group of judges choosing their favorite photo. The First Place Judges award is an HD Camera Outfit, courtesy The Camera Store. It’s the perfect tool for capturing more pictures of the amazing scenery in the Canadian Rockies, as well as photos of vacations and special moments with family and friends.

Contest entry “Mountain View” – Corey Yeatman

The Judges Award for Second Place offers its winner a fun day trip to share with three other people. The Second Place winner in the Judges Category will receive a Gift Certificate for an Ultimate Rockies Explorer Package courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada. The gift certificate provides admission for four (4) people to the Banff Gondola, Banff Lake Cruise, Glacier Adventure and Glacier Skywalk ($440).

Contest entry “Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks” – How Chua

The contest ends on December 31. Click here to enter, view the contest rules, and vote for your favorite picture! Be sure to encourage your family and friends to vote, too. Remember that you can enter as many photos as you’d like. Best of luck!

Contest entry: “Wilderness tranquility” – Tricia Reid

Although the warm temperatures and sunshine entice us to go outside throughout the summer, it’s easier to “hibernate” during the winter. However, the Canadian mountain parks offer beauty and outdoor fun throughout the year, and they’re a great place to visit during the fall and winter months. Take some tips from the Canadian Dermatology Association before heading outside. The Canadian Dermatology Association posted an article on the website for its “My Skin” magazine encouraging readers to continue playing outside and providing skin care tips.

The Canadian Dermatology Association encourages Canadians to gear up and get out to play – safely

It could be tempting to stay inside during less-than-perfect weather, but time outside is well worth it. Outdoor physical activity can help fight the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the exercise can also help fight over 25 different chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

So how does one combat the challenges of a exercising outside year-round? The CDA article says, “Ms. Costas-Bradstreet [relationship manager at ParticipACTION] recommends heading out even on colder or rainy days. The key is to dress appropriately. Skin protection is also part of the equation, whether it’s to prevent damage from the cold or the sun.”

The article emphasizes the need to continue sun protection throughout the colder months. It says, “Kateline Turgeon, director of national training for sunscreen and skin care brands La Roche-Posay, agrees it is important for Canadians to recognize the risks of exposure to UVA and UVB rays – the two wavelengths known to have adverse effects on skin health, causing, for instance, sun burns, photo aging and skin cancer – but cautions that heightened awareness shouldn’t stop families from heading out.” The answer is sunscreen. Today you can find a sunscreen for your specific needs, ranging from sunscreen safe enough for sensitive skin that it can be used on the eyelids to a sweat-proof formula that will stay put during exertion.

Regular use of moisturizer will help form a protective layer on the skin during the colder months and help prevent chapped, cracked skin. Lotions and moisturizers are the traditional options, but the article also reports that sunscreens can double as daytime moisturizers. Look for a creamier formula for more hydrating benefits.

With a little bit of planning, you and your kids can be equipped to enjoy the great outdoors throughout winter. Your body – including your skin – will thank you!

Click here to read the Canadian Dermatology Association’s article “A word to parents and kids alike: gear up and get out to play – safely.“

With the majestic Rocky Mountains and endless powder, British Columbia is known as one of the premier snowmobiling destinations in the world. Less than 2 years ago, a new riding area was opened up near Radium Hot Springs. Check out the mountain sledding on Paradise Mountain at an elevation of 7,000 – 8,000 feet. Want to go higher? Neighbouring Catamount Glacier gives riders exceptional views at an elevation of 10,000 feet.

Après-sledding activities such as ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing are plentiful in Radium Hot Springs and the neighbouring communities of Invermere, Windermere and Panorama. Soak your cares away in a natural hot springs and sample the numerous culinary delights the region has to offer.

Produced by Snowmobiler TV in February of 2014, this 7 minute video clip is a must see while you are planning your winter escape this year.

http://youtu.be/59C1GTdYSpY

Where can you find the world’s longest maintained ice surface? British Columbia! The Lake Windermere “Whiteway” measures almost 29 km. During the 2013/2104 season, the ice ranged from 30 to 76 cm thick, which makes it an ideal surface for all kinds of winter activities. Skaters, skiers, anglers, cyclists, and pedestrians all utilize the Whiteway for their favorite outdoor winter activities. The Whiteway is made of four joined loops that span most of the length of the lake. The lake is also used for bonspiels, hockey tournaments, and snow golfers.

View some footage below of the amazing view from the Whiteway and some of the fun activities you can enjoy on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7hT03iZcy0&feature=youtu.be

Celebrate the arts and the mountains at the opening of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival this Saturday. World-renowned authors, filmmakers, and conservationists will gather at The Banff Centre to share their work. You can watch an inspiring film, purchase a signed book, or listen to an author speak. You can also find some unique gifts, which are a great way to jump start your holiday shopping.

Film screenings (12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.), opening night, and Mountain Art and Craft Sale (which is free) all occur on November 1 and 2. Also, you can watch the World Primer of Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia on Sunday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. The Festival runs November 1-9, but you’ll want to act fast to purchase tickets for some of the events.

There are plenty of films being shown throughout next week, including a number of short films on Wednesday. Also, take advantage of the free in-town shuttle service from November 7-9. Click here for a full schedule of all events during the Festival – including many free events.

To get your advertisement in the hands of tourists, look no further than the 2015/2016 edition of Experience the Mountain Parks. This guide is the premiere resource for tourists in mountain parks of Western Canada. The print edition is found in many locations ranging from stores to museums to hotels in Alberta and British Columbia. The digital versions of our guides are perfect for tourists to access on-the-go from their smart phones or tablets. Best of all, our digital guides feature live links, which means that readers can view your website with one click from your advertisement. For more information on advertising in the 2015/2016 edition of Experience the Mountain Parks, click here.

Radium Hot Springs is the ideal destination for anyone looking to relax in a beautiful setting. The video below highlights some of its best features and its stunning scenery. The Village of Radium Hot Springs, located in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, sits near the Columbia River. Choose from a variety of lodging options at the Village and enjoy delicious food at many restaurants.

Outdoor recreational possibilities in the Village of Radium Hot Springs are almost endless. Whether you’d prefer to go on a leisurely hike or an adrenaline-inducing paragliding adventure, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

If you’re a thrill seeker, take a white water rafting trip during the warmer weather. There are also a number of diverse mountain biking trails to try. Additionally, the Radium Pump and Jump track will thrill young bicyclists, and their parents will also enjoy it, too.

In the winter, embark on a snowmobiling adventure. Toby Creek Adventures is a great source for snowmobile rental for all levels of experience.

For a more relaxing activity, take a dip in the soothing Radium Hot Springs. They’re tucked away in a canyon and surrounded by towering lime cliffs. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy 2 world-class golf courses with rocky Mountain backdrops. For another quieter activity, visit the Lake Windermere Whiteway in the winter. It’s the world’s longest skateable trail. The 30 km trail is great for both cross-country skiiing and skating.

Throughout the year Radium hosts a number of popular events, including the unique Headbanger Festival.

Radium is also home to one of western Canada’s top car shows: the Columbia Valley Classics Autumn Show and Shine. The huge collection of cars are sitting in a backdrop of mountains. Mark your calendars for the third Saturday in September!

The annual Headbanger Festival occurs this weekend! On Friday, October 24 – Sunday, October 26, you see sheep (and watch them headbanging!), learn all about bighorn sheep, and enjoy the great outdoors. It’s mating season for bighorn sheep and the peak time for them to bang heads. The Festival events are geared around the annual rut that happens in and around Radium. Register now to see bighorn sheep banging heads, participate in educational talks and tours, soak in the hot springs, go skeet shooting, and much more!

Visit the Radium Hot Springs website for more information on various Festival events and to register.

Click here to view a PDF version of the 2014 Headbanger Festival Poster.

The Jasper Dark Sky Festival (which began last weekend) resumes on Thursday. Visit Centennial Field at no charge and watch a partial solar eclipse at 2 pm.

The programming on Friday begins at the Heritage Firehall with videos, displays, and activities to enhance your Dark Sky Festival visit. Click here for more details.

Enjoy a black attired dinner at Evil Dave’s Grill from 7 pm – 10 pm. The amazing five course dinner will be put on by five of the province’s most talented and innovative award-winning chefs.

Head to Lake Annette for the Beyond the Stars event from 8 pm – 11 pm. The interactive programming includes gazing indo deep-sky telescopes from the Edmonton Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and listening to Jasper National Park Interpreters speak on topics from the importance of our Dark Skies status to First Nations’ interpretations of the night sky. The guest speakers will keep their talks entertaining with a twist of pop culture and some quirky takes on current popular topics.

Also throughout the evening, our featured guest speakers will take you past the stars with a twist of pop culture and through space with some quirky takes on current popular topics. Another interactive program offered to amateurs and professionals alike, is Dark Sky photography hosted by Ryan Bray, Jasper National Park’s Digital Media Specialist and other featured photographers. You won’t want to miss this fun and educational evening under the stars!

Saturday is packed with free activities from 11 am – 11 pm. TELUS World of Science Edmonton will present the following programm:

• Pop Bottle Water Rockets (10 am – 4 pm)
• Out of This World Science Demonstration (10 am – 4 pm)
• Live Planetarium Shows (10 am – 4 pm)
• Family Fun Science(10 am – 4 pm)
• Reach for the Stars Rocket Launch (1 pm – 3 pm)

Dark Sky Guest Speakers will be presenting on Centennial Field from 10 am – 3 pm, and you can also visit the Park Canada Drop-in Interpretive Tent 1 pm – 4 pm to view displays and participate in engaging activities.

Finally, make your way to Pyramid Island for a Starlight Adventure from 8 pm to 11 pm. You’ll get to experience the wonders of the galaxy with astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. It’s an amazing opportunity to become a “space traveller”!

7,000 cross country and downhill skiers and snowboarders are expected to attend Canada’s Largest Ski Sale this upcoming weekend. Visit the 52nd Annual Calgary New & Used Ski Sale at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary Friday, October 25, through Sunday, October 26. It’s your prime opportunity to get outfitted for the upcoming ski season at bargain prices. The sale will support local Calgary amateur sport and ski safety.

About 1.5 million in inventory and more than 12,000 mostly-new items will be for sale at great discounts. You can find skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, poles, Nordic equipment, winter clothing and related gear. Everything is consigned, and much of the gear is from shops clearing out last year’s stock. However, you also have a chance to give your gently-used ski equipment a good home. The public can consign gently-used items on Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 pm.

Peruse the sale on the following days:

Friday, Oct. 24
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Saturday, Oct. 25  
11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Sunday, Oct. 26
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Note that selected items will be HALF PRICE on Sunday, October 26!

If you don’t ski but would still like to take part in this exciting event, consider volunteering to help with this annual event.

Admission is $8 per adult or $15 for families. Children 16 years of age or younger are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. Parking is free with admission.

Find more information on the Calgary New & Used Ski Sale website.