Christina VarvisWe all know the dark depression that comes with ending winter break and beginning classes again: it’s back to waking up with an alarm, cutting back your cookie intake, and not drinking beer before noon (unless you still do that during the semester, which is cool too).
It’s easy to find yourself feeling regretful that you didn’t do more over the holiday — in fact, if you’re like most, you probably accomplished nothing at all. Luckily, this first week back at school is usually the easiest, with the least number of assignments and readings due as we get back into the swing of things. If you want to take advantage of this waning freedom, this coming weekend is the time to do it.
Whether you only have time for a day-trip or want to make a weekend out of it, Alberta offers tons of cool getaways and a ton of fun activities that you can do within a short time restriction. Take advantage of the snowy winter season and our city’s location and you can have yourself a pretty great time — just don’t forget your long-johns.
If you only have an afternoon or evening free, don’t worry: there’s still lots to do in Edmonton. The city’s newly opened ice castle in Hawrelak Park is one must-see attraction, with an entrance fee of $15.95 on weekends. For a fun few hours, explore the ice castle, and then check out the new freezeway in Victoria Park, a 400 metre figure-eight ice trail for skating on, or simply opt for some laps on the ice- skating ring that is nearby. This easily fills-up an afternoon or evening — make sure to bring a thermos of hot chocolate.
If you have an entire day, plan a day-trip out to Elk Island National Park. Located about 40 minutes out of the city, the park is the perfect place to hang out in nature and juexplore for the day. Before leaving the city, rent a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes — the park has a ton of trails to explore. Take a camera in case you run into some elk or bison. Finish the day off with a campfire at one of the fire rings in the park, and keep your eye out for the northern lights if it’s late enough.
If you have the whole weekend to do something, plan a trip to Jasper National Park. It’s easy to take a train or drive from Edmonton to the town site of Jasper and depending on your mode of transport, you can get there in three to five hours. Leave after class on Friday and spend as much time as possible exploring the mountain town and its surroundings. To save money, stay in one of the many hostels around Jasper.
There’s a lot to do in the mountains, so you’ll have to pick a couple things. Popular winter activities here include dogsledding, ice walks and climbing, and skiing. Jasper is also the world’s second-largest dark-sky preserve, so don’t forget to look up at night for an amazing experience.
