Christmas market in Germany

“Late November” means the season of the Christmas markets has come!
(and almost is equal to the season of hot wine!)

So let's see when & where in Germany we can enjoy Christmas markets!

Paris: Christmas Illumination

Holiday season in Paris: it is the most enchanted moment of the year in the most romantic city in the world. Streets, squares, shop windows etc. are decorated in the romance and sparkling glory of Christmas illumination.

Why don’t we take time to enjoy this magical moment?

Now let’s see the must-see illuminations in Paris.

Christmas Illumination in London

“London twinkles over the winter time with an array of magical Christmas lights”.

Night falls around 4pm and gentle rain falls every day. The winter in London can be very depressing… Well, it is until the Christmas illumination starts in the beginning of November.
Dreamy illumination will make you think “um, long, dark winter night in London is not that bad!”

So, grab some hot drink and let you go for a stroll to enjoy this very special moment in London!

Vancouver: Winter Enjoyment within 30 min!

British Columbia is blessed with good amount of snow, dry and airy powder, and a mild climate. B.C.’s Whistler Blackcomb, as we saw earlier, is one of the most famous winter resorts around the world.

But what if you want to enjoy winter activities more conveniently?
What if vibrant night life, which only the big cities can offer, is another attraction for you?
And what if you want to enjoy both in a same day?

Well, that's why you will love 3 mountains in Vancouver: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mount Seymour. All of them locate only 15 to 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, and 2 of them are even reachable by public transportation.

Cypress Mountain
Cypress Mountain is 30 minutes by car from downtown Vancouver and provides the best quality snow, most vertical drop, most terrain, and most lifts of 3 mountains on the north shore of Vancouver.

Also Cypress is the most popular in the 3 mountains and is the best choice if you are an experienced skier.
Besides ski, there is 16km cross-country trail which attract 2,000 cross-country skier a day.

Detail:
Total number of Runs: 53
Runs for Beginners: 9
Run for Intermediates: 14
Runs for Experienced: 28
Hours of Operation: 9am to 10pm
For more informati, please visit the official website of Cypress Mountain. 
How to get to Cypress: By car, by public transit, by carpooling etc. For more information, please visit here.

Grouse Mountain

Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is the most convenient winter playground in Vancouver. Also the night view from the top of Grouse Mountain is precious.

You don’t want to drive in the snow? No worries. You can get to the Grouse Mountain by public transportation (see below).
Skiing and snowboarding is not the only activities that you can enjoy; sleigh rides, snow shoeing, or snow-limo can be your favorite there as well.

Whistler Ski Resort: The Largest in North America and For Everyone

Colored with its variety of and for-all-abilities terrain, vibrant nightlife, and its easy-to-get-to location, Whistler Ski Resorts is considered one of the premier ski resorts in the world.

Whistler Ski Resort is situated only 2 hours by car from Vancouver, the eastern entrance of Canada. It consists of Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, and forms the biggest area of slopes with the longest runs in North America.

Whistler Mountain
You can enjoy wilder and richer-in-variety slopes in Whistler Mountain compared to Blackcomb.There are 9 bowls over the timberline of the mountain. The bowls are covered with deep powder snow and are mostly can-go-anywhere. The view and scenery there is fantastic. If you are an experienced skier, try Flute, Glacier, Whistler and West Bowls.

Blackcomb Mountain
Are you a snowboarder? Then, please try Blackcomb: a home to the Olympic-standard Global Pipe with 7 meter high walls, the Mini Pipe with 4.5 meter high walls, and 3 terrain parks. The Nintendo terrain park is one of the best in the world both in the size and excitement you will get.

For more details, please visit the official website of Whistler Blackcomb.

Vibrant Village life
Whistler Blackcomb is a resort which was made for winter enjoyment. Therefor you can enjoy good and vast choice of restaurants, bars, night life, shops and boutiques etc. in Whistler Village which surrounds Whistler Blackcomb. Oh, did I mention this? The village prohibits cars, and you can get to these shops, restaurants etc. on foot!

For more information, please visit here: Whistler Village.

For all people
No matter who you are and with who you go, Whistler Blackcomb is the place for everyone to enjoy winter enjoyment and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Family Friendly
Whistler Blackcomb offers programs for kids of all ages and activities, such as ski & snowboard lessons for kids, the tube park, sleigh rides, dog sledding, and winter zipline. Therefor kids will be engaged all day in lively outdoor play.

For more information, please visit here: Whistler Blackcomb for Families

Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Program
Whistler Blackcomb believes that all guests are entitled to enjoy the beauty and benefits of winter recreation. Thus it offers programs such a Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Program and Sit Ski, or instructor for visually or hearing challenged guests.

For more information, please visit here: Whistler Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Program.

Gay Friendly Whistler
Whistler is often considered "the largest gay-friendly mountain resort in North America." Since British Columbia made same-sex marriage legal in 2003, the welcome sign has been out for gays and lesbians to exchange vows and begin their lives together in an open environment, and there you can find variety of wedding venues and services, such as wedding planners to florists.

For more information, please visit here: Gay Welcoming Whistler

Estimated travelling time from other cities
From Vancouver: around 2 hours by car (approx. 115km/70miles)
From Seattle: around 5 hours by car (approx. 340km/215 miles)

Everyone is entitled to enjoy the amazing beauty and benefits of Whistler!

》Hostels in Whistler

Banff Winter Resorts: the wonder and beauty of the Canadian Rockies

Just 1.5 hour drive from Calgary, the Canadian Rockies suddenly appear in front of you. It is a world UNESCO Heritage site, and it never stops fascinating people who come to discover the wonder of nature.

Located in the heart of Banff National Park, which is in the Canadian Rockies, there are three world class ski resorts for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. There, fantastic experience is be guaranteed: one of the longest ski seasons in North America (from November to May), best quality of snow, plenty of chutes and steeps, and, breathtaking views.