Yosemite in Winter

Winter is the least busy and possibly most beautiful season in Yosemite. The crowds go home, frost coats the trees in the morning, fog freezes, waterfalls start flowing only to freeze at night and snowstorms coat the park in a white blanket. The wildlife comes out and hotel rates go down.

If you get up early on a cold morning, you may see Yosemite Falls frozen solid and hear the loud, cracking sounds the ice makes as it breaks loose and plummets to the ground. Near the Falls, you might even see an even rarer phenomenon: frazil ice, a spongy mass of ice crystals that flows like water and sometimes overflows the creek bed.

Yosemite weather can be cold, especially at the higher elevations, and winter is California's rainy season, which means snow in the mountains. Find the average weather in Yosemite and check snow reports, river water levels, road conditions and more at the National Park Service website. The Yosemite Valley is at 4,000 feet elevation and even if it snows, it seldom stays very long. At higher elevations, more snow accumulates and it can stay all winter long.

The Badger Pass ski area opens as soon as enough snow accumulates. It includes a terrain park and lots of beginner and intermediate slopes, making it a good place for kids and others just learning to ski. A free shuttle goes there from the Valley.

Yosemite in Winter: Special Events

Three of Yosemite's most popular events occur in winter:

Bracebridge Dinners: A Yosemite winter tradition since 1926, the Bracebridge is the ultimate Christmas feast. The four-hour pageant features entertainment from more than 100 cast members coupled with a seven-course meal to create an unforgettable experience. Contrary to what you may read elsewhere, enough performances are held to accommodate almost anyone who wants to go, and the lottery reservation system was suspended several year ago.

Chef's Holidays: Held in January and February, these events features cooking demonstrations and a dinner prepared by some of the country's most prominent chefs. Go for it all, or just enjoy the gala dinners served on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Vintner's Holidays: Held in late October and November, this event features wines and winemakers, wine-tasting seminars and a gourmet dinner prepared especially to complement featured vintners' wines.

The Most Romantic Places in Canada

Romantic places in Canada range from cosmopolitan cities to tiny, out-of-the-way towns. The following list comprises the most romantic places in Canada.

Niagara Falls, Canada, is probably best known as a honeymoon destination, attracting millions of honeymooning or just plain romantic couples every year. Historically, this town has been a bit of a shabby tourist town, but its reputation has improved.

Quebec City is about as romantic a place as you'll find anywhere in the world. This provincial capital is steeped in history and European in flavour, with cobblestone streets, intimate cafes, and architecture dating back to the 17th century. Of course, the fact that people speak French only adds to the romance of the town.

In the same way that New York City or Chicago offers romance to vacationing couples, so too does Toronto. A large, bustling, metropolitan city, Toronto boasts romantic restaurants, luxury hotels, a waterside location, and is right up there with London and NYC in terms of top-notch theatre and live shows.

Escaping the busy life of the city inspires romance, and Cape Breton's laid back way of life and dramatic landscape will have you and your partner forgetting to check your messages. Although Cape Breton is part of Nova Scotia, it has a distinct identity and is famous for its Celtic heritage, which visitors may enjoy through the music, food and charm of the people. Cape Breton is also home to one of the world's most beautiful drives: the Cabot Trail - particularly stunning in autumn. Lobster may be eaten in abundance and at reasonable prices year-round.

Montreal is a thriving, metropolitan city with culture, fine dining, romantic hotels and restaurants. Add to that the charm of waterside Old Montreal, where the architecture dates as far back as the 17th century and the streets are cobblestone, and you have a city ripe for romance.

Whether you're cosied up in the Banff hot springs overlooking alpine scenery, hitting the slopes, or snuggled under a blanket being towed in a dogsled, Banff serves up romance year-round. This Alberta destination is a charming town nestled in the Canadian Rockies, less than an hour from Calgary. 

Sitting off the coast of British Columbia, Vancouver Island is home to the province's capital city of Victoria, and features dozens of romantic inlets, coves, harbours and bays with incredible vistas of the Pacific Ocean and romantic lodges, resorts and rentals. The island is home to one of Canada's most famously romantic inns.

For as much as Niagara Falls is touristy and tacky, Niagara-on-the-Lake is charming and quaint. This historic town is a 15 min drive from Niagara Falls and is famous for the annual Shaw Festival - one of the world's premiere theater festivals. Much of the town's architecture has been restored and Niagara-on-the-Lake has a plethora of charming bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels.

The Eastern Townships is a swish southeastern Quebec region that many U.S. travellers have come to appreciate along with weekending Montrealers. Apart from stunning fall colour, this region of Quebec offers visitors a glimpse back into the 18th and 19th centuries with well-preserved, picturesque towns boasting traditional architecture, such as churches, homes, round barns, covered bridges and more.

Whistler is consistently hailed as one of the world's best ski destinations, and fine choice couples, adventure seeking or not. This resort town is about a two hour drive away from Vancouver along one of the most scenic drives you'll ever take - the Sea to Sky Highway. Year-round, Whistler offers visitors fine food, spas, and plenty of opportunity for activity, all in a breathtaking, majestic locale.