Putting Reason Back into the Holiday Season

With all the shopping, baking, decorating and holiday preparations, we sometimes forget what the holiday is supposed to be about: spending time with your loved ones. So I checked out some fun family activities recommended by savvy moms on ShareSavvy.ca. Here are some of the cool reviews I found across Canada:
The Bright Lights in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia: Decorated with a million coloured lights, the forest, train and Children’s Farmyard sound like a spectacular site. Taking a ride on the train past Santa’s workshop and an international village. Partial proceeds from the ticket sales (adult: $8; children, youth, seniors: $5) and meals bought at the Old Spaghetti Factory will go directly to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund to help burn victims and their families.

John Janzen Nature Centre, Edmonton (my hometown!), Alberta: During the month of December, the John Janzen Nature Centre hosts a variety of fun, educational and interesting activities for the whole family. From December 20 to the 28, you can go deer and bird-watching. Learn how to track deer (maybe even reindeer) and what you can do to help winter birds survive this season in your own backyard.

Mount Royal Park, Montreal, Quebec: Got ice skaters, tobogganers or cross-country skiers in your family? Well, Mount Royal Park seems like a great place to appease all winter interests and you don’t have to venture outside Montreal to get it. With 101 hectares of land, snowy trees, a quaint bistro and the University of Montreal’s dome on the horizon, it sounds like the perfect place to de-stress and get away from the busy city without actually leaving it.

Happy holidays – enjoy the time with your family.