Summer may be the traditional time to take a road trip but have you ever considered a winter road trip? The temperatures may be below zero but there are benefits to travelling in winter:
The Lonely Planet guide book, recommends visiting Canada’s parks during fall and winter versus during the summer months because there are fewer crowds.
Some destinations are better in winter especially if you ski, snowboard, and snowshoe or just enjoy the après ski lifestyle.
If you do decide to take a winter road trip, pack warmly and program your GPS for one of these destinations.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Mecaglisse Motorsport Park (The Laurentians, Quebec)
Located 90 minutes from Montreal in the heart of the Laurentian mountains, Mecaglisse is any gearhead’s dream. There is more than 15 kilometres of varied tracks, so winter drivers have a chance to test their manoeuvring skills on both snow and ice. The tracks were good enough for an all-star team of 24 professional drivers to test the performance of the Lexus GS 350 AWD in winter conditions. “It’s like driving on a dry track,” said one driver in a video of the test drive. The drivers recommend the club house for a catered lunch after a day of fun on the tracks. (Photo credit: Mecaglisse Motorsport Park)
Icefields Parkway (Banff, Alberta)
This famous route connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks is incredible in winter when it’s utterly deserted by car and motor home traffic. The spellbinding views of snow-capped mountains and ice-covered lakes are completely unobstructed. If you find conditions difficult to drive in, you can always travel by foot via the cross-country ski and snow shoe trails which offer stunning views. (Photo credit: Flickr)
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The Niagara Wine Route (Niagara Region, Ontario)
If you love holiday decorations then a short drive along Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls offers spectacular Christmas lights displays. Horseshoe Falls is lit up in red and green during the season. After the lights, extend your drive along the Niagara River Parkway to stock up on ice wine and homemade pies at the local wineries. (Photo Credit: iStock)
The Tremblant Triangle (Mont Tremblant, Quebec)
Mont Tremblant may be overshadowed by Whistler, Blackcomb and the Kootenay Rockies on the west coast, but it’s definitely worth the drive. Located an hour from Montreal, the town offers skiing, sleigh rides around The Fairmont Kenauk Wildlife Sanctuary which surround The Fairmont Chateau Montebello and shopping along Montreal’s rich Rue St. Denis. (Photo credit: Wikimedia)
To see the ultimate test of the GS 350 AWD F Sport, visit the Lexus Ice Event page here.