Winter can be a long drawn out affair of seasonal adjustment disorder and a combo of hibernation and shoveling.  The good news is - not if you live in Alberta.

Already this year my better half Shelley Bo Belli and I have been able to take in the Canmore Nordic Festival, some great World Cup Skiing and more then a few nights around the fondue pot at The World Famous Grizzly House in Banff.

The fun continues this month and right through Feb with the announcement this week of the return of the Annual Snow Days in Banff National Park.

Hotels are already in festive lighting that will last all winter and the arrival of this wonderful festival will help get people off the couch and out to enjoy some fun in the mountains.

In its second year the festival is growing in leaps and bounds as people come up with new and exciting ideas.

The Fairmont Ice Carving competition draws people from around the globe to compete and a good old-fashioned ball hockey tournament on the streets of Banff is a go again (We were never locked out in Banff).

All the hotels are featuring reduced package prices with perks for the festival. The Snowshoe and Dine package will be held every Saturday at Baker Creek Chalets; these are rustic cabins along the Bow Valley Parkway with one of the best dining rooms in the valley.

You can learn how to snowshoe before enjoying a Bavarian gluhwein, which is mulled wine along with gingerbread around a roaring fire, even roasted marshmallows with Baileys, which we discovered last year.

I did some helicopter tours across Kananaskis then moved onto snowshoeing at the top of sunshine, If you want to get in shape quick take a guide, they really now how to work you, two hours in the hot tub followed.

There are even movies for a nickel, a collection of vintage films from the Banff archives, these flicks are being presented for tourists and locals alike on Mondays and Fridays at the Banff Visitor Centre at noon.

Other fun stuff includes hay rides, snow carving and a Heritage swim at the Upper Hot Springs across from the Rimrock Hotel on January 27^th.

If you want to spoil the one you love, don’t miss The 5 diamond Eden dining room at The Rimrock and the massive fireplace in the lobby.

If this hasn’t got you calling to book yet, got to the website at Parks Canada or Banff Lake Louise Tourism, it really is heaven in our own backyard.

- Ger