Travel Nursing the prairies in winter? Try these outdoor activities!

Winter has officially arrived! It’s a beautiful time of year for our country and the prairie provinces have tons of outdoor fun to offer local travel nurses. Combined, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have a variety of once-in-a-lifetime winter experiences just waiting for you to discover! Don’t fret if you have limited skills, or if cold temperatures intimidate you…these fun activities that we’ve picked out are great for beginners and are best enjoyed with a hot chocolate on the side.

Depending on where your contract has you placed, you can look forward to escaping somewhere new on your day off, or plan a more extended adventure on your way to your next travel nurse location! 

If you are travel nursing in Manitoba…

The province of Manitoba offers a wide variety of outdoor winter activities to stay active and explore your new community. The area is known for cold and long winters but also for fun ways to enjoy spending time outside in the cold. Winnipeg is one of the largest cities in the Canadian Prairies, often affectionately referred to as “Winterpeg”. From the longest skating rink in the world to Northern Lights gazing, there are tons of awesome experiences at your doorstep, here are just a few links to get you started:

Try skating! 

Skating is an excellent way to stay active in the winter months, and Manitobans love their outdoor rinks! Winnipeg alone has 13 different public skating rinks, including the longest one in the world.

Go cross country skiing.

• Click here to discover the extensive cross country ski trails that Manitoba has to offer

• In Winnipeg, you can sign up for lessons and rent equipment at Windsor Park Nordic 

Experience the Northern Lights 

Seeing the Northern Lights is one of our travel nurses’ top recommendations while on contract! The province of Manitoba offers great opportunities to catch a glimpse of this breathtaking phenomenon, even as a packaged tour.

Go dogsledding (seriously though, where else will you do this?!)

There are few outdoor experiences as Canadian as dog sledding! If you have never tried it, northern Manitoba is likely the best place to start. Click here to start planning this unbelievable adventure now.

If you are travel nursing in Saskatchewan…

Did you know that Saskatchewan has a county called Winter? That’s how you know you’re in the right province for cold-temperature fun… With all the same activities available that we suggested in Manitoba, Saskatchewan offers a few more options for you to consider. These are all great ways to get exercise, engage in self-care, spend time with a new friend, all while being outside. Let’s get to the options:

Try snowshoeing 

Snowshoeing is an awesome way to get exercise outside in the winter months! The province of Saskatchewan has an extensive snowshoeing trail system for everyone from beginners to experts.

Go snow tubing 

Winter tubing is a blast…and best enjoyed with a friend! So if you are looking for a way to connect with a new colleague, or plan to do some adventuring with your housemate, Duck Mountain provincial park is a great place to start.

Learn how to cross country ski 

Another full-body workout for you to try is cross country skiing and Saskatchewan has tons of trails for you to explore regardless of your ability level.

Try snowboarding in Saskatoon

While the prairie provinces aren’t known for big hills, Saskatoon’s Optimist Hill promises to offer the ideal conditions for beginner skiers and snowboarders.

If you are travel nursing in Alberta…

The province of Alberta is world-renown for being a winter wonderland. If you are lucky enough to be working in this prairie province, and keen to do some adventure sightseeing, we’ve got some great activity recommendations for you to try:

Have an ice bubble adventure! 

What are ice bubbles? They are pockets of methane gas (released by trees/grass) that are captured in the freezing ice. Abraham Lake, AB has become a popular winter destination because the reservoir creates a ton of them, and the cold winds on the surface allow for unmatched visibility. Adventure tours, like Nordegg offer a variety of winter hike options for you to experience this cool phenomenon. 

Practice downhill skiing

If you love downhill skiing then Alberta has some of the best skiing in Canada for you to try! To get you started, here is a link to the top ten ski resorts in the province.

Try ice climbing 

If you like rock climbing, this next-level version is a must-try. 

Go Ice Fishing

Sylvan Lake is a great destination to learn how to ice fish…This winter village offers a ton of activities but we’d recommend you start with this one. …but don’t let those huts fool you! You still need to dress for outdoor weather.

Don’t let cold weather deter you from exploring your new community! The winter months in the prairie provinces have tons of outdoor fun to offer local travel nurses. These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg… Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have a variety of breathtaking outing opportunities that everyone can enjoy.

Just remember to be safe about your trip – dress appropriately for the weather, tell someone where you are going and when you are planning to be back, bring an extra phone battery for cold temperatures and lots of water to stay hydrated. Have fun and don’t forget to share your winter adventures with us by tagging #selectmedicalconnections in your next post!