Invigorating Adventure at Rustic Horse Ranch

More than 100 years after the area's main road carried the last prospectors to British Columbia's gold-rush towns, the land around The Hills Health and Guest Ranch remains dotted with fields of towering evergreens. Come winter, the prairies and hills transform into land ripe for cross-country skiing on the 100 miles (150 km) of trails, as well as snowshoeing, ice skating, and sleigh riding.

The property's 26 hotel-style rooms jut from a hillside where wraparound wooden balconies hug two rustic lodges. In addition to the scenic views, each chamber boasts sturdy cherry-wood furnishings, including a gliding rocking chair. At the onsite spa, experienced massage therapists beautify bodies with more than 30 healing and rejuvenating treatments, from a 50-minute french manicure to a 25-minute mini facial ($49+ CAN).

At The Trails End, chefs whip up gourmet fare such as free-range chicken breast stuffed with crab and smoked salmon ($25.95 CAN). The intimate 1871 Lodge Agnus McVee Dining Room serves sizzling meats atop hot rock slabs, as well as dippables such as the fondue chinoise of beef, veggie, and potato bites ($23–$34 CAN).

Cariboo Region: Wilderness Touched by Gold-Rush History

At the heart of British Columbia, the Cariboo region's lush forests and wind-swept prairies still bear the traces of 1860s-era gold fever. The Cariboo Wagon Road stands studded with old mile-marker roadhouses that grew into thriving communities. The so-named town of 100 Mile House proudly displays a leather-trimmed BC Express stagecoach, a testament to its once-bustling wagon traffic, as well as the reputed world's largest pair of cross-country skis.

In the winter, snowy activities begin around the ranch. A two-horse sleigh ride transports visitors to a bonfire with live music, where adults sip hot wine and kids drink hot chocolate. Although not valid with the recreation credit, tubes fly down six routes in the snow-tube park, and the included day passes grant access to the seemingly endless cross-country ski trails weaving through the hills.