Peace River certainly does bring peacefulness to any winter day, but don’t let the name fool you – there’s plenty of winter fun to be had in Peace River. You can skate, snowboard, ski, shop, eat, celebrate, or play! It will be an incredible day no matter what activity you choose, and while you do, be sure to look up and appreciate the beauty of this gorgeous town.
- Misery Mountain
- Eat & Drink
- Shopping and Murals
- Ice Skating
- Parks
1. Misery Mountain
This gorgeous area is the perfect place to enjoy any winter day. You can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or hang out with your friends or family. The view and ambiance at Misery Mountain Ski Area (and their delicious poutine) will keep you coming back. If you didn’t know, Misery Mountain Ski Area offers the most vertical descent in northern Alberta. They have 26 runs overlooking the stunning Peace River Valley, two t-bars, a quad lift, a kitchen, snowshoe trails, ski or snowboard lessons, and ski, board and snowshoe rentals.
2. Eat & Drink
There are endless options when it comes to great food in Peace River. If you are looking for a delicious meal and a cozy place to warm up on a cold wintery day, check out the Board “N” Barrel for delicious appetizers, main course, or dessert (gluten-free options too). And just down the street on “river road” is Peace River Brewing and Distillery, where there are always great drinks, snacks and entertainment. For specialty coffee, breakfast, lunch and great vibes go to J’s Java Domain. Boston Pizza and Mr. Mike’s Casual are also great for lunch, dinner, or watching the game. You will find sushi, Vietnamese, Mexican and Chinese cuisine in the downtown area and if you are looking for a fast-food fix, A&W and KFC are also downtown and Dairy Queen, Tim Hortons, and McDonalds are on the west hill.
3. Shopping and Murals
Peace River is not only a great shopping hub, it is stunning. The streets and buildings are decorated with gorgeous murals, and the glow from Christmas lights makes a shopping day here dreamy. With many local makers in the area, you can find hand-crafted goods in all shapes and sizes, health food stores, sports and clothing stores, a mall with multiple businesses inside, jewellery stores, flower shops, and salons with plenty of high-end accessories and supplies available. In addition, Peace River’s “west hill” is home to Walmart, Peavey Mart, Home Hardware, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire and several other great shopping options.
Ice Skating
There’s no shortage of places to enjoy a winter skate in the Town of Peace River. So lace up your skates and head out for an outdoor winter skate at one of Peace River’s fabulous outdoor rinks, or head over to the Baytex Energy Centre, Peace River’s recreation facility. The Baytex Energy Center has an NHL-sized rink and offers different drop-in Public Skating and Shinny options. They also have a fieldhouse, walking track, indoor playground, concession, and a fitness center. If you are looking for a fresh air skating experience, check out the outdoor rinks in Shaftsbury Estates on 92 street, Saddleback Ridge on 82nd street, Baytex Energy on 73 avenue, or the Riverfront Park Skating Area on 98th street.
Parks
Head over to the Baytex Energy Center when your kids need to play but it’s too cold outside. They have an Indoor Playground, generously sponsored by Macmillan Construction, that will keep the kids happy for hours. For those magical winter outdoor days, check out Peace River’s parks. They have over a dozen gorgeous parks that are great places to enjoy some quiet or fun! River Front Park is an absolute must-see in the wintertime, and there’s nothing like an evening walk with the Christmas lights glittering in every direction or a skate on the rink by the gazebo. Another must-see outdoor park in Peace River is the Normand Boucher Arboretum. This little park is home to over 170 species of trees and shrubs, making you feel like you are in a mini-forest – a magical place to enjoy a winter picnic.
Locations Mentioned in this Article
Nestled into the spectacular Peace River Valley, the Town of Peace River can be enjoyed in any season, no matter your zen.
