Hinton Winter Weekend Itinerary
I love a road trip. Even a quick weekend getaway can feel like a vacation. Hinton is just a three-ish hour drive from Edmonton. It’s the closest spot for a mountain adventure with lots of great options for families.
Before we even get to Hinton we have to stop in Marlboro. This tiny village just east of Hinton has one of the most epic pieces of playground equipment ever – the Zipline Swing. It’s a must-visit for us on our way to Hinton or Jasper. (We think it might be the Best Playground in Alberta!)
After an active playground session, we were ready to eat. We picked The Old Grind in Hinton and can confirm that their soups, sandwiches, coffees and desserts were delicious. This café has a cozy vibe, a great selection of local art (you can buy that too) and a cute little retail area.
After lunch a stroll was just what we needed. Beaver Boardwalk is the world’s longest freshwater boardwalk. A portion of the boardwalk was under construction during our visit, but there was still plenty of space for exploration.
The kids were ready for more fun so we hit Hinton’s Nordic Centre for a quick sledding session. The small hill was packed with kids and we encountered a few cross-country skiers who were making the most of the bright and beautiful late winter conditions too.
Accommodations
Just down the hill from the Nordic Centre was our home base for the weekend – the Rocky Mountain View BNB. We were so grateful to have been hosted for a stay in the Family Log Cabin at Rocky Mountain View BNB. It’s located about 10 minutes outside of Hinton, on the same highway as the Nordic Centre. Rocky Mountain View offers 6 rooms for guests aged 18+ and an adorable cabin for families staying with kids. The cabin sleeps up to six (three beds) and offers a full kitchen, bbq and fire pit in a quaint and cosy setting, It’s definitely a spot we would visit again.
Day 2
Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to hit the highway for Jasper’s Marmot Basin. Marmot is one of our favourite spots for family skiing with great rentals, easy parking and the nicest staff. We timed our visit well – fresh powder was coming down all day while we skied and we had the best time. (TIP: If you’re planning to visit Marmot Basin, be sure to take advantage of the Family Package for discount skiing for 2 adults and 2 kids. It’s only available online, so be sure to book your passes before you go!)
We stopped at Folding Mountain Brewing for dinner on our way back to the cabin. It’s located just east of the Jasper Park gates and only 5 minutes from Rocky Mountain View. The food was excellent and the kids loved the selection of board games to play while we waited.
We returned to the cabin for a cozy night of fireside chats, star gazing, hot chocolate and s’mores. The beds in the family cabin are exceptional and everyone reported having a good night sleep after our ski day.
We awoke to a huge snowfall and messy highways. We had hoped to do more outdoor activities on Sunday – including a visit to the playground in Brule and a hike to the Athabasca viewpoint, but those adventures will have to wait for our next visit to beautiful Hinton, Alberta.
Winter Weekend Itinerary
- Where we stayed: Our stay at Rocky Mountain View BNB was hosted – thank you for the hospitality!
- Where we ate: We loved The Old Grind and Folding Mountain Brewing Company
- What we did: Beaver Boardwalk, Hinton Nordic Centre and Jasper’s Marmot Basin
Marlboro isn’t the only great playground to visit when you drive west from Edmonton to Jasper. Use our list of Pit Stop Playgrounds between Edmonton and Jasper to add to your road-trip fun!