January 29, 2006
Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Hello
from Barrie: Lots of Winter Fun without the Need for High Mountains
Our winter getaway over the last two days was supposed to include
a couple of different activities: snow-tubing and outdoor skating.
Well, our outdoor skating fell through, due to the extraordinarily
warm conditions, however, we had a beautiful
day yesterday on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, where we enjoyed
some great outdoor time on frozen Lake Simcoe.
Today, after our delicious filling
breakfast at Nicholyn Farms Bed and Breakfast, we headed off
for another adventure: snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley. Unfortunately
the weather today was even less cooperative: as the day progressed
it went from freezing rain to rain to a veritable downpour as we
drove back to Toronto.
Snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley Resort
Nevertheless the morning was cold enough for our snowtubing adventure.
My 8-year old nephew had never been snowtubing before, and knowing
his penchant for high-speed adrenaline-filled activities, we knew
that he would fall in love with this sport.
Horseshoe
Valley is one of several Ontario winter resorts and in addition
to downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and skating, it also features
a snow-tubing hill. It's a thrill to get pulled up on the hill,
sitting on a refunctioned inner tube, and then getting linked up
in a group of 2, 3 or 4 snow-tubers, who hold on to their neighbouring
tuber's handle and then get pushed down the hill by one of the staff
members - with a spin and a momentum that feels almost like a roller
coaster!
ATV riders are having fun on Lake Simcoe in Barrie.
Snowtubing is just one of the many fun winter
activities that Ontario has to offer.
Snow Valley Resort just on the other side of Highway 400 also offers
snowtubing.
Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood is another place for Ontario
snowtubing enthusiasts.
Skating:
Obviously hockey is Canada's national sport and skating runs in
the veins of many residents of this northern country. Virtually
all Ontario cities, towns and villages have outdoor skating rinks
and indoor arenas. Outdoor skating is free in many cases, and indoor
pleasure skating is generally a very inexpensive sport.
One of the best known skating Ontario opportunities exists in Ottawa,
on the 7.8 km long Rideau Canal, the world's longest skating rink
according to the Guiness Book of Records. The City of Ottawa lists
its public
skating information on the Internet.
Toronto's well-known outdoor skating venues include City Hall,
Harbourfront and Grenadier Pond in HIgh Park and the City of Toronto
provides a list of leisure
skating opportunities in Toronto.
An ice maze at the waterfront in Barrie
Skiing & snowboarding:
Although Ontario certainly doesn't have the greatest vertical drop
compared to international ski resorts, but it does offer 41 resorts
for downhill skiers and snowboarders at the Ski
Ontario website.
Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing:
Ontario's more than 120 cross-country ski areas are rivalled only
by Quebec for sheer number and variety. Ski areas are operated by
various organizations ranging from parks to clubs and resorts. The
Ski Ontario website provides an extensive listing of cross-country
opportunities across Ontario.
Special offers for snowshoeing
and cross-country getaways are featured on the Ontario Outdoor
website.
Snowmobiling:
Ontario offers more than 43,000 km (26,000 mi.) of maintained,
interconnected, uncongested trails. It is the longest network of
recreational trails in the world. The 248 member clubs of the Ontario
Federation of Snowmobile Clubs build and maintain this extensive
trail network. Find more information about snowmobiling in Ontario
in the Ontario
Snowmobiler Magazine.
The kid on the right is wearing shorts! On January 28, 2006!!!
Iceclimbing:
The north of Ontario is the heart of Ontario's iceclimbing
country and features ice-clad routes with heights of more than 90
m. Special ice-climbing getaways are featured on the Ontario
Outdoor Website.
Dogsledding:
Dog sledding has evolved from a utilitarian form of transport in
northern countries to a unique travel experience. Some dogsledding
operators have a guide drive the team, where at other places you
may drive the sled yourself. The Ontario Outdoor Website features
a variety of dog
sledding adventures and getaways.
Urban Winter Getaways:
For those who want to enjoy the best that Ontario's cities have
to offer over the winter time, there are a variety of special events
going on. Many cities and towns throughout Ontario feature special
winter festivals, starting with many festivals of light, tree lighting
ceremonies and New Year's celebrations in November and December,
and continuing with a variety of special events, trade fairs and
restaurant promotions throughout January and February. The Success
with Ontario website features a listing
of Ontario's Festivals and events.
Major festivals include:
Toronto's
WinterCity Festival and Winterlicious
Ottawa's
Winterlude Winter Festival
Niagara's
Icewine Festival
Ontario Accommodation Choices:
Ontario offers a wide variety of choices for getaways.
From all-inclusive feature-packed resorts, to down-to-earth farm
vacations, to cozy bed and breafasts, secluded cottages and chalets
and inviting country inns, Ontario has a wide selection of accommodation
providers. Unique boutique hotels, and centrally located urban hotels
round out the accommodation offers. Ontario
Travel's website offers a great overview of the accommodation
choices available in Ontario.
There is plenty to do in the winter in Ontario, indoors and out.
Nature lovers, urban explorers, adrenaline junkies, and romantic
lovebirds will all find something to choose from to brighten up
those cold winter days.
Related Articles:
Hello from Barrie 1: Exploring downtown
Barrie and making a German/Trinidadian/Austrian connection
Hello from Barrie 2: A wonderful weekend
getaway at Nicholyn Farms
Useful books for travel in Ontario
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