By Jessica Padykula
Toronto Expert, about.com
If you’re starting to get sick of winter but can’t book a vacation
somewhere warm and sunny, getting out of the city, even if just for a
day or two, can still go a long way towards boosting your spirits. And
you don’t need to go far – there are plenty of winter getaway options
within a few hours or less from the city. Here are seven easy ideas for a
quick winter getaway from Toronto.
Head to Niagara Falls
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Niagara
Falls might seem like a summer-only destination, but if you’ve never
seen the falls in winter, it’s worth a trip to check them out. The
colder temperatures, wind, mist and spray from the falls combine to
create a winter wonderland atmosphere that can be beautiful in a totally
unexpected way. Not to mention, hotels can be cheaper during the winter
months and attractions won’t be nearly as busy as they can get in the
summer. The drive is only about 90 minutes making Niagara Falls pretty
convenient for a weekend winter escape from Toronto.
There are also lot of events going on during the winter so there’s plenty on offer to keep you busy.
Stay the night in a provincial park – in a yurt or a cabin
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Winter
camping isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend some
time in a provincial park during the winter. Many parks, of varying
distances from Toronto, have roofed accommodation
for people who want to experience winter in nature without having to
pitch a tent to do it. Choose from several types of accommodation
including backcountry cabins, camp cabins, rustic cabins and yurts. Yurts in particular can be a really unique way to experience a provincial park. They’re warm, affordable and sleep up to six.
Spend some time at Fern Resort
Over in Orillia you’ll find Fern Resort,
an ideal winter getaway for families or groups of friends. All of the
103 rooms and suites have fireplaces and views of the lake and there’s
an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from to suit
visitors of all ages and interest levels. Swim some laps in the indoor
pool, relax in the sauna and steam room, skate along the 1.5 kilometre
skating trail, go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, play ice hockey
and much more.
Get pampered at Ste. Anne’s Spa
Sometimes
when winter starts to take its toll the best option for getting back on
track and feeling recharged is to splurge or a spa weekend. One of the
best places to do it near Toronto is Ste. Anne’s Spa
in Grafton, Ontario. The destination spa, located on 400 private acres,
is where to go to feel totally relaxed. They have a full menu of spa
services to choose from as well as wellness classes such as yoga,
mediation, circuit training and guided walks or snowshoe excursions. You
can also enjoy healthy meals, walking trails, lounge areas, fitness
facilities, eucalyptus steam room and the fieldstone grotto; a year
round facility that includes a hot tub, lap pool and cold plunge pool.
Get active at Blue Mountain
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If
you feel like getting active on your winter getaway, head to
Collingwood to spend some quality time skiing and snowboarding at Blue Mountain.
In addition to hitting the slopes in whichever way you prefer, you can
also go snow tubing, cross-country skiing and skating and check out
Plunge! Aquatic Centre where you’ll find indoor-outdoor pools, hot tubs,
rope swings, an indoor water playground and more. Amidst all the
activity, Blue Mountain Village offers more than 25 shops, bars and
restaurants to explore.
Soak in Scandinavian baths at Scandinave Spa
Another reason to plan a getaway to the Blue Mountain area is the chance to experience Scandinave Spa.
This award-winning spa is located in a natural forest just 10 minutes
from Blue Mountain Resort and offers the chance to soak in some
seriously relaxing Scandinavian baths. The whole experience includes a
Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam room, thermal and Nordic waterfalls, hot
baths, cold plunge pools and relaxation areas. You can also book a
massage, which gets you guaranteed access to the baths two hours before
your appointment.
Skate on the Rideau Canal
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If
you feel like travelling a but further afield, a weekend visit to
Ottawa can make for a fun winter getaway. Getting to the nation’s
capital takes about four hours in the car or a five-hour train ride so
it’s entirely doable for a two or three-night trip. Bring your skates or
rent some and take a glide on the Rideau Canal Skateway,
which just happens to be the world’s largest skating rink at 7.8
kilometres. When you’re not skating, Ottawa is filled with museums,
galleries, great shopping and bars and restaurants to check out.
