Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Hello from Barrie: Lots of Winter Fun without Need for Mountains

Our winter getaway over the last two days waswebsite.Snowmobiling:
supposed to include a couple of different activities:Ontario offers more than 43,000 km (26,000 mi.) of
snow-tubing and outdoor skating. Well, our outdoormaintained, interconnected, uncongested trails. It is the
skating fell through, due to the extraordinarily warmlongest network of recreational trails in the world. The
conditions, however, we had a beautiful day yesterday248 member clubs of the Ontario Federation of
on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, where we enjoyed someSnowmobile Clubs build and maintain this extensive trail
great outdoor time on frozen Lake Simcoe.Today,network. Find more information about snowmobiling in
after our delicious filling breakfast at Nicholyn FarmsOntario in the Ontario Snowmobiler
Bed and Breakfast, we headed off for anotherMagazine.Iceclimbing:
adventure: snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley.The north of Ontario is the heart of Ontario's
Unfortunately the weather today was even lessiceclimbing country and features ice-clad routes with
cooperative: as the day progressed it went fromheights of more than 90 m. Special ice-climbing
freezing rain to rain to a veritable downpour as wegetaways are featured on the Ontario Outdoor
drove back to Toronto.Nevertheless the morning wasWebsite.Dogsledding:
cold enough for our snowtubing adventure. My 8-yearDog sledding has evolved from a utilitarian form of
old nephew had never been snowtubing before, andtransport in northern countries to a unique travel
knowing his penchant for high-speed adrenaline-filledexperience. Some dogsledding operators have a guide
activities, we knew that he would fall in love with thisdrive the team, where at other places you may drive
sport.Horseshoe Valley is one of several Ontariothe sled yourself. The Ontario Outdoor Website
winter resorts and in addition to downhill skiing,features a variety of dog sledding adventures and
cross-country skiing and skating, it also features agetaways.Urban Winter Getaways:
snow-tubing hill. It's a thrill to get pulled up on the hill,For those who want to enjoy the best that Ontario's
sitting on a refunctioned inner tube, and then gettingcities have to offer over the winter time, there are a
linked up in a group of 2, 3 or 4 snow-tubers, who holdvariety of special events going on. Many cities and
on to their neighbouring tuber's handle and then gettowns throughout Ontario feature special winter
pushed down the hill by one of the staff members -festivals, starting with many festivals of light, tree
with a spin and a momentum that feels almost like alighting ceremonies and New Year's celebrations in
roller coaster!Snowtubing is just one of the many funNovember and December, and continuing with a
winter activities that Ontario has to offer.variety of special events, trade fairs and restaurant
Snow Valley Resort just on the other side ofpromotions throughout January and February. The
Highway 400 also offers snowtubing.Success with Ontario website features a listing of
Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood is another placeOntario's Festivals and events.Major festivals include:
for Ontario snowtubing enthusiasts.Skating:Toronto's WinterCity Festival and Winterlicious
Obviously hockey is Canada's national sport andOttawa's Winterlude Winter Festival
skating runs in the veins of many residents of thisNiagara's Icewine FestivalOntario Accommodation
northern country. Virtually all Ontario cities, towns andChoices:
villages have outdoor skating rinks and indoor arenas.Ontario offers a wide variety of choices for
Outdoor skating is free in many cases, and indoorgetaways. From all-inclusive feature-packed resorts, to
pleasure skating is generally a very inexpensivedown-to-earth farm vacations, to cozy bed and
sport.One of the best known skating Ontariobreafasts, secluded cottages and chalets and inviting
opportunities exists in Ottawa, on the 7.8 km longcountry inns, Ontario has a wide selection of
Rideau Canal, the world's longest skating rink accordingaccommodation providers. Unique boutique hotels, and
to the Guiness Book of Records. The City of Ottawacentrally located urban hotels round out the
lists its public skating information on theaccommodation offers. Ontario Travel's website
Internet.Toronto's well-known outdoor skating venuesoffers a great overview of the accommodation
include City Hall, Harbourfront and Grenadier Pond inchoices available in Ontario.There is plenty to do in the
HIgh Park and the City of Toronto provides a list ofwinter in Ontario, indoors and out. Nature lovers, urban
leisure skating opportunities in Toronto.Skiing &explorers, adrenaline junkies, and romantic lovebirds will
snowboarding:all find something to choose from to brighten up those
Although Ontario certainly doesn't have the greatestcold winter days.Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a
vertical drop compared to international ski resorts, but itwebsite called Travel and Transitions ( Travel and
does offer 41 resorts for downhill skiers andTransitions deals with unconventional travel and is
snowboarders at the Ski Ontariochock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences,
website.Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing:interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights
Ontario's more than 120 cross-country ski areas areand reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and
rivalled only by Quebec for sheer number and variety.many other features. You will also find stories about
Ski areas are operated by various organizationslife and the transitions that we face as we go through
ranging from parks to clubs and resorts. The Skiour own personal life-long journeys.Submit your own
Ontario website provides an extensive listing oftravel stories in our first travel story contest ( and
cross-country opportunities across Ontario.have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on
Special offers for snowshoeing and cross-countrythe Amazon River."Life is a Journey Explore New
getaways are featured on the Ontario OutdoorHorizons".