| Our winter getaway over the last two days was | | | | areas are operated by various organizations |
| supposed to include a couple of different | | | | ranging from parks to clubs and resorts. The |
| activities: snow-tubing and outdoor skating. | | | | Ski Ontario website provides an extensive |
| Well, our outdoor skating fell through, due | | | | listing of cross-country opportunities across |
| to the extraordinarily warm conditions, | | | | Ontario. Special offers for snowshoeing and |
| however, we had a beautiful day yesterday on | | | | cross-country getaways are featured on the |
| Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, where we enjoyed | | | | Ontario Outdoor website. Snowmobiling: |
| some great outdoor time on frozen Lake | | | | Ontario offers more than 43,000 km (26,000 |
| Simcoe. Today, after our delicious filling | | | | mi.) of maintained, interconnected, |
| breakfast at Nicholyn Farms Bed and | | | | uncongested trails. It is the longest network |
| Breakfast, we headed off for another | | | | of recreational trails in the world. The 248 |
| adventure: snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley. | | | | member clubs of the Ontario Federation of |
| Unfortunately the weather today was even less | | | | Snowmobile Clubs build and maintain this |
| cooperative: as the day progressed it went | | | | extensive trail network. Find more |
| from freezing rain to rain to a veritable | | | | information about snowmobiling in Ontario in |
| downpour as we drove back to Toronto. | | | | the Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine. |
| Nevertheless the morning was cold enough for | | | | Iceclimbing: The north of Ontario is the |
| our snowtubing adventure. My 8-year old | | | | heart of Ontario's iceclimbing country and |
| nephew had never been snowtubing before, and | | | | features ice-clad routes with heights of more |
| knowing his penchant for high-speed | | | | than 90 m. Special ice-climbing getaways are |
| adrenaline-filled activities, we knew that he | | | | featured on the Ontario Outdoor Website. |
| would fall in love with this sport. Horseshoe | | | | Dogsledding: Dog sledding has evolved from a |
| Valley is one of several Ontario winter | | | | utilitarian form of transport in northern |
| resorts and in addition to downhill skiing, | | | | countries to a unique travel experience. Some |
| cross-country skiing and skating, it also | | | | dogsledding operators have a guide drive the |
| features a snow-tubing hill. It's a thrill to | | | | team, where at other places you may drive the |
| get pulled up on the hill, sitting on a | | | | sled yourself. The Ontario Outdoor Website |
| refunctioned inner tube, and then getting | | | | features a variety of dog sledding adventures |
| linked up in a group of 2, 3 or 4 | | | | and getaways. Urban Winter Getaways: For |
| snow-tubers, who hold on to their | | | | those who want to enjoy the best that |
| neighbouring tuber's handle and then get | | | | Ontario's cities have to offer over the |
| pushed down the hill by one of the staff | | | | winter time, there are a variety of special |
| members - with a spin and a momentum that | | | | events going on. Many cities and towns |
| feels almost like a roller coaster! | | | | throughout Ontario feature special winter |
| Snowtubing is just one of the many fun winter | | | | festivals, starting with many festivals of |
| activities that Ontario has to offer. Snow | | | | light, tree lighting ceremonies and New |
| Valley Resort just on the other side of | | | | Year's celebrations in November and December, |
| Highway 400 also offers snowtubing. Blue | | | | and continuing with a variety of special |
| Mountain Resort in Collingwood is another | | | | events, trade fairs and restaurant promotions |
| place for Ontario snowtubing enthusiasts. | | | | throughout January and February. The Success |
| Skating: Obviously hockey is Canada's | | | | with Ontario website features a listing of |
| national sport and skating runs in the veins | | | | Ontario's Festivals and events. Major |
| of many residents of this northern country. | | | | festivals include: Toronto's WinterCity |
| Virtually all Ontario cities, towns and | | | | Festival and Winterlicious Ottawa's |
| villages have outdoor skating rinks and | | | | Winterlude Winter Festival Niagara's Icewine |
| indoor arenas. Outdoor skating is free in | | | | Festival Ontario Accommodation Choices: |
| many cases, and indoor pleasure skating is | | | | Ontario offers a wide variety of choices for |
| generally a very inexpensive sport. One of | | | | getaways. From all-inclusive feature-packed |
| the best known skating Ontario opportunities | | | | resorts, to down-to-earth farm vacations, to |
| exists in Ottawa, on the 7.8 km long Rideau | | | | cozy bed and breafasts, secluded cottages and |
| Canal, the world's longest skating rink | | | | chalets and inviting country inns, Ontario |
| according to the Guiness Book of Records. The | | | | has a wide selection of accommodation |
| City of Ottawa lists its public skating | | | | providers. Unique boutique hotels, and |
| information on the Internet. Toronto's | | | | centrally located urban hotels round out the |
| well-known outdoor skating venues include | | | | accommodation offers. Ontario Travel's |
| City Hall, Harbourfront and Grenadier Pond in | | | | website offers a great overview of the |
| HIgh Park and the City of Toronto provides a | | | | accommodation choices available in Ontario. |
| list of leisure skating opportunities in | | | | There is plenty to do in the winter in |
| Toronto. Skiing & snowboarding: Although | | | | Ontario, indoors and out. Nature lovers, |
| Ontario certainly doesn't have the greatest | | | | urban explorers, adrenaline junkies, and |
| vertical drop compared to international ski | | | | romantic lovebirds will all find something to |
| resorts, but it does offer 41 resorts for | | | | choose from to brighten up those cold winter |
| downhill skiers and snowboarders at the Ski | | | | days. |
| Ontario website. Cross-country skiing & | | | | |
| snowshoeing: Ontario's more than 120 | | | | Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a web |
| cross-country ski areas are rivalled only by | | | | portal for unconventional travel & |
| Quebec for sheer number and variety. Ski | | | | cross-cultural connections. |