There’s snow place like Ontario for the ultimate winter holiday
For those looking for the ultimate winter holiday with a wide variety of experiences that stretch beyond the ski slopes and require little or no experience, Ontario in Eastern Canada won’t disappoint.
Visitors to Ontario over the winter months don’t need to be avid skiers or ardent snowboarding enthusiasts to have fun; all that’s required is warm clothing, a sense of adventure and plenty of enthusiasm.
Ontario sets itself apart from other winter destinations; Ontario is home to the world’s largest ice skating rink, offers the ultimate dog sledding adventures and boasts the largest recreational snow-mobile trail system in the world.
City-based winter fun for all the family combine with Canadian wilderness adventure just a short distance away. Outside the cities, frozen lakes, waist deep snow, wildlife tracks, the howl of a wolf and the crisp clear air are just a few of the delights synonymous with Ontario in the winter months, and a week’s holiday can easily be packed with a different winter activity every day.
Dog Sledding
From half-day to week-long expeditions, dog sledding is the ultimate form of transport in the winter months in Ontario. Individuals get to mush their own team of huskies through the spectacular scenery and miles of unspoilt winter wilderness of northern Ontario, including Algonquin Provincial Park and the Haliburton Highlands.
Snowmobiling
This exciting mode of transport allows individuals to venture to parts of the province that are normally only accessible by air and water. Some trails are so wide that they're referred to as "snow highways". Ontario has over 30,000 miles of interconnected, uncongested, groomed snowmobile trails forming the largest recreational trail system in the world.
Ice Skating
Virtually all of Ontario’s towns and cities feature an ice skating rink in the winter months, but none quite a long as the one found in Ontario’s Capital - Ottawa. A 7.8km stretch of the Rideau Canal is transformed into the world’s largest ice-skating rink every winter. Canada’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, Toronto, has free ice skating at Nathan Philips Square (new City Hall) right in the heart of downtown!
Snow Tubing
Visitors to Ontario don’t have to venture too far out of the cities to experience snow tubing so it’s a great winter activity for those who haven’t got the time or the inclination to venture further afield than their city base. This fun-for-all-the-family activity, which involves sitting in the middle of a rubber tube and being pushed down snow covered slopes, requires no experience whatsoever and is offered widely throughout the province.
Skiing
Ontario might not boast miles and miles of hair-raising black runs but it’s a great for beginners and a perfect place to learn. And if those that try it don’t like it, then they can easily move on to the next winter activity. Cross country ski enthusiasts can keep busy on over 120 cross-country ski areas, some of which are less than an hour outside of Toronto, so make for a great City/Ski option.
Ice Climbing
The north of Ontario is the heart of Ontario's ice climbing country and features ice-clad routes with heights of more than 90 meters! Not for the faint hearted!
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is one of Ontario’s great winter traditions, although those keen to try it should be warned, temperatures drop to as low as minus 18 degrees! Keen fisherman can spend anything from a couple of hours to three weeks fishing through a hole in 18inch thick ice, sheltered only by the bare walls of a small wooden hut. For the ultimate adventure, chose to snowmobile or snowshoe onto an isolated lake buried deep in the wilderness.
Where to stay
Accommodation options range from cosy cabins perched on the edge of frozen lakes, full service resort-style accommodation with extensive on-site facilities and activities, and quaint bed and breakfasts.
Resorts of Ontario
Ontario boasts a number of world-class all season lodge style resorts with superior facilities and onsite activities. Throughout the winter months, resorts such as Deerhurst and Blue Mountain boast downhill ski areas, spa facilities and ice rinks, sleigh rides and dog sledding and make an ideal base for families looking for a taste of Ontario winter fun and adventure coupled with excellent accommodation, dining options, entertainment and on-site indoor and outdoor facilities.
For more information, visit ontariotravel.net/uk.
