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