Winter Adventures for Families in Ontario That You Can Still Do During COVID
Hopping on a plane for our next big family adventure might not be in the cards right now, but winters in Ontario are an explorer’s dream. From seeing chickadees and skating through a magical winter trail to tubing and skiing, nature is the one place that won’t be closed during this long, COVID-y winter. Let’s enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Changes come abruptly during a global pandemic, so check the current restrictions and closures before embarking on any of these family-friendly adventures.
Marvel at the night sky at Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve
The world’s first permanent Dark Sky Reserve, Torrance Barrens Conservation Area, offers a stunning 360-degree view of the night sky, unhampered by light pollution. Bring a telescope and watch your kids marvel at the rings of Saturn and stand in awe of the gorgeous milky way. Make sure you arrive before dusk and plan to go on a clear night for the best view of the stars.
Skate through a magical winter forest at Arrowhead Provincial Park
In need of an overnight adventure? Book a camp cabin at Arrowhead Provincial Park, which offers plenty of family-friendly outdoor fun—the most magical part being the 1.3-kilometre skating trail that winds its way through the woods. Book your cabin through the Ontario Parks website (helpful hint: cabin 222 has its own bathroom), stay in a nearby hotel (bring extra cleaner!) or just go for a little day trip.
If you’re heading to the skating trail for the day, plan to arrive at least one hour early to avoid crowds. It gets busy when the skating trail opens at 11 a.m. Arriving early has other perks: you’ll have time to buy your parking pass for the day ($18 weekdays, $21 weekends), take the kids for a bathroom break, have a snack and get everyone laced up and bundled up. If you still have time to kill before the skating trail opens, you can also snowshoe or hike on the nearby trails (which are super kid-friendly!)
Enjoy snuggling up by the fires near the entrance to the skating trail to get warm (and bring your own veggie dogs and marshmallows to roast)!
Spot chickadees
Chickadees love a winter visit. Since chickadees are naturally curious, they are more likely to come close to you, especially if there is already a bird feeder in the area they’re familiar with.
This is such a joyful activity to do with kids, but maintain a respectful distance from all wildlife you encounter on the trails.
Note: Explore Magazine does not encourage feeding or touching any wild animals, including trying to get wild chickadees to eat from your hand. Please respect our wildlife by physically distancing from them, too!
Stay in a heated yurt at Killarney Provincial Park
If there is a way to make a trip to Killarney Provincial Park even more magical, it’s a winter visit. Fresh snow settles on the treetops to make the woods sparkle, the lakes freeze and Georgian Bay is covered in crackling ice.
Winter camping may be daunting, but a heated yurt makes it a whole lot cozier (especially when kids are involved!) The yurts at Killarney have electricity, bunk beds (with space for six), a fire pit and a BBQ in the covered outdoor cooking area.
Bring your comfiest jammies and slippers, board games, books and BBQ-friendly food for laidback bonding time at your yurt.
For your outdoor adventures, bring plenty of gear for enjoying the snow: snowshoes, warm layers, skis and toboggans. There are several kid-friendly trails for snowshoeing at Killarney (the easiest being Granite Ridge). Grab a trail map when you arrive to help plan your adventures.
At the end of each day, sit around the fire with a hot chocolate to get warm and swap stories about your adventures.
Note: The yurts at Killarney don’t have their own bathrooms, but there is a warm washroom with running water at the park office, which is about a 10-minute walk from the yurts.
Go snow tubing, skiing or snowboarding
You could teach your kids how to ski or snowboard… or you could sign them up for lessons while you get some grown-up time on the slopes. Once they’ve got some basic skills down, you can enjoy time boarding or skiing as a family before wrapping up your outing with snow tubing and hot chocolate.
Kids as young as three can get snowboarding and skiing lessons at Blue Mountain Resort and go snow tubing (with parent supervision). Age restrictions change depending on which ski resort you plan to visit. Check your local hill for lesson info and to find out what they offer.
Disclaimer: Explore Magazine encourages all readers to stay local and enjoy nature close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, click here.
