Snow Much Fun: 10 Family Adventures (that even teens won't roll their eyes at)
Family Day is right around the corner, and let’s face it, when you finally get that extra day off the last thing you want to do is waste it. Instead of cueing the regret, maximize the time off by planning a day trip or weekend adventure that you will love just as much as your little ones.
From frosty outdoor festivals to arts-centred activities, and weekend getaways, the list below will keep you busy all weekend long.
Walk a Llama
Isn’t spending one-on-one time walking a llama every kids’ dream? Visit Serendipity Farm & Sanctuary in Lanark County and take a llama for a walk on a groomed trail that winds through their property. After you have tuckered your llama out, visit the farm store to find llama and alpaca knitted goods to bring home with you. Note that reservations for llama walks must be made in advance.
Play Longer:
Closs Crossing is a cozy Airbnb with two accommodation options only a hop skip and a jump from Serendipity Alpacas. Their Cabin Treehouse sleeps six and features an on-site hot tub for the adults to relax in at the end of the day.
Fly Downhill
Kids love spending time outdoors in winter, and skiing and snowboarding is the perfect opportunity to do so. Head to the highest vertical lift in Ontario at Calabogie Peaks Resort in Calabogie or to Eagle Lake in Haliburton Highlands at Sir Sam’s Ski/RIDE. Older kids will love a chance to try night skiing at Mount Pakenham in Lanark County.
Play Longer:
Perth Best Western Parkside Inn & Spa in Perth or the Comfort Inn in Carleton Place are great family-friendly accommodation options to turn your skiing daytrip into a multi-day holiday.
Skate a Forest Trail
Kids and adults alike will love skating through a woodland forest, beneath a canopy of trees. At Beckwith Park in Lanark County, their one-kilometre trail is complete with benches for putting on and off your skates, and washroom facilities at the Beckwith Recreation Complex (when open). In Deep River, the Laurentian Valley Skate Trail spans one-and-a-half kilometres and is a beautiful, natural ice surface complete with lights for a magical night skating experience.
Play Longer:
If you are in Deep River consider extending your getaway to include an overnight stay at the Pembroke Best Western. After your skate take some time to unwind in the indoor heated saltwater pool and hot tub.
Sled with Dogs
Not just for kids, dog sledding is a winter activity that we can all get excited about. In Haliburton Highlands, Winterdance is passionate about dogsledding and their pack of Siberian huskies are eager to take guests into the wild to experience the forgotten joy of gliding over snow in a hushed winter forest. No experience necessary and this can be a half-day or full-day adventure.
Play Longer:
The cozy cottages at Ogopogo Resort on Mountain Lake can turn your dogsledding experience into a multi-day spring getaway. At Ogopogo, the kids will love skating on the outdoor rink or trying their hand at ice fishing (ice conditions permitting). Cottages sleep up to eight, and are ideal for larger families.
Go Bowling
If your kids haven’t discovered the joy of bowling, now is the time to introduce them to this old-fashioned, G-rated fun. Teach them how to bowl at Chasin’ Turkeys in Carleton Place, or Gratton Bowling Lanes in Smiths Falls. In Renfrew County you can choose between the Steelheads & Strikes in Arnprior or the Opeongo Bowldrome to get a strike. In Haliburton Highlands, Fast Lane Bowling has a fun atmosphere – ask them about their glow-in-the-dark parties!
