I’ll admit, I’m a bit biased about spending winter in Ontario. Not only do I have to do it but it’s also my home so obviously I’m going to think it’s the best. No, we don’t have incredible mountains at our doorstep nor we have the charm of small towns in Europe. What we do have, however, are tons of forests, two of Canada’s biggest cities and tons of options for outdoor activities.
I grew up living outside in the winter. There’s something about being out in the cold that wakes you up and leaves you feeling super refreshed. As a ski racer my whole life it wouldn’t be uncommon to find me out on the snow from dawn until dusk, if not after.
Look, I know what you’re thinking “why the heck does anyone want to go outside when it’s -40 degrees.” I mean yea, fair enough but I’d counter that with, have you tried it? I’m not lying that after a certain temperature the cold is all the same. All you have to do is bundle up really tight!
Spend it in the city
There are always tons of things to do in any city during the winter. Toronto has Winterlicious and Ottawa has skating on the Rideau canal only to name a few. It’s also the perfect excuse to stay inside and go exploring some of the restaurants or museums you never had the chance to in the summer months.
I particularly love finding a cosy pub and getting some friends together to enjoy delicious red wine and comfort food. There are also tons of beautiful Christmas markets happening pretty much everywhere. One of the most popular ones in Ontario is definitely the Toronto Distillery Christmas market. The way they set up the old buildings is just gorgeous.
Spend it up North
As I said, there’s nothing quite like spending winter outdoors. Every chance I get I’m trekking up North (anywhere) to enjoy the mounds of snow and beautiful landscapes.
This past winter we ventured to the Ontario Highlands for a weekend and it was probably one of the best winter weekends I’ve had. I got to discover a new winter sport in Cross Country Skiing which was amazing. We also got to have the classic cosy winter experience enjoying a spa day inside a warm, comfortable cabin.
Besides skiing, my other favourite winter activity is snowshoeing. There’s just something about it that makes it so peaceful walking through the snow in the woods. It’s always so quiet.
So have we convinced you to love winter yet?
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