You may have noticed that Christmas music has hit shopping malls everywhere. You know what it means? Retail stores bring Christmas too early these days. Yes, that is correct. But also, the holidays are fast approaching.
If you are lucky, you may have some free time during the holidays. If you’re exceptionally lucky, you might even have a day off where you’re not running around like crazy trying to entertain or visit all the family members you have. You know what it means? You have a great opportunity for a winter day road trip. I’m a big fan of road trips, especially the day trip variety. We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful province, which has so much to offer.
Here is my list of the top 5 road trips in Ontario in one day.
collingwood:
This is a no-brainer for ski/snowboard enthusiasts: Blue Mountain, enough said. I’m not one of those, but I love Collingwood. Blue Mountain Village and downtown Collingwood have tons of fun, unique shops, and plenty of great places to eat. If you’re making the trip on the weekend, check out the Ridge Runner Mountain roller coaster at Blue Mountain. I’ve never done this, but it’s definitely on my bucket list! If you’re on a family road trip and can stay a bit longer, there’s also an amazing 4-season indoor water park called Plunge. Do you want a more relaxing or romantic getaway? Visit the Scandinave Spa for a relaxing day before the storm of holiday stress hits.
Port Perry:
Port Perry is a tourist destination known for its beautiful Victorian-era downtown, with many restaurants, cafes, bookstores, galleries, antique shops, and other outlets. Scugog Lake, located in Port Perry, is also a fantastic and popular destination for ice fishing and snowmobiling.
He prays:
Elora bills itself as ‘the most beautiful town in Ontario’. I get it. There is the famous Tooth of Time waterfall and Old Mill in the center. The Elora Mill, once fed by the waterfall, is the only remaining five-story mill in Ontario and has now been renovated into a beautiful inn and restaurant. Elora is famous for its epic gorge: in the summer months, many people take a thrilling ride through the gorge in an inner tube. I doubt you’ll want to be on the water in December unless hypothermia is on your bucket list, so check out the various boutiques and art galleries. If you’re a movie buff, catch a movie at The Gorge Cinema; The oldest continuously operating repertory theater in Canada.
Niagara-on-the-lake:
There are many shops and specialty stores in Niagara-on-the-lake. You can even take a romantic horse and carriage ride. Perhaps most popular, however, is visiting an Ontario winery and enjoying a wine tasting. There are many fun winter wine events in Niagara, such as Christmas Day. If you plan on sipping your wine, be sure to designate a sober trip to take you home OR stay at one of Niagara’s dream bed & breakfasts, inns or spa resorts.
Haliburton Highlands:
Another item on my bucket list is dog sledding. I mean I love dogs, I love sledding, it seems like an obvious activity that I would love. Winterdance is an Ontario dog sledding tour company in the Haliburton Highlands. One of the amazing things about Winterdance is that they actually teach you how to lead a team of dogs. They offer 2 hour, 1/2 day, full day, moonlite or multi-day dog sledding tours. Also located in the Haliburton Highlands is Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike, which offers many fun winter activities like snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing.