| The heart of Ontario's downhill ski areas is the Blue | | | | 400, 89 and then 10. Its slopes provide for skiing, |
| Mountain ski resort near Collingwood, about two | | | | snowboarding and tubing, with dogsledding also |
| hours drive north from Toronto. It faces north | | | | available from the resort. There is a good mix of |
| toward Georgian Bay, on Lake Huron, so the snow | | | | beginner, intermediate, and expert runs -- something |
| arrives early and leaves late -- making for a long | | | | for all the family. |
| season. | | | | Just north of Barrie, Ontario, and also about two |
| There are three resorts along the 'mountain (it's a | | | | hours drive from Toronto is Mount St. Louis |
| ridge really) -- Blue Mountain, Toronto Ski Club (a | | | | Moonstone, a great family Ontario ski and |
| private club), and Georgian Peaks. Blue Mountain has | | | | snowboarding resort. It boasts the largest beginner |
| become so popular that Club Intrawest, one of the | | | | ski area in Ontario. Intermediate and experts are also |
| largest leisure developers around, has built a | | | | well-served with over 40 runs and twelve lifts, of |
| European-style ski village at the base of the hill, which | | | | which three are high-speed express lifts. For |
| contains all the ski resort amenities you'd expect or | | | | snowboarders, there are two Terrain Parks and also |
| want. | | | | Super Pipes for the boarders and extreme skiers. |
| Blue Mountain is the biggest resort and, including the | | | | Hidden Valley Highlands ski area is in Ontario's |
| Toronto Ski Club (TSC) ski area, has 36 runs, of | | | | Muskoka region, near Huntsville -- three hours drive |
| which 9 are for beginners. To be sure you get back | | | | from Toronto on Highways 400, 11 and 169. Hidden |
| to the top as quickly as possible, it also has 14 lifts, | | | | Valley is smaller resort with 12 runs and one Terrain |
| seven of them for beginners. | | | | Park. There are three chair lifts and one tow at |
| Nowadays there's also an extensive Snowboard Park. | | | | 'Beginners Hill'. |
| The runs and lifts are open to both Blue Mountain | | | | Deerhurst Resort is also nearby and both resorts |
| and TSC guests. | | | | provide a range of winter amenities and events for |
| Down in the village, you'll find restaurants, clothes and | | | | the whole family, such as snowmobiling, tobogganing, |
| sporting supply shops, as well as bars and clubs to | | | | skating, and spas. |
| while away the apres-ski hours. The village also | | | | Calabogie Peaks resort is farther away to the east, |
| provides indoor and outdoor entertainment for kids, | | | | nearer Ottawa than Toronto. It's about a four to |
| with events around the fireplace in the village square | | | | five hour drive from Toronto or an hour's drive from |
| and swimming pools with slides and other features to | | | | Ottawa. The mountain there has an almost 800 ft |
| work off any energy left over from skiing and | | | | vertical drop and a 2 km longest run. With three lifts |
| boarding. For adults, there's also an outdoor sports | | | | serving 20 runs and two Terrain Parks, there's plenty |
| rental store that rents snowmobiles and | | | | of capacity to get you quickly back to the summit. |
| All-Terrain-Vehicles for those who aren't totally | | | | For those who prefer their winter fun on the quieter |
| focused on the slopes. | | | | side, a chance for some winter wonderland photos |
| Away from Blue Mountain are other Ontario Ski | | | | maybe, snowshoeing is also available. |
| Resorts such as: | | | | For an hour's skiing, the local ski hill will do. For a |
| Talisman Resort, near Kimberley in the Beaver Valley, | | | | week or a weekend, you need a bigger resort and |
| a UNESCO Heritage site, is about two hours drive | | | | these all fit the bill. |
| north of Toronto off Highway 10 or by taking Hwys | | | | |