When you think of a cottage vacation, what comes to mind? With all the great things to do in Ontario, the list is endless. While summer offers amazing things to do like kayaking on a peaceful lake, hiking in the green trees, taking a dip in the lake, and a delicious picnic under a warm, golden sun, winter getaways can be just as magical.
Winter Activities in Ontario
What about winter activities in Ontario? They also provide the perfect opportunity for excitement and fun with the whole family.
Ontario cottage rentals aren’t just for warm seasons. In fact, for real adventurers and family fun enthusiasts, an Ontario Cottage winter is when it’s all just getting started and the opportunities really open up! A cabin or cottage can get you close to cross-country skiing, snow tubing, winter hikes, and so much more.
Skating Trails in Ontario
If you’re starting to get the wintertime travel bug, let’s take a closer look at one of the many amazing activities for winter in Ontario: skating! Read on to find out more about the best skating trails in Ontario. Then, pack your helmet, skates, and scarf, book your rental, and get gliding!
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery Ice Trail
Let’s start with one of the most unique trails near our Muskoka cottage rentals, the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery Ice Trail. Open from late December through March; this 1.2 km loop is nestled neatly between 12 acres of forest and cranberry beds. While you’re there, take a guided farm tour or enjoy some fireside wine and cheese. Then, treat yourself to a mug of hot cran-apple cider. And, if you want more fun on the farm, you can also take a snowshoe trail. The skating loop is open all week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a torchlight skating experience on Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Rentals and sharpening are available.
Arrowhead Provincial Park Ice Trail
Arrowhead Provincial Park Ice Trail is one of Ontario’s (and Muskoka’s!) most popular winter destinations, boasting 54km of skiing trails and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. But skating is also on the menu! The 1.3km skating trail was named a Top 50 Winter Experience and one of the 19 most stunning skating rinks worldwide. The trail opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. depending on the month. Admission to the Park is $17 per vehicle Monday to Friday and $20 on weekends and holidays. If you want to rent skates, it’s $10. Be sure to check with the Park for seasonal opening and closing information, as well as hours and details about the popular Fire & Ice nights. Weekends are peak times, so be sure to plan ahead!
The Memorial Park Winter Village
Since January 2016, The Memorial Park Winter Village in downtown Bracebridge has been a popular public attraction. This unique skating experience boasts a rink that meanders around a park and takes adventurers past local landmarks. Full of charm and graced by twinkling lights, there’s no better way to spend a chilly Muskoka evening. It’s the perfect way to have a romantic downtown date or an afternoon of family fun. After the skates are off, take in one of the many local shops or warm up with some hot chocolate and cookies or a meal at one of the many restaurant destinations. It is the complete package for a Muskoka winter adventure. The Winter Village is open daily from sunrise to 9 p.m.
Hanna Park Skating Trail
Hanna Park Skating Trail is located in Port Carling, and is the place to skate if you want great views of the Indian River. The 200m trail is banked by a walking trail just in case you or someone in your party prefers to have their feet flat on the ground. It’s a great way to send the kids off for a glide while you stroll alongside at a slower, easier pace. Contact the skating trail directly for information on times and seasonal hours.
The South Georgian Bay Area
The South Georgian Bay area has many skating destinations to choose from, and something for everyone. Whether you prefer the bracing chill of an outdoor rink, the adventure of a skate trail, or an indoor rink where you can skate and sit, it’s here. A short list to check out includes Collingwood Central Park Arena (featuring adult and parent-tot skating), Woodview Mountaintop Skating Loop, Clearview Outdoor Rinks, and Oakview Woods Outdoor Complex at Wasaga Beach. Call ahead to your rink of choice for times and dates, as well as equipment availability. If you’re a skating enthusiast who wants to explore all that Georgian Bay cottage rentals have to offer, then this vacation choice is perfect for you!
Bobby Orr Community Center
If you decide on a winter geIf you decide on a winter getaway to one of our Parry Sound rentals, you’ll find a lot of opportunities to satisfy your skating craving. Public skating can be found at the Bobby Orr Community Center (BOCC). BOCC features a 185’ x 85’ ice pad with eight fully accessible changing rooms. Adult skate is also available for a cost of around two dollars. Contact BOCC for more times, cost, and other details.
Humphrey Arena
Humphrey Arena is another good choice for skating. The arena features recreational and instructional skating. The site features accessible changing rooms.
Kinsmen Park Rink
Kinsmen Park Rink is the place in Parry Sound for those who want to skate outside. This covered outdoor rink features lights at night! Washrooms and changing rooms are also available.
Rideau Canal Skateway
The Rideau Canal Skateway is a fantastic choice for skating. The skateway is free to access and always open. They offer rest areas with washrooms, seating, and food and drinks.
Ontario Speed Skating Oval
If your winter vacation plans take you near Lakefield, then the Ontario Speed Skating Oval is a great place to check out. This 400m outdoor track is where recreational skaters and speed skaters can come together to share the ice and enjoy the outdoors. If you want to take your adventure to the next level and experience a true rush, rent a pair of speed skates, and see what the thrill is all about! You’ll definitely experience the ice in a whole new way. Speed skate rentals are available from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays. If you want to take a slower paced adventure, try driving a Zamboni! That’s right – for one day in February, the chance could be yours, so make your plans early and contact the Speed Skating Oval for details. You’ll never see smooth ice the same way again. Also, ask when the annual candlelight skate is taking place, and join hundreds of other people who want to light up the night. Public skating times may vary, so check for details.
Plan your visit
Ready to plan your Ontario vacation? No matter what time of year you love, you’ll enjoy all of these skating spots in the upcoming colder months. Contact us today to book your winter wonderland vacation today!
Cabin Rental Ontario
Reach out to CottageLINK Rental Management and get excited for a winter to remember! We know what it takes to make the perfect Ontario winter getaway, and we have a large selection of Ontario cottage rentals to suit your travel needs. We can get you close to all the outdoor activities you love, no matter what time of year you’re planning a vacation. And if winter is your thing, we’re the experts. Whether it’s skating with hot cider, snow tubing with the family, or cross-country skiing through the pines, winter is the time. Let CottageLINK Rental Management show you the way.
