Ottawa 
© Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival
5 ideas for a day trip or a weekend getaway for this fourth weekend of January in Ontario: Weekend of Jan 25 to 27.
Whether you want to enjoy skiing and snow tubing, or getaway from the cold, you are sure to find inspiration to plan a spontaneous day trip or weekend getaway.
Snow tube your way through Downtown Bracebridge
Snow tube your way through downtown Bracebridge as the town hosts an epic winter party on Saturday. The festival transforms the hilly downtown of Bracebridge into a massive snow tubing hill.
If you are not interested in sledding down the hill, enjoy performances by talented artists creating spectacular fireshows, and a fireworks show at close. There is also ‘Birds of Prey’ presentations, a road hockey tournament, The Great Canadian Lumberjack Show and the traditional carnival activities.
Make a skiweekend by visiting Ski Snow Valley Resort or Horseshsoe Resort.
Located in the heart of Muskoka region, 2 hours north of Toronto and 1 1/2 hours from North Bay, Bracebridge makes for an excellent day trip. Incase you want to extend your stay, there are a number of options within Bracebridge like Inn at the Falls and Patterson Kaye Resort.
Treat the Winter Enthusiast in You at Township of Laurentian Valley
© Township of Laurentian Valley
Visit this little town in Ottawa Valley to nurture the outdoor enthusiast in you!
Just 2 hours from downtown Ottawa, Laurentian Valley boasts of a 1.5 km skating trailthrough a scenic wooded area that is open daily from 10am – 4pm weather permitting.
Located at 2 Henan Road in Laurentian Valley, the trail is free to use but donations are appreciated, donation box is located at the beginning of the trail. If you do not skate or want to, you can also snowshoe alongside the skating trail!
The fact that the trail is located next to Timberline snowmobile club should come as no surprise. The area offers trails that uncovers Ottawa Valley’s pristine vistas. So if zipping through snowy landscapes is your idea of fun, then contact the club for trail details.
Interested in cross-country skiing? Forest Lea ski trails maintained by Pembroke and Area Cross Country Ski Club provide the perfect setting! You can also go snowshoeing, fatbike/winter biking here. This crown land is located between Pembroke and Petawawa at the end of Forest Lea Road.
A Winter Weekend Trip to KW Region
© Winterloo
Visit Waterloo to enjoy the winter festival, aptly called Winterloo.There will be ice sculptures, skating at the public square, horse drawn carriage rides, scavenger hunts, dog sled rides and sliding down the giant ice slide are all part of the fun that awaits the entire family.
If you want more excitement, enjoy 900ft of nightsnow tubing at Chicopee Tube Park in Kitchener. The park is open until Midnight on Saturday’s from Jan 12-Feb 23.
© Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Want to get away from the cold? Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory makes for an exciting indoor destination for the whole family. The conservatory is currently holding “The Flight of White” exhibit, that has transformed the tropical butterfly conservatory into a magical oasis featuring 1000’s of Rice Paper butterflies flying freely through the Conservatory.
All the above locations are within 30 minutes of each other, making for a fantastic weekend or day trip with the whole family from the Golden Horse Region of Ontario.
Pinery Provincial Park
© Pinery Provincial Park
Pinery Provincial Park is in most case allied with summer. However, the park is operational throughout the year and offers amazing getaways during winter.
Equipped with over 38km of cross-country skiing, the park is among the best skiing ground across southwestern Ontario. There are also opportunities for tobogganing, and ice skating too.
The park also has a heated chalet to warm you up.
Cross-country skis and snowshoe equipment rentals are available at the Rentals Building on Saturdays, Sundays, and March Break, from 9:30am-3pm provided there is sufficient snow. Call the park at 519-243-2220.
If you are planning a winter weekend getaway there are also 12 yurts, a camp cabin and 2 soft-sided shelters; which you can book online.
A Food, Drink and Culture Weekend in Toronto
© Toronto Light Festival
There is always something going on in Canada’s biggest city, Toronto but this January weekendis extra special.
- Toronto’s winter culinary celebration kicks off this weekend and provides the perfect opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 220 restaurants and experience unique culinary events.
- Hoist a pint or two with the Craft Brewers of Ontario while the snowflakes are falling at the The Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival.
- Enjoy Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Star Wars: A New Hope – In Concert.
- Go on a visual journey and cerebral adventure, designed to entertain and inspire at Toronto Light Festival.
- This is also the last weekend of DesignTO— explore immersive installations, fantastic exhibitions, engaging talks.
