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Things to do & Places to stay in Ontario
january 11, 2022 |
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What are YOU going to do this weekend?
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8 Magical Outdoor Skating Rinks in Ontario
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It’s a new year which calls for new experiences! Finding fun outdoor activities and keeping active is a great way to spend the winter season. Ontario is filled with hiking trails, areas for snowshoeing, skiing and more! Wherever you are in the province, there are tons of adventures waiting for you. Looking for a great way to get the whole family together this winter? We have the perfect idea, ice skating. There are tons of unique and exciting places to go ice skating in each region. We’ve put together some of the most magical places to go ice skating around Ontario this winter that you won’t want to miss out on!
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GTA
 The Evergreen Brick Works outdoor skating rink in Toronto weaves through snow-covered gardens under exposed beams from the roof of the old brick factory. In the evening, tons of beautiful lights come on, lighting up this greenery filled space to make your ice skating experience one to remember. Bring your own skates or you can rent a pair of skates for $5 a pair. In Holland Marsh, Spray Lake Ice Skating Trail is a 2 km trail that has twists and turns around Spray Lake. This new ice skating trail has stunning views for a fun outdoor day of ice skating. Grab your skates and book your time slot for the whole family to enjoy ice skating in this stunning area!
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OTTAWA REGION
 RiverOak Skating Trail is a top destination in the Ottawa area for outdoor ice skating. Grab your skates and skate along the twists and turns of the frozen trail through apple orchards, forests and meadows. This 3 km trail boasts beautiful views of the countryside. You can also play hockey, go snowshoeing or hike trails around the orchard. On Friday nights, the ice skating trail is lit up with tiki torches for an extra special skating experience under the starry night sky. We can’t complile a list of the most magical skating rinks without mentioning The Rideau Canal. This rink transforms into the world’s largest outdoor skating rink from January - March. Rideau Canal Skateway winds through downtown Ottawa so you can take in the views of our Nation’s Capital while you skate along the frozen canal. The Skateway is open 24/7 with 7.8 km of ice-skating fun!
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CENTRAL ONTARIO
 Head up to Woodview Mountaintop Skating at Blue Mountain for spectacular views of the Niagara Escarpment while you ice skate along a 1.1 km loop trail. Beautiful during the day, but even more magical at night when the skate trail is lit by tiki torches and thousands of interactive lights. You can access the skating trail via the Scenic Caves road and is open daily from 12pm-8pm so you can skate in the daytime and in the evening. At the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery you can skate on frozen cranberries! This unique outdoor ice skating experience is one you can’t miss. Surrounded by views of 12 acres of cranberry fields in beautiful Muskoka, this 1.2 km loop ice skating trail is just as magical during the day as it is at night. Choose evening ice skating with 400+ tiki torches lit up to make this ice skating experience even more special! Enjoy hot mulled wine or hot cran-apple cider at the winery after you skate!
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SOUTHWESTERN & NORTHERN ONTARIO
 Skate along the 1.3 km skating path of Nina’s Way Skating Path at Kivi Park. This ice skating experience will take you through trails of beautiful birch trees around each twist and turn. Looking for an evening skate? The park lights up the paths at night with LED lights for a unique night time skating experience. If you get cold from all the ice skating, you can warm up by the fire in the outdoor lounge. The park also offers tons of other outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy! Located in Port Elgin, MacGregor Point Provincial Park is known for its abundance of outdoor activities including outdoor hockey, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. But the main attraction is the 400-metre ice trail for ice skating in the park with stunning views surrounding the trail. The park illuminates the trail with tons of lights for skating under the stars until 10:00 pm every night. A perfect spot for the whole family, a group of friends or a date night!
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Featured Events
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January - December 2022
Haliburton Sculpture Forest, Haliburton, Ontario
 Not just your average hiking trail, this 1km trail in Haliburton boasts unique sculptures. This one-of-a-kind trail experience in the Haliburton Sculpture Forest is best explored through one of the parks’ guided tours. The guided tours will teach you about all of the stories around the sculptures that were created by Canadian and International artists, while taking in all the beauty of nature. Covid protocols in place for everyone’s safety. Maximum groups of 9 people and advanced booking is required directly on their website.
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December 26 - February 20, 2022
Mountsberg, Ontarioo
 Winterlit is an outdoor illuminated trail in the wooded trails at Mountsberg Conservation Area. The Winterlit Trail features a unique and stunning lighting experience, art installations and music from local musicians. The Sugarbush trail has beautiful overhead lighting to make your evening walk along the trails even more magical! Winterlit is open for you to enjoy every evening on Wednesday - Sunday. For more information and to get tickets, visit their website.
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Bracebridge, Ontario
January 29th, 2022o
 The Fire & Ice Festival returns to Downtown Bracebridge for a festival with a traditional winter carnival feel. Enjoy the ice skating trail, tube run, interactive ice displays, live music, carnival activities and fireworks at 7pm. There will be fire pits all around downtown to keep you warm while you enjoy the festival! For more information, visit the Downtown Bracebridge website.
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Featured ski resort: Calabogie Peaks Resort
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 The Calabogie Peaks Resort is an all-season resort located in the Ottawa Valley. This unique location gives you the opportunity to experience Dickson Mountain and Calabogie lake all year round. In winter, the Ski Resort is known for their highest vertical drop in Ontario! Come to ski, snowboard, or enjoy one of the many other winter activities – pond skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. If you’re visiting from outside the Ottawa area, the Resort has on-site dining and accommodations including a 25-room hotel and condo suites that you can ski in and out of. For more information on booking your stay, visit their website.
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only in ontario - Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park
 Ontario is filled with natural wonders like Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park. This park has a 1 sq km lake on top of a mountain with sapphire blue waters that is a mystery as to how it was formed. 60 meters above Lake Ontario, this mysterious lake has a constant flow of clean, fresh water with no apparent source. Lake on the Mountain was believed to be the home of many spirits and was the recipient of several gifts and offerings in spring. Early settlers even believed the lake didn’t have a bottom. Located in Prince Edward County, the park also has incredible views of the Bay of Quinte and the north shore.
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Print Edition 2022
 We've started working on the 2022 edition of Summer Fun Guide but if you are looking for a 2021 edition, email info@summerfunguide.ca to have one mailed to you. View a digital version of the print edition online here: https://www.summerfunguide.ca/print-edition.html.
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| NEXT ISSUE, COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS |
Coming In the next issue
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Valentine’s Day Getaways in Ontario
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