Winter is for Kids – Cold Weather Fun for All the Family
Kids can never get enough of the snow so if you are looking for unique ideas to keep your little ones engaged, look no further. Plan your visit around these all-ages outdoor activities and events across the The Great Canadian Wilderness region of Ontario, and make this winter one of fun for the whole family. Check out all there is to do:
Outdoor Skating
Outdoor rinks are everywhere you turn in the region, from Madawaska to Parry Sound and Algonquin Park to Port Carling and many at area accommodations. The combination of fresh air and hours of gliding will have everyone in the family rosy-cheeked and sleeping soundly.
Skating at Night
Arrowhead Provincial Park lights up the night with tiki torches lining its popular Ice Trail on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the winter season. If skating isn’t your thing, glide by the trail on the adjacent cross-country ski track. During daylight hours the family will also enjoy snowshoeing, skating on the pond and longer cross-country ski loops. Enjoy an après-ice-trail lunch or dinner at a great local place to eat.
Downhill Skiing or Snowboarding
The hill where Olympic champ Dara Howell honed her skills is perfect for kids wanting to try downhill skiing and boarding. Head to The Muskoka Ski Club at Hidden Valley in Huntsville, Muskoka for day and night time passes. And don’t forget – the snow might melt early further south in Ontario, but during March break it’s still winter in Ontario’s Cottage Country, when you can sign your kids up for camps or just hit the slopes as a family.
Snowshoeing
Trails are in abundance across the region. Click here for a great list of trails and where to rent equipment.
Dogsledding
If you want to experience the excitement of dog sleds in action, head to the Kearney Dog Sled Races February 8-9, 2025, or the 40th Annual Seguin Dog Sled Mail Run from Humphrey to Rosseau on February 22, 2025. Try dog sledding for yourself at one of many dog-sledding operators in our area.
Go Wild
Algonquin Park’s annual Winter in the Wild festival on Saturday, February 15, 2025 offers cool activities like snowshoeing, skating, winter camping demonstrations, guided bird walks and cross-country skiing. You can also visit the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Rosseau for guided tours.
Head Inside
Hockey lovers should check out the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in Parry Sound. Or hit up a good ol’ hockey game with Junior C teams the Huntsville Otters or Muskoka Bears in Bracebridge.
The Kidzone at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre is a dynamic space that focuses on the S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning principles. The Kidzone creates a space for hands-on activities and programming. If the young ones need a bit more physical activity, check out Climb Muskoka in Bracebridge, a 6,400 sq. ft indoor rock climbing facility.
Winter Carnival Fun
Most communities in our area host winter carnivals. Check out the Bracebridge Fire & Ice Festival on January 25 where the main street is turned into a tubing hill, the Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival February 14-15 or the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival February on the Family Day Weekend February 14-17. For a complete list of all the fun-filled events happening this winter, click here.
Bird Watching
Chickadees and Gray Jays are famously friendly residents of the region – especially in Algonquin Park along the trails and at the Visitor Centre. Stash some bird seed in your pocket when you go snowshoeing. If you’re patient, you’ll have them eating out of your hand in no time.
Fat Biking
One of winter’s more recent crazes, fat biking involves riding with oversized tires on firm or groomed snow. These tires (with aggressive-looking treads), some up to five inches wide, make it feel like the bike is floating on the surface, while in reality they greatly increase traction for the winter terrain.
CLICK HERE for more info. Accommodations providers may also have fat bikes available for use; be sure to inquire when you call to book.
If you want to ride on trails managed by volunteers, such as the Bracebridge Resource Management Centre or Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre in McDougall, be sure to check the condition of the trails before heading out and ask about pass requirements.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is as fun in the winter as it is in the summer and anyone from 2 to 92 can do it. If parents don’t have an Ontario fishing license (kids under the age of 18 do not need one), then the whole family can try this excellent outdoors activity during Family Fishing Weekend February 15-17, when no licenses are required.
Visit a Sugar Bush
In March and April, many local sugar bush operators welcome visitors to see how they turn sticky maple sap into Canada’s favourite nectar (and taste it for yourself). Visit Hubert’s Maple Syrup in Sundridge, Utterson Valley Blueberry Farm, or Sugarbush Hill in Huntsville for a tour, just to name a couple. And watch for the annual Muskoka Maple Festival in Downtown Huntsville on April 26.
Finally – be sure to make s’mores this winter too! Build a campfire at a designated spot, break out the marshmallows and create some ooey-gooey goodness to serve with some piping, hot chocolate. It’s the perfect way to cap off another day of outdoor fun with the kids in the Great Canadian Wilderness just north of Toronto.
To plan your family’s stay in the Great Canadian Wilderness region of Ontario this winter, click here.
WINTER TURNS UP THE FUN!