Winter Activities 2020
With the Winter season one can find
it difficult to get outside with the cold and shorter days. In this blog I will
be going through some activities you can do in southern Ontario & Quebec
that will bring some holiday cheer & help you be active in a time of year
that seems will never end.
Kitchener – Waterloo: St. Jacobs Sparkles
1 Hour from Toronto
The
picturesque town of St. Jacobs is known for its farmers’ market that draw many
crowds and opens their doors in mid-November that brings holiday cheer to the
town. St. Jacobs Sparkles is an annual 4-day event that has shopkeepers
inviting customers with promotions and a pleasant holiday ambiance. Get a tour
of the town with a free horse-drawn shuttle that takes you around the quaint
village.
Listen to the voices of Victoria Carollers that make their way through
the town. At the St. James Lutheran Church @ 6PM there is the kick-off of the
event & lighting of the tree at St. James Lutheran Church. Roast a marshmallow
by a fire provided by the local fire department and pick up a hot chocolate or
cider as you make your way to the many shops. This is a great event to welcome
the season & start your holiday shopping.
Toronto Christmas Market
Following
after European traditions, there are many Christmas markets in southern Ontario
that offer many original cuisines and great shopping. The most well-known
Christmas market is in downtown Toronto at the historic distillery district. A
maze of shops lines the many streets where you can get an escape from the
chilly weather. There are live musical performances and booths with many
European foods. Above the crowds is a countdown to Christmas Day.
Pretzel Bun,
Chicken “Schnitzel”, & Sauerkraut
Muskoka (Huntsville)
2 Hours from Toronto
From January – March, Arrowhead
Provincial Park is a great destination with many cross-country ski trails,
snowshoeing, hiking and the famous 1.3 km skating trail. Warm up by a fire
while you tie your skates and have an adventure with the family. In the past
few years, a brand-new visitor center has been built providing a great facility
for groups and where you can get skate and ski rentals. This has been my 3rd
year visiting this park, I highly recommend it.
Note: Weekends and Family Day can be
busy at the park
Long Distance: Skating Montreal &
Ottawa
4-5 Hours from Toronto
If you are
one for a road trip in the winter, Montreal offers a nice experience during
this time of year especially in the old city. Feel free to check out my
itinerary to Montreal in my previous blogs. With many decorations and lights in
the old city the ambiance makes for a perfect winter getaway. Montreal provides
many opportunities & festivals during the winter to connect people during
this season. Festivals such as Montreal
en Lumiere, which takes place in late February at the contemporary art museum
brings life to the darker evenings. Other events include Igloofest &
Ottawa’s famous Winterlude which take place in February. The La Grande Roue de
Montreal, located in the old port is a ferris wheel that provides a great view
of the city. In the evening this place transforms to a magical skating rink
with the entire ferris wheel lit up. In Ottawa, the Rideau Canal attracts many
visitors to the nations capital which boasts the worlds largest skating rink. The
Sens Rink of Dreams is an alternative location for skating in Ottawa located at
City Hall.
La Grande
Roue de Montreal
Old City,
Montreal
Skating @ Sens Rink of Dreams – City Hall, Ottawa
Get out
there and explore your country!
Elijah
Reinhardt
