5 Family Friendly Winter Activities To Enjoy in Orillia
Winter is almost upon us, but that doesn’t mean you and your family have to hibernate indoors until spring.
Orillia is not only a wonderful place to enjoy and explore during the warmer months, but is lots of fun in winter too!
There are many fun and family friendly Orillia winter activities and events you can participate in during the coldest season. Whether you are a winter warrior who laughs in the face of -20 degree flurries or prefers to enjoy winter in a more leisurely and comfortable way, the Orillia area has something for you.
Here are five great family friendly winter activities in beautiful Orillia and the surrounding area, one of Ontario’s true winter wonderlands.
2020 Ontario Winter Games
A biannual tradition since 1970, the Ontario Winter Games are being held in Orillia from Feb. 27 to March 1 at venues around Orillia. The 2020 edition features 27 sports and over 3,500 athletes. This mini-Olympics has competitors face off in sports like alpine skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey and curling, along with all-season games like badminton, kickboxing and even fencing. The Ontario Winter Games are a major sporting event with something for everybody.
Snowmobiling
Greater Orillia is home to many amazing trails that are a natural fit for a snowmobile ride. You can find information about what you need to ride on the Orillia Snowmobile Club website, while Go Snowmobiling Ontario maps the trails open to riders. You can rent snowmobiles and find some easy trails at Bayview Wildwood Resort and the Horseshoe Resort.
Outdoor Ice Skating
Skating is one of the classic Canadian winter activities, and Orillia makes it easy to lace up the boots and go for a spin. The city maintains several park outdoor rinks, which you can find a list of and current conditions for on this city website, though the rinks don’t open until it’s consistently -10 below. For another option, check out the 1.5 kilometre trail maintained by the Fern Resort, who offer day skating packages.
Snowshoeing
One of the greatest easy-going winter activities is snowshoeing, and Orillia offers a lot of options here. It’s low-impact and you can go at your own pace, making it great for family fun. There is a set of trails at Hardwood Ski and Bike resort that stretches over 11km, with snowshoe rentals available. You can also find public trails that are great for showshoeing mapped on the Ontario Trails website. Happy shoeing!
Skiing and Snow Tubing
Did you know that Orillia features several ski and snow tube hills that will match any skier’s level? The snowfall in Orillia and the surrounding area make for ideal condition for families of all experience to strap on the skis and hit the hills. And you really do have a lot of options for ski resorts, including Snow Valley, Mount St. Louis Moonstone, Horseshoe Resort and Hardwood Ski and Bike. Horseshoe Resort also offers what it calls the longest snow tubing hill in Ontario, making it a great destination for parents with children young and old who love gliding along in a snow tube.
One final thing…
We’re not kidding when we say that Orillia is one of Ontario’s hidden gems -- it’s got so many things to do for families of all ages and across all seasons, that you’ll never miss out on a great experience, whether in the great outdoors or at the numerous cultural events and festivals here.
This is one big reason that Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence is one of Ontario’s -- and Orillia’s -- best retirement homes. The combination of a comfortable living space with chef-cooked meals and all the amenities with the many fun and exciting things to do in the Orillia area is, in our opinion, pretty unbeatable!
If you are curious about learning more about winter activities in Orillia that are fun for those aged 6 or 65, and how the right retirement community can make sure you spend your retirement years with a smile on your face, please feel free to get in touch with us today, and if you want to see our community for yourself please book a complimentary tour. We’re excited to talk to you about Sundial and what makes Orillia great.