As falls leaves us and we head into winter it doesn’t mean that we need to hibernate indoors for the next four months There are lots of activities around the City of Toronto (both inside and out) that can keep any family busy during the dog days of winter.
Learning how to ski doesnt necessarily mean driving two to three hours north of the city. There are two great learning facilities right before our eyes in the GTA that are often underutilized, but are still great first steps before heading to the larger hills of Collingwood and beyond.
In addition, to being a great outdoor park in the summer, lets not overlook that Earl Bales Park in the winter becomes a great learning center for beginner skiers and snowboarders alike. Easily accessible off of Bathurst St., with plenty of parking, this City of Toronto run facility offers ski, snowboard and helmet rentals along with available lessons and ski schools taught by certified instructors. Just because the days are short doesnt mean you have to pack it in before 4:30pm; Earl Bales also offers great night skiing and snowboarding opportunities being open until 9:30pm Monday thru Friday, 8:00pm on Saturdays and 6:00pm on Sundays.
For those of you in Thornhill, Vaughn or the 905, Uplands Ski Centre, just off of Yonge Street two lights South of the 407 ETR provides similar facilities and night skiing opportunities as Earl Bales.
A personal favourite of mine growing up was always tobogganing which, for my wife, is a foreign word as being from sunny Florida they only know it as sledding. Whatever you call it and no matter the age this outdoor activity is great for kids of any age including my one year old daughter. Some of my personal favourite hills in the area are located in Cedarville Park. With varying grades of incline there are lots of degrees of thrills for toddlers, children and adults alike Just make sure that youre wearing a helmet as every year there are lots of accidents plastered across the news!
If being outdoors isnt your thing there are many indoor activities and outings available that will sure to liven up your winter. The Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre, The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and my personal favourite just North of the city, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection featuring work by Thompson and the Group of Seven all have outstanding indoor interactive activities throughout the winter in addition to the regular exhibits that are constantly on display. All of the above have great websites that go into further detail on various programs and activities being offered on a daily basis so take an afternoon or weekend and be a tourist in your own city!
For further information on any of the above activities please use the links below:
Outdoor Ski and Snowboard Fun:
www.toronto.ca/parks/skiing/index.htm
www.uplandsgolfandski.com/skihome2010.html
Outdoor Tobogganing Fun:
Cedarvill Park
Christie Pits
Earl Bales Park
Trinity-Bellwoods Park
Indoor Fun:
www.torontozoo.com
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
www.ago.net
www.rom.on.ca
www.mcmichael.com
As falls leaves us and we head into winter it doesnt mean that we need to hibernate indoors for the next four months There are lots of activities around the City of Toronto (both inside and out) that can keep any family busy during the dog days of winter.
Learning how to ski doesnt necessarily mean driving two to three hours north of the city. There are two great learning facilities right before our eyes in the GTA that are often underutilized, but are still great first steps before heading to the larger hills of Collingwood and beyond.
In addition to being a great outdoor park in the summer, lets not overlook that Earl Bales Park in the winter becomes a great learning center for beginner skiers and snowboarders alike. Easily accessible off of Bathurst St., with plenty of parking, this City of Toronto run facility offers ski, snowboard and helmet rentals along with available lessons and ski schools taught by certified instructors. Just because the days are short doesnt mean you have to pack it in before 4:30pm; Earl Bales also offers great night skiing and snowboarding opportunities being open until 9:30pm Monday thru Friday, 8:00pm on Saturdays and 6:00pm on Sundays.
For those of you in Thornhill, Vaughn or the 905, Uplands Ski Centre, just off of Yonge Street two lights South of the 407 ETR provides similar facilities and night skiing opportunities as Earl Bales.
A personal favourite of mine growing up was always tobogganing which, for my wife, is a foreign word as being from sunny Florida they only know it as sledding. Whatever you call it and no matter the age this outdoor activity is great for kids of any age including my one year old daughter. Some of my personal favourite hills in the area are located in Cedarville Park. With varying grades of incline there are lots of degrees of thrills for toddlers, children and adults alike Just make sure that youre wearing a helmet as every year there are lots of accidents plastered across the news!
If being outdoors isnt your thing there are many indoor activities and outings available that will sure to liven up your winter. The Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre, The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and my personal favourite just North of the city, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection featuring work by Thompson and the Group of Seven all have outstanding indoor interactive activities throughout the winter in addition to the regular exhibits that are constantly on display. All of the above have great websites that go into further detail on various programs and activities being offered on a daily basis so take an afternoon or weekend and be a tourist in your own city!
For further information on any of the above activities please use the links below:
Outdoor Ski and Snowboard Fun:
www.toronto.ca/parks/skiing/index.htm
www.uplandsgolfandski.com/skihome2010.html
Outdoor Tobogganing Fun:
Cedarville Park
Christie Pits
Earl Bales Park
Trinity-Bellwoods Park
Indoor Fun:
www.torontozoo.com
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
www.ago.net
