It's Winter in Muskoka!

Snow-making at Hidden
Valley Highlands Ski Area 

Winter arrived in Muskoka last week and you know what that means, don’t you? Ski season is right around the corner. Snow making is in full swing at our local slopes and it won’t be long before both downhill and cross-country trails are open.

The Muskoka landscape offers the perfect mix of terrain for skiing: gently rolling hills with the occasional heart-stopping drop for family-friendly and thrill-seeking alpine skiing alike; secluded forests for tranquil cross-country skiing tracks (and snowshoeing too!).

Here’s where you can get your ski on near Colonial Bay:

• Arrowhead Provincial Park has 29 km of groomed, track-set, cross-country ski trails and 12km of skate skiing trails for beginner to expert skiers. Both classic and skate skis can be rented from the Park Pro Shop. Glide silently through the trees and then warm up next to the bonfire before exploring another trail.
• Our local alpine ski area, Hidden Valley Highlands, has surprisingly varied terrain given its size. With twelve runs ranked from easy (green) to most difficult (black diamond) and a terrain park, there’s something for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. For first-timers and those who want to improve their skills, the Snow School offers both beginner group lessons or one-on-one private instruction.

Weather permitting, both Hidden Valley and Arrowhead will have terrain open through the holidays this year.

Torchlight Parade, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area

If you’re planning to be in Muskoka for the holidays this year, Hidden Valley has two celebrations: the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and New Year’s Eve family-friendly fireworks. Check out their events page for info.

Other local holiday events include:

• November 30 – Huntsville Santa Claus Parade – The parade starts at 6:00 p.m. on Main Street in Huntsville
• December 22 – A Portage Flyer Christmas at Muskoka Heritage Place - Ride the Portage Flyer to visit Santa from 5-8pm
• December 22, 23, 28, 29 – SantaFest at Santa’s Village from 11-4 each day - Admission includes horse-drawn sleigh rides, gingerbread cookie decorating, craft making, colouring & letter writing, petting farm, marshmallow roasting, story time and visits with Santa

We hope to see you this holiday season! You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (Don’t forget to check out our winter special from December 21-January 7!)

Warm wishes,

The Howell Family

Muskoka: the best place in the world

Muskoka is among the world’s best vacation destinations according to National Geographic Traveler magazine. Our beautiful region was awarded top spot as a summer destination for 2011 and was named one of 20 Best of the World destinations for 2012. (We would argue it’s THE best, but we’re biased.)

Here’s what the magazine had to say:

“Just two hours by car—but a world away—from powerhouse Toronto beats the heart of Ontario’s cottage country, Muskoka. Families have gathered here for generations to revel in true wilderness. The 2,500-square-mile area includes 8,699 miles of shoreline, 17 historic towns and villages, and innumerable waterfalls and lakes framed by the peaks of Algonquin Provincial Park to the east and the isles of Georgian Bay Islands National Park to the west.

There’s plenty to do here but nothing you’d put on an agenda. Lounge with friends, barbecue everything, watch the night sky from the dock in the pitch black, play board games while listening to the rain. And run around barefoot all day.”

All of which you can do at Colonial Bay, by the way!

While it ranks 9^th on the 2012 list, Muskoka is forever #1 in our hearts. We hope you agree.

We are busy preparing for winter and what may be one of the best ski seasons in recent years (if snow forecasts are correct). If you’ve never visited Muskoka in the winter, this might just be the perfect year to do it. You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (Don’t forget to check out our winter special from December 21-January 7!)

Until we see you again,

The Howell Family