One of the great Canadian pastimes, perhaps only second to fur trading and dog sled racing, is skiing. More specifically (and arguably more popularly), snowboarding. And if you’re stuck in the office this hump day, planning for your future self to have a little fun, Blue Mountain can be your escape. If you’re eager for the first snowfall and have a few days off during the holidays, why not take a trip to Blue Mountain to get your wintery fill, and get some good exercise and shopping in while you’re at it.
Short of flying to BC to scale Whistler or driving eight hours to hit up the Mont-Tremblant slopes, the biggest, best and most popular hills around are definitely Collingwood’s Blue Mountain.
For those who are partial to skiing, Blue Mountain features over 30 runs and 15 lifts. From bunny hill to black diamond, there are tons of hills with varying difficulties to choose from.
For those who are more inclined to strap on some boots, Blue Mountain has a Superpipe with some of the best rails on the east coast. They also have a popular Terrain Park that encourages both progressive learners and advanced boarders with lots of free space to freestyle to their hearts content.
Finally, for those who are compelled to precisely zero winter sports is The Village. The Village is host to some of the best retail shopping, restaurants and nightlife around. Tucked right into the base of the hill are over 25 shops, bars and eateries to enjoy the season in a different way. With fire pits, buskers, horse-drawn carriage rides, concerts and various winter events all on a backdrop of the mountain’s resort, The Village looks similar to nothing short of a holiday card.
On their website, you can get up to date snow conditions, number of open trails, special retail offers, event listings and book your accommodations.
Happy trails!
Images courtesy David Lienhard and Bluemountain.ca