Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA means opportunities to connect with loved ones through shared adventures as well as quiet moments. These days, multi-generational travellers are looking for spots to fi nd their groove, and Ontario resorts are the perfect starting point. Activities structured to keep kids engaged give parents and grandparents a chance to grab some downtime to relax and recharge. Come evening, families enthusiastically share the day's encounters. After dark, bonfi res crackle and blankets are spread out, inviting people to lie back and watch the shooting stars. Spread across the province, the eight properties of Great Blue Resorts are a cost- effective ownership model helping vacationers experience cottage lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of traditional vacation property ownership. Each of the properties offers a daily Kidz Klub, a family-friendly commu- nity atmosphere and entertainment geared for all ages ( www.greatblueresorts.com ). Happy is the family that can keep kids active and give adults a little time to laze in a lakeside chair. At the end of the day, there is precious time for family members to reconnect and share information on each other's daily activities. Fern Resort, a short drive from Toronto, outside Orillia, is known for its extensive year-round pro- gramming to keep kids (and adults) on the go and energized. In the summer months, the resort offers swimming, water sports, mini-putt, trampolines, a climbing wall, and a well-equipped games room. In winter, there's Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, broomball, snowmobiling, dogsledding, horse-drawn hay rides and, new this year, a 1.5-km skating trail ( www.fernresort.com ). Family-friendly Beachwood Resort is the perfect setting for multi-generational holiday escapes, with private lakeside cottages that sleep 12. The summer child- ren's program, during July and August, keeps kids busy so the adults can grab some quiet time. Kids love the water trampoline, water playground, swings, climber and the weekly Muskoka Wildlife Centre Presentation. Parents and kids can enjoy water play on paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, tubing and water skis ( www.beachwoodresort.com ). FIND WATER ADVENTURES CLOSE BY Many of Ontario's resort properties sit on the shorelines of the province's shining lakes. Stunning properties plus summertime weather is an equation for beaches, water play and fun in the sun. Boaters and fi shermen will fi nd everything from quiet coves, islands for picnicking and wide open stretches for the outboard to let loose. Resorts with lakeside locations, or set in traditional cottage country, often include a variety of watercraft on-site for guests to use. Getting out on, or in, the water is a guaranteed way to relax, connect with family and recharge internal batteries. The Sportsman's Inn near Killarney Provincial Park welcomes guests arriving by land, water or air—yes, fl oat planes are welcome—to a heritage inn paired with extensive marina facilities. Visitors can take a canoe or kayak outing to explore the beautiful north shore of Georgian Bay ( www.sportsmansinn.ca ). The family-owned Shamrock Lodge on the banks of Lake Rosseau offers the perfect mix of a peaceful Muskoka setting with a kid-friendly sandy beach, waterski- ing, tubing, a water trampoline and some of Ontario's fi nest boating with canoes, kayaks and paddleboats ( www.shamrocklodge. com ). The fall is the perfect time to get out on the water with one of the fi shing packages offered at Pine Vista Resort in the Kawarthas. Stoney Lake has a healthy supply of muskie, bass and pickerel as well as smaller pan fi sh. At day's end there is another type of water to explore—in the resort's hot tub under the stars ( www. pinevista.com ). SNOW BOUND Sometimes a resort vacation is best served cold. Outdoor enthusiasts fl ock to Ontario resorts for tubing, skiing, snowshoeing, ice fi shing or to just curl up by a roaring fi re with a good book. A slice of Ontario's winter paradise can range from a cabin in a wilderness setting to full-service resorts at the base of the ski slopes with a menu of spa and après-ski choices. With a season stretching from December to March, there's plenty of time to take it all in. Snowmobilers will fi nd more than 30,000 km (18,641 mi.) of intercon- nected, groomed trails, creating one of the world's longest recreational trail networks. Skiers can fi nd enjoyment at alpine and cross-country areas across the province— and many resorts have their own well- maintained cross-country ski and winter hiking trails right outside their front door. Enjoy the cottage fi replaces at Bondi Village Resort. The Muskoka resort is open year-round but, in winter, maintains 20 km of cross-country and snowshoeing trails ( www.bondi-cottage-resort.com ). With a package at The Briars Resort on Lake Simcoe, winter activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, broomball, yoga classes and guided outdoor activities like country walks, Nordic skiing and historical tours (www.briars.ca ). For more information contact: www.resortsofontario.com aLGonQUin ProVinCiaL ParK • CtC