Get your winter play on! Looking for an active and family-friendly getaway this winter season? Just an hour away from Toronto, it’s not too late to try some outdoor activities together, dust off your skis if you haven’t been out on the slopes, or to try out a new ski hill.

Our family hit the slopes at Horseshoe Resort (Barrie, Ontario) a few weeks back, and boy did we got our sweat on. While we’re not a family of seasoned skiers, we are active ones with the confidence to give it a go. If skiing is not your cup of tea, they offer other actives such as snowboarding, snowshoeing, snow tubing, fat biking, skating, or cross country skiing. Spending the weekend gave us plenty of time to explore and literally, our weekend was eating, ski, sleep and repeat.

EAT

Plenty of options at the resort and having them within walking distance is a win-win. We opted for the breakfast buffet to give us the fuel we needed to get through a day of skiing. Breakfast staples like pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, juices, toast along with a selection of fruit and cereals. Nothing too fancy, but definitely filled our bellies. For those wanting breakfast on the go or a light bite to eat, there is the Alpine Cafeteria or the Shoe Brew (note: take your coffee to go and enjoy it outside by the fire. Apres-ski, I recommend the Crazy Horse Sports Bar & Grill. Chill atmosphere making us feel right at home.

I also cooked a meal during our stay. Our condo came with a fully equipped kitchen and I was able to whip up a great pasta dish. Cooking requires work, which I am not a fan of especially if it’s a weekend getaway, but having options to eat in or out, during a weekend stay it was worth cooking.

SKI

At the equipment rentals spot, we spoke to their staff and asked for their recommendation .. ski vs. snowboarding for our boys. Super friendly and informative, they convinced us to ski because it was easier for kids to get the hang of and gain control. Can I just say skiing is a lot of work? There is this before, during, and after commitment that’s required with the sport. Putting on ski boots and skis is a workout in itself. Then round 2 comes into play by working with the kids to put their boots and skis on.

Once we were out on the slopes, everyone got a little pep in their step We spent most of our time on the bunny hill, practicing and gaining confidence.

We also burned off our dinner by going snow tubing. So close to our condo it was sooo amazing. We got there an hour before closing and there was no lineup. If we were so dedicated to skiing that weekend, I wish we had more time to try out the other activities.

Tips:

If you’re getting a weekend pass or passes for a period of time, I would recommend getting your skis immediately to take back to your room. We showed up 15 minutes before closing. No lines, quick service and saved us time from getting up early to get there before the crowds.
Get your tickets early and buy online via link because standing in line is not fun especially if you’re wearing your winter suit.
If you’re looking to book yourself and/or family for private lessons, I’d recommend booking as soon as you can. They fill up quick.
Always bring/wear your goggles. We went snowtubing in the evening going down the hill, snow was slapping me in the face!

SLEEP

We spent the weekend in the newly renovated Slopeside Condos staying in a two-bedroom suite with a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and a gas fireplace. If you aren’t an outdoor enthusiast, you can still be part of the vibe and people watch from the balcony. They have two other buildings with similar accommodations and while we didn’t experience a stay there, I had several people reach out and say that the condo is the best and the most convenient location-wise for a family. So, I’ve hooked up the link to our suite.

Tips:

There is a washer/dryer in the condo. Perfect to dry off the kids mittens, socks and toques.
There is only one bellman cart and we had a lot of bags. If you can wait it out for the cart in the lobby, by all means go for it. We made several trips back and forth.
There are two other buildings that provide accommodations. One is pet friendly, and the other has an arcade and indoor pool. Click the link for details.

Hoping to make ski weekends a yearly tradition with the family. But until then, I’m counting down the days until our visit this summer

Sunshine Lily