Winter Carnivals North of Toronto

Winter in Ontario embraces sports, culture, recreation and outdoor fun with Canadian tradition deeply rooted in our heritage. The Canadian spirit is always present at one of the many winter carnivals, snow fests, winterfests, snow festivals or ice festivals north of Toronto.

Winter Carnivals in Ontario

Winter in Ontario carnival fun includes skating, dog sledding, ice carvings, outdoor ice slides, ice mazes, snow tubing, toboggan rides, wood splitting, wood burning fires, axe throwing, lumberjack antics, snow tubing, hot chocolate, hot cider, face painting, clowns, and smash-up car derbies.

Cottage Country Contest

Vacations in Ontario’s Cottage Country are  a tradition for many Canadian and international visitors & residents. Check the many cottage options available and enter the cottage contest where you may win a weeks vacation in Ontario Canada. Enter the Cottage Contest

Valentines North For Couples

February is Valentines month….the month for romance and love north of Toronto. Romantic getaways for those special winter weekends away in anticipation of Valentine’s Day in February. More than 30 romantic getaways are available at ‘February for Lovers’ north, north east and North West of Toronto.

A sample of packages and prices at member accommodation properties are available for the budget cottage couples or for those who want to splurge on this special time of the year.

Romantic Tips on Romancing the Snow.

Winter Carnivals Ontario

Skating during Frost Festival

North of Toronto Ontario……..Winter snow and ice have determined Canadians ability to survive and have fun at the same time. This characteristic is always on display at one of the many winter festivals or sporting events taking place across Ontario each winter starting in late January. It does not matter what you call the festival or event there is always a hint about the natural elements. The many names could reflect a specific sport such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowcross, Nordic, alpine, sledding or on the carnival side the symbol of winter can be described as Frost Fest, Cabin Fever Festival, Winterlude, Ice Festival, Festival of Ice, and Frosty Frolics. All are intended to attract visitors to enjoy an Ontario outdoor winter experience. The winter season is best experienced where the snow is fresh, the lakes are frozen.  Winter enthusiasts can view and extensive list of winter carnivals at http://www.400eleven.com/wintercarnivals.html or view

A sample of upcoming winter events and carnivals below

Petawawa Cabin Fever Festival
Petawawa Ontario
January 15 –30, 2010
Trivia nights, seniors’ events, snow drag races, winter smash-up derby and children’s’ programs.
Website www.cabinfeverpetawawa.ca

Port Sydney (Muskoka) Winter Carnival
Port Sydney
January 27- 31, 2010
Includes comedy by Yuk Yuk’s, a spaghetti dinner, bangers and mash dinner, family skate, bonfire and hot chocolate, pancake breakfast, fishing derby, outdoor & indoor events and kids corner!
Website www.portsydneycofc.com/events.htm

Tim Horton’s Georgian Cup
Owen Sound
January 30-31, 2010
the ultimate snowmobiling race highlights this Snowcross weekend. Don’t miss the big race or the freestyle challenge.
Website http://www.snowcross.com

Haliburton Frost Festival
Haliburton Village, February 13, 2010
Celebrate winter in the Haliburton Highlands for a day packed fun filled family experience February 13, 2010 including, Pancake Breakfast, Art Attack, Beaver Tails, Ice Slide, Snowshoe Races, Public Skating Kids’ Dogsled Rides, Kids’ Pony Rides, Snowmobile Scavenger Hunt, and Battle of the Blades. Website. http://www.frostfest.ca/

Additional winter carnivals and events can be found at Winterfest Carnivals http://www.400eleven.com/wintercarnivals.html, or at the Ontario Winter Events taking place in January, February and March of 2010. http://www.400eleven.com/events.html

Last Minute Travel Christmas Vacations

Ontario Travel to Ski Area Destination Resorts to experience Record Ontario Snowfalls in time for Christmas Vacation Season

Barrie, Ontario………………December 18, 2009.   Outdoor sports enthusiasts are waxing skis, polishing snowboards, checking the snowshoes and inflating their snow tubes in anticipation of the Christmas holiday season. Parry Sound.com reported, “Parry Sound, on Georgian Bay almost reached

Ontario Winter Christmas Season has started

its average accumulation for the month of December in a little more than 48 hours. The Minden Times in Haliburton carried a story about the record snowfall “an astonishing 49 inches for three days, more than double the 21 inches that stood as a record since 1889.”  A white Christmas in Ontario’s Snow Country is 99.9% guaranteed. See Christmas Vacation getaways www.400eleven.com/getaways-christmas-newyears-specials.html

Fresh Snow North of Toronto

Today, the Ontario Ski and Snowboard Report from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism indicate, “The last seven days has seen lots of snow-fall activity throughout Ontario’s traditional snow belts and skiers and snowboarders could not be happier. Temperatures have been ideal for round the clock snowmaking, readings dipped well into the minus teens last night and crews were able to make a tremendous amount of snow.”

The Ontario Travel North of Toronto website has an extensive selection of winter fun activities for the family or for the romancing couple looking for winter fun and adventure. Downhill ski holidays, cross country skiing, snowshoeing adventures, snowmobiling, and ATV treks, dog sledding, ice fishing and outdoor winter fun are just around the corner just in time for the Christmas-New Year holiday season. Visitors should check out winter options before heading to either of the shows in anticipation of a snowy winter wonderland in the traditional Snow Belt regions of Ontario.  See winter ski reports, and links to weather and snow conditions north of Toronto.

Predictions for winter weather vary depending on the weather and moisture patterns that have evolved over the year. Although the arrival of snow is a bit late this year, many Ontario resort destinations have invested in state of the art snow making equipment and have a jump start generating significant amounts of snow. As safe road conditions and driving are important when heading north, visitors are encouraged to check not only the snow conditions at ski resort areas, but to check the road conditions and travel tips for safe driving during snow and winter road conditions.  See road condition information links http://www.400eleven.com/newroads.html

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400ELEVEN.COM is a leading source for getaway and package ideas and information for travel north Toronto, Ontario Canada.  Highway 400 and Highway 11 are the major travel routes heading directly north of Toronto and access major highways to the North East and North West of Toronto in Ontario’s Snow Belt regions.  More than 200 member resorts and resort destinations provide current up-to-date travel information getaways and package options for visitors heading north in Ontario.

Sounds of Music along Lake Simcoe

Barrie Folk Music

Folk music enthusiasts are looking forward to Tanglefoot
at the Barrie Folk Roots Music Festival at Georgian College the weekend of Nov. 6, 2009, and at The Orillia Opera House presents the virtuosic, world class guitar work of Pavlo on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8 pm. Guests in Orillia can bid on a Pavlo signature guitar which will be auctioned off

More info on Barrie, Orillia, Lake Simcoe.

Ski Swaps North of Toronto

There is still time to take advantage of ski and snowboard swaps north of Toronto. See http://www.400eleven.com/pr/pr-ski-snowboard-swap.html

Tourism Week 2009 North of Toronto

For Immediate Release

Ontario Travel SAVINGS- Celebrate Tourism Week June 1-7.

June 1, 2009…………North of Toronto. More than 30 members of Ontario Travel North of Toronto (400ELEVEN.COM) have created travel specials, travel deals, summer vacation discounts and free gift certificates to celebrate Tourism Week in Canada June 1-7, 2009.  Heading into Canada’s Tourism week there is an air of optimism being echoed about the upcoming tourist season north of Toronto. See Ontario Tourism Week Specials

Marie Gage, owner of Willow Beach Cottages in Haliburton says, “People are booking closer to their dates of travel, meaning that there are still choice weeks available for those who are currently seeking summer accommodation. It’s a good time to firm up your summer plans.”  Gage is offering a free four-hour boat rental with reservations.

Todd Lucier, owner of Northern Edge Algonquin says, “Our two for one train from Toronto offer is an excellent deal.  $140 Return. Includes free shuttle to the nature retreat.  Leave the car at home and take the train.  Getting there is half the fun.”

Dianne Hounsome – General Manger at Bayview Wildwood Resort says, ““As we forecast ahead from June to October, we are encouraged to see a strong base of bookings that we can grow our business from. All we need now are Ontarians to realize that their best value for their vacation dollar is in their home province!  Gas prices are lower than last year, the US dollar is more expensive and there are no border issues if they visit Ontario tourism properties this summer.  Stay and Play in Ontario this year!”

Wolfgang Stichnothe, Innkeeper at The Inn at Christie’s Mill, in Port Severn says, “The Inn and Spa at Christies Mill proudly supports Tourism week. The Tourism Industry is very important to Ontario’s economy.  To honour this week, we are offering a very special package to Thursday, June 4th. This package is for 2 persons and includes dinner and breakfast for 2 and starts as low as $ 159 plus Taxes. Call the Inn at 1 800 383 3976 and request the Tourism week special.”

Tourism Week encourages Canadian residents to experience the elements that have put Canada on the map as one of the most desirable places to visit and live.  Jack Lynch from the Ontario Travel Centre at Highway 400 in Barrie says, “The Ministry of Tourism for the Province of Ontario is celebrating Tourism week and will be kicking off the celebrations on Tuesday June 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Travel Centre in Barrie.  The Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Monique Smith, will be on hand to address the industry.”

Links to Tourism Week specials from the members of 400ELEVEN.COM, Ontario Travel North of Toronto include golf, fishing, family getaways, cottage rentals, resort specials, and adventure getaways. See Ontario Tourism Week Specials

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Tourism Week is a Tourism Industry Association of Canada http://www.tiac-aitc.ca/english/events_week_general.asp Initiative (TIAC). The TIAC website indicates the purpose of Tourism Week is to highlight the economic and social benefits of Tourism and to increase the awareness of the impact of Canada’s $74.9 billion tourism sector among the media, general public and governments at all levels.

400ELEVEN.COM is a specialty private sector marketing website with 200 members who feature information, getaways, packages, travel news, resort destination events for areas north, north east and north west of Toronto.

Ontario Free Family Fishing Weekend

Ontario North of Toronto………….February 2009. This winter has been one for the record books in Ontario, with lots of snow and very cold temperatures. Even though it is tempting to hibernate, getting outside and connecting with nature is good exercise, great fun, and a sure cure for the winter blues. Ontario Family Fishing Weekend (O.F.F.W.) is perfectly timed to offer families a day of winter fishing, with events planned across the province. Many Ontario resort destinations around the province are hosting events with many accommodation properties offering family getaway packages. There are more than 15 resorts, lodges, inns, hotels who are offering up ice fishing packages.

From Saturday, February 14, through Monday, February 16, which is Family Day in Ontario, Canadian residents can fish licence-free anywhere that the Ontario Fishing Regulations allow. To make it even easier for novice anglers, O.F.A.H. member clubs, hockey teams and a variety of other clubs and organizations are planning local fishing events.

This is the third year for the winter version of the popular Ministry of Natural Resources program that is run by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters with help from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association. The summer version of the family fishing weekend is now in its seventeenth year.

There is still time for organizations to get involved and host an event. You can register your event free on the O.F.F.W. website, and O.F.F.W. organizers are available with some helpful tips to get you started. To view the lineup of fishing events and find out how to participate in an O.F.F.W. event, visit www.familyfishingweekend.com

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 655 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org

Most Ontario resort destinations have access to the thousands of lakes and streams that bless the Province of Ontario with an array of family fishing locations.