Best Ontario Earth Day Activities

Take a Hike

Check out the trails north of Toronto and explore on your own this Earth Day,

Discover the rugged beauty of Muskoka by foot

Hike lakeside in Ontario's Lake Country

Take in the view and vistas in Ontario's Highlands
Explore Midland in the Heart of Georgian Bay.  

Go beyond the Village at Blue Mountain 

Escape into the Ottawa Valley 

Experience the historic beauty of the Algonquin's Highlands
Find your favourite spot in the Haliburton Highlands 

Eat Local

Go local, support a farmer near you and reduce the environmental footprint of your food.

This Saturday April 23rd, the Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers' Market and Orillia Farmers' Market have special Earth Day events happening!  Build a bird house, learn to grow your own food and more!

Explore the Outdoors

There really can't be a better way to celebrate Earth Day than by being immersed in nature. 

See some of Ontario's native reptiles and amphibians up close or take in a live birds of prey demonstration at Wye Marsh. Take a tour on the trails and hear the trumpet of the Trumpeter Swans. Starting this weekend you can explore the new exhibit - The Canoe: A Canadian Cultural Icon.  

Go on an authentic natural adventure at Scenic Caves and experience the view from their 420' suspension bridge or get rockin' at the gemstone mine.

Get Active

Get your adrenaline pumping this Earth Day by going on an extreme adventure high up in the canopy of the forest at Tree Top Trekking. Feel the rush as you fly like a bird on zip lines or balance like a squirrel from hammock nets, cable traverses, logs and wooden bridges.

Go hard or go home at Hardwood Ski & Bike, one of the best places north of Toronto for you to get your bike on this Earth Day.  Opening Saturday April 23rd, the trails will be waiting for you.

Art from Nature or Upcycled Items

Make your own art using what nature provides or what would normally get thrown out. Your imagination is the limit to what you can create! Or get inspired by a visit to the MacLaren Art Centre or get the whole family involved by taking part in a Family Art Workshop, held every Sunday.

Relax and Soak It In

Nothing says thank-you like a little bit of appreciation.  Take the day or weekend to appreciate the birds, the bees, the plants and the trees by surrounding yourself in the best of nature north of Toronto.  Whether on the lake, trails or hanging a line dockside there are plenty of places north of Toronto to celebrate Earth Day. Check out more Nature Adventures.

Earth Day is April 22.  For more Earth Day ideas visit earthday.ca

Ontario Vacation :Look ahead for Ontario Summer Attractions

Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve -Summer Camp

Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve
Wolf Centre Our wolves roam freely in a 15 acre enclosure. The Wolf Centre contains numerous exhibits, a small cinema/classroom, a retail area featuring a wide selection of wolf related books, tapes and graphics as well as a large indoor observatory overlooking the feeding area within the wolf compound.  Activities at the Forest:  Mountain Biking Adventures, Fishing, Camping, Canopy Tour, Astronomy
Events:  Birdathon May 20, 2012; Forest Festival August 15-19, 2012;

Summer Camp Line UP & Registration  
See Haliburton area Inns & Hotels

Sir Sam's Ski  & Bike, Haliburton
The Mountain Bike Park opens May 19th for Victoria Day Weekend.   A/O will have Demo Bikes & Clothing and Accessories all on Sale! Free Draws & Great Riding.   New Specialized Bike Rental Fleet.  Fantastic XC & Downhill Mountain Biking Trails.  Lift  access for the Downhill Trails. 
See Haliburton area Inns &Hotels

Muskoka Wildlife Centre

Muskoka Wildlife Centre, Severn Bridge
Take a walk through the forest and explore our trails which feature the largest collection of native wildlife in the province.  Our exhibits of live animals include moose, wolves, eagles, bears, beavers, lynx, owls, wolverines, falcons, various reptiles and amphibians and much more.  Enjoy daily park programming like our "Meet the Creature" sessions and our "Beast Feasts". Located 20 minutes north of Orillia or 10 minutes south of Gravenhurst, right on Highway 11 North.  OPEN DAILY May Long Weekend to October Long Weekend Daily 10am-6 pm  

See Severn Bridge area Inns & Hotels

Hardwood Ski & Bike, Oro Station

Located only 7 minutes from Carriage Ridge Resort, Hardwood Ski & Bike offers over 80km of mountain bike trails rates as "Fun", "Gnarly", "Serious", "Radical","Crank'd", "Sprokids" and a double track trail "Nice n Easy", a favourite for all ages.   Disc Golf   Hardwood will be expanding their course to 18 holes and will be ready to play in the early spring. Come on out and play this great game on this, fun and challenging course.
See Oro Station & Barrie area Inns & Hotels

Scenic Caves -Treetop Canopy

Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is now open 7 days per week, Collingwood
The Scenic Caves Nature Adventures is now open 7 days per week, operating from 9am to 5pm  selling the last park admission ticket (caves/suspension bridge) two hours prior to closing. Park admission packages include all Caves Activities - Caves, Crevasse, Nature Trails, Suspension Bridge, Children's Adventure Playground, Trout Pond - Feed the Fish, Gemstone Mining and the Mini-Golf Course. Eco Adventure Tour -Treetop canopy, zip line, suspension bridge & cave tour. First tour begins in May.  NEW Thunderbird Twin Zip Line coming this summer. 
See Collingwood area Inns & Hotels

The King's Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishenes starts their Theatre Season
With customized Drayton Entertainment getaway packages you can create a truly unforgettable theatre experience.
King's Wharf Theatre Schedule:   2012 Season  Annie May 29 - June 23, Murder at Fern Resort   June 27- July 14,  Harvey  July 18 - August 4, Blue Suede Shoes:  Memories of the King  Aug 8- Sept 1. Call our Box Office and we'll coordinate all the details: 1-855-drayton (372-9866). 
See Midland area Inns & Hotels

Santa's Village

Santa's Village Family Entertainment Centre, Bracebridge
Santa's Village is a must visit family attractions in cottage country.  Enjoy a family day trip or as part of a weekend getaway in Muskoka. Discover 3 exciting parks and one great campground which was  voted the "best in Muskoka". More on Bracebridge and travel information on  Muskoka, Ontario. 

MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie
Summer Camp Registration Begins
Register now for MacLaren Summer Art Camps where participants, 3 to 14 years of age, will be engaged by art activities that inspire and challenge. Weeklong camps, full-and half day, are offered. New this summer: Plein-Air Painting for adults at various downtown Barrie locations and Fibre Arts Workshop for Youth ! For dates, registration fees and to enroll online please click here 
See Barrie area Inns & Hotels

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Midland

Summer Camps

During our Summer Day Camps your child will have the opportunity to learn about reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey through interactive live demonstrations; explore over 25km of wilderness trails; voyage our marsh channels by canoe and kayak; plus much, much more!
Summer Camp Outline 2012 click here   
See Midland area Inns & Hotels

Family Day Weekend Cross Country Sking-Snowshoeing

Hardwood Ski and Bike Family Day Weekend

Family Day Weekend Festivities: 

February 18 to 20:  There is lots to do on the Family Day Weekend including our weekend promotion where Kids 12 and under ski free with a paying adult or 25% Off rentals.  Saturday during the day we have a Swix at Hardwood for a Learn to Wax Clinic.  Saturday evening we have the Snowshoe and Fondue which is becoming very popular and a great way to get out with friends or family.  Margaritaville is on Sunday and we will have fun music playing in the West Wing for you to enjoy with a DJ spinning tunes while you warm up.

For more information visit http://www.hardwoodskiandbike.ca/ or call 705-487-3775 or Toll Free 800-387-3775   Stay at Resorts, Inns, Hotels  Barrie, ON,  Barrie hotels on-line

Ontario Ski Resorts Open for 2011-12 Season

Ontario Travel Centre News – Horseshoe Valley and Hardwood Ski and Bike are open today.

Kids ready for 2011-12 Ski Season

Horseshoe Valley has opened today with 2 lifts, 2 runs and a mostly man-made snow base of 40cm. They are offering a $25 lift ticket for the next few days and for those with night ski passes – they can ski during the day until night skiing opens (which they hope will be this Friday) They have listed on their website that they hope to continue to operate daily for the rest of the season as long as the weather holds. Please check the website before heading out or before providing information for skiers who are asking.
http://horseshoeresort.com/site/winter.html


Hardwood Ski and Bike Centre – just north of Barrie has had their cross country trails open for a few days now and they continue to be open for those that wish to get that first Nordic outing of the season in early. You can get the latest details on conditions by consulting their website. Please check before heading out.
http://www.hardwoodhills.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111&Itemid=57

Loch Lomond Ski Resort in Thunder Bay has already been open for downhill skiing on weekends. They are not open today but do plan to re-open mid week. Please check their website for the latest details.  http://www.lochlomond.ca/


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