Long Weekend Cottage Country Family Fun Guide for Victoria Day May Long Weekend

The May Victoria Day Long Weekend is here!

The official un-official start of the spring and summer season in Ontario begins. The landscape is getting green again, the puddles are drying up and the lakes and bays are slowly warming up.

Ontario cottage country is such a special place for families and kids. With modern small towns, families can still get back to simpler times and enjoy basic activities with their kids like biking, hiking, swimming, star gazing, visiting farmers' markets…and a whole lot more!

The May long weekend is also a weekend where many accommodations and attractions that were closed for the winter open. If you're a regular reader of the Weekend Playlist, you'll notice the list of events and activities certainly grew this week!

Resorts, hotels and other family friendly accommodation are offering exciting (and relaxing too!) family getaway offers that include all the best parts of a weekend ‘up north' – including camp fires, canoe rides and firecrackers too! You can find those offers here: VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND GETAWAY OFFERS.

We also encourage you to visit a number of our featured Farmers' Markets, several will have Opening Weekend festivities happening. You can find our list here: FEATURED FARMERS' MARKETS.

This weekend's ‘PLAY LIST'…

KIDS AND FAMILY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEKEND AHEAD BY AREA

These events are within 1-4 hours north (or so!) of Toronto and are reasonable when considering a day trip, or stay at any family friendly accommodation and extend the fun. These events would also be in or within proximity and close to much of Ontario's ‘cottage country'.

~Featured Maple Festivals~

TAP INTO MAPLE TOUR
Ontario's Lake Country
until May 31

Filled with a variety of different stops throughout the region, the Tap into Maple route will get your senses flowing and your mouth watering. Come and experience our maple history, taste our local maple cuisine, and create your own maple products.

~BARRIE~

HARDWOOD SKI AND BIKE
Hardwood is officially open for mountain biking! We are open 9-5 daily. All trails, excluding Radical, are open. Extended hours will start Wednesday May 14th! We will be open Wednesday-Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday-Tuesday 9am – 5pm.

Disc Golf Course Open – Hardwood has expanded our disc golf course to 18 holes so come on out and play this great game on this, fun and challenging course. We have a family special all season – kids 12 and under play free with a paying adult.

HORSESHOE ADVENTURE PARK
Horseshoe Resort is an inviting Ontario destination offering four seasons of fun for thrill-seekers and adventurers alike! This spring, plan your next getaway as active or relaxing as you want it to be. Enjoy golf on two championship golf courses, ride the trails in the Lift Access Mountain Bike Park or kick your adrenaline up a notch in the Adventure Park, with so many outdoor adventures to chose from, what will you do next?

Browse BARRIE HOTELS

~THE BLUE MOUNTAINS | COLLINGWOOD~

ATTRACTION PARK BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT
From a sightseeing gondola ride to an alpine hike; from a day in our mountain bike park to an afternoon on the Cascade Putting Course or Ridge Runner Coaster, there's an activity with just the right amount of adventure to suit just about anyone.

PLUNGE! AQUATIC CENTRE
Plunge! is the ultimate, all ages, four season water adventure at the base of Blue Mountain Ski Resort, the largest mountain resort in Ontario, Canada, located near Collingwood – just a 90-minute drive from Toronto.

BLUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE – ACTIVITY CENTRAL
Activity Central is your source for the region’s and the resort’s best year-round activities! Pure adrenaline or simple serenity, we have activities to suit every interest and budget! Currently selling Scandinave Spa packages, Wine tasting, Caving tours and gearing up for winter with Snowmobile tours, snowshoeing and the list goes on.

* May Long Weekend & Fireworks *

Greet summer on your favorite Village patio! Enjoy live music with Juno Award winning JRDN on stage Sunday at 6:30 plus face painting, scavenger hunts, hiking, gondola rides, Groove Dancing and Saturday night FIREWORKS!

SCENIC CAVES
Open this weekend at discounted prices with limited availabilities. Great time to see a beautiful spot and save.

Stay in Collingwood Accommodations

~ BRACEBRIDGE ~

WHISPERING PINES CAMPGROUND OPENS
Santa's Village Whispering Pines Campground Opens Victoria Day Weekend May 16, 2014

BRACEBRIDGE FARMERS' MARKET
Grand Opening Weekend!
The Market runs each Saturday, 8:30 to 1pm from the Victoria Day long weekend in May, until the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. The market located in Memorial Park on Manitoba Street, next to the Norwood Theatre.

~FORESTER FALLS | BEACHBURG ~

ADVENTURE RIVER RUN RAFTING WILDERNESS RESORT
For the young and “young at heart”, join us for this gentle water raft trip on the Middle Channel of the river. With just enough whitewater to make it fun there’s plenty to see and learn about this historical river.

~ HALIBURTON ~

SIR SAM'S SKI & BIKE
Open for mountain biking! Open weekends only from May 17- June 30th, 10am- 3:00pm (Full lift and food service).

* Victoria Day Long Weekend: Saturday, May 17 – Free draw for Sir Sam’s Bucks.
Area locals: Register for Skills Camp. These 3 day camps are a great way to to spend summer hours meeting new friends, learning new things and building the skills for years of biking pleasure. *

SUPnorth PADDLE ADVENTURES
Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Cottage Country's beautiful Haliburton Highlands. *Requires advanced booking.

~ IROQUOIS ~

MODEL SHIP MUSEUM
Doran Bay Model Ship Museum provides marvel world-class collection of museum quality model ships, including a special exhibit of ships from the War of 1812.

~MIDLAND | PENETANGUISHENE~

MISS MIDLAND
The Miss Midland sailing season will begin on Saturday May 17th. Daily sightseeing cruises at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday May 17th; 2:00 p.m. on Sunday May 18th and 2:00 p.m. on Monday May 19th.

DOWNTOWN SHOPS AND DOCKS
Check out the shops and docks in beautiful Midland! Walk about and strolling fun for kids – check out one of the largest outdoor mural collections in North America.

HURONIA MUSEUM
Huronia Museum is a fun place for taking the kids and is located in Little Lake Park, directly across from the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre. Fun exhibits for the whole family and be sure to check their website for specials events and activities.

MIDLAND CULTURAL CENTRE
Drop in to see what's going on or visit our website for the latest programs. Cafe Roxy is open for hot chocolate, coffee and refreshments, light meals and snacks, wine and beer. Open Mic at the Cafe on Saturday at 2pm.

WYE MARSH
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre. Situated on approximately 3,000 acres of natural property in the beautiful Wye Valley (Georgian Bay), it is that perfect place for a family or group outing. With over 25 km of snowshoeing/skiing trails, an observation tower and boardwalks, visitors can get closer to nature.

SAINTE MARIE AMONG THE HURONS
Experience life in one of Canada’s oldest reconstructed European communities, that was shared with First Nations people all the way back to the sixteen hundreds! There are over 25 buildings to explore and the costumed staff will help tell the story of life in Upper Canada. Daily family activities for you to enjoy. Bring a picnic and experience it for the full day!

HURONIA FOOD TRAIL
You will find a list of the farmers, producers, restaurants, retailers and accommodations that have identified themselves as advocates of local taste and local products, within the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene & Townships of Tay and Tiny, Ontario through the Huronia Food Trail.

MIDLAND TOURISM
The Town of Midland is a dynamic community situated on Georgian Bay and based in the heart of one of our nation's most beautiful recreational areas. It's perfect for a family fun day trip or overnight getaway.

Stay in MIDLAND HOTELS
MORE Midland Tourism Region
MORE Penetanguishene Tourism Region

~ORILLIA | SPRINGWATER~

TAP INTO MAPLE TOUR
Starting on March 1st and running through to May 31st, the Tap into Maple route was created to support and showcase our local maple syrup, maple products and events. Filled with a variety of different stops throughout the region, the Tap into Maple route will get your senses flowing and your mouth watering. Come and experience our maple history, taste our local maple cuisine, and create your own maple products. You can even stay awhile, our local accommodators have some sweet maple packages available for you! Bring your family or getaway as a couple, Ontario’s Lake Country has something for everyone.

ORILLIA FARMERS' MARKET
Grand Opening Weekend
One of Ontario's longest running markets runs every Saturday from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Orillia Library on Mississauga Street in Downtown Orillia. This is family friendly market that offers kids alot of fun activities and tasty treats.

ORILLIA FAIRGROUNDS FARMERS' MARKET
Grand Opening Weekend
Over 50 local farmers, food producers, bakers and artisans. Fresh fruit, meat and vegetables, baked goods, cheese, honey, prepared foods, sausages, maple syrup, and live music! FREE PARKING for everyone! COME TO THE FAIR!

~ PARRY SOUND ~

GEORGIAN BAY AIRWAYS
AMAZE at the natural beauty of Muskoka and Georgian Bay by seaplane! Let Georgian Bay Airways make your vacation a memorable experience. We provide many services with our legendary seaplanes including sightseeing tours and flying adventures. Join our nearly 1,000 passengers a year to experience our signature “Fly & Dine” to World Famous Henry's Fish Restaurant.

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