Three local trips just outside of Toronto that’ll be just the getaway you need right now…
By Karen Kwan
The constant grey skies along with the snow and rain during the first few months of the year when you’re living in a city like Toronto can be challenging mentally. Although a sunny getaway to a destination like St. Kitts or Martinique can be a mood booster, planning for getaways closer to home that take you outside of TO’s concrete jungle is one of the best ways I’ve found to get some relief from seasonal depression. Need some inspiration for where to go and what to do? These destinations are an easy drive from Toronto and will give you just the little refresh you need.
Fit in some spring skiing at Blue Mountain
In case you missed it, Blue Mountain kicked off a multi-year, multi-million-dollar plan to upgrade its snowmaking in 2023. And although you might be tricked by the occasional spring-like weather, there’s still time to ski or snowboard this season at Blue, and best of all, it’s an easy jaunt at just over two hour’s drive from the city. Foodies, for breakfast, make your way over to The Pottery Alpine Restaurant (in the Blue Mountain Inn) for the chicken schnitzel and Belgian waffles (a hefty plate of panko-crusted fried chicken breast atop of a fluffy waffle, served with spiced maple syrup) to fuel you for a day on the mountain.
Check into a cottage north of the city with your squad
Although Unbounded’s Cold Camp at the Trace at Oak Lake, just outside of Havelock, has wrapped up for the season, a stay at the resort’s Lake House with your crew delivers the relaxed cottage-country vibes you’re craving. It’s the only spot on the pet-friendly resort open at this time of year so you’ll have the whole property to yourselves and it’s a simple 2.5-hour drive from the city. The serenity of the lake (did we mention the Trace has 1,100 feet of lakefront?), and mature trees, along with the hot tub and sauna, are all yours to enjoy for your stay.
Make it to Meech for outdoor adventures and spa time
If you’re up for a slightly longer drive of five hours, head east to Meech Lake for a stay in Chelsea, Que. Take advantage of the trails at Gatineau Park, and for your Airbnb, pick up delicious local provisions such as smoked salmon at Boucanerie Chelsea and fresh baked goods at Boulangerie Dans Un Village. Plan for a day enjoying the water therapy circuit at Nordik Spa Village and if you’re into cold plunging, be sure to connect with a local group such as Ottawa Cold Plunge so you can get your lake plunge high while in Meech Lake.
Drive on
With the slick and often winding roads for these road trips out of the city, not to mention some steep inclines (such as the hill that brings you to the Trace at Oak Lake), a vehicle with all-wheel drive becomes a priority. We test drove the Mazda CX-50 HEV to road trip and it was a smooth drive. The CX-50 HEC was ideal for us when it came to handling this season’s conditions (not only thanks to its all-wheel drive but also thanks to offering plenty of cargo space for all of the gear and supplies we packed–we’re talking an impressive 1.594 L with the second row folded–its rain-sensing intermittent front wipers, front wiper de-icer and emergency lane-keeping with blind spot assistance). Plus, while the CX-50 HEV is a hybrid, there’s no need to charge the vehicle (the battery recharges from brake energy regeneration).
