Girls’ Getaway To Blue Mountain

Let me begin by declaring that I’m not a skier or a snowboarder. I’m just a city gal looking for ways to make the most of our long, harsh Canadian winters. A few years ago, I discovered that a weekend getaway to Blue Mountain was the perfect remedy for my winter blues. I was really amazed at how rejuvenating a couple days away from the city could really be (no brown snow, icy sidewalks or slushy puddles to hurdle). So – as I normally do when I find something I love – I began raving about the experience and convinced my friends to give it a shot. And one by one, they all fell in love with the winter wonderland. From the beautiful slopes and quaint village to the breathtaking spa and lively après ski festivities – they each found something that made their eyes sparkle.

Last week, I decided to round up three of my girlfriends for a trip to Blue Mountain. The result was an epic getaway filled with feasting, new experiences and lots of giggles. Here are the highlights from our trip and a few reasons why you should consider heading out to Ontario’s largest mountain village resort this winter:

1. The Road Trip – There’s nothing quite like a car filled with your favourite people! The two hour drive to Blue Mountain gave us just enough time to catch up. And no road trip is complete without a spontaneous stop along the way…

2. The Sleepover – The Westin Trillium House was the perfect hotel for our getaway. They not only had the most comfortable hotel beds I’ve EVER slept on, but their service was out of this world! They even helped us open our wine bottles every night (we just couldn’t figure out how to use our corkscrew for the life of us). Oh, and the white tea scent that permeates throughout the hotel is heavenly.

3. The Ski Lessons – I knew I was in for a good laugh since none of us had really skied before (me and my photog had gone once or twice in high school, but my other two friends were first-timers). Thankfully, Blue Mountain offers Newbie ski and snowboard lessons to beginners! It felt so good to learn something new (read more about our skiing experience here).

4. The Snowshoeing Adventure – Snowshoeing is my favourite winter activity. There’s just something so peaceful about hiking through a forest that’s covered by a blanket of snow. My friends had never tried it before so I was super excited to show them how awesome it is. Jennie from Free Spirit Tours was our rockstar guide. She took us on a hike up Metcalfe Rock and guided us through the Bruce Trail (which is home to some of the oldest trees in the country). She even treated us to some hot apple cider in the crevice.

5. The Snowball Fight – Yup, we played in the snow like a bunch of kids. Snowballs were thrown, angels were etched in the fresh snow and snowmen were made. Pure bliss.

6. The Food – As you could imagine, we worked up quite the appetites after our winter adventures. Thankfully, the village has tons of restaurants to choose from. And we ate pretty much all they had to offer (from budget-friendly grilled cheese sandwiches to proper sit-down dinners). You could really spend an entire weekend just eating, drinking and walking around the village! Here were a few of our fave meals:

Pottery Restaurant – Tucked inside the original Blue Mountain Inn, this restaurant has a lot of charm and some great food to boot. Pieces of Blue Mountain Pottery line the walls and a warm fireplace glows in the centre of the room. It’s definitely a cozy place to dine near the hillside.

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill – When you’re planning on being active all day, it’s incredibly important to fuel up before you head out. Fortunately, Oliver & Bonacini is located in the Westin Trillium so we just rolled out of bed and headed down. The restaurant is modern, delivers great service and serves up some yummy breakfast!

Firehall Pizza Co. – Modelled after a Northern Ontario Firehall, this restaurant is the place to dine if you’re looking for a casual and fun atmosphere. The pizzas are tasty (try the Toscana) and they have some amazing cocktails (I’d recommend the Whacker or the Stop, Drop, and Roll). I’ve never dined in a firehall before, so that was a first!

7. The Spa – After snowshoeing and skiing, the best way to apologize to our aching muscles was to visit one of my favourite spas in Canada: Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain. If you haven’t been to this gem, it is reason enough to drive up to Blue Mountain. It’s the perfect place to unplug and take a few hours of well-deserved ‘me’ time.

8. The Bonding – The most important. Did you know that quality girlfriend time creates more serotonin in your brain? Yup, bonding with your girlfriends helps combat depression and makes you feel good. That – combined with a few days out of the city – is sure to make your winter a little brighter. At least, it did for us: we left Blue Mountain feeling relaxed, happy and reenergized. 

I really hope you get a chance to experience Blue Mountain this winter. Oh, and I’d love any tips or recommendations – I’m definitely planning another trip soon!

Our Girls’ Getaway was a press trip coordinated by Blue Mountain. Our accommodations, meals and adventures were all complimentary.