Blue Mountain Village, located approximately two hours northwest of Toronto, is known primarily as Ontario’s top ski destination resort, however, it has plenty to offer during the green season as well. And although the area is perfectly suited for a fun family vacation, Blue Mountain also has definite appeal if you are in the mood for an adventurous getaway with friends.
Westin Trillium House
Named for the uniquely-coloured blue clay that surrounds the mountains, Blue Mountain provides a seemingly endless array of activities. During the summer, there are a number of festivals that take place on the weekends, including the annual Salsa festival, where both locals and tourists put their best salsa moves on display; the Collingwood Elvis Festival, recognized as the largest Elvis festival in the world; the Village at Blue Beach Party, featuring Calypso and Reggae music; the Cirque-tacular Event, an interactive outdoor event featuring aerialists and acrobats; and “Movies Under the Stars”, where movies are screened outdoors every Wednesday and Friday evening through the summer. But these festivals are merely a backdrop to some of the bigger thrills to be experienced here, such as the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster (a seven-minute mountainside roller coaster ride); a trip up one of the mountain gondolas, a hike down one of the hiking trails; or a drive around the Apple Pie Trail, which includes over thirty stops at farmers’ markets, restaurants and bake shops in and around the Blue Mountain area, where a variety of locally-made, apple-based products are sold.
And if you are ready to take it down a notch, a walk around the Village provides some unexpected delights. Aside from the cute clothing and accessory boutiques located here, there is the Royal Photo Studio, where you can have your photo taken in authentic, eighteenth-century costumes worn by the royal family back in the day (a far cry from Kate’s and Pippa’s wardrobes). But for some real downtime, a visit to the nearby Scandinave Spa offers a truly serene experience. Like its sister properties located at Canada’s other top ski resorts, Whistler and Mont-Tremblant, the Scandinave Spa is nestled in a natural forest setting – the perfect place to ease your muscles as well as your mind. Upon check-in, guests are taught how to maximize the spa experience according to Scandinavian tradition: warm up first in the Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam room or the Thermal & Nordic outdoor waterfalls; next, cool off with a quick plunge or cold shower; and then relax quietly in the solarium or on the outdoor hammocks. Repeating this sequence three to four times is the best way to reap the circulatory health benefits, so a visit to the Spa may last approximately three hours – longer, if you include a massage treatment or yoga class (call ahead to check availability) or a snack from the spa’s bistro.
Scandinave Spa
The choice of cuisine at Blue Mountain Village is comprised mostly of above-average family restaurants, though this is not necessarily a bad thing while vacationing in the great outdoors. To start your day, try 3 Guys and a Stove’s marché-style breakfast: a reasonably-priced, all-you-can-eat buffet that includes eggs made any style, beans, toast, pancakes, buckwheat waffles and a selection of fruit; and Copper Blues Bar & Grill for lunch, where you can enjoy generous-sized sandwiches, salads and sweet potato fries, while sitting on the patio located in the heart of the Village plaza. If by evening you are looking for something more sophisticated, it’s probably best to skip the “happy hour” drink specials at the local pubs and opt for Twist, an upscale martini & wine bar, instead. At Twist, you can sample tapas from around the world and sip a hand-crafted concoction from the creative martini list. Highlights include the “Twistini”, made with vodka, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a splash of cranberry juice; and the “Clockwork Orange”, made with orange vodka, Hpnotiq and a splash of pineapple juice.
And of course, there is the renowned Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill, located at the Westin Trillium House, which offers a high-end, Toronto-approved, culinary experience. A delicious dinner included the Organic Garden Spinach Salad, served with paper-thin sliced apples, pecans and a delicate mustard dressing; a succulent grilled Atlantic salmon served on top of a green mango & crispy noodle salad, julienned carrots, snow peas along with a spicy Indonesian yogurt, and ended with the restaurant’s most popular dessert, the Chocolate Marquise, a milk chocolate torte with hazelnut praline crunch (“a fancy version of Ferrero Rocher”, the server helpfully explains).
Choosing among the numerous resorts located at Blue Mountain is difficult but the Westin Trillium House mountainside resort is one of the most popular choices. Built in the architectural style of Georgian Bay lodges, the cozy, chalet-like rooms come complete with fireplaces, balconies and kitchenettes, while the outdoor pool area has a spacious swimming pool and hot tubs that are open until 11 p.m. But before calling it a night, why not sneak into the Games Room located on the first floor of the hotel, where you can kick it old-school with Ms. Pac-Man? If you go late enough, you will miss the throngs of kids lining up to play, since it will be well past their bedtime by then.
Travel was courtesy of The Westin Trillium House and Blue Mountain Village.
Images thanks to: Westin Trillium and Scandinave Spa
