Close range to Toronto, top tier snow machines, great runs…read more This is where I choose to frequent my winter snowboard season, as it's close enough for a 1.5 hour drive to get on the slopes. Their snow making machines are the top notch ones, they really spent a pretty penny for this and their investment shows since there's hardly ever any icy runs, mainly snowy ones. They're quick to start their snow machines early for the season to ensure they have a perfect snow base for the rest of the season - this is why they're always busy, because people know they have good runs here! Purchase your lift tickets online rather than in person, since it's about $15 cheaper even on the day of. The bonus here is the beaver tail cart at the base of Moonstone that you can get your sweet treat at at the end of the day.

Level up on these slopes!…read more MSLM or Mt St. Louis Moonstone is where our family learned to ski and while it's an intermediate level hill, it does have some of the best snow conditions in Ontario. That's because MSLM features 36 slopes down two adjacent mountains, with plenty of snowmaking equipment and lifts. On the one hand, the slopes here can get packed with passholders depending on the time of week. However the slopes are generally wide and there are plenty of easy black diamond slopes to work your way down. These sometimes get icy and choppy after a long day but the slopes are usually well-groomed and you might find yourself skiing through the snow gun mist. On the positive, there are plenty of lifts including Ontario's first 8-seater chairlift equipped with heated seats and automatic safety bars. They also have lift gate entry RFID scans and cafeteria checkout for efficiency. There are moguls and two terrain parks, including a smaller one for beginners. One slope is colourfully lit. While the experience here isn't that of a sprawling ski village, you can tell the owners prided in the pure European skiing spirit. In the past decade MSLM added night skiing with plenty of lighting on over 20 slopes and we've always enjoyed this experience perhaps even more so than day skiing here due to the slightly smaller crowd. Note there tends to be many ski instructors and many demographics on the slopes due to the reputation for good snow conditions as outdoor recreation has boomed. A day here costs around double that of entry ski resorts. Location-wise, it is conveniently off of Hwy 400. Skip it or hit it? We'll be back again as it's one of the better options in Ontario.

If you're looking for an entry slope, Snow Valley could be it…read more We visited for the first time in years and were pleasantly surprised by the small crowd. It's a smaller venue for skiing with 20 generally short slopes ranging from green to blacks, plus a tubing terrain. The chalet is small with a good number of attendees at the ticket booth, equipment shop and 2nd floor restaurant that serves up basic meal bites with a weeknight deal. Tickets are checked manually at the lifts. Many blue & black slopes themselves are relatively narrow with a few runs that are frequented into soft chopped snow. One of the hills was cordoned off for downhill racing while other slopes had minimal skiers & snowboarders heading down beside us. The lifts moved at a brisk pace although there is a triple-lift with tight seating and a tight off-ramp that was more suited for doubles to avoid tripping. The level of difficulty on the black diamond slopes was low. There is also a freestyle terrain park with jumps on the east side beside the tubing terrain, and a patch of mogul bumps on a west side slope. Overall the resort is oriented towards beginners as a short 1 hr GTA drive near Barrie. Skip it or hit it? On the one hand I was intrigued by the short narrow slopes, on the other there are more challenging and better ski facilities a little further away. Not sure how often we'd come back.

It's been a while since I visited this place. I showed up during the coldest day in January 2026…read morewhich was absolute powder. I went in to redeem a 2 for 1 ticket from the ski and snowboard show a few months back. What's nice to see is the conveyor belt with their main base lift which moves the crowds fast. It's been a long time since I tried the other chair lifts and I hardly remember how fast they have the speed set here so you have minimal wait time- not that I had any competition because there were only 30 or so other patrons. The sad part about this place is the food- they used to have a burger made from scratch- not anymore so the patties seem to be just vanilla. The chalet / restaurant is cute log style with fire place so if you're abandoning any family it's a bit tolerable.

Gord and I went snowshoeing at Hardwood Ski & Bike today…read more We started on the Lookout Trail (this trail takes you to the Lookout where on a clear day you can see Barrie and Lake Simcoe), then hooked onto the Fox Trail (this trail makes its way to Janet's Gateway at the top of the property before coming back downhill to the chalet) when the Lookout Trail ended and then took the Lynx Trail (starts at the main chalet and takes you on a great loop through some old hardwood forest) back to the chalet. It was a gorgeous day to be outside ... sunny and 0C/32F. We were snowshoeing for about 2.5 hours and did about 6km. The trails meander through the woods and varied between being flat and hilly ... some the hills are tough (but fun). There was about a foot of snow. At times, the ski and snowshoe trails ran parallel to each other and we sometimes had to cross over the ski trails to stay on the snowshoe trails. It took us about 1.5 hours to get to the lookout ... a lot uphill. It was a fun fun day! No doubt we'll all have a great sleep tonight!

Bike ride with the pro mtb racer.. Love the place! Very well-maintained area, friendly staff. Lots…read moreof trails to choose from, from beginner to advance level. All of the trails are well marked and one-way so no need to worry for any collision. They have different mountain bikes for rent and for sale as well.. Had so much fun trying the trails. The nice n easy course, sprockids, crank'd, fun course, sidewinder course and the bmx trail!!! Amazing place!! A bientot!!

Fabulous little bed and breakfast near Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort. I stayed here last year with…read moresome friends and we ended up having the whole house to ourselves because the other 2 rooms weren't booked that night. We shared the largest room, the Green Room, that has 1 double and 1 queen bed, plus a full en suite bathroom and went skiing the next morning. They have really nice gas fireplaces in every room to heat the house and a full kitchen and dining table for guest use. The owners live in another house on the other side of the drive-way, so it's very private, and you don't have to worry about disturbing them with a late-night meal, which is exactly what we had went we got there. It's like having all the conveniences of renting a house at a very reasonable rate for one room. The most unbelievable part of our stay was the breakfast we were served in the morning. I know 'breakfast' is in the name but I actually wasn't expecting anything. At other B&Bs I've stayed at in Europe I just expect toast, maybe a croissant and to be offered a boiled egg. What we got was a 3 course meal complete with fresh baked heart-shaped(!) muffins, home-made jam, fruit, pancakes, maple syrup, OJ, coffee, and so on. To say it was a nice pleasant surprise is an understatement! The meal totally blew me away. I wish I had warned Bill, the owner, that my partner and I are vegan. We had brought our own veggie breakfast goodies in anticipation of making our own but it all worked out nicely. We were able to have our goods on the side while our friends enjoyed their animal products. This is a lovely B&B and I would happily return. We really enjoyed our stay. We also took a look through their photo albums of weddings and other events that host in their barn. It looks like everyone who stays here loves it too. I imagine it's just as nice in the summer as it is winter.

I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT HOLD ANY EVENT AT LAZY DAYZ!!!…read moreMy family held a wedding there and we have never been treated so terribly before! The property manager Kate is the worst person in customer service ever! She picked fights with most of our guest and it was the on going talk for the entire event. Everyone was appalled with her behavior! She was rude and told us she had ever right to treat us this rudely because she was stressed. When the event was booked it was owned by other people who were wonderful and it is such a shame that they have sold the business to her. The barn and grounds are beautiful, but you can find another place just as beautiful where you won't be treated so horribly! I am still in shock with her attitude. I can not stress enough - STAY AWAY!!!

This is a very nice boardwalk. You get a nice of the a marina on one side, with occasional blue…read moreMuskoka chairs, and shops on the other side. It is beautiful when the sun is shining. There are also plenty of lights at night. Cell phone reception and mobile data reception is poor at some spots. Most vendor have free WiFi. There is site-wide free WiFi but when we were there, you can connect but the internet connection didn't work. A few restaurants are quite expensive. Some clothing and interior design shops are extremely expensive. All vendors charge a 3% resort fee that goes to the resort for cleaning the exterior and public washrooms. The vendors also pay the resort and additional fee. There is free WiFi. The promenade is wheelchair accessible. There are some separate male/female washrooms. There is free parking in the resort parking lot. Review 2024-204

Came here with a few friends. Very nice getaway for the weekend, cute mini vacation I'd say. We…read morewalked along the boardwalk lots and went to the pool. Very clean and ate good food!

The resort is nice. I like the arrangement and set up. However, it is over priced compared to the…read morelocal ski lodge ( lakeridge ski resort) . I like the slopes set up. It was easy to access and view my younger skiers, on the magic carpet. I liked the renovations. The place was clean. They have good options for snacking and a bar. I would definitely take my kids here again. Update: Although, I did have a good experience with my group this visit, I met up with a family member who was injured on the slopes that day (something that you don't always want, but is understandable). The staff told him to wrap it. When I asked them for more information the staff said they experienced many injuries and that his hand was not sprained or fractured, just swollen. My friend ( who is a nurse) , disagreed. It was medically determined that his wrist was actually fractured. . I would encourage staff not to diagnosis, treat according to your skill level, providing all clients with care and concern regardless of how many injuries you have witnessed on the slopes.

I attended a Discovery ski lesson at Dagmar Ski Resort in February and was very disappointed with…read morethe overall experience. The front desk and rental staff were dismissive and unengaged, and the lesson itself felt disorganized. As a first-time skier, I expected clear, supportive instruction, but I had to repeatedly ask for clarification. Feedback was delivered in a way that felt discouraging, and the instructor used my mistakes as examples in front of the group. While I understand using examples can be helpful, the way it was done affected my confidence and made it harder to focus on learning. By the end of the lesson I felt defeated and was unable to use the remaining practice time included in the lesson because I didn't feel ready to proceed independently. After raising these concerns in an email, I received a voicemail from who I assume was a manager, referencing my "negative" email. They also told me they don't believe I didn't learn anything, and dismissed everything I was trying to explain about my experience and kept justifying the program and defending the instructors. The only resolution given was a future lesson, which I am not comfortable taking. They closed my case, and ignored my follow-up email asking for an alternative resolution. Overall, this program is not designed to help beginners learn and enjoy skiing. I would not recommend this program for first-time skiers seeking a supportive introduction.

I accompanied my husband fr 2 days as he had meeting. The breakfast, lunch and dinner plus…read morecocktails were all included. The server at the bar Erika was very polite and welcoming . Her partner was also very polite ( dint know her name) It's a old looking resort . Very spacious , beautiful view if you get your room by the lake . Menu is good . Tea coffee is available all the time . It's beautiful in summer fr sure . It's cold now and raining so didn't get to enjoy as much . The rooms are good. The eating area has different sizes halls depending on the size of the crowd . There is a movie shelf that is complimentary. The only thing bad was the tv like 32" and not many channels to watch . The casino Rama is minutes away , which is an added attraction fr casino lovers .

I have seen mice in a few staff accommodations and it took weeks before it was ever dealt with…read more Shit on the floor on peoples stuff I felt bad for others who had to go through that and I've heard it from many different people over the years. Many promises were made that were not kept by the office people and they did not make it feel like a safe space. As well as things that were supposed to be confidential were spread which is extremely unprofessional on the HR departmenta part. Overall not treating staff with respect and showing appreciation for hard work and dedication to the company. the staff accommodations are dirty, gross, and smell. the staff meals are sometimes undercooked and reused food and it is not good. so many complaints about working there. I recommend if you are considering working at Fern Resort. DON'T you will feel unappreciated and will go nowhere

Lakeridge Ski Resort is a nice place to enjoy winter fun close to the city. It's easily accessible…read moreby highway 407, 401 and 406. There's ample parking spots available in the parking lots. The hills are great for all levels, from beginners to more confident skiers and snowboarders. You can rent put ski equipment on-site and book lessons online prior to your visit. There's a chalet that you can you can use to keep your stuff dry or sit down and rest or enjoy a warm beverage or meal from the cafeteria. The staff are helpful and keep things running smoothly.

This was a fun girls night out activity. We visited for their weekday snow tubing $35 special for 2…read morehours and it was more than enough time to enjoy ourselves. Booking tickets in advance is recommended as walk up tickets are unavailable. Dress warm and be ready to pull the snow tube a bit as you have to walk from the bottom of the hill to the conveyor line.

this is an exciting ATV tour only 5 min away from the Scenic caves. Booking and confirming our ATV…read moreadventure was fast and easy. Kevin leads the tour on the ATV's. Kevin is the best possible instructor you could have if you are a beginner. Kevin caters to the experienced as well as the beginner driver. The ATV's are new with powerful 500cc engines. You have to experience this adventure to appreciate it ..... a five star adventure on ATV's

very great people who run and organize the tours. Lots of land and many trails. The only thing is…read morethat there is no open space to run the ATVs, just a lot of windy trails. Overall, I would still 100% recommend this spot and super reasonably priced.

I've been on the Ikon pass for the third year to get unlimited access to Blue Mountain and many…read moreother international mountain. With my prepaid pass rain or shine, if I show up I'm prepaid unlimited access, so I went in Feb 1-2026 middle of the morning it was so packed I was parked right in the hotel parking near the Jozo. One of the struggles is that when your prepaid with the 5x7 or ikon pass, there is barely any parking when you combine the races happening on the same weekend- it's almost as if these gatherings for the Toronto Ski Club should have a coach bus to bring in not only the children but their parents too- for the comfort and parking available for paying patrons. Starting 2026, Blue Mountain started branding the Reserve option which offers premium parking and skip the line option. But Reserve line was available at the silver bullet; the difficulty is the reserve line access is not next to the single line but all the way in the back. So unless someone is managing patrons with their new configuration of bars to restrict 3 and 3 on each side, you could be idle. Staff are put in place but they don't help manage people traffic and without a guide to their not so self explanatory setup- people just jam their bodies in and hope for the best then when their entering with people they don't want to be paired with just "step back " result in under capacity. The hills are just overrun that by 11-12noon the hills are all nice and operators don't legroom until 3:30pm. The food discount are not consistent, for example the Pottery has select deals that does not apply the ikon food discount. Some outdoor seats are not safe, sat next to the Roots and Tim Hortons, ice fell on the guy next to me, thank goodness he was wearing a ski helmet- things like this can be better managed from a safety standpoint because every visit usually yields $25-100 in food purchase and is usually associated with a 100km drive and a hotel booking within Collingwood or the Blue Mountain village. Personally for me, every visit cost me about $170-200 in hotel booking, a $30-40 purchase at one of the Blue Mountain establishments and dinner around $50 offsite. And I usually visit with 2-3 other prepaid patrons. Personally I think Blue Mountain can do better to serve the prepaid patrons.

Didn't have a great time here, maybe it's because I'm not the clientele they are looking for…read more SKIING As a beginner / intermediate skiier, Blue Mountain was the first big mountain I've been on and it was quite a shock. Compared to a smaller hill like Snow Valley, the Greens were like blues almost blacks in some cases and the Blues were Blacks on the smaller hill. They were quite steep and challenging. if that's what you're looking for great! One of the runs called Southern Cross is classified as a Green but it should be a Blue in my opinion. being narrow and off a cliff it's difficult to maneuver. We were there during New Years weekend and it was pretty crowded. I get that but the lifts stopped way too often. I also noticed no signage to inform people how to get on or off which might be some of the issue. Like unloading arrows etc. There are 2 chalets and they are placed a bit far from the ski lift. It's difficult to get to. The food was ample and pretty good but very over priced. $4 for a bag of chips? RIDGE RUNNER We bought a 3 pack of activities to do. You have to do them all in one day which is a bit silly. It's difficult to understand the offer on the website. . Went on Ridge Runner after waiting 1.5 hr in a line of only about 20 parties. It was a bit ridiculous. Again seemingly cause by people who didn't know what they were getting on needs a more efficient loading and in loading process. Worse off was that it's meant to be a fast coast in the mountains, and told not to stop or slow down, however the people in front of us stopped and slowed down the entire day making the experience worthless. SKATING This is at the top of the mountain. You have to drive there. There's no indoor shelter from the wind to change into your stuff. Before you even get on the ice you are frozen. There is a fire but it doesn't do much because of the wind. There are some bins to put your stuff but it's very icy in the staging area. My friend fell and broke his wrist. They need to add some safety mats to this area. Overall, I did not have the sense of safety or that staff cared about guest safety and guest experience.