Collingwood & Blue Mountain
For Family Day weekend, Rita and I made the snowy drive up to the Blue Mountain area. Although primarily a ski resort, there is a diverse range of fun things to do…of course while still enjoying the Apres-Ski!
We stayed in the neighbouring village of Thornberry, at recently renovated Penny’s Motel, which has a hip, fresh vibe to it. The Après bar and courtyard with fire-pits create an area for socialising and mingling. We spent our first night in the queen-sized “fish” room, but our door wasn’t locking properly the next morning, and so we got upgraded to the king-sized pink room – much better suited to our style! The staff was very warm and hospitable and presented both Rita and myself with tokens of appreciation for our understanding. I purchased some additional merchandise from their store at the end of the weekend to mark such a fun stay. I highly recommend this boutique accommodation.
Day 1 A main attraction of the area is Scandinave Spa Blue, one of a group of four high-end spas located across Canada. The facility centres around an outdoor thermal village (a similar concept to Galgorm for my NI friends) and recommends the traditional Nordic method of 10-15 minutes in heat (sauna, steam, hot tub), 10-20 seconds in the cold plunge, and 15-20 minutes in a relaxation area. I completed this cycle around 4 times, with a Swedish relaxation massage in the middle. By the end of the day, I was completely free of tension and felt calm and content. The spa enforces no-phones and whisper-only policies which creates a peaceful atmosphere and the opportunity to completely turn inward and connect with oneself.
Photo courtesy of Scandinave Spa Blue - but this is how it looked the day I visited!
While I visited Spa Blue, Rita went to Spaw Blue, a doggy daycare located less than 10 minutes away. As we were travelling, the owner was kind enough to let Rita have her meet-and-greet immediately before her half day of care, and as expected she got on well with the other dogs. Although there are no spa treatments on offer, Rita was similarly tuckered from her day out!
After the spa, our next stop was Pawplar Dog Town dog park. If using Google maps, head to 7400 County Rd 32, the address of the water pumping station, as that’s where the parking is. The fenced park is pleasant and full of mature trees. Rita seemed to have had enough socialising for one day though, so we didn’t stay long. Instead, we took a walk up the nearby section of the Train Trail, and encountered a memorial to Glory Whalen, a 13 year old girl who in 1903 was shot while walking along the train-lines to school. She was found the next day fully clothed, lying with her arms crossed over her chest. It remains one of more mysterious cold cases of Canada.
We spent Friday evening at Blue Mountain Village, where we found a lively scene adorned with fairy lights and bustling with families. The shops were open late and there was a live DJ playing music. We started by walking along the “Blumenation” light trail around Mill Pond, which was exceptionally sparkly against the lit-up ski slopes. There were plenty of dog-friendly spots for us to visit indoors too. The Blue Mountain Supply Co. is the go-to spot for souvenirs for yourself and Fido, Brights Gallery welcomes “art-lovers, children and dogs”, and at Iris Galerie, Rita came in with me to get a photo taken of my iris and made into art! The process took no time at all (my hard contact lens had to come out, but soft ones are usually ok) and iris photographer Logan AirDropped the finished graphic to my phone immediately. They are working on being able to do pet eyes too, so watch this space! Although patios are closed in the winter, both Starbucks and Tim Hortons had walk-up windows, as did the FireHall Pizza Co., where I ordered a “Spanakopizza” to go. So Rita did not cause any difficulties!
Day 2 The day began with a visit to Thornbury village. It was a cold, snowy, windy morning, so we didn’t stay long, but I was able to tie Rita up outside Ashanti Coffee Roasters to grab a coffee. We then travelled west to Meaford, where the main attraction was Beautiful Joe Park. In 1893, Nova-Scotia-born author Margaret Marshall Saunders wrote this “Autobiography of a Dog” following a visit to Meaford, where her sister-in-law told her the story of Joe, a dog her father had rescued from a terribly cruel home, where the master cut off Joe’s ears and tail with a hatchet. The story won a competition with the American Humane Society and went on to sell millions of copies worldwide. Margaret was later awarded a C.B.E. for her animal rights efforts.
In 1994, the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society was formed, and the park was established in the former backyard of the home where Joe was rehabilitated and where his remains lie. The park is like an outdoor museum, with memorials to dogs of all backgrounds, from the K9 unit of the 9/11 attacks to service animals. There are also “Paradise Island” boards where you can apply to place a plaque in memory of your own four-legged friend. It was a peaceful, thought-provoking walk during which to contemplate the significance of human and dog relationships across many sectors of life.
A short drive away is the Beautiful Joe off-leash dog park where Rita was able to have a run around. Next, we headed back towards Collingwood, stopping at Christie Beach Conservation Area. This was particularly striking in the snow, and Rita had some more time to run around. It’s pet-friendly all year round.
At Collingwood Brewery, we enjoyed the atmosphere of the Winter Beer Fest. It was a cold day out, but we braved it for a while to sample the beers from many local breweries and to listen to the live music. We then tried a “walking tofu taco” from Misfits food truck, served in a Doritos crisp packet! Rita was welcome inside so I could enjoy this in the warmth.
Courtesy of Collingwood Brewery
Our next stop was Side Launch Brewing Co., which hosts Après Ski every Saturday, complete with ski flights. I wasn’t going to try one of these on my own! However, I enjoyed a Perrier along with music by cover band Fast and Loose, who indulged my request of Eagle-Eyed Cherry’s “Stay Tonight”. There were many dogs inside, and on the last Friday of every month they host a “Yappy Hour” - another dog-loving brewery for your list!
The previous evening, we had visited The Scented Market, where Jill was on hand with dog treats whilst educating humans on the natural scents of the products. We discovered they ran drop-in candle-making sessions, but we had run out of time that evening so returned this evening so try it out. Upon Jill’s recommendation, I opted for a cashmere scent. Rita looked on and greeted customers as Jill guided me through the process, from securing my wick in the jar to stirring in the drops of scent. She showed me the bags of waxes pellets and advised on how I could do it myself at home. Rita and I took a walk around the village for an hour while the candle set, before picking up our finished product!
Day 3 The “let’s tick something off the bucket list” activity for today was snowshoeing. We signed up for a trek with Free Spirit Tours and were very fortunate to join the lovely Sinclair family, who had returned for the second year running. We met our guide Jim at Petun Conservation Area where he strapped me up with snowshoes (Rita had to manage with just her paws) and gave us an overview of the 2-hour hike.
Then we started off along the trail. Rita was able to be let off-leash, but we put her back on where there was evidence of porcupines (no vet bills please) and beside the sheer cliff-edge. She had fun tagging along behind each group member in turn, quickly learning not to stand on our “big feet”.
The snowshoes certainly facilitated the trek through the fresh, snow-laden, winter wonderland. Jim talked to us about the history, wildlife and vegetation of the forest, as he led us up to the viewpoint. On the hike back, he produced mulled cider for everyone, a gratefully received dose of warmth in the -6 degree temperatures.
Rita desperately needed to warm up after our hike, given she had been sticking her face into snowy crevices! So we headed to Georgian Hills Vineyard (and cidery), where we had reserved an outdoor fire pit. Fortunately this was under a shelter, as we arrived during a snow squall. Rita was welcomed with open arms, and presented with her own dish of treats. The fire was very hot, perfect for thawing us out. I had some more mulled cider and a spinach and artichoke dipping plate….which was divine! There were many wines, ciders and locally made chocolate available to buy. This place is definitely worth a visit!
Fuelled up and warmed up again, we decided to do some more hiking before hitting the road back home. This was to nearby Loree Forest, where there was a 5.5km loop trail, part of which coincided with the Bruce Trail. We even passed the bottom of a chairlift station where some skiers were enjoying the long weekend. Again, I was able to let Rita off to explore independently. With the fresh snowfall, the forest looked very magical – a perfect end to the weekend!
