A short drive from most of Central Ontario, the quaint Blue Mountain village and surrounding area offers an amazing range of outdoor activities, gastronomy, shopping, and some great accommodations. Blue Mountain Village is designed with a matching
architectural aesthetic throughout and is solely a pedestrian village – the largest of its kind within Ontario. The village has cobblestone streets lined with cute shops and restaurants, all under the shadow of Blue Mountain which offers a range of four season activities. From skiing, snowboarding to hiking and a beautiful gondola ride to take in the views of Georgian Bay.
I had the pleasure of visiting Blue Mountain this Fall and stayed at the Westin Trillium House Hotel. Having only been a few times to Blue Mountain to ski previously, it was great to be able to stay right in the village and do some exploring. As an avid traveler, it has been a very quiet spring/summer for me, and I was looking forward to my first hotel stay in almost 7 months. Stepping into the lobby of the Westin Trillium House felt pretty normal, save for some extra hand- sanitizing stations and clear social distancing circles marked for check-in. Both the hotel and the Blue Mountain Village have very clear COVID policies in place, that help you feel more comfortable during your stay including clearly marked directional walkways, mandatory masks, and plenty of hand washing/sanitizing stations.
A cute little walk around the Mill Pond from the Westin, has you right in the centre of all the action in Blue Mountain Village. I highly recommend grabbing a pizza at Firehall Pizza Co. If you are looking for a casual bite to eat – the restaurant is modeled after a Northern Ontario Firehall and has a great patio and charming vibe! This is only one restaurant of many in the village that will cater to a variety of tastes from casual experiences to fine dining.
Blue Mountain is an adventure lover’s paradise – with hiking trails, high ropes courses, and the famous Ridge Runner that is open year-round. The Ridge Runner is a one-of-a-kind roller coaster through the forest where you control your own speed – race down the curvy track or take it slow and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
A short gondola ride up the mountain will provide you with stunning views of Georgian Bay and the town below. At the top, explore hiking trails or grab a bite to eat at the Summitview Pavilion. My event planning mind was instantly flooded with some great ideas for group events in this space!
A unique venue for an amazing outdoor casual event with a spectacular view and a gondola ride to boot, is pretty hard to beat. Ideas were definitely flowing as I enjoyed lunch and a local cider taking in the view – a true creative at heart, planning themed events is one of my passions and there is definitely a lot that you could do with this space.
If you are lucky enough to visit in the fall as I did, be sure to check out the Apple Trail! With several stops along the way at small markets, distilleries, and orchards you could spend a whole afternoon exploring the area and taking in the Fall colours. Don’t forget to pick up some local apples to munch on or take home for you to make a fresh apple crisp.
Whether travelling with family or a group, Blue Mountain and the Westin Trillium House boast an amazing array of options for activities, dining, and more. We hope you take the chance to explore your own backyard as we continue to move forward in these unprecedented times – #golocal and embrace what Ontario has to offer us!
