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Map with attractions

1. Santa's Village

The question is not 'What can you do at Santa's Village?'. It's 'what CAN'T you do!' After all, where else would Santa choose to summer but in the heart of Muskoka? Three parks in one - Santa's Village, Sportsland and Eaglecrest - make this the attraction with something for everyone. At Santa's Village, you can take a leisurely boat ride down the Muskoka River on Santa's Summer Sleigh, or try your luck at prize winning with Candy Cane Lane's games of skill! Of course, there's Santa's SplashZone for when the wee ones get too hot. Sports fans will enjoy the Go-Kart track, mini golf and zipline or treetop adventures at Sportsland and Eaglecrest!

Website: http://www.santasvillage.ca

Price: 2010 rates aren't posted yet, but you can buy a season's pass for only $59.95 plus tax (before June 18, 2010).

2. Muskoka Wildlife Centre

It's not a zoo. It's a place to learn about wildlife conservation in an interactive way. In addition to the indoor exhibits and 50 acres of walking trails, visitors can participate in animal encounters of their own! Daily encounters could include a bird of prey demonstration, a wolf howl or even a 'Meet the Creature' event! Many of the animal residents were pets at one time, but all have been placed at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre to live their lives in safety and comfort. The Centre provides a tremendous opportunity for people of all ages to learn about Ontario wildlife.

Website: http://www.muskokawildlifecentre.com

Price: Adult $12.75 Teen/Senior $10.75 Child $9.75 Family (2 adults & up to 3 children) $45.00

3. Muskoka Back Country Paintball

16 acres of pure adrenalin rush fun can be found at Muskoka Back Country Paintball. A family business just outside of Bracebridge, this field of fun is laid out among the rocks and trees of the real Muskoka landscape! Whether as a family fun day or a team / group outing, Muskoka Back Country Paintball has it all, including a Pro Shop for anything you might need to make your day complete! All players need to be at least 10 (ten) years of age to participate but be sure that players of all ages above 10 will have a... blast? Groups big and small can get some exercise while having a great time amongst the trees of the Muskoka wilderness.

Website: www.backcountrypaintball.com

Price: Regular Paintball Entry Fee $20 per player includes; Rental marker a set of goggles and unlimited HPA or CO2. Additional paintballs, group rates and more are available on the website.

Map with attractions

1. Rent a cottage in Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain is the most famous ski resort in Ontario. Beside Intrawest resort there are many cozy ski chalets and beautiful lake cottages available from private owners and professional cottage rental agencies. Blue Mountain offers amazing weekend getaway just 1.5 hour drive from Toronto where you can combine threal of downhill skiing with the relaxation in Scandinavian spa. To find the best cottage based on your needs use FindCottage.ca unique search engine.

Website: Blue Mountain cottage rentals

Price: Prices start as low as $700 per winter weekend and drop a little during summer months. Be ready to pay the premium price if you want to spend New Years or Christmas at Blue Mountain.

2. Ski from the top of Blue mountain

Blue Mountain stretches across the Niagara Escarpment with 720 vertical feet, 15 lifts, and 36 trails ranging from beginner to double black diamond. You will enjoy plenty of on-snow time, with four high-speed six-person lifts across the resort. If you prefer to hit the hills after the sun sets, Blue Moutnain has you covered with 24 trails and 11 lifts under the lights. Blue Mountain Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in Ontario and it offers ski rentals, beginner lessons, 4-star accommodations and has very cozy ski village.

Website: http://www.bluemountain.ca/

Price: Lift tickets are $56 per adult during the day and $45 during the night skiing. If you come to Blue Mountain often or stay there for a week - season passes provide great value. For example, Sunday-Thursday day plus all week night (5x7) skiing will cost you only $169 per season.

3. Relax in Le Scandinave Spa

Le Scandinave Spa is a Nordic-style spa in woodland setting with all-weather pools and saunas. While enjoying the steaming-hot pool and thermal waterfall, bathers can observe beautiful Blue Mountain. Spa treatments-Swedish, hot stone and Thai yoga massages-typically follow the hot-cold bathing routine: first heating the body in the log cabin sauna, steam room or any of the three hot pools to open up the pores, then plunging into a cold water pool. After performing the ritual three times, your muscles are considered sufficiently softened up for a massage.

Website: http://www.scandinave.com/en/bluemountain/

Price: The cost is $44 for bath and $115 for an hour session of high-class massage.

4. Hit Wasaga Beach

Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world - 14 km long. The beach itself is white and sandy.

The beach is divided into smaller beaches with the public beaches numbered 1 to 6 sequentially from east to west. A boardwalk runs most of the way along Beach 1 and 2. Beach 1 draws the largest crowds, with the popularity quality of the beaches decreasing the further west.

West of the main beaches is another large beach (New Wasaga) that has many houses and cottages with direct access to beach.

Wasaga Beach has a good variety of accommodations and restaurant choices. Throughout the summer there is a different event almost every weekend, lots of choices for evening entertainment and an endless variety of summer sporting activities.

Price: Free

5. Visit Scenic Caves and Walk the Suspension Bridge

Both Scenic Caves and Suspension Bridge are conveniently located in the park just minutes away from the Blue Mountain.

Take part in a self-guided hike along the trails through the caves and caverns.

Once inside the labyrinth of caves you will feel a connection with the Petun people who once used these very caves as protection and shelter from the weather and their enemies.

For the more adventurous, you can descend into the ice cave that is so deep and cold that snow and ice can usually be seen even in the early summer.

The Suspension Bridge is at the highest point on the Niagara Escarpment, suspended high above the ground. Visitors have the most spectacular view of Georgian Bay and the surrounding countryside that is 10,000 square-km of awe-inspiring view. At 126 meters long, 25 meters above the valley and stream, and more than 300 meters above Georgian Bay, it is the longest suspension footbridge in Ontario.

Website: http://www.sceniccaves.com/

Price: Admission to the Scenic Caves adventure park (both Scenic Caves and Suspension Bridge) is $19 per adult. Park operates during May-October. It is also open in winter for cross-country skiing.

6. Take a Plunge!

Plunge! is the ultimate, all ages, four season water adventure at the base of Blue Mountain Ski Resort.

Inspired from the tradition of cottage-style boathouses, Plunge! is an authentic and magical expression of a place and its people. Indoor-outdoor pools, indoor water playground, hot tubs, rope swings, docks and slides are sure to provide year-round fun. Or, if you prefer, simply watch all the action from the comfort of your dock chair.
Plunge! has something for everyone, infant to senior. With swimming lessons, water fitness, and more, kids and children will have fun, as will the adults in the family.

Website: http://plungebluemountain.ca/

Price: Rates are flexible: full and half-day, family pass, etc. Regular full day rate for adult is $17 and for 3-13 year old child - $12.

Map with attractions

1. Rent a cottage in Haliburton Highlands

Haliburton Highlands is one of the top cottage destinations in Ontario that has activities for everyone on hundred of interconnected lakes, forests, golf courses and in beautiful Haliburton village.

Website: Haliburton Cottage Rentals

Price: In summer average price is $1500-$3000 CAN per week and most cottages rented on weekly basis only starting from Saturday. In winter prices drop to $1000-$2000 per week and the duration of the rent become more flexible.

2. Go on the Canopy Tour - "Walk in the clouds"

"Walk in the clouds" is unforgetable 4-hours trip for nature lovers that takes you thorough basic element of nature - earth, water and air. It starts through guided van trip through the private lands of Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve.
Then you will have short half-a-kilometer walk along the scenic Pelaw River following guided canoe ride across a wilderness lake to the final destination.

The canopy boardwalk is the ultimate highlight of this outing. Over half a kilometer long - and as such the longest of its kind in the world - the canopy boardwalk winds through the treetops some 10-20 meters above the forest floor.

A spectacular view across the lakes and forests becomes a fitting closure to your tree top tour.

Website: http://www.haliburtonforest.com/canopy.html

Price: $95 per person including Wolf Reserve visit and it is required to reserve your tour in advance. The tour runs every day during the summer and children 10 or older allowed for this tour.

3. Visit Sculpture Forest

The Haliburton Sculpture Forest is a unique outdoor collection of sculptures by Canadian and international artists. The trails in the Sculpture Forest for walking and bike riding in spring, summer and fall and skiing in the winter, provide changing perspectives of the forest and the sculptures in each of the seasons.

The Sculpture Forest experience, which is unstructured and unscripted, is ideal for families looking for an interesting outing, for those who enjoy outdoor trails, and for people looking for a unique artistic experience.

A full tour takes approximately 1 - 1.5 hours and includes a tour guide who will provide you with background on the artists, the sculptures and the Sculpture Forest.

Website: http://www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca

Price: The price of the tour is $5 per person, however you can take advantage of free admission on every Tuesday in July and August.

4. Visit Haliburton Forest Wolf Center

The Wolf Centre contains large indoor observatory overlooking the feeding area within the wolf compound. Most likely you will have a chance to observe wolf pack or individual members especially if you stay for longer period, but it is not guaraneed. There are also numerous exhibits, a small cinema/classroom, a retail area featuring a wide selection of wolf related books, tapes and graphics. So, at the end of you stay you will become a wolf expert.

Website: http://www.haliburtonforest.com/wolf.html

Price: Adult: $9.00; Children and Youths under 18: $6.00; Family: $20.00

5. Play golf in the Pine trees

If you're looking for a scenic and challenging golfing experience, Haliburton is the place to be.

The main feature of most Haliburton golf courses is amazingly tall pine trees and beautiful landscapes featuring hills and lakes.

Most golf courses offer varied terrain, lush fairways and excellent greens-keeping, as well as a fully equipped golf shop, cart rental, rental clubs, and driving range where you can warm-up before the game.

Here are some main golf clubs and hotel resorts that have website and are available to public:
Pinestone Resort,
Martinwood Resort,
Haliburton Highlands Golf Course,
Blairhampton Golf Club.

Price: Around $25-$40 for 9-holes and $50-$80 for 18-holes courses.

6. Drive ATV on Haliburton terrain

ATVs are all-terrain vehicles where the driver sits on and drives like a motorcycle. The only difference with motorcycle is that ATV gives you more stability.

With one of the largest trail systems in Ontario, Haliburton has over thousand kilometers of breathtaking ATV trails to offer outdoor enthusiasts. You and your family or friends can choose from easy scenic forest trails or more intermediate trails filled with mud bogs, river crossing steep hills, and one of a kind fault line terrain.

If you have your own ATV, you can just register with Haliburton ATV association and for $12 they will give you a map with the trail pass. If you don't own ATV and you still want to try it, you can rent ATV from Back Country tours.

Website: http://www.backcountrytours.ca

Price: Starting from $70 per hour

7. Climb Dorset Lookout Tower

Dorset Lookout Tower is a former fire tower that is over 100 feet tall and stands 365 feet above the Lake of Bays and the village of Dorset. It has beautiful breath-taking views and many radiant trails that start from the Tower.

You can enjoy picnic areas along with hiking trails. It is open to the public from end of May till middle of October.

Website: http://www.algonquinhighlands.ca/tower/index.html

Price: $4 per car

8. Kayak in Minden Wild Water Preserve

Minden Wild Water Preserve is the site of past Provincial and World Cup whitewater events.

Come and see professional paddlers challenge the tumbling waters of our World Class white water course. You can watch pros and amateurs battle it out in annual competitions, or even try it yourself through the beginner courses offered throughout the summer.

Powered by "Whitewater Ontario", the introductory kayak clinic is intended for first time paddlers or for those who wish to improve their basic kayaking skills. The course is designed as an introduction to recreational kayaking. The skills you will learn can be used for whitewater, touring, or sea kayaking.

Website: http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/index.php

Price: Kayak Clinic costs $220 per adult and $180 per junior

9. Ride the horse on Algonquin Trails

South Algonquin Trails offers you a horseback riding experience with certified trail guides.

Conveniently located between Haliburton and Bancroft, the area provides a natural environment for seeing rock outcroppings, ponds, beaver dams, streams, rivers, rugged hills, huge pine trees, and bear claw marks on the beech trees.

Operated during the summer months.

Website: http://www.southalgonquintrails.com/

Price: The prices start from $50 per hour per rider.

10. Discover Haliburton arts

Haliburton is famous for its artists.

You will find hundreds of artists that specialize in oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, pottery, creative woodworking, needle art, sculpture and wood carving, metal works and blacksmithing, photography, sepia drawings, fabric art, home decor, handcrafted gifts, cottage accessories, folk art just to name a few.

Around every corner in Haliburton you'll see a gallery, a studio, a museum, or a theatre.

You can visit numerous shops and art galleries in Haliburton village, observe artists or even take short course.

Haliburton School of arts offers an amazing range of week long and weekend courses throughout the year.
Straw bale construction, digital photography, stained glass workshops, and watercolour painting classes are just a few of the courses available.

Website: http://www.haliburtonschoolofthearts.ca/

Price: Starts as low as $1.

11. Ski Haliburton Nordic Trails

The Haliburton Nordic Trails Association maintains a series of distinct trail systems comprising nearly 100km of groomed trails for the cross-country ski enthusiast.

Trails feature skate and classic grooming patterns, a 1.5 km lit-loop for night skiing, some trails suitable for novice skiers, and some of the most challenging terrain for cross-country skiing in Ontario.

Website: http://www.skihaliburton.com/

Map with attractions

1. Rent a cottage in Bruce Peninsula

Bruce Peninsula offers very unique nature envrionment based on crystal blue water, ancient rocks and clear sky that is very healthy for humans. The best way to enjoy Bruce Peninsula is to spend whole week exploring its wonders in the wide variety of cottages offered by private owners and professional rental agencies. And the best way to find the perfect place from this wide variety is to use FindCottage.ca website.

Website: Bruce Peninsula cottage rentals

Price: In summer most cottages are rented on the weekly bases starting from Saturday. Average price during the summer months is $1000-$2500 per week. During late spring and early fall you can get the best deal and in winter most cottages are closed.

2. Explore Flowerpot Island

Flowerpots are rock formations that have a shape of flowerpots and are formed by erosion and separation of portion of the mainland rock. The process takes millions of years and it is still happening today. Flowerpot Island is an island (that was part of the land bridge connecting Bruce Peninsula with Manitoulin Island) that has two Flowerpot Formations is just short boat ride away from Tobermory.

The island contains 6 km trail system that takes you around the island interior. It leads you through variety of forest settings and naturally formed caves (you get to them climbing beautiful wooden staircases). This place is also a beautiful nesting place for many birds and other animals. To get to the island you need to take the tour boat.

Website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/amnc-nmca/on/fathomfive/index_E.asp

Price: The tour boats prices range from $25 to $40 per adult.

3. Hike Bruce Trail in Bruce Peninsula National Park

The Bruce Peninsula Nation Park was established in 1987, and it is a part of the Niagara Escarpment. The park is 156 square kilometers, and is considered to be one of the largest protected park areas in southern Ontario. Visitors of the park get an opportunity to see how the southern Ontario wilderness once looked.

The park is great for outdoor adventures such as hiking and camping. The parks main attraction is its preserved wildlife such as deer, chipmunk, red squirrel, black bear and foxes. The park also features a wide variety of flowering orchids, of which there is 44 species in the park.

Hikers should check out the breath taking views from the Overhanging Point, Halfway Rock point, Cave Point and Halfway Log Dump.
All of those are very famous sightseeing places, and if you are there, make sure to check out the Grotto, a huge cave formation with Georgian Bay water in its bottom.

Website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/bruce/index.aspx

Price: Daily parking is $11.70 per car. Camping is $23.50 per night.

4. Dive clear waters to see ship-wrecks

Tobermory, small village that is located on top of Bruce Peninsula, attracts many diving enthusiasts, mainly because there are tons of stuff to see underwater. There are over twenty ship wrecks in the clear waters of Tobermory, many of them dating back to mid-19th and early 20th centuries. The underwater beauty doesn't stop with the ships; beneath the water you will find beautiful corals, underwater caves and stunning geological formations.

There are few locations in Tobermory that organize scuba adventures and rent diving gear:
Diver's Den, G+S Watersports.

Website: http://www.diversden.ca/

Price: The prices start from $40 per dive and packages that include gear and dive start from $120. You are required to have a diver license.

5. Ride Chi-Cheemaun Ferry with your car

The MS Chi-Cheemaun is a passenger and a car ferry service that has been in operation since 1930s. The ferry goes between Tobermory and South Baymouth on Manatoulin Island and connects the two geographically-separate portions of Highway 6, the service runs seasonally from mid-May to mid-October.

It completely worth to spend one full or even multiple days on Manitoulin Island that is the world's largest freshwater island famous for its spectacular sunsets, scenic landscapes and tranquility.

The ferry has a capacity for carrying 648 passengers and 143 vehicles, including room for large transport vehicles such as buses and transport trucks.

Website: http://www.ontarioferries.com/chi/english/index.html

Price: The prices for Adults start at $15.95, rates per vehicle range from $34.70-$74.50.

6. Hit Sauble Beach

Sauble Beach is a resort area on the eastern shores of Lake Huron, and it is a very popular tourist attraction in Bruce Peninsula. The shoreline is over 11km long, and is said to be the second longest freshwater beach in the world after Wasaga Beach. The shoreline has an interesting phenomenon that has developed sand dunes, which keep the beach very shallow and warm, and that makes it a perfect family getaway with children.

Sauble Beach is endless for the activities such as swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, tennis, beach volleyball and etc. Sauble Beach is also very popular among the cottage owners and renters, to accommodate a lot of people, Sauble beach is filled with local business that provide great food, restaurants, hotels, daycare and a medical clinic. Many restaurants on Sauble Beach provide free high-speed internet connection, so even if you are on vacation, you can always stay connected.

Website: http://www.saublebeach.com/

Price: Free

7. Enjoy the spirit of Tobermory village

Tobermory village is a small community (local population - 500 residents) that is located at the top point of Bruce Peninsula. The village itself is very popular tourist attraction - there are a lot of restaurants and cafes (popular dish is the local white fish), beautiful harbour with many private and tour boats, cozy motels and Bed & Breakfast cottages.

The lives and activities of Tobermory's residents have always centered around boats and the two, fine harbors of Big Tub and Little Tub. Its strategic location has made Tobermory a port of refuge for canoe, mackinaw boat, schooner, steamer and yacht. The harbors have also provided an ideal base of operations to fleets of fishing tugs, the Manitoulin car ferries, guide boats, dive tugs and tour boats. At the begining of past century during the boom of logs cut, there were 3 sawmills operationg in Tobermory. In 1930s the focus sweetched to guide boats and eventually it became one of the main tourist destinations in Ontario.

There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in Tobermory. Popular dish around the village is the local white fish. There is also a wide range of local accommodations such as hotels, cottages, Bed & Breakfasts and campgrounds. In general, Tobermory is a perfect getaway spot for families, photographers, divers, hikers and everyone who loves beautiful nature.

Website: http://www.tobermory.org/public/jpage/1/p/Home/content.do

8. Camp at Sauble Falls Provincial Park

Sauble Falls Provincial Park is located in south part of Bruce Peninsula, in the lower base of Sauble River. The park is divided in campgrounds, the side on the west is a quiet site, while the east side is not, and perfect for group camping. The park is also great because you don't necessarily need to camp there, as you can just enjoy Sauble Falls.

During spring and fall the area is perfect for fishing enthusiasts as Rainbow Trout and Chinook salmon are popular fish in the Sauble Fall. In the summer people tend to do a lot of water activities around the park, such as water rafting and cliff jumping.

Website: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/saub.html

Price: Camp site rentals are usually from $25.75 to $40.00 depending if the site has electricity or not.

9. Ride a Mountain Bike at Adventure park

For adventures mountain bikers Bruce Peninsula can offer Mountain Bike Adventure Park - the Eastern Canada's first legal free-ride mountain bike park. The park is located just north of Wiarton. The park has over 20 km of trails and it features rock drops, skinnys, suspension bridges, teeter totters and dirt jumps. The trails also vary by difficulty levels, so this makes the park appealing to all kind of riders. Admission to the park is FREE!

If you are more into recreational biking, you can still enjoy on many paths around Tobermory and if you don't have a bicycle, it is not a problem since there are rentals available right in Tobermory.

Website: http://www.mtbthebruce.com/

Price: Bicycle Rent is around $15.50 to $23.50 per day of biking.

10. Visit Neyaashiinigaamiing First Nations reserve

Neyaashiinigaamiing or in other words Cape Croker is the name of the reserve located just north of Wiarton. A First Nations community that still lives there is big part of Bruce Peninsula and its history, as they have lived there for centuries.

Neyaashiinigaamiing is surrounded by Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment, so the scenery is incredible. The area is saturated with exotic plants and wildlife, and of course the native community. While visiting you can check out the trails that take you through the reserve, you can also purchase souvenirs and learn a lot about Bruce Peninsula and its First Nations history.

Website: http://www.capecrokerpark.com

11. Explore Bruce's Caves

Bruce's Caves Conservation Area is located 4.8km northeast of Wiarton. The conservation area is almost 7 hectares in size; it consists of Niagara Escarpment, rock talus, upland hardwoods, wooded swamp and caves.

The main cave has a 20 m high portal with a stone pillar in the entrance. The caves are significant in that they dramatically illustrate ancient weathering processes and the magnitude of post-glacial lake levels created 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. The caves are for you to enjoy for free, parking is also available near by.

Website: http://www.brucegreytrails.com/trail.php?Trail=15

Price: Free