By admin Thursday, February 5, 2015

Winters can be tough in Ontario, so it’s a good idea to have some fun indoor plans.  We’ve gathered some fabulous indoor activities to keep you and your family both warm and entertained during the cold days of winter.

Gaming & Racing:

When you’re ready to escape the great outdoors, why not try your luck at a casino?  With plenty to choose from and a range of games for all skill levels, you’ll be able to play the day away.  Here are some great casinos that we’ve found all across Ontario:  In Port Perry (GTA), there’s the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino where you’ll find 60 table games and 539 slot machines, plus award winning dining.  All across Ontario, there are OLG Slots & Casinos where you can enjoy the excitement of Vegas style slots, table games, great entertainment & fabulous food right here at home.  In Ottawa, there’s the Rideau Carlton Raceway where you can see year round, live, standardbred harness horse racing.

Outlet Malls

What could be better than a little retail therapy to chase away the winter blues?  You don’t even have to travel all the way to the US to get some great deals – we have fantastic outlet malls right here in Ontario.  In Cookstown (Central Ont.), and in Ottawa, check out Tanger Outlets where you can shop the day away at over 50 brand name stores.  In Niagara, there’s the Outlet Collection at Niagara and in the GTA, check out Toronto Premium Outlets.

Waterpark & Amusement Parks:

You can feel like it’s summer again at the many indoor waterparks & amusement parks across the province.  In Richmond Hill (GTA), there’s The Wave Pool where you can have tons of safe fun on the waterslide, in the waves or in the swirl pool. In Mississauga, there’s Playdium and in Etobicoke, visit Fantasy Fair at Woodbine Center; both are fabulous choices for indoor fun in the GTA.  In Kitchener (Southwestern Ont.), Bingemans FunworX Indoor Playland is the largest indoor playland in the area. Other indoor amusement parks & waterparks across the province include:  Midway Family Fun Park in Ottawa, Plunge Aquatic Center at Blue Mountain in Central Ontario.

Major Attractions:

Winter or summer, there are so many fabulous indoor attractions that can be enjoyed year round – here are just a few. You can feel like you’re in a tropical paradise at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory (Southwestern Ont.) where 1000’s of butterflies & many varieties of tropical birds circle your head as you stroll through the beautiful & lush tropical garden. In Sudbury, (Northern Ont.) you can go underground as you explore the mysteries & wonders of the earth at Dynamic Earth Sudbury, a Science North Attraction. In Niagara, Bird Kingdom is the “largest indoor free flying aviary in the world.”  Toronto is also home to many major attractions like the CN Tower, the Ripley’s Aquarium & the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Just remember that the shortest day of the year has already passed, so we are already on our way to spring! We’ve found that embracing winter and being outdoors is the best way to make the winter months pass quickly, but for those days when the cold weather temporarily keeps you inside, it is great to have a list of indoor fun activities ready.