We once again took the kiddies to Blue Mountain over the Christmas Break and this year it was even better!
Our itinerary for the day was as follows: (keep in mind that although we had a fairly organized schedule of events - day tripping with kids always has its surprises!)
- Leave at 9am
- Arrive at 10:30 and head straight to the pool https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/activities/plunge-aquatic-centre
- Lunch at 12:30 - not sure where?
- On the tubing hills by 2:00 https://www.bluemountain.ca/things-to-do/activities/hike-n-tube
- Head to the Village after for hot chocolate and some shopping (not sure what I was thinking with the shopping...especially with kids -ha!)
- Dinner at 5:00 http://www.firehallpizza.com/
- Head home by 6:30
- Home by 8:00 - kids already asleep
Ok so here's what really happened...
- We left at 9:15 - not bad, good start!
- We arrived around 11:00 due to washroom breaks and the horrible driving conditions...the roads were literally snow covered north of Hwy. 9
- We managed to be in the pool by almost noon and it was definitely worth the wait...everyone had a lot of fun! The best part was probably the outdoor hot tub and because it was so cold that day, it wasn't too crowded.
- By 1:30 we were in the ski chalet eating our lunch and despite the signs that said No Outside Food, none of the employees seemed to care. I felt a little guilty though so we purchased a few items from the cafeteria.
- At 2:30 everyone went tubing except for Jack and Irelynn. My girlfriend and I took them for hot chocolate.
- At 3:30 Jack decided to take a nap on the floor at Starbucks.
- At 4:15 we decided to check out the restaurant and thankfully we did because although they don't take reservations, you can give them your name and they send you a text when they have a table ready!
- By 5:00 we were seated at our tables - back on track!
- We headed home around 6:30 but unfortunately we were faced with even worse driving conditions! The white-outs were one after another making it extremely difficult to see the roads. Eventually it did get better, but it was pretty late by the time we got home. It was past 10:00 before we finally unpacked the car and got everyone into bed.
Of course we managed to pick one of the coldest days this winter to be outside, but despite the frigid temperatures and a few minor obstacles, our family had a great day. This was in part due to fact that the activities we planned were really kid friendly, but mostly we owe it all to the people we spent the day with...this year we invited our neighbours and one of my best girlfriends. Not only did the kids have the time of their lives playing together, but it made being outside in the freezing cold temperatures a little more motivating. Friends make everything better! Having my girlfriend with us was also a huge bonus. My kids absolutely adore her and she is always such a big help. To be honest, the day wouldn't have been possible without her there. My hubby and I are obviously outnumbered, but it's even more challenging when we try to go anywhere as a family and Blue Mountain is no exception.
A few helpful tidbits...
- There is parking right next to the Aquatics Center and it is open to the public (not just guests)
- Children 6 and under must be within arms reach of an adult while in the water
- The tubing hills cater to families with younger children (3-12 would be the ideal age) and there are no height requirements. Children under the age of 3 are able use the hills but must be comfortable going on the tube without an adult.
- The restaurant we chose is very family friendly but doesn't take reservations. It's first come, first served...so be sure to get there early.
- We brought our large running stroller which has enormous wheels - ideal for the snow covered terrain. It also kept the younger kiddies warm and was great for storing all our things.
Have a great week!
Comments
Post a Comment