Try to fit in a winter camping trip this year
Big, transoceanic, intercontinental trips certainly have their appeal, but for many of us, time constraints and financial limitations may mean that these big trips aren’t quite yet realistic. If you find yourself in this situation, do not despair! There are plenty of amazing and affordable places to visit within Canada, and such trips can help you connect with your inner patriot as you come to appreciate some of the places which make this country so great. Camping is the perfect way to have an inexpensive holiday and experience some of the great outdoors, and, most importantly, it’s not just a summer activity.
Tent-camping in the winter can be very challenging, and can get quite expensive if you don’t come from a family of outdoors people who have gear readily available. Fortunately, there are several comfortable alternatives to bringing your own shelter. Yurts are traditional Mongolian dwellings which are a cross between a tent and cabin. They are moveable, extremely comfortable, weather resistant, and they are available to rent in Ontario!
Many provincial parks now offer yurts year-round, in addition to cabins, platform tents, and traditional tent-camping lots. Instead of being made from traditional materials, like wood and animal skins, the yurts offered in Ontario Parks are made of a thermal, weather-resistant fabric placed over a metal frame, and built on a wooden platform. They are equipped with heaters and bunk-beds, and can fit up to six people. Some yurts even allow pets, so you can bring along your beloved dog – or cat. While there are fire-pits available with all the yurts, they also come with a barbeque and a sheltered eating area. The comfortable environment of a yurt gives you a great base from which to explore some of the most picturesque Canadian landscapes without sacrificing convenience. Ontario Parks have far fewer visitors in the winter, so there is more of an authentic sense of being alone with nature and with your close friends or family than at other times of the year.
If you do decide to spend a night or two in a yurt, activities you can take part in include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and, at some parks, even skating. Macgregor Point creates and maintains an ice-trail through the woods for visitors to skate on. No matter how old you are it’s hard not to pretend you’ve just stepped into the movie Frozen. I know it makes me want to build a snow man.
After a day of exploring, you can come back to your comfy yurt without worries, and enjoy the rest of your evening. Since you don’t have to worry about maintaining a fire or shelter for survival, you can sit back with a glass of whatever suits you – hot cacao, coffee, a glass of wine, the list goes on – and enjoy!