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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Winter in Ontario Q&A WITH KATHERINE PALUMBO — TRAVEL WRITER & AWARD WINNING DIGITAL CREATOR Katherine Palumbo is the storyteller behind @explore.ontario, one of Ontario’s leading travel-focused content creators. With a passion for showcasing local experiences, hidden gems, and seasonal adventures, she has built a trusted community of Ontario travelers seeking inspiration close to home. How important is it to you to support local businesses and tourism partners through your content? I started Explore Ontario nearly a decade ago and have never strayed from the mission of only working with partners that are located here in Ontario. From tourism boards to overnight stays, brands, events, and businesses — they are 100 per cent Ontario founded and focused. It’s important for me to highlight and promote local businesses as we should all try to support the communities we live in as much as possible. My goal has always been to provide people with Ontario travel ideas and to communicate that some of the best places in the world are located right here in our own backyards.
How do you think Ontario’s winter season sets itself apart from other destinations you’ve visited? Ontario stands out because of how much there is to do here during winter. Our winters can be long and harsh, but as a province, we have done an excellent job at embracing winter and making the best of it. From skiing at Blue Mountain to skating through a forest at Arrowhead Provincial Park, to frozen waterfall hikes, and “igloo” dining experiences, Ontario has something for everyone.
How do you hope your content inspires people to see winter in Ontario differently? My goal with Explore Ontario is options, options, options. Whether you’re someone who loves winter sports, someone experiencing mobility issues, someone travelling with young children and or/animals, travelling on a budget, or someone who simply prefers a more ‘relaxed’ approach to the season, you will find something on Explore Ontario that resonates with you.
EXPLORING YEARROUND ADVENTURE AT HALIBURTON FOREST
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aliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve Ltd. is a certified sustainably managed 100,000-acre forest. The organization is Rainbow Registered and works closely with surrounding First Nations communities. Its mission is to get people out into the forest and onto the land to build an appreciation for sustainability, conservation, and inclusivity through meaningful experiences. Best known year-round for its Wolf Centre, the reserve also offers a range of other experiences, cozy accommodations, summer and winter camping, and an on-site restaurant. In the winter, it’s an outdoor lover’s mecca. Whether you’re an angler, snowmobiler, ATVer, hiker, or snowshoer, nature lover, or adventurer, there’s something for you. The reserve offers snowmobile and snowshoe rentals, along with guided experiences, including fully outfitted ice fi shing, snowmobiling, and ice climbing. Guests can also explore on their own by foot, snowmobile, or ATV. For indoor activities, visitors can tour the Wolf Centre or try glassblowing, medieval combat, or painting with wolves. To learn more visit haliburtonforest.com.
Read the entire interview with Katherine on innovatingcanada.ca. Be sure to follow @explore.ontario on Instagram for more winter inspiration.
ENJOY A NOCO ESCAPE:
Art, the Outdoors, and Pure Relaxation Treat yourself to peace this winter. Be inspired by the art and the scenery, then indulge in soulful self-care in Northumberland County. Jen Mallia
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ugging the shore of Lake Ont a r io i s cha r m i ng Northumberland County, or NoCo. It’s a delightful spot for a not-too-far-away weekend escape and, in the wintertime, it just might be the idyllic getaway you need.
Artful adventures The towns in Northumberland are a treasure trove of galleries and museums. Cobourg is home to the Art Gallery of Northumberland. With more than 950 works of art, it’s the largest public gallery in the region. Continue your art tour at the Northumberland Arts Gallery and Shop in Port Hope, the Presqu’ile Waddling Art Centre in Brighton, the Colborne Art Gallery, and the Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth, where you’ll discover a variety of local and visiting talent. For art with a side of quirk, visit some larger-than-life NoCo spots to snap your own arty photos. Check out the Giant Toonie in Campbellford; Colborne’s Big Apple; Pisces Pete, the 12-foot walleye sculpture in Hastings; or Presqu'ile Point Lighthouse, a 69-foot octagonal stone tower in Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
A breath of fresh air Treat yourself to some frosty time outdoors in NoCo. The region has seasonal hiking and fat biking trails, and cool birding opportunities. Strap on your boots for a hike along the Northumberland Rail Trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail) in Hastings or head to the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge for a winter thrill near Campbellford. Fat bike through the snow in the Northumberland County Forest, starting at the Woodland or Carstairs trailheads. Bird numbers are reduced in the winter, but Presqu’ile Provincial Park is still a hotspot for birders on the lookout for longtailed ducks, snowy owls, and, sometimes, surprise migratory visitors. Haute Goat in Port Hope will show you why winter is a great season for disc golf. Fewer crowds and bare trees make it the perfect time to hone your skills. Bonus: when your round is done, you can say hi to the goats and farm animals that call Haute Goat home.
Indulge in wellness The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be exhausting. A visit to Northumberland County is the perfect way to set yourself
up for a season of wellness. For those looking for an overnight wellness option, Ste. Anne’s Spa and Northumberland Heights Wellness Retreat and Spa are both popular. The outdoor hydrotherapy pools at Ste. Anne’s in Grafton (named one of Canada’s Best Spas by Destination Canada) are delightful, even in the colder weather. A variety of accommodation options are available, and the all-inclusive pricing system makes your visit a breeze. At Northumberland Heights in Cobourg, you’ll find a range of spa treatments, including Ayurvedic therapies. There are trails to walk and get your body moving, and an onsite restaurant to nourish yourself. Overnight accommodations have been renovated and include an ADA-compliant, accessible suite. There are plenty of other wellness options in Northumberland, too. Relax in a float tank or challenge yourself with hot and cold therapy, book an appointment at a spa with soothing scalp massages, or experience a salt cave oasis for the ultimate peace and quiet.
Give yourself the gift of a winter escape, close to home. Go Northumberlanding! To learn more about what the county has to offer, visit northumberland tourism.com. This article was sponsored by Northumberland Tourism.
Publisher: Jonah Sofer Country Manager: Samantha Taylor Content & Client Success Manager: Nicole Kansakar Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Toronto Star or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.