Tag: blue mountain

3 Ways To “Get Together” Apart This Holiday Season

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood things to do

The holidays are a time when you get to enjoy time with family and friends while getting a bit of a break before you dive into the new year. You often think about the year’s accomplishments and set goals for the future. However, this year is not like others. 

If you want to get together with your extended family and friends this holiday season, you will have to do it “apart.” Thankfully, the pandemic happened at a time in history when connecting with people worldwide and in your own town is easier than ever.

Outlined below are three ways that you can “get together” apart this holiday season. While the pandemic might limit how close you can get to each other, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some good conversation and laughs from afar. 

Zoom Recipe Swap

While you can have a video conference with all your extended family to catch up and hear about each other’s lives, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming with everyone trying to speak at once. Sometimes it helps to have a goal for the call rather than hope everyone is willing to chat into the computer screen. A great way to enhance these video calls is by exchanging recipes beforehand with your family members and planning to cook them on the same night. After you have eaten, or even while you are eating, you can do a conference call and talk about how the recipes went. This activity is a great way to share traditions and celebrate the holiday spirit without leaving your home. 

Neighbourhood Campfire

Many people throughout Ontario and the Collingwood area have close relationships with their neighbourhood. Many people have even bubbled up with their neighbours during the pandemic as they see them nearly every day. If you live in a neighbourhood with some of your closest friends and family members, you may be tempted to have an indoor get-together, but unfortunately, that can’t happen. Instead, bundle up and get together with our neighbourhood at an outdoor campfire. You can visit some of the Collingwood hotspots or meet in someone’s backyard. 

Decorating a wild tree can be a fun socially-distanced activity.

Wild Tree Decorating

The wonderful thing about living in the Collingwood area is that most neighborhoods are in proximity to densely wooded areas with wildlife and beautiful pine trees. Go to a local wooded area and spend some time decorating a wild pine tree in some of your favorite decorations. You can bring a portable speaker and a thermos of hot chocolate. Together you will be able to enjoy the holiday spirit while keeping your distance and staying outside.

Even though the holidays are looking a little different this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t still try and make it as festive as possible. By doing a video conference recipe exchange, a neighborhood fire, or decorating a wild pine tree, you can get a taste of a regular holiday season without putting yourself at risk.  

 

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Preparing For A COVID-19 Collingwood Ski Season

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood things to do / Uncategorized

With an unprecedented year coming to a close and some cold and unpredictable months ahead, more people are thinking about how to get their daily recreation and leisure in during the winter. Skiing, the perfect combination of exercise and recreation, has long been a winter pastime for many Canadians throughout the country (primarily on the West Coast, in Quebec and Ontario.) 

Collingwood, one of Ontario’s most coveted ski destinations and the home of some established mountain resorts and private clubs, is witnessing a changing tide that could change not just the face of the mountains, but skiing accessibility in general. As more mountains prepare for a busy winter and try to navigate COVID-19 protocols without going under, skiers try to comprehend how they should approach the snowy season. 

If you are a skier and wondering what you can do to stay safe while also skiing regularly, you will need some advice. Whether you plan on moving to the area or are a long time visitor, these tips will help you feel more confident about the months ahead. 

Contact Hills Individually

A big mistake you might make this ski season is assuming the rules are the same at each ski hill. While past winters were as easy as driving up to a resort, unloading your gear, and hitting the lift, things are different now, much different. As most hills will be swamped trying to invoke a new system for booking and renting, you need to ensure you have the correct details before jumping in the car. 

If you are already living in the Blue Mountains area, currently looking for homes, or coming in from the city, knowing how each hill is approaching the season will help you prepare. You can find out what their scheduling system is like, what their COVID protocols are, and other information that will better inform your excursion. 

Avoid Renting

For tourists and people looking to try skiing for the first time, renting equipment is useful, especially if you realize you never want to do it again. However, if you tend to ski every year, even if only once or twice, but have never bought yourself gear, this is the year you should. Renting requirements could make your ski excursion more complicated, increasing wait times or costing you more money than usual. 

If you invest in some good skis or borrow from a friend, you will be better prepared for the Collingwood ski season. As you might also have to ski somewhere further from home or at a hill you’ve never visited, having your own equipment will ensure you actually ski and aren’t just waiting for your friends and family to finish.

Stay Updated

If there was ever a time to listen to the news, it’s now. With COVID-19 protocols in constant flux and more news regarding the months ahead being released every second, you should be staying up to date. Keeping informed about the issues and the state of various winter activities like skiing in the Collingwood area will ensure you don’t miss any critical information. 

Preparation will be necessary if you want to ski this winter in the Collingwood area. If you contact the various hills and find out their protocols, avoid renting and stay informed, you will plan your trip more effectively. While the upcoming months may be different than others, if there’s anything Canadians handle best, it’s the unpredictability of winter.

 

 

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Collingwood Ski & Snowboard Swap

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Let’s face it: Collingwood is well-known for its skiing. People from all over Ontario know the Blue Mountain area for its well-maintained and beautiful Blue Mountain and the rich skiing and snowboarding opportunities it provides. With 42 runs, 16 chairlifts and three freestyle terrains, it is one of the largest resorts in Ontario. Ever since Jozo Weider signed an agreement in 1948 to lease the area, Blue Mountain has been the spot for snow enthusiasts to come and enjoy what we’ve got to offer.

With skiing and snowboarding comes equipment and one of the best events of the year that happens in Collingwood, every Thanksgiving weekend, is the Collingwood Ski and Snowboard Swap. It is here where you can swap, sell or buy a number of ski-related items, which can include:

·        Helmets

·        Skis

·        Ski boots

·        Snowboards

·        Snowboard boots

·        Ski poles

·        Snowshoes

·        Goggles

·        Bags

The entire event is free, whether you are buying or selling, and if you are in the market for new snow equipment, this is the place to stop and find some great deals.

skiing-blue-mountain

Basically, how it works is that you’ll register to sell your equipment during the swap. You’ll start by filling out a form and describing your equipment, along with the price you wish to sell it for. It is then tagged and put on display during the sale. Qualified sales people will be on hand to answer questions about your equipment and others and you’ll receive 80% of the purchase price of the goods once it is sold. You’ll come back once the sale is done to get a cheque or take back your unused equipment. If you want, you can donate your unsold equipment.

If you are a buyer, you can attend the sale at the following times:

·        Thursday October 8th from 5pm – 10pm

·        Friday October 9th from 9am – 10pm

·        Saturday October 10th from 9am – 5pm

·        Sunday October 11th from 9am – 4pm

Of course, your best bet is to come early to the first day of the sale to have the most selection. Admission is free and so is parking, so it doesn’t hurt to come and have a look around. If you aren’t from the area, feel free to enjoy the surrounding amenities of Blue Mountain and Collingwood!

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