Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a busy travel time for people everywhere. Families, groups of friends and romantic couples like to celebrate the holidays with memorable getaways in Ontario. 

December is winter time in the province in Ontario and this means there are lots of fun activities to do like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, tubing, downhill skiing and more. It’s also a time for our favourite activity, Après! You can nosh after any winter activity, or even just enjoy the Après part – we won’t judge! 

ToDoOntario.com is the place to find events and getaway packages to help you easily plan your next Ontario adventure. You can find inclusive packages that bring you to Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Muskoka and all points in between. Whether you’re looking for a big city getaway or a quaint small town winter wonderland, check out the getaway packages listed below and see what we mean. The following offers will help you save money and/or include other activities to do while on your holiday.

Toronto Getaway Offers

THE DISTILLERY WINTER VILLAGE PACKAGE
Fairmont Royal York Hotel

Fairmont Royal York partners with The Distillery Winter Village to create an exclusive stay package guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Celebrate the magic of the season with two of the most iconic festive experiences in the city.

Discover over 65 local shops, restaurants and cafes, as you stroll along the cobblestone streets, under the festive lights of The Distillery Historic District. Return to your Fairmont Royal York sanctuary for an overnight stay and wake-up to a REIGN breakfast or breakfast in bed.

The Distillery Winter Village is open from November 16 until January 7. Book before January 6 for stays between November 15 and January 7.

Celebrate all the festive season has to offer in Downtown Toronto. Enjoy the Cavalcade of Lights holiday tree lighting festival (Nov 25) or light installations (Nov 26-Jan 7) from your Nathan Phillips Square view room while indulging in a plentiful snack pack provided at arrival. Late check out provides plenty of time for sightseeing, holiday shopping or a swim in our heated indoor-outdoor pool. Refuel with a $25 food and beverage credit, also included.

The Sheraton Centre Toronto is steps away from the many festive activities in Nathan Phillips Square including a display of twinkling light installations, festive décor public skating and a holiday market.

Ottawa Getaway Offers

OTTAWA FAMILY ESCAPE
Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Book two guest rooms at Ottawa’s castle and receive 50% off your second room.

Ontario is not just a land of pristine lakes and vibrant cities; it’s also home to some of the country’s most uniquely designed and visually stunning golf courses. From scenic views to challenging layouts, Ontario has something for every golfer to enjoy. In this article, we’ll explore the top golf courses in Ontario that you should add to your must-play list, each offering a distinctive golfing experience. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a casual player, these courses will tick all your boxes.

Whirlpool Golf Course – Niagara Falls

Nestled along the Niagara River, Whirlpool Golf Course is a masterpiece designed by Stanley Thompson, one of Canada’s revered golf course architects. With its strategic elevation changes, this par 72, 6,900-yard course winds through rugged terrain, providing golfers with stunning views at every turn. Precisely placed hazards and immaculate greens demand both precision and strategy. The signature 6th hole, overlooking the swirling Niagara River, is a sight to behold. Whirlpool Golf Course has hosted various tournaments, making it a favorite among golf enthusiasts.

While playing at Whirlpool, don’t forget to enjoy the delicious pub-style food and local beer or wine at the Whirlpool Restaurant, offering panoramic views of the 18th Hole and Niagara Parkway.

Bigwin Island – Muskoka

For a luxurious and private golf experience, head to Bigwin Island in Muskoka. Accessible only by boat, this 18-hole par 72 course spans 7,166 yards from the back tees, yet remains playable for all skill levels. Originally designed by Stanley Thompson and later revamped by Doug Carrick, it features wide fairways, bold bunkers, and tabletop greens. The secluded island setting offers a unique golfing escape, with accommodations in luxury cabins just steps from the course.

Bigwin Island boasts three dining options: The Marine Dining Room, offering contemporary cuisine, the Dockside Lounge, for casual lakeside dining, and The Halfway House, serving quick bites during your round. While typically a private club, Bigwin welcomes public golfers during the Spring and Fall shoulder seasons, through its Stay & Play program..

Tarandowah Golfers Club – London, Ontario

Tarandowah Golfers Club, near London, Ontario, ranks 75th on SCOREGolf’s list of top Canadian courses. Designed by Martin Hawtree, this links-style course replicates the conditions of classic Irish and Scottish courses, with strong winds, pot bunkers, and fescue-lined fairways. Set on 163 acres of old farmland, Tarandowah offers great value and an authentic links golf experience.

This course, often praised for its windswept terrain, can be combined with other nearby courses like Firerock and Echo Valley in a stay-and-play package in London, Ontario.

Black Bear Ridge – Belleville

Black Bear Ridge, ranked 63rd in Canada by SCOREGolf, is a captivating course that has elevated Belleville as a top golf destination in Ontario. Designed by owner and architect Brian Magee, this par 72, 7,000-yard course challenges golfers with its natural contours, dense forests, bunkers, and water hazards. Located on nearly 900 acres of natural land, Black Bear Ridge offers a wide range of outdoor activities beyond golf. The course is part of the Black Bear Ridge Resort, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a complete hospitality experience.

Bond Head – Barrie

The Club at Bond Head in Barrie offers two remarkable courses, each with a distinct design. The South Course, inspired by British links-style courses, features wide fairways, well-placed bunkers, and fescue roughs. The North Course, a parkland-style layout, offers dramatic elevation changes, scenic vistas, and undulating greens. Both courses, designed by Hurdzan-Fry, provide quality and variety for golf enthusiasts.

The Club at Bond Head is not just about golf; it also offers dining, events, weddings, and more, making it a versatile destination for all.

Seguin Valley – Parry Sound

Located near Parry Sound, Seguin Valley is a par 71 course that has earned a place among Canada’s top 100 golf courses. Spanning nearly 400 acres, it cuts through diverse landscapes, including wetlands, forests, granite cliffs, and lakes. The course’s unique layout ensures no parallel fairways, providing golfers with an immersive experience in Muskoka’s wilderness. Expect elevation changes, scenic vistas, and the chance to spot local wildlife like deer, moose, and foxes.

With its on-site restaurant, Seguin Valley’s Bar and Grill, serving delectable beer-battered fish and chips, this course offers a memorable golfing and dining experience.

The Marshes – Ottawa

T

he Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Robert Trent Jones Sr., offers a unique golfing experience set against meadows, hardwood forests, and wetlands. This par 72 championship course incorporates the natural elements, creating a strategic yet environmentally friendly design. The course has hosted many prestigious tournaments and is a highlight of Ottawa’s golf scene.

Consider a stay-and-play golf package in Ottawa to fully enjoy this course and its picturesque surroundings.

Discover the Top Golf Courses in Ontario

Ontario is undeniably a golfer’s paradise, offering a diverse range of golf courses that cater to every skill level and preference. The stunning landscapes, challenging layouts, and impeccable hospitality make Ontario a top golfing destination. To make the most of your golfing adventure, consider booking a stay-and-play golf package in Ontario, allowing you to experience the best of Ontario’s golf courses while enjoying the local amenities and natural beauty. Whether you’re seeking solitude on a private island or the excitement of a bustling golf resort, Ontario has it all for golf enthusiasts.

Magical Light Festivals to Brighten Your Holiday Season 

And some to help you bring in the new year! 

Annual light festival events near you or worth the drive have long been a tradition of the holiday season for people in Ontario. 

If you’re lucky, it’s a snowy winter wonderland, making the twinkling colourful lights sure to put the Christmas spirit into any Scrooge or Grinch. 

‘To Do’ List: Magical Light Shows In Ontario

This year there will be holiday drives and walk-thru displays, with music, Santa and the whole nine yards. Come make special memories this year and perhaps start new holiday traditions. 

SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON THINGS TO DO

Outdoor light festivals, tree lightings and creative new walking and drive-thru experiences will be lighting up the holiday season all over Ontario. Demand will be high so buy your tickets and book your times early. 

If you’re looking to make special holiday memories this year, here are a few holiday nights of lights to check out. Again, if we can give any advice, it’s buy your ticket nice and early to avoid disappointment.

Holiday Magic at Blue

Where: The Blue Mountains
When: November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024

By day the Village sparkles with festive décor, holiday music and fires to warm by.  Starting at dusk, follow the one kilometer Holiday Light Trail through the Village to discover enchanting and interactive light displays. On week-ends, enjoy live holiday music, street performers, warming stations and a horse drawn carriage with Santa roaming the Village. 

A Journey into Enchantment
Where: Pickering or Halton Hills, Ontario
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024

A Drive-Thru Light Show in Oro-Medonte Produced by The Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce.

A Journey into Enchantment
Where: Pickering or Halton Hills, Ontario
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Experience a magical Christmas and holiday season like never before! Take a 2km drive through a breathtaking display. See Santa and his reindeer, happy elves, and more. It will fill your heart with joy and wonder. And that’s not all! Drive through a tunnel of sparkling lights and enter a dreamy world where lights twinkle all around, making it a special experience you’ve never had before. The lights will dance to holiday music, adding even more enchantment to the show. Get your tickets for A Journey into Enchantment in Toronto!

Winter Festival of Lights
Where: Niagara Falls, Ontario
When: November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024

The most enchanting of Niagara Falls attractions, the annual Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival. Experience the spectacular displays with millions of lights and larger than life displays across the tourism districts.

Ripley’s 4D Moving Theater, Niagara Falls Canada – BUY TICKETS ONLINE AND SAVE!

Make it a Niagara Falls Getaway. Places to stay:

Cavalcade of Lights
Where: Nathan Philips Square Toronto
When: November 25, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Since 1967, Toronto announces the arrival of the holiday season with the Cavalcade of Lights. This glittering festival captures Canada’s winter spirit and transforms Nathan Phillips Square, easily accessible by the TTC Queen streetcar or the subway via the Yonge and University lines. The plaza is filled with over half a million LED lights, ice skating and Toronto’s official Christmas tree—typically a spruce tree around 18 m high.

Casa Loma Holiday Lights Tour
Where: Toronto
When: Select Dates in December 2023 and January 2024
Each December experience the magic of the season at Casa Loma’s spectacular Holiday Lights Tour. Wander through a dazzling lighting display in the gardens and tunnels, all decorated for the festive season. Designed as a self-guided walk, guests stroll through the property’s grounds while enjoying the spectacular decorations, outdoor lighting displays and live performances.

Glow
Where: Toronto
When: TBA 2023
‘Around the World’ light display theme will take you on a magical journey through six countries.

Mystical Lights
Where: Oro-Medonte
When: TBA 2023
Mystical Lights, a magical drive-thru event for families to enjoy this holiday season.

A Gift of Lights at Bingemans & Jingle Bell Rock at Bingemans
Where: Kitchener
When: November 16, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Experience the magic and wonder of the region’s most spectacular and dazzling light displays this holiday season. Bask in the beauty and wonderment of Gift of Lights; a drive through experience, featuring over 300 animated and static light displays and light tunnels. Continue the magic at the fully immersive Jingle Bell Rock; a walking wonder of giant light sculptures, musical animations and a truly breathtaking 40 foot twinkly tree centerpiece.

Holiday Night of Lights
Where: Vaughan
When: December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Holiday Nights of Lights is an immersive walk-through experience featuring more than 1.5 million LED lights. 

Canada’s Wonderland Winterfest
Where: Vaughan
When: November 17, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a magical, winter wonderland for WinterFest – an immersive holiday experience for the whole family. This event features ice-skating on Snow Flake Lake, more than a dozen live shows and holiday entertainment, exciting rides, millions of spectacular lights, and hundreds of beautiful Christmas trees throughout the park, including two 50-foot Christmas trees on International Street. 

Burlington Lakeside Festival of Lights
Where: Burlington
When: November 24, 2023 – January 8, 2024
The Festival of Lights illuminates Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year. 

Christmas Lights Across Canada
Where: Ottawa
When: December 2023 TBA
The Christmas Lights Across Canada program is being transformed for its 37th edition. 

Winter Wonder at Royal Botanical Gardens
Where: Burlington
When: November 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Trusty elves have created ‘Winter Wonders’, featuring twinkling displays along an outdoor pathway at Hendrie Park. Thursdays – Sundays. 

Festival of Lights
Where: Belleville
When: TBA 2023
This year’s Festival of Lights is a driving event to enjoy the holiday magic in Belleville and the Downtown District from the comfort of your vehicle. 

Magic of Lights
Where: 3 Ontario locations
When: TBA 2023
Magic of Lights, a unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience with more than a mile of spectacular light displays. 

Lights On
Where: Stratford
When: December 15, 2023 – January 13, 2024
With the City itself as a dramatic stage, Lights On Stratford winter festival of lights will transform the downtown core with luminous art and interactive light installations.

Eclipse Walk with Light
Where: Huntsville
When: TBA 2023
With the City itself as a dramatic stage, Lights On Stratford winter festival of lights will transform the downtown core with luminous art and interactive light installations.

First Light 
Where: Midland
When: November 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 & December 1, 2, 2023
Rediscover the historic site aglow from tranquil candlelight, as a beautiful amber glow illuminates the famous 17th-century mission. 

Illumi Mississauga
Where: Mississauga
When: TBA 2023
illumi ignites the night with more than 20 million brilliant lights in 13 magical universes on a 600,000 square foot site, the equivalent of 10 football fields.

Make it an Ontario Holiday Getaway to Remember

Best of the holiday season to the ToDoOntario fans and community!

Looking For A Christmas or New Year’s Eve Getaway Package?

Use the buttons below to find current vacation packages to celebrate the holiday season in Ontario. 

Want to add your event or business? Contact ToDoOntario.com today.