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Enjoy some Ice Hog grog while gliding along what is called the "world's longest ice skating rink" at Winterlude in Ottawa. The 32nd annual winter festival, running weekends from Feb. 5 to 21, is centred around the rink -- the Rideau Canal -- where the Ice Hog family mascots join the crowds on the frozen surface.
Activities include competitions to build the most elaborate and creative snow and ice sculptures, outdoor concerts and for kids, an entire playground made of snow.
Go to www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
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Free activities during the long weekend are on the agenda at Blue Mountain Resorts in Collingwood.
This includes free-flying birds of prey shows by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, the Human Gyroscope, Elephant Thoughts science shows and horse and carriage rides.
At night on Feb. 14 is the Fire and Snow event featuring fire performers, a disc jockey and torch light parade.
The resort has skiing, snowboarding and Plunge, the indoor-outdoor aquatic centre, along with 40 shops and restaurants.
Visit www.villageatblue.com.
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The "Bug-a-licious" Insect Food Festival is at the Niagara Garden Trail Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls throughout the holiday weekend. The event includes cooking demonstrations with insects as part of the "Out of Africa" bug-tasting menu. It's "inspired by edible insects" that have been included in regional diets for thousands of years.
Chef Jeff Stewart will compete against "special surprise guest chefs" to cook up the tastiest bug dish, with tastings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. See www.niagaraparks.com.
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A snowshoe obstacle course, snowball tossing challenge and marshmallow roasting competition happen on Family Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland. There will also be two animal demonstrations: Wet N' Scaly at 11 a.m. and Birds of Prey at 1 p.m. Visit www.wyemarsh.com.
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Explore Toronto's castle, Casa Loma, through the weekend starting with the Valentine's Royal Brunch Buffet on Sunday.
This is the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent financier, industrialist and military man, built between 1911 and 1914.
There are elegantly decorated suites, secret passageways, stately towers and an underground tunnel linking the luxurious stables.
Visitors can learn the "noble art" of archery on the 14th and 15th while Family Day offers Tea Time for Teddy Bears at 11 a.m. with a reading of Little Red Riding Hood, treats and children's activities. (Pre-registration is necessary for the programs). See www.casaloma.org.
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Family Day Dummy Race takes place at the Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre in Milton from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers suggest "start building a dummy now" along an Olympic theme and get ready to participate in the race.
Go to www.gleneden.on.ca.
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For a little culture, visit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg for the Child's Play exhibition continuing until Feb. 14.
This is an exhibit on the theme of children and family in Canadian art.
Families can experience a workshop for all ages in printmaking on Family Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See www.mcmichael.com.
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Other events:
- The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto has weekend programs including Jump for Heart with some of Canada's top jump-rope teams demonstrating their skills.
See www.ontariosciencecentre.ca.
- Paddle your own canoe or at least dream about it at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. There are some 580 canoes and kayaks and 1,000 related artifacts and special Family Day creative programs. Go to www.canoemuseum.net.
- Winterfest at the Markham Museum on Family Day includes skating, building snowmen, painting ice blocks and target practice from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.markhammuseum.ca.
- It's Family Heritage Day at the Guelph Civic Museum on Feb. 15 featuring the Arts of China, a special travelling exhibition from the Royal Ontario Museum. For more, see www.guelph.ca/museum.
- The Art Gallery of Hamilton on Feb. 15 invites families to "make masterpieces of their own" from 12-5 p.m. See www.artgalleryofhamilton.com.
- Continuing at the Art Gallery of Ontario is the featured exhibition, King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharoahs. See www.ago.net.
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
If you go
For more information on any of the events, go to the websites listed or contact Ontario Tourism at www.ontariotravel.net or 1-800-ONTARIO.
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