The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Family Day Weekend

Does your family ever struggle to find things to do over the Family Day long weekend? If you do, you aren’t alone—three days is a lot to plan for, especially with some places being closed on Family Day itself. Observed in Ontario on the third Monday in February, this mid-winter holiday is a time to celebrate the importance of families and family life. We here at Northeastern Ontario Tourism want to make your Family Day long weekend planning as easy as possible, so we’ve done the research for you! Check out these four Family Day Long Weekend Getaways:

The Mattawa Outdoor Adventure Weekend

If experiencing the great outdoors is what brings your family together, then Mattawa is your destination! Grab the extended family and head to the Canadian Ecology Centre to make the most of winter while it lasts.The Centre is offering a special rate throughout the weekend, as well as events Saturday and Sunday evening such as a campfire, observing the night sky though high-powered telescopes at the observatory, and a snowy candlelit walk.       

To keep busy during the daytime, be prepared to head out into the great white north. Whether you are a newcomer to winter outdoor activities or an old pro, Mattawa has something for you! If you are looking for something that will keep the family together experience horseback riding at Von Doeler’s Ranch.

If speed is your calling, then try riding sleds on the Voyageur Multi-Use Trail System, or hitting the slopes at Antoine Mountain, which will not disappoint (nor will the Après Café, where you can enjoy live music and beer sampling on Saturday).

The Educational Getaway in North Bay

Mix leisure and learning with a historical tour of North Bay, and experience the gorgeous views of Lake Nipissing while learning more about the incredible history of the area.

Get in early Saturday to take a stroll through the downtown core where you can browse local shops, take in art at the Capitol Centre’s WKP Kennedy Gallery, and enjoy a snack at the Opera Bakery Café before making your way to the Discovery North Bay Museum. Or, if the weather is a bit frosty, take a drive out to Callander to the Callander Bay Heritage Museum & Alex Dufresne Gallery. Be sure to check their websites for hours of operation over the long weekend.

On Monday, head on over to the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defense, which features exhibits from WWI up to the Post-Cold War Era. For some Family Day fun, have your photo taken in military uniform at the photo booth. The Museum will be open from 10 am to 4 pm with admission by donation.

As for accommodations, treat yourself and avoid the hassle of having to round up your own breakfast by leaving it up to your host Danielle at the picturesque Adani Beach Retreat Bed & Breakfast. For larger groups, or those who are looking for something a little more central, stay at the centrally located Hampton Inn.

The Great Sudbury Family Photo Op

It’s time to bust out the camera and create some new memories for the family photo album! Sudbury is your little bit of everything, nestled in the North. While the City of Greater Sudbury has put together its own list of things to do, we’ve picked out some of our favourites:

Stay at the TownePlace Suites Sudbury, where kids can enjoy the indoor waterslide while the adults relax in the whirlpool—and not have to worry because food and entertainment are close by.

Sudbury’s number one attraction, Science North, is a full-day adventure. Your family will love watching one of the numerous science demonstrations, including one featuring liquid nitrogen, taking a spin in the gyroscope, catching a film on the gigantic IMAX® screen, or putting your family’s deductive skills to the test in the new Escape Room! Be sure to get photos when surrounded by butterflies in the Jean F. MacLeod Butterfly Gallery.

Bring your skates with you so that when you have finished an exciting day at Science North you can head right outside and skate the 1.5 km Ramsey Lake Skate Path! Or if you are looking for some more indoor recreation the City of Greater Sudbury is offering special ice skating times for Family Day, including Glenn Thibeault’s 2^nd Annual Family Day Skate. This free event takes place at the Sudbury Arena from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, includes pancakes and beverage,s and is sure to get the big smiles needed for that perfect shot!

The Timmins Relaxing Spa Weekend

For those looking for an adults-only getaway, grab your partner, parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or even a best friend (they’re family in spirit, right?) and set a course for a relaxing Spa Weekend.

If you are looking for a getaway where everything is taken care of with just one booking then you’ll want to consider the Cedar Meadows Resort in Timmins with its own restaurant, Nordic Spa, and Nature Preserve that you can tour.

Located between Sudbury and Timmins, the Gogama Village Inn is definitely worth the visit. Set amongst the trees and snow near the shores of Minisinakwa Lake, you can spend your days ice fishing, or on the well maintained snowmobile trails. When you’re done, you can come on in from the cold and enjoy a meal on site at The Vous restaurant, and finish off a long day with a hot stone massage and aromatherapy, all without leaving the Inn!

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