AGORA: An Illuminated Night Walk at Blue Mountain
AGORA is the newest attraction at Blue Mountain, and unlike the other incredible outdoor activities offered at the resort, this one is best experienced at night! We had a chance to visit during its opening weekend—here are a few of the things that we did during our autumn visit to Blue.
Our visit was hosted by Blue Mountain Resort. All opinions are our own.
A note on travel during the pandemic
We love to travel and now is a great time to support local businesses, but we must do so responsibly. It’s up to us to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Throughout the resort, you’ll find hand sanitizer, hand-washing stations, and markers to assist with pedestrian traffic flow and physical distancing. Masks must be worn indoors, and you’ll find that visitors even choose to wear them outdoors where keeping distance might be a challenge. Please follow the rules and stay home if you have any symptoms, no matter how minor. As we say at Blue Mountain: be safe, be kind & have fun!
Learn more about how Blue Mountain Resort is helping to keep visitors safe.
Westin Trillium House
We checked into a beautiful 2-bedroom suite at the Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain. It’s our preferred base for exploration, located on the south edge of Mill Pond, just a few minutes away from the village which is accessible via a picturesque boardwalk.
Our suite was spacious & bright, equipped 2 bathrooms and a fully-stocked kitchen, which is great for long-term stays.
The hotel also features a stunning outdoor pool and lively O&B Cafe Grill, so you really never need to leave.
Apple Pie Trail
The Apple Pie Trail is a series of apple-related restaurants and outdoor experiences located throughout Southern Georgian Bay, all within a 15-30 minute drive from the resort. It’s best explored by car or bike, since the stops can be a good 7-10 minute drive away from each other. If you plan to explore multiple stops, the Apple Pie Trail can take up a full day once you factor in travel time and crowds.
On this visit, we made stops at:
TK Ferri Orchards (make sure to get some Honeycrisp apples)
Ravenna Country Market (our favourite pressed sandwiches, hands down)
Goldsmith’s Orchard Market (the Thornberry Pie is an exquisite medley of fruits)
Blue Mountain resort
Alternatively, there is enough to see, eat & do within Blue Mountain Resort that you don’t really need to leave .Play-All-Day Passes give you unlimited access to a whole host of outdoor activities like bike rentals, segway tours & the Ridge Runner, a mountain coaster that zooms around at 42 km/h (It’s not a traditional rollercoaster but a series of individual cars whose speed you control!)
To round things out, there are a number of shops, cafes & restaurants in the village. Our favourite restaurants include Rusty’s at Blue (for great BBQ) and Copper Blue’s Bar & Grill (for some lovely seafood dishes). On this visit, we dined at:
Camino Taco, a new spot for Mexican fare and fun ice cream-based desserts
Northwinds Brewpub, a brewery offering pub staples, steps away from the water
With physical distancing being top of mind these days, nearly all of the restaurants offer outdoor patio seating, so take advantage of it while the weather permits!
Summitview Pavillion
Of course, if you’re looking for a really unique dining experience, make a reservations at Summitview Pavillion, located just beside the gondola at the top of the mountain. The charcuterie was great (a highlight was the bacon jam) and our salmon & chicken entrees were delicious.
It’s open-air so be warned that it will get chilly at night.
AGORA: Path of Light
Of course, the star of our weekend trip was AGORA: Path of Light, a 3 km circular trail inspired by the cycles of life in nature.
Developed by a talented national team that includes artists and Indigenous voices, this immersive experience uses light & sound installations to encourage you to engage with nature in a way that will feel personal to each participant.
Blue Mountain is a great get away from city life, and as Ontario's only year-round mountain resort and spa, there’s tons to discover during any season. It’s great to revisit local (and sometimes historic!) favourites, and there isn’t a single trip where we haven’t been able to find something new. With the addition of AGORA, we can now extend our exploration into the night. Book your tickets today!
Just over 2 hours from Toronto, Blue Mountain really is paradise in Ontario… at any time of year~
