Torontonian Charmaine Noronha, a Vacay.ca writer, and bestie Lisa Yeung escape the city to find splendour and relaxation in the resort town of Blue Mountain. (Charmaine Noronha photo for Vacay.ca)
After many Ontarians, and Canadians for that matter, experienced what felt like a long, brutally cold winter, they’re celebrating the much-awaited arrival of cottage season. But what if you don’t own a cottage—or have beloved friends or family who do?
The Blue Mountains in Ontario might be the next best thing.
Just a two-hour drive from Toronto, the resort town in Grey County delivers some of the best parts of a classic cottage getaway—sweet scenery, hiking, beaches, patios, and relaxation—without requiring a lakeside property. My bestie and I packed up the car on a sunny Saturday and headed north for a wee weekend escape.
Nestled on the Niagara Escarpment where the Beaver River meets Nottawasaga Bay, Blue Mountain sits between Collingwood and Thornbury. While it’s best known as Ontario’s largest ski destination, complete with 43 trails, 11 lifts, and a charming pedestrian village inspired by European alpine towns, summer transforms the resort into an outdoor playground filled with hiking, live entertainment, waterfront activities, and endless opportunities to soak up the sunshine.
Day 1: Weekend Joy in Blue Mountain
Westin Trillium hotel is the landmark accommodations property in Blue Mountain Resort. (Charmaine Noronha photo for Vacay.ca)
We checked into the Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain, overlooking Georgian Bay, before quickly swapping our travel clothes for hiking gear. Our first stop was the Cascade Hiking Trail, a peaceful forest escape lined with waterfalls and towering limestone cliffs.
The trail winds alongside a flowing brook, the perfect AMSR for a hike. Surrounded by mature trees, dramatic rock formations, and rushing water, it was a welcome reset after the drive.
The reward at the top wasn’t just the panoramic views—it was dinner overlooking the village.
About a 15-minute walk from one of Cascade Trail’s summit lookouts sits Summitview Mountaintop BBQ, a family-style, all-you-can-enjoy dining experience. However, it’s not buffet-style, it’s elevated BBQ serving up jalapeño cheddar cornbread, Himalayan-spiced potato salad, smoked chicken, and other fan faves with warm funnel cake fries to boot for dessert. The meal was as exceptional as the views with stellar service, too. We capped the night with a sunset open-air gondola ride down the mountain and back into the village, where a crowd was gathered for a live music set in the square. The perfect cap to a perfect first day.
Day 2: Shopping Finds and Tasty Discoveries
Madison is one of the boutique shops worth visiting during a girlfriends’ getaway to Blue Mountain. (Charmaine Noronha photo for Vacay.ca)
After a restful night’s sleep, we headed to the Pottery Alpine Restaurant, a lovely breakfast spot at the Blue Mountain Inn, just a short 10-minute walk from the Westin. Sampling fare from the Georgian Bay region, I indulged in a delightful smoked salmon eggs benny while surrounded by nature.
To walk off breakfast, we wandered through the village—and discovered it has a surprisingly great shopping scene. As someone who usually sticks to clothing swaps and vintage shops, I wasn’t expecting to find much, but Madison Clothing Boutique quickly changed my mind with some fab finds.
With the afternoon ahead of us, we decided to venture beyond the resort to explore the surrounding towns.
Fun times at Blue Mountain can be had on land and water. (Photo supplied by Charmaine Noronha)
Our first stop was Clarksburg, a quaint hamlet about 10 minutes northwest of Blue Mountain. Affectionately known as “Artsburg,” it’s a creative hub along the Apple Pie Trail, filled with galleries, artisan studios, cideries, and historic charm.
Although several businesses had already closed by late Sunday afternoon, we still had time to browse the beautifully curated Danfield Antiques & Art and pop into Two Crows, a thoughtfully designed boutique featuring clothing, homewares, and beautiful local artwork.
From there, we continued west to Thornbury, a picturesque waterfront town known for its apple orchards, marina, and relaxed small-town atmosphere.
Our first stop was Thornbury Bakery for tea and a sweet treat before strolling Bruce Street’s independent shops. We also made time for a cider tasting at Thornbury Craft Co. Cider House before heading to Blue Mountain’s private beach, an exclusive perk for resort guests. With a cold cider in hand and Georgian Bay sparkling in front of us, it was easy to forget we were only a couple of hours from Toronto.
Before heading back to the village for dinner, we squeezed in a stop at Spy Cider House, an orchard cidery where we lucked into a live big band performance as part of its summer concert series. How fun! We were famished by then, so we headed back to Blue Mountain to grab a bite at Mother Tongue, a stylish cocktail bar and restaurant serving Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine. Influenced by the chef’s upbringing in Manila, the menu is packed with vibrant, flavourful dishes that provided a splendid finale to a great girls’ getaway.
Blue Mountain may be famous for skiing, but summer deserves just as much attention. Between the hiking, beaches, live music, nearby towns, incredible food, and easy access from Toronto, it offers everything you would want from a cottage weekend—without ever needing a cottage.
