Blue Mountain Resort Ontario

Location: B-
Amenities: B+
Service: B
Fun Factor: B+
The Food: B+

Best For: Families of all Ages.
Date of Stay: July 2009

The Lowdown: Located less than two hours outside of Toronto, Blue Mountain Resort is a fabulous option for a family getaway. With lots to offer in the way of family fun including Plunge! Aqua Centre, a resort style beach, pools and hot tubs, and a variety of restaurant options there is something for everyone. The resort is more like a village (which it is called), like all Intrawest properties, it is not run as a collective so sometimes service can vary. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Blue Mountain and would recommend it, especially as a weekend getaway.

Kid’s Comments: We had a great time at Blue Mountain! There was so much to do. We loved the beach (there is a place to buy food there so we had ice cream or popsicles every day!). We also loved the pool and hot tubs, the waterpark, the rock climbing wall and our favourite restaurant was Firehall Pizza.

The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Blue Mountain Resort Ontario:

1. The Beach: Finding a resort-style, sandy beach in this area is not easy but Blue Mountain has got it all. They have obviously worked hard to eliminate the usual rocky shores and create a fabulous, broad beach with almost all of the resort amenities. Hours of entertainment for the kids and hours of relaxation for the parents. Plus, the view is spectacular.
2. The Restaurants: Blue Mountain has a wide variety of restaurant options right in the Village. Some of our favourites included Kaytoo where we had a private party and the barbecue was phenomenal, Twist Martini & Wine Lounge where Girls Night included the fabulous sweet potato fries and the delicious Tart Martini, for pure Canadiana we indulged in the sweet and irresistible Beaver Tails, and approximately 10 minutes outside of the Village, one of our favourite local traditions, The Swiss Alphorn where we indulged in traditional cheese fondue and schnitzel.
3. The Convenience Factor: Blue Mountain Resort is not only a very reasonable drive from Toronto but it is also conveniently located just minutes away from Collingwood, a now booming town with such amenities as Wal-Mart for a forgotten bathing suit, Canadian Tire for your sand toy needs, multiple large grocery stores so you are not eating out for every meal, and, on a rainy day we were more than thankful for the local Galaxy Cinema with five theatres showing the latest in Hollywood magic.
4. The Accommodations: Because the accommodations in the Village are privately owned you can not select where you stay exactly. Your reservation is thrown into the pool and you get what you get. Luckily, most of us got lucky and had fabulous accommodations (or two bedroom had a full kitchen, en suite bathroom, living and dining room). However, one of the families in our party was put in a different building and their two bedroom unit was 1/2 the size and definitely in need of a few upgrades. It is the luck of the draw. 
5. The Service: As I mentioned, one thing about Blue Mountain is that the service is very inconsistent. It is not like staying at an all-inclusive where the same standards of service apply everywhere. Some places, you get lucky. Others, you don’t.