If you’re looking for a cozy mountain getaway, look no further! The Blue Mountains on the Nottawasaga Bay of Ontario were an easy and fun getaway. I drove up from Buffalo, NY which was only about a 3.5 hour drive over a weekend in May 2024. I loved exploring the region and spending a day in the center of town. Here is how to spend one day in Blue Mountain, Ontario!
Coffee at Royal Majesty Espresso Bar
There is no better way to start your one day in Blue Mountain than with coffee! While you can find chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons right in town, I’d recommend stopping at Royal Majesty Espresso Bar. I got an iced caramel latte and it was so delicious and reasonably priced! It’s located right in the center of town and only a short walk from nearby hotels. The gorgeous teal tilework creates such a cozy and unique vibe! They even had a small patio out front for outdoor dining, which I sat at for a bit while watching the world wake up.
Walk the Mill Pond Boardwalk
Before the crowds roll in and the world wakes up, take time to walk around the Mill Pond boardwalk! The pond itself is not huge, but is the center focal point of the town. In the summer, you can rent aqua trikes at the Activity Center. Aqua trikes are massive water tricycles with big wheel paddles. I loved watching people peddle around the pond while taking in views of the mountains that surround. The boardwalk isn’t long and you can walk around the whole thing in about 15 minutes. I especially loved the stretch on the Southern side near the Westin Trillium house where there were benches to sit and enjoy the views.
Snap a Pic at the BLUE Sign
On the far eastern side of the pond is the famous BLUE sign. Snap a few selfies or bring your tripod to set up the ultimate shot. The sign is perfectly positioned to capture the mountains and pond in the background. The morning is the best time to take your photos here. By the afternoon, there were always crowds around the sign and long lines for pictures. If you’re anything like me, I don’t like a lot of people watching while I take selfies or self-portraits. I had the whole sign to myself early in the morning and could take as many snaps as my heart desired!
Ride the Open Air Gondola
The open air gondola is one of the most famous summer attractions! It’s known as “The Silver Bullet” and is a 360 degree open gondola car that will take you to the summit of the mountain.
With full transparency, I didn’t actually ride to the top and I instead drove my car up to the Blue Mountain Lookout here for similar views. I went to purchase my gondola ticket in the Activity Center at the base and was disappointed to learn that the only option was to buy activity packages. The two packages that included the gondola (Play all Day and Explore All Day) included a lot of other things I had no interest in, and the cost of these packages wasn’t worth it to me just to ride the gondola. I hope in the future this changes and they allow guests to buy tickets to only the activities they want!
Afternoon Ice Cream at Blue Scoops
Once afternoon hits, treat yourself to some ice cream at Blue Scoops! The kiosk is a little hidden, but is found here. On the side of the building that faces the Firehall Pizza restaurant, there is a small window where you will place your order. While I cannot remember the exact flavor I ordered, it was loaded with brownie and cookie pieces. It was so tasty and filling- it was basically a meal!
Shop and Stroll
There are so many shops in Blue Mountain, so spend your afternoon strolling and exploring all of them! My favorite clothing Canadian brand is Roots, and I always love bopping into their stores when I’m in Canada! I’ve long had my eyes on their hoodies with the Roots logo (which are very popular and always out of stock!), so I was really excited to see my size available at the store in Blue Mountain! I loved popping into Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a sweet treat (I got the potato chip chocolate bar- so good!), and Georgian Christmas – which sells Christmas items all year round. There are so many other stores to bop in and out of, many of which are small businesses and locally owned.
Dinner at the Northwinds Brewpub
When hunger strikes, there is no better place in town for a casual dinner than at Northwinds Brewpub. I was so impressed by everything I had here! I started with their homemade seltzer. The flavors rotate, but mine was blue raspberry flavored. Don’t let the clear color fool you- it was loaded with flavor! I was actually thankful it wasn’t bright blue so it wouldn’t dye my tongue.
I then had the pretzel bites for an appetizer and when I say these were the greatest pretzels I have ever had, I mean it! They are handmade and served in a mason jar. They are sopped in melted butter and sprinkled with fresh sea salt. I could have just ordered another round of these and called it a meal- they were that good! I then got a smash burger with bacon (my favorite type of burger) and a side of fries that were cooked in beef fat. Such a great meal. I have no notes.
BeaverTails for Dessert
For dessert, make your way over to BeaverTails. This Canadian chain has locations across the country (and even some in the US), but they are so tasty and worth the calories! They’re essentially a fried dough shaped in an oval like a beaver’s tail. They’re then topped with your choice of spreads and toppings. I went for the Triple Trip which was a beaver tail with chocolate hazelnut spread, peanut butter drizzle, and Reese’s Pieces. Wow, just wow. You can check out their menu by clicking here.
Stay at The Westin Trillium House
After your perfect one day in Blue Mountain, end the day at the Westin Trillium House. The Westin is located here, right in the heart of town, on the Southern side of Mill Pond. It’s only about a five minute walk from the heart of town and is such a large, beautiful property. I spent a few hours each afternoon by their enormous pool and the evenings soaking in the hot tub and relaxing in the sauna. It’s the perfect home base for one day in Blue Mountain!
Read More: Staying at the Westin Trillium House in Blue Mountain, Ontario
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