Muskoka Sports and Recreation

     As you may have determined from earlier blog posts, I am not really a winter person. In fact, until this weekend I would have gone so far as to say I hated winter. As I packed up the kids, mismatched mittens and snowsuits galore, I seriously considered booking a flight to Miami. Luckily, later that day I spoke to Dan from Muskoka Sports and Recreation and my fear of winter turned into sheer excitement.

Dan from Muskoka Sports and Recreation with Charlie.

     Within minutes, Dan had me convinced that taking children snowmobiling and ice fishing was not only safe but a great way to explore winter. We drove to The Rosseau, A JW Marriott resort in Muskoka, and immediately met Dan's wife and fellow winter enthusiast Diane. After spending 5 minutes with her and watching her interact with my kids, I knew we were going to have a great weekend. Diane has a teaching background and watching her put children at ease is amazing. She knows songs for putting on mittens, sliding down hills and generally putting smiles on freezing cold children's faces. She also equips the tour guides with snacks and juice for kids which came in handy more than a few times.

Diane making maple syrup at the hotel.

    Our first activity with the Muskoka Sports team was ice fishing. We headed out onto Lake Rosseau with the fishing guide Alex. The group consisted of an array of people ranging in age and outdoors experience. One neat aspect of the experience was the vibe of the group. I tend to worry that my kids will be a distraction to adults on these types of tours but everyone was extremely welcoming and chatty with the kids.

Alex, ice fishing expert and fellow travel blogger.

    The guides set up heated pop tents and taught us how to drill holes and the best fishing techniques. The kids loved how much Alex could tell them about the lake, ice and the Muskoka area and we really had fun just playing in the snow and looking in the holes for fish.

Will and Charlie were blown away by the fact that we were walking on a frozen lake and loved looking through the holes. 

     When I had originally spoken to Dan, I estimated that we would last approximately 30 minutes at this activity. As we packed up two hours after arriving, the kids were nowhere near ready to leave. It was incredibly cool to see the holes partially freezing over and they loved fishing and scooping the ice out of the water. The guides checked on them, let them play with minnows and did a great job going from group to group making sure people were having fun.

Will and Charlie trying to catch fish.

      You do need to be a little careful while out with younger kids and make sure to watch for holes in the ice. Also the heaters in the tents get incredibly hot and its important to watch kids around them. Otherwise, the experience is relaxing and really fun. We were lucky to be in a group with other small children, and the kids spent a lot of time chatting, making snow angels and generally just enjoying winter.  We didn't catch a fish but luckily someone else did and we got to hold it afterwards. I thought the kids would be upset in the end that we didn't personally catch a fish, but they had so much fun they didn't even think about it.

Will with a fish. 

     There were a few very tender moments on the ice fishing tour including when Charlie fell into a deep snow bank without mittens on. Alex ran over to her, scooped her up and immediately took her hands and warmed them up in his. He calmed her down, made sure she was okay and generally saved the day as we were still a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel. As we packed up to go, a little earlier than the rest of the group,  Alex decided he needed to get something in his car and helped me get the kids back to the hotel on their sled as they were both exhausted. A gesture I found to be quite touching.

Back at the hotel with Alex.

     All in all the ice fishing tour was incredibly fun and completely child friendly. I would do it again any day with my two.  Ice fishing with the company is $165 for a half day including all equipment, snacks and a guide and $89 for children under 12.  After ice fishing, we hit the warm hot tub and planned for our snowmobiling trip.

A relaxing swim after fishing.

     Muskoka Sports and Recreation is conveniently located in the JW Marriott hotel. Our snowmobiling adventure began with getting properly fitted for helmets by Dan. Muskoka Sports also outfits you with full snowsuits and boots. Dan was great with the helmets and was able to custom fit children's helmets for Will and Charlie by adding padding as needed. Both were very comfortable during the tour.

Will trying on helmets with Dan.

     Once we were outfitted, we hit the road and drove to the trail which is approximately 15 minutes from the hotel. Once the group arrived, we were given a demo on how to drive, stop and do a 3-point turn. It was very clear that Dan wanted everyone to feel comfortable before hitting the trails.

Me attempting to master the 3-point turn. 

     After our brief training, it was time to hit the trails. The speed the group goes is determined by how comfortable the drivers are and Dan is very patient in making sure everyone feels safe but also lets you attempt to go faster when ready. The trails can be quite technical and you do learn quite quickly how to steer and how to prepare for turns.

Me and Will hit the trail.

     Dan clearly knows the area and trails well and is the perfect guide for the activity. If you are uncomfortable having a child on your snowmobile, Dan does take smaller kids with him on tours which can be helpful if you are a group of three. For our tour, Dan rode mostly with Charlie and Will rode with me.

Charlie loved being on the back of the snowmobile with Dan.

    The snowmobile tours led by the company vary in length from an hour and a half to a full day and the company also offers a dinner tour where your meal is included. Over the weekend, everyone I spoke to at the hotel who had done any length of tour said they had had an incredible time. Dan's name was overheard all over the hotel as people raved about the company and how much fun they had with him.

Two thumbs up at the end of our ride.

     The great thing about Muskoka Sports and Recreation is that they are a smaller company led by two very dedicated and caring people. Dan and Diane are incredibly friendly and welcoming and really want you to enjoy your time with them. They are dealing with many variables such as weather and children but still manage to make sure everyone is having fun. They understand children get cold and tired and help out in every way possible on the tours. My kids loved both tours more than I ever imagined. I will even admit that the time I spent ice fishing and snowmobiling gave me an entirely new appreciation for winter.

All smiles after snowmobiling with Dan.

     Muskoka Sports also operates out of the hotel during the summer months running a variety of tours including jet skiing, kayaking and hiking. In addition, they run children's programs at the hotel during conferences and weddings and with Diane's background and experience with younger children I can only assume they are fantastic.

    If heading to the Muskoka area or the Rosseau, it would be wise to give them a call and book one of the many tours they offer year round. They are a local company that will go to all lengths to ensure you have an amazing experience and from all the smiles I saw at the end of the day, I can assure you you'll have a great time too.

Winterdance Dogsledding

     The highlight of our first day at The Rosseau, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa was being introduced to the team of Siberian Huskies from Winterdance Dogsled Tours.

Me, Will and an incredibly sweet husky

    The dogs are not permanent residents at the hotel but instead live close by at their kennel in Haliburton, Ontario. The entire team consists of 150 dogs who live together from birth until death. We were fortunate enough to have met some of the dogs who were partnered with their own offspring and it was neat to see the relationships the dogs have with each other. 

A husky ready to run.

     While we were unable to book a full tour due to limited space and an incredible amount of interest, our guide Ryan offered to give me a full demo and answered my many questions about the tour. Children are invited and can be sat on the sled. Children under 12 cannot drive the sled and for children 12-16, the guide is given discretion to allow them to if he feels it is safe. Luckily, Will got to take a quick ride in one of the sleds and he loved every minute of it. 

Will taking a ride with our guide Ryan

     In the demo, I was taught how to stand and how to brake and was reassured the dogs do most of the steering. The sleds are build so they lean easily and everyone who I spoke to that took the full tour loved the experience. The dogs run about 10km per hour but speeds sometimes increase to 20km per hour. The tour at the Rosseau is a short half hour tour but the company leads many other half day and full day tours and even an incredible helicopter tour deep into the wilderness where the tour is limited to just you, the guide, the dogs and nature. 

View of the back of the sled where the driver stands. 

     The most incredible part of our encounter was seeing how much Ryan loved the dogs. This clearly was not just a job for him. Both the guides very clear that the dogs health, safety and happiness took priority over everything else. Every time the dogs stopped running, they were immediately given water and treats. Ryan took the time to go down the line and check on every one of them (approximately 30 dogs) and make sure they were happy and comfortable. He knew their personalities, where they were positioned on each sled and why and how each dog was related to the others. He explained which ones were older, more excitable or just plain cuddly. 

Ryan checking on the dogs.

     On the tour, guests are encouraged to interact with the dogs who are the friendliest group of canines you will ever meet. This tour can easily be done with children and the dogs know exactly how to behave with even the youngest kids. We spent at least 30 minutes interacting with the dogs and not one snapped, growled or did anything but attempt to lick us to death as we hugged them. 

The friendliest husky I've ever met and me.

     What impressed me most about this company and the guides, was that they knew when the dogs were tired and called it a day. Many guests were begging for a tour and offering serious cash and the guides very politely declined in fairness to the dogs being ready to head home. If you are staying at the Rosseau and want to do a full tour, it is in your best interest to book as soon as you can. This is by far the most popular tour at the resort and I met more than 10 families who were disappointed that they were not able to book in to the tour. 

Numerous people from the resort wanted to meet the dogs and go on the tour.

     When it was time for the dogs to pack up, we got to say our goodbyes and watch them get loaded into the truck for their journey home. The guides unhooked each dog and carried them individually to the truck. I asked if this practise was done so the dogs didn't run away and the guide told me it is actually done whenever the dogs are separated from the pack to protect them from wildlife and the practise is done whether they are deep in the woods or literally in a hotel parking lot.  I looked into the eyes of the smiling extremely large husky being carried away and knew these dogs were living a pretty good life. 

The dogs appeared to love their job.

     The half-hour tour at the Rosseau cost 75$ per adult and 50$ per child. A two hour tour, through the company, is $130 per adult on weekends and $110 per adult on weekdays. Children riding on the sled are half price. The company offers kennel tours in the summer when the dogs are not working which includes meeting all the race team dogs, playing with puppies, and meeting the owners. The tours are $40 per adult and $20 per child and include a BBQ. The tours are only offered in Spring, Summer and Fall, as the dogs are given first priority and allowed to rest in the winter when not pulling sleds. No admission to the kennel is granted to the public during winter months. As soon as the snow melts, this solo mom will be driving back to Haliburton with Will and Charlie as none of us can resist the opportunity to play with these puppies.

Harry, a Winterdance puppy

Hedwig, a Winterdance puppy

     If you are in the area, this is an adventure not to be missed. Tell the dogs I sent you and give them an extra treat from me. 

Beaches- Sesame Street Activities and Upgrades

     After having returned from another incredibly fun vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos, I wanted to do a full of review of the Sesame Street activities and upgrades offered by the Beaches resorts. Most of the upgrades are available at all the Beaches locations and in my experience at Beaches Ochos Rios and Beaches Turks and Caicos, they were very similar.

Charlie, Will, Me and the Sesame Street characters.

     Before I review them, a general tip regarding the characters is that your access to them will depend on the resort and how busy it is. When we originally visited Beaches Turks and Caicos, the characters would visit with the children after each Sesame Street show.  This no longer happens at the resort. The reason being that there are a lot of children and a very real danger of little people getting step on or hurt. Last year, in Ochos Rios, the characters spent up to ten minutes after the shows taking pictures and visiting with the children.

Charlie cuddling with Cookie Monster after the Sesame Street Show.

     Your best bet for some free time with the characters is to hang out by the main pool at the resorts. In Turks and Caicos, characters often visited children at the Italian pool during the day. Just be warned that you are not allowed to touch them if you are wet but will still be allowed to take pictures with them.

Visiting Grover by the pool.

    Besides these options, most of your time spent with characters will be at one of the following activities:

Sesame Street Stage Show - Included in cost of vacation

    The Sesame Street stage show takes place almost every night at the resorts as long as it is not raining. The show changes each night of the week and tends to be quite entertaining. Some people arrive quite early to save seats but don't worry too much about doing that as most of the children sit directly in front of the stage and the characters are so large you can see them from anywhere. The shows are quite short usually running about 15 minutes. Before and after each show, children are allowed and encouraged to mingle and dance on the stage. Twice last week, there was an organised children's dance party after with a host and helpers. This was a great addition from previous years and a tradition I hope Beaches will uphold.

Big Bird's Beach Party Show

Chicken dancing at the Kid's Dance Party after the show.

Sesame Street Day Camp - Included in cost of vacation

     The Sesame Street day camp is available for children 24 months to 5 years old. There are also camps for younger babies and children older than 5 but they do not feature the Sesame Street characters. The camps are open all day, except during a staff dinner break, and close in the evening. This is a great way for your kids to get to spend time with the characters. Cookie monster runs a cookie baking seminar for the camp that you can also attend with your children which is quite fun. Other activities include tea parties with Abby, bird watching with Big Bird and Rubber Ducky hunts with Ernie. Some people use the daycare more than others but I found with this vacation, Charlie was asking to go to the Sesame Street activities on a daily basis. After the specific character activities, I would often pick her up and head to the pool until the next one.

Baking cookies with Cookie Monster

Sesame Street Parade- Included in cost of vacation 

     Once a week, each resort hosts a Sesame Street parade.  I have personally attended 3 parades in the past 2 years and can attest that they were all quite different. Most recently, I was shocked at how large the parade at Beaches Turks and Caicos has become. Don't expect anything close to Disney parades but do expect a fun island experience. In the Turks and Caicos, if your children want to be IN the parade with the characters, they need to be dropped off at a kid's camp by 5:30 pm on the night of the parade. Children not attending with the kids camp are not allowed to join in and parents are not allowed to participate in the parade. That being said you can watch the parade and then follow behind it. In addition to the characters, the parade features local dancers and musicians. The parade ends at the Italian Village concierge lobby, where the characters, guest and islanders dance and mingle.

Musicians in the parade in Turks and Caicos.

Will and Ernie walking in the Parade.

    In Ochos Rios, which is a smaller resort, the parade is smaller and more intimate. Children are invited with their parents to gather in front of the hotel before the parade and offered free face paint and parade supplies like hats and masks. The parade then proceeds through the resort with each character walking with two children. In many ways, I preferred the parade in Ochos Rios and felt it was much more suitable to toddlers and young children.

Charlie getting her face painted for the parade. 

Will and Oscar enjoying cotton candy at the parade. 

Sesame Street Birthday Party- $250-350 

     Our first year at Turks and Caicos was Will's 4th birthday and we booked a Sesame Street birthday party. The party was held at Mario's in the Italian Village around 3:00 pm. When booking the party, we were told that the characters were not available at lunch or dinner time thus the party needed to be between those times. We arrived to find a table set for 8 children with food that had been waiting on the table at least half an hour. Once the children sat down, Elmo arrived and led a few dances and then Will blew out the candles on his Elmo cake and Elmo left. When booking the party, we were told the Will would receive a special gift from the character. Elmo gave Will a small stuffed dolphin that was available for sale in the gift shop for under $10. To say the least, we were underwhelmed.

    I have since witnessed slightly better looking parties and have learnt that you can insist the parties take place at better restaurants or even on the beach at lunch or dinner time. That being said, there is nothing particularly special about the party besides the cake and the short character visit.

    Each resort also hosts a birthday party for Elmo once a week that is the exact same as described above but with many children which makes it a lot more fun. My advice would be not to book a private party but to simply order your child a cake on the day of their birthday. There is no extra cost to attend Elmo's birthday party.

Sesame Street Catamaran Cruise- $30 per child, $60 per adult

     This year in Turks and Caicos, we decided to participate in the Sesame Street Catamaran Cruise. I must admit, I was shocked by how much fun it was. The cruise leaves early in the morning and lasts about 2 hours. The cruise is limited in the number of participants and your children get to spend a lot of time with  Elmo and Zoe on the cruise.

Elmo and Will getting ready to board.

     When we departed from the dock, I was a little concerned with how choppy it was. Staff aboard had everyone sit and cruised quite quickly into a much quieter bay. By doing so, they were able to stabilise the boat enough that all the kids could get up and dance with the characters as well as play games with them. The characters roamed around the boat and spent quite a lot of time with each family. There was also quite good food on the cruise and the children were given a small sesame street toy from the characters.

More dancing! 

Playing hot potato with Elmo.

     In a moment of absolute genius, one of the families had purchased a birthday cake for their son before the cruise and brought it on board. The whole boat shared the cake and sang happy birthday to the child. This is a much smarter solution especially if you are at the resort with only your immediate family than attempting to throw a 4 person birthday party.

Charlie and Zoe enjoying the ride. Moments later they both got very wet.
 

    I highly recommend the catamaran cruise for kids up to 10 years old.


Sesame Street Tuck-In- $85 for one child plus $30 per additional child 

     Between the hours of 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, you will often spot the characters en route to various hotel rooms. This is to participate in the character tuck-in which I must admit is by far my favourite up-grade. The characters arrive in your room with an assistant who is there to read your children a bed-time story and lead them in a bedtime stretch. The characters actually get into bed with your kids and listen to the story and then kiss them goodnight and tuck them in.

Story time! 

     Will and Charlie loved this surprise. You can request characters from a list at the resort but due to size issues Big Bird does not participate. In a wonderful surprise, we had Bert, Ernie and Abby Caddaby attend our Tuck-in in Ochos Rios and there was very little room left in the room due to the sheer size of the characters. I have found the tuck-in is a great way to end your trip and love to book our favourite characters for our final night at the hotel.

Charlie and Abby playing dolls in bed. 

Sesame Street All-Access Photo Shoot- $50 

     Twice a week, you have the option of attending the Sesame Street all-access photo shoot. This is the only time you will ever get a group photo with all of the characters. The proceeds of the photo are donated to the Sandals Foundation which I previously reviewed here.

Our group photo from the Sesame Street All-Access Photo Shoot

     I also recommend taking the opportunity to attend this event once while you are at the resort for two reasons; (1) the group photo will be given to you in an 8 x 10 commemorative frame is worth the cost and (2) the pressure to find each character for your child to meet will be over. When we participated in the photo shoot at Ochos Rios, we were the only family who had booked and were given the entire session to spend with the characters. The group shot we have is fantastic and one of my favourite vacation photos.

Charlie and Big Bird attempting a high five at the photo shoot. 

     Be warned, the resorts are quite protective of this event and will not allow your children to participate or visit with the characters unless you have booked the shoot. At Turks and Caicos, they also request that you do not bring personal cameras. This policy was not in place in Ochos Rios and I was able to capture some incredibly cute moments particularly with Charlie and Abby Caddaby.

Charlie and Abby practising their fairy poses.

    At the photo shoot and anytime you meet the characters, it is helpful to tell them what your children like or don't like. For example, telling Zoe the ballerina that your child loves to do ballet will often entice the character to start ballet dancing with your child. I also find carrying on general conversations with the characters makes your children more comfortable around them. Just know they will nod and motion to participate in the conversation but the characters do not speak.

The kids sneaking up on Ernie to tickle him after the photo shoot. 

Sesame Street Character Breakfast- $12 per adult, $16 per child or $49.99 per family of four 

     At each of the resorts we have visited, we participated in the character breakfast. This event is extremely fun for adults and children. Most recently at Turks and Caicos, the whole event was led by a very energetic and fun woman named Roxy who kept the party going. The key is to arrive on time and feed your children immediately. Once the kids have eaten, the characters are introduced and each character visits your table besides Big Bird who you meet on the way in to the breakfast. This again is due to his height.

Saying hello to Big Bird before breakfast. 

     Once the characters have met the children, the breakfast turns into a dance party complete with conga line. Children are invited to walk and dance with the characters and their is a sufficient amount of time spent with each character.

Cookie monster is the best dancer of all the characters.

Abby and Charlie twirling on the dance floor.

Roxy, the fearless conga line leader.

     Besides the photo shoot, the breakfast is by far the easiest way to meet and get your photograph with each character. We had so much fun at the character breakfast in Ochos Rios that we attended it twice and then also attended it this year in Turks and Caicos. Children are also given a small sesame street toy at this event.

     No matter which of the above you chose to attend, the Sesame Street characters will be a big part of your children's vacation and a good way to remember the trip. Last week, there were many times when I teared up a little watching the kids interact with their favourite characters and I must admit getting a hug from the characters was fun for me too.

     If you do head to Beaches, make sure to tell the crew that we say hello and we will see hopefully see them again soon.

Sandals Foundation

     When staying at any resort for a week's time, the kids and I tend to get to know a lot of the on-site employees. This trip to Beaches Turks and Caicos was no different. By far one of our favourite employees was a young man named Louciano who always had time for a chat and a hug from Charlie. In fact, our meals were often based around where he was working. 

Charlie and Louciano

      Like many of the employees at the resort, Louciano was a recent high school graduate who had been educated on the island. Through many conversations with him, I became quite intrigued about the Sandals Foundation and its role in education on the island.  The Sandals Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts, the parent company of Beaches, has as its mission a goal to invest in communities throughout the Caribbean by investing in education, environment, and community projects that improve people's lives and preserve natural surroundings. 

Enid Capron Primary School, a school sponsored by Sandals Foundation

    But what does this really translate to for people like Louciano? Well, in the Turks and Caicos, the investment can be seen in schools at both elementary and high school levels. The Sandals Foundation not only invests in the schools but Beaches provides an internship program in the local high school which leads to permanent positions at the resort. In speaking with Louciano, he explained he had graduated from high school two years ago and was pleased with the progress he had made at the resort. 

    After looking into the Sandals Foundation further, I expressed an interest in visiting the elementary school on the island that is sponsored by the Foundation. My request was met with an enthusiastic yes and yesterday morning, Will, Charlie and myself were invited to visit the school. 

    In preparation for our visit, Will chose one of our books to donate and began practising to read to the class. Little did I know how incredible this visit would be for us all. We arrived at the school and were met by quite a few smiling children who rushed over to say hello. 

Charlie being welcomed by students at the school.

    After meeting some of the kids, we were invited into the Kindergarten classroom to read to the children and answer questions. Will was so excited to read to the class and the kids were very grateful for the book we were leaving behind. When we were done reading, the kids had an opportunity to quiz Will and myself about life in Canada. We were all laughing and chatting and really enjoying the moment. 

Will reading the Underpants Zoo to the class

Will explaining to the class how tall the CN Tower in Toronto stands.

    During this time, Charlie roamed the classroom making friends and checking out the books and toys. 

Charlie chatting with a new friend.

The students showing Charlie the classroom books.

    When the question period was over, we sadly said our goodbyes and headed to meet Rachel Taylor, the principal of the school. Miss Taylor proudly asked if she could show us the library and once I entered the room I was shocked by how large and diverse it was. She explained that each book in the library was donated by guests of Sandals and Beaches resorts as donations or as part of the Sandals Foundation Reading Road Trip. 

A portion of the library built with books almost entirely donated by guests of Sandals and Beaches.

Elanor from Sandals Foundation presenting a donation of books from another Canadian family to the school.

     The Reading Road Trip takes place every Thursday in Jamaica, Antigua, the Turks and Caicos, St. Lucia and Exuma in the Bahamas. Essentially, guests of the hotels pay $20 US which covers transportation, educational materials, and a donation to the Sandals Foundation. On the Road Trip, guest volunteer in literacy as we did and get to help work with the children at the school. 

Visitors on the Reading Road Trip get to visit with a specific class. Will, Charlie and myself visited with the Kindergarten class.

     Even though most vacations to these resorts are only a week in length, you will be glad you took the time to experience this opportunity first hand. Being escorted to the school by Elanor Finfin Krzanowski, the public relations manager for Beaches Turks and Caicos, and witnessing the bond between her and the students was incredible. Some children she had volunteered with on Earth Day last year rushed over to see her and other children whose parents worked at the resort asked us to say hello to their parents when we returned.  Elanor also explained to me that she often visits the school for educational programs, such as nutrition, with the Sesame Street characters like Elmo and Zoe in tow so she tends to be quite popular. 

Will and Charlie meeting a student.

     Will, Charlie, and I may not remember every moment of our vacation years from now but we will never forget how incredible it was to visit the school and meet and play with the children there. 

A student helping Charlie down the slide.

Will and his new friend playing on the swings.

    Besides the Reading Road trip, there are many other ways travellers can help out including purchasing items from the gift shops at the resorts and participating in the Pack for a Purpose program. The program asks charities like the Sandals Foundation to list their projects and needs on the website. Then, travellers headed to the resorts can pack up to 5 pounds of supplies that are in need, like school supplies or clothing, and donate them at the resort. Since we had a washer and dryer in our room, see earlier Key West Village review, I was able to wash all the clothes my children would have outgrown by summer time here in Toronto and donate them to local children on the island. 

     Other even easier ways to donate include the option to give a donation of any monetary amount offered to each guest upon check-in at the resorts as well as the option to give through the Sandals Foundation website. 

    The most remarkable feature of the Sandals Foundation is that all administrative and management costs associated with the foundation are supported by Sandals Resorts International, meaning 100% of all the money raised goes directly into the schools, environmental projects and communities. 

     After having spent the day with Elanor, I can attest that the people I met or communicated with at the Sandals Foundation, including Heidi Clarke the Director of Programs at the Foundation and Adam Stewart, the CEO of Beaches and Sandals, are people who love what they do and are appreciated by the community. If you are headed to Sandals or Beaches in the near future, want to donate or just want to find out more, please visit www.sandalsfoundation.org for more information.