MAX YOUR PASS

A guide for pass holder families to make the most of Blue in the green season

words :: Caitlin Foisy

Southern Georgian Bay has gone from snowy season to sunny season, which means busy ski families like mine have switched gears from staying active on-hill to… well, more of the same but with greener scenery. Like most outdoorsy folks, our family gets our money’s worth out of a season pass pretty early in the ski season. If we aren’t at work or school, we’re on the slopes. This is great for filling up a winter but can leave some gaps in our family activity plans in the green season. My kids, my husband and I all have energy to burn, and there’s only so long we can last at the local playground before getting bored. Thankfully, our local ski hill is Blue Mountain, and it has a four-season operation that stretches the value of our season passes (and access to fun, outdoor activities) year-round. Here’s how we get the most out of our season passes as a fourseason outdoor family:

Starting The Day Off Right

During the “off-season,” I don’t need to worry about keeping everyone’s ski equipment in order and can spend some time on-hill without much fuss. Some days I’ll flex my work day and go for a run or hike after kid drop-off at school or summer camp, and work my way up, down or across Blue on the hiking and cross-country biking trails. I’ll get up and get ready to run before the school bell to stay committed to getting my workout in. On days when I have a bit more time to relax, I might treat myself with a stop in at the Village to use my pass holders discount on a post-run snack.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

We have programs scheduled often during the school year, and in the summer, we enjoy scheduling free time into our weekdays so we can pop over to the mountain on a moment’s notice. We let the kids pick what they want to do, and they often opt for a family hike followed by a gondola ride down, which is also included with our 5x7® passes. I keep our family passes packed by the door with our snacks, water and knapsack, so we are ready to go as soon as the kids are home. Transitions are hard for kiddos, and the longer we take to get there, the later dinner gets to the table. The direct-to-hill-access we have with our passes is key. If you’ve ever had to wait in line for anything with your kids, you’ll be grateful you went with a season pass rather than relying on purchasing tickets as you need them.

The Family That Hikes Together

Unlike the 5x7® winter access, pass holders have unlimited trail and gondola access in the summer. This was honestly a selling feature for us with a young family of kids aged three, five and eight, as our kids aren’t quite ready to do big hikes yet. Having access to the gondola means we can hit the family-friendly trails at the top of the mountain or hike up and take the gondola down (or even just go for gondola rides and enjoy the scenery for a change of pace). Additionally, as an avid trail runner, I love having access to all the trails all summer long to get my hill training and long runs in, close to home. The trail conditions at Blue are top notch, with carefully maintained steps and bridges. Available parking is a much-appreciated necessity, especially compared to some local trail access points.

Stay And Play

When friends and family come to visit, it’s always nice to have the option to use our pass perks to score discounts on accommodation and dining. We have a big family with cousins of all different ages, but we know we can always find activities we all love together at the mountain.

With Blue in our backyard and a season pass in-hand, it isn’t hard to fill every season with play outside. Before we know it, it’ll be ski season again but for now, we’re looking forward to exploring the slopes with our hikers on and leaving the ski boots in the basement until next season.