gb_hor_11.jpg
 

Romancing in the Greenbelt

Ontario's Greenbelt stretches across 1.8 million acres and offers many options for romantic getaways. From enchanting winery experiences along the Niagara Escarpment, to the exploration of Rouge Park in Markham, one can find the romance in the nature all around the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. It is all about the birds and the bees after all, isn't it?  

As many people are choosing to support local and enjoying the unseasonably warm temperatures, Ontario's Greenbelt is a great option for people looking for a great Valentine's day date close to home.

"The Greenbelt is for everyone. Whether you're a young couple or enjoying your golden years, there is so much to do in the Greenbelt that can suit any age or budget, " says Burkhard Mausberg, CEO at the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

At Hillebrand Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Winemaker Craig McDonald is proud to call the Greenbelt home and is a part of this year's list of romantic dates in the Greenbelt.

"We love being a part of Ontario's Greenbelt. There is something amazing about being able to produce your wine and dinner from the same soil," says Mc Donald. "Why would you fly halfway around the world when the best is already in your backyard?"

Hillebrand Winery was the region's first producer of ice wine in 1983. Another first, is this year's Greenbelt Guide to Romance compiled by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

Here is the Foundation's short list of some of the most romantic Valentine's Day destinations:

 

Wine and Dine in Niagara

Hillebrand Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake
www.hillebrand.com
Lunch and Wine Tasting - $65.00 per person

This Greenbelt winery has been crafting their award-winning bubbly for over 20 years. Enjoy an intimate lunch hosted by a member of Chef Frank Dodd's culinary team as they share local food and wine stories. The experience will begin with a sparkling reception in Cellar 63, leading into a 3-course menu featuring wine and food grown in the same soil.

De-Stress in the Countryside
Pretty River Valley Country Inn and Scandinave Spa, Collingwood
www.prettyriverinn.com
www.scandinave.com/en/bluemountain
Spa Weekend - $459.00 for two

Nestled on the Niagara Escarpment, the Pretty River Valley Country Inn showcases the best of the Greenbelt and has been rated one of the top B&B’s in Ontario. This package brings you two nights weekend accommodation, complimentary sparkling wine, full country breakfasts, two all day passes to the world-renowned Scandinave Spa, and a local wine and cheese tasting. When you’re not basking in the Finnish Sauna, you can visit the Inn’s farm animals and enjoy their homemade maple syrup.

Giddy up with your Partner
Rawhide Adventures, Shelburne
www.rawhide-adventures.on.ca
Range Riders Night - $250 per person

Get a taste of the ranch life at this Greenbelt corral. Enjoy two days of relaxed horseback rides through meadows and the rolling hills of the Niagara Escarpment. Then tuck in for a hearty dinner, cowboy breakfast, and a cozy cabin complete with toasty woodstove.


Romantic Walks in Ontario’s Urban Wilderness
Rouge Park, south of Markham
www.rougepark.com
Guided Nature Hikes - Free

Located just outside of Toronto, Rouge Park is Canada’s largest urban national park, and the perfect spot for a Valentine’s promenade. The knowledgeable staff run guided hikes all-year round: enjoy a leisurely stroll while you identify animal tracks and medicinal plants, go on an energetic fitness hike through the forest, or bring your pup along for a photography excursion. There are paces suited for everyone, and a large variety of styles.


Good Things Come to Those Who Bait
Victoria Inn and LetsFish Guiding, Rice Lake
www.thevictoriainn.ca
www.letsfishguiding.com
Ice Fishing Weekend - $375 – $450 per person

Combine the great Greenbelt outdoors with graceful heritage accommodation. This weekend package brings you two nights stay, six to eight hours of ice fishing daily in a clean, comfortable hut, and two breakfasts, hot lunches and a gourmet dinner featuring local food. They’ll even cook the day’s catch for you! If fishing isn’t your thing, they also offer a weekend massage retreat for couples.

 

The Greenbelt Foundation is

  • Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers

  • Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara

  • Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities

  • Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products

  • Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities

  • Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel, U of T. City of Toronto Facilities and Markham

  • Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event

  • Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions

  • Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level

  • Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students

  • Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond

  • Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph

  • Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic

  • Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar

  • Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students

  • Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands

  • Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit

  • Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns

  • Creating a network of Farmer’s Markets to help improve our local food economy

  • Funding research and analysis on greenbelts around the globe which concluded that Ontario’s Greenbelt is the most robust in the world, with a strong legal and policy framework

  • Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region

  • Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers

  • Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers

  • Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area

  • Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research

  • Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities

  • Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park

  • Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others

  • Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets

  • Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels

  • Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%

  • Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO

  • Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas

  • Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries

  • Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination

  • Contributing $2.65 million to Greenbelt farmers to improve their operations (leveraging millions of dollars from federal sources), and to employ the opportunities of the Green Energy Act

 
Learn more about what the Greenbelt Foundation has done for you »

Advertorial sponsored by the Greenbelt Foundation

Toronto Star

Familiar Waters
Series Archive »

The Greenbelt Blog

Plotting Your Greenbelt Farmers' Market Tour

May marks the beginning of the farmers’ market season. Your weekly market starts up, familiar faces reappear, and your neighbourhood is reenergized after the long winter months. To make sure...

Read more from our Blog »

Greenbelt on Twitter

Dufferin Wellington Peel: total economic impact of Greenbelt ag, forestry, fishing rec & tourism = +$493M http://t.co/dMqj9cnI @TownofErin about 12 hours ago

Follow us on Twitter @greenbeltca »