While going on a summer vacation is fun, packing for it is not.

There’s the rushing around, getting things into bags and fitting it all in the car. Then there’s the worry that you’ll forget something important.  It’s no wonder ‘What should we bring?‘ is the biggest question we get asked.

One way to ease the stress of packing is to have a checklist. Then on the actually packing day, all you have to do is check off each item. No need to make any decisions or rely on your memory.

To get you started, we polled our staff & used our decades in the business to provide you with a list of what you might need to bring on your Blue Mountain summer vacation.

Clothing

Clothing can be a challenge when you’re packing for more than one person. Print off a copy of the clothing list for each member of the family and have them gather together their own clothes. If you don’t trust them, you can double check, but it will save you having to hunt for yourself.

• Underwear, socks and bras – enough for each day unless you plan to do laundry
• Shoes – sandals, flip flops, running shoes, hiking shoes, dress shoes (for dining out)
• T-shirts
• Sweater or sweatshirt and a jacket for cool evenings
• Shorts
• Cotton pants & jeans
• A dressy outfit for dining out (more than one if you’ll be dining out frequently)
• Hat & Sunglasses
• Bathrobe or beach cover-up
• Bathing suit(s)
• Pajamas & slippers

Toiletries

Don’t forget your essential toiletries. Visit a drug store well in advance and get travel sized versions of everything. Not only will it save space in your packing, you can leave it behind when you leave, giving you more room to pack souvenirs.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hair brush, mousse, gel or other hair products, hair clips, etc.
• Hair dryer, curling iron
• Razor, shaving cream
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Makeup
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Lotion

Medications

If you or anyone in your family is taking prescription medications it is essential to remember these. Make sure you have enough medication to last your entire trip and for the first day you get back. If not, get a refill before you leave. Of course, you’ll also want other emergency items as well.

• Prescription medications for each person
• Allergy pills
• Tylenol, aspirin or headache medication of choice
• Cold medication
• Antiseptic
• Bandaids

Linens

Call ahead to see if your vacation home provides bedding, pillows and towels. If not you’ll need to bring your own.

• Sheets for each bed – make sure you have the proper sizes
• Blankets – even in the summer you can have some cool nights
• Pillows and pillow cases
• Towels and facecloths for each person
• Beach towels – even resorts that provide towels may not provide towels for the pool or beach
• Dish towels, clothes and dish soap. If you’ll be cooking in your vacation home you’ll need to wash up.

Entertainment

For rainy days, evenings in or just when you need a quiet moment, you’ll want to bring items from home to entertain yourself and your family.

• Books and magazines
• iPod, hand-held computer games, cell phones, camera and rechargers
• Laptop & cord
• DVDs – If you’re vacation home doesn’t come equipped with a DVD player and tv, you can play them on your laptop.
• Beach toys and sporting gear (golf clubs, tennis rackets, Frisbees, balls)
• Cards, board games, paper and pens
• Favorite toys for children

Food

Consider creating a menu for all the meals you’ll eat in. Use the menu create a shopping list and you’ll be sure to bring the right amount.

• Food for all breakfasts, lunches and dinners you eat in
• Snacks  – chips, nuts, cookies, fruit
• Drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic
• Condiments – butter, mustard, ketchup

1. Plan your meals

When travelling with a family, food can be the biggest expense. It is also a big headache if traveling with fussy eaters who balk at new and different foods. Finding a place to stay with a kitchen can easily solve these problems. By preparing some of your meals yourself can greatly reduce your costs.

Even if you don’t have access to cooking facilities, you can still save money. Most vacation rental places – even hotels – have at least a fridge for you to use. Bring milk, fruit and cereal to serve fast and easy breakfasts. However, don’t expect a hotel to have dishes. Plan ahead by visiting a dollar store to bring along some basic dishes and cutlery.

If taking a vacation from cooking is part of the appeal of getting away, you can still save money on food. Most grocery stores have a deli counter where you can buy salads and sandwiches for much less than a restaurant meal. Pick up food and drinks for an inexpensive picnic lunch while you’re out and about.

2. Take a Shorter Trip

There’s no law that says you need to get away for two weeks. Plan a long weekend or a mid-week getaway. You’ll still come home refreshed but won’t need the same budget as a longer vacation. Mini-vacations have the added benefit of being easier to pack for and less stressful on toddlers.

3. Off-season rates

If you’ve got a tight budget, check to see if your vacation rental or hotel has off-season times. Often these will be cheaper than peak season.

4. Bring Toys, Games and Sporting Equipment

Packing balls, bats, kites and water toys allows you to plan a no-cost day at a park or beach near your hotel. Create a family Olympics with silly prizes for events can get everyone involved and make the day more fun.

For rainy days, board games and a deck of cards can offer a fun-filled afternoon. If traveling with young children, plan ahead and buy a new toy to bring out on rainy days. The novelty and surprise will keep them busy while you get a chance to read or nap.

5. Joint Vacations With Another Family

Rather than just booking a standard hotel room, why not look for a larger chalet or condo with multiple rooms? Then team up with another family with kids the same age. You may find the cost of accommodation is less than if you stayed in a hotel. An added benefit is both sets of parents can trade off kid duty and get some much-needed adult time.

6. Movie Night

Call ahead to see if your hotel has a DVD player in the room. Then pack your favourite family movies for inexpensive evenings in. Turn it into a family pyjama party with chips, candy and pop picked up at a grocery store. For the price of one adult admission to the movies, you can entertain the entire family for the night.

7. Take it Easy

Too often parents try to plan every moment of the day in order to get the most out of the precious vacation time. But one of the joys of a holiday is getting away from the routine of daily life. Don’t be afraid to spend a day just sitting by the pool reading, playing cards or swimming with the kids. It may turn out to be the best part of your family vacation.

But anyone who lives here knows Ontario takes up a lot of space.  You can’t see it all in one day.  And because we’re so big, each region has its own distinct landscape.

From the top of the Blue Mountains to the shores of Georgian Bay

The Blue Mountain region is different from the rest of the province.  As you drive towards the area, gradually the land becomes more rolling, more hilly.  The hillsides are covered with lush forests or rolling farmland. At the tops of the hills, you catch glimpses of Georgian Bay.  As the landscape changes, you know you’re getting closer to your destination.

In the spring, Blue Mountain has that fresh, young green colour of new shoots and new leaves.  Everything is starting to burst with life.  Summer brings a deeper green, as everything is in full leaf.  Autumn turns into an explosion of colour.  There’s nothing quite as stunning as the Collingwood hillsides covered in oranges, yellows and reds on a sunny October day.  And winter has its own special beauty.  The rolling hills covered in a blanket of fresh, white snow.  The crisp, clean feel that is missing from city snow … assuming the city has any snow.

But Blue Mountain is more than natural beauty.  Yes, there are many outdoors activities; snowmobiling and skiing in the winter, hiking and boating in the summer.  But once you’ve had enough of the outdoors, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy. You can spend an afternoon wandering through an art gallery or a museum.  You can go shopping at the many local boutiques and shops.  When you’ve enough, get dressed up and enjoy a quiet dinner at a luxury restaurant. Or be casual and have a great meal at lively pub.  Or just stay in and enjoy the beautiful homes & cottages we rent.  The choice is yours.

And perhaps the best part of a Blue Mountain vacation is how easy it is to get here.  From Toronto, you can hop in your car straight from work and be sitting down for a late dinner in less time than it would take you to get through airport security.  No long line-ups, no baggage search, no uncomfortable plane trip.  Just a pleasant drive through lovely countryside, then before you know it, you’re already starting your vacation.  What could be better?

Feel free to add why you love living or vacationing in the area.

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