Disclaimer – This post was written in partnership with Fern Resort. All thoughts and opinions expressed on lil-sugar.ca are my own.
When I think of vacation I think of a family friendly, no nonsense laid-back and relaxed holiday and time spent with my loved ones without worry. That is why we usually plan our getaways in an all-inclusive type atmosphere. Who knew Ontario had an all-inclusive resort so close to home?
The Fern Resort offers worry free accommodation for your whole family without having to travel very far. We were invited to stay a couple of days at this beautiful resort and experience all it had to offer first hand and boy was it a surprise. I decided to leave husband and go about this trip as a girls getaway with our little men. My sister, my mom, and I have never been away without our husbands before so this was an experience in itself.
The fern resort is located in Ramara Ontario, almost exactly an hour and a half from my home and a perfect getaway destination for anyone living in the GTA. I was stoked to drive the distance alone, with the boys in tow because it didn’t involve a pit stop. Our initial impression of this resort was that it was breathtaking! The buildings are noticeably old, surrounded by lush gardens and treed lots adding to the character and history of the family who owns it. Since the resort was built in the 1800’s it has been updated and Ontario really is a beautiful place, we couldn’t wait to get our vacation started! The grounds remind me of the Dirty Dancing set, cozy and quaint with so much charm.
Check in with easy and our rooms were more than spacious, beautiful, and comfortable. We stayed in the main inn penthouse family room that had its own balcony overlooking the pool area, two queen size beds, a fireplace and sitting area plus a spacious bathroom. Since there were so many of us we were accommodated in two separate rooms that were almost exactly alike. We were also fortunate enough to get a tour of the resort to better familiarize ourselves with our surroundings. This resort is huge but every section is easily accessible, each building has a name so that it can be located and everything is within a short walk from anywhere on the grounds. This is amazing for families who leave their children at the kids clubs, or parents with teens because it seems you are never really too far from them while they enjoy their independence a little.
Did I mention the Fern Resort offers FREE kids programs! Although we did not use this feature we spoke to so many children and families who love the programs at the resort. Something my own children are asking to attend on our next trip. Classes start at 8:30 in the morning run right through until 8 o’clock in the evening. They also offer free babysitting from 8 PM until midnight so that the adults can attend entertainment alone – parents this is paradise. If you prefer private babysitting services in your own room they also offer for a reasonable price. Each program is set depending on age range, as are the activities provided.
Is it really all-inclusive? Aside from the kids club being included, the food choices are endless, delicious and there is something for everyone including my very picky boys at every meal! What’s better than not having to cook dinner AND enjoy a menu that is pleasing to everyone? Let me tell you, nothing! Makes for a very easy get away. One thing I really loved was that every time we were seated we had the exact same table, our server was usually the same person too. Made for easier dining, no waiting to be seated and table always ready when we were. Just like resort accommodations down south, the resort offers breakfast lunch and dinner all on site! Each meal planned with 4 courses so needless to say a few pounds were gained during our stay, but no one is complaining!
PLUS early kids dinner buffet! kids can eat starting at 5:30pm buffet style just in case they cant wait for their parents. This way kids can eat and then parents can send them off to the kids programs while they enjoy their a-la-carte dinner menu childless.
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So much to do! To be quite honest, we tried so hard to pack in all that we could but didn’t even get a chance to experience 1/2 of the amenities this resort has to offer. Since most activities are included (yes these too) it’s so hard not to want to partake in a little of everything. We decided to do what we could as a group and every activity we chose allowed everyone to participate. On arrival we were hit with a crazy storm so we were limited and ended up studying the daily planner for the next day so that we could ensure to pack it all in.
A very packed itinerary: Since the Fern Resort has activities going on around the clock as well as things to do without a scheduled time, the boys got to pick 3 major attractions and we jammed the rest in on a whim. Kicking the day off with some water painting classes fully instructed and crafted for any age. I didn’t think a 3 year old would pull this off, but he really made beautiful art and even got a frame for being done first!
Next we were off bicycling through the forest, I highly recommend you do this. There are various tracks, but we chose the 10 minute loop because we vary in skills. This was by far the most comical experience ever – my mom, sister and the two younger boys rode the 4 seater and myself and my two boys took on individual carts each. we flew fast through that rack, and laughed the whole way through. Memories made for sure.
After the bikes we settled a bit and swam our hearts out! we went from pool to beach to hot tub and then repeated that sequence a couple of times over and over again. These kids can never get enough water, i think they must have been fish in a past life. The great thing about the water area is that you can see your children from pretty much any seat surrounding it. Beach and pool are open enough to enjoy both without having to move seats. One thing is for sure, I am coming back for that banana boat next year!
We spent the rest of the evening jumping on trampolines, playing some chess on the giant chess boards, swinging in hammocks and playing some mini golf. The next morning before we left we also fit in a little fishing too – the kids were thrilled to each have caught a fish – lucky day for a lucky holiday getaway!
If you are thinking of visiting the Fern Resort, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions because I couldn’t fit enought into this post to truly represent what a wonderful time we had here. I am sure this will be our go-to Ontario getaway destination for years to come because no one treats families like Fern! For more information please visit: fernresort.com
