A Winter Weekend at Skipping Rock: Family, Friendship and the Magic of Slowing Down
This past week, I packed up my car, bundled up my favourite people, and headed back to one of my all-time favourite places: Skipping Rock Cottages. I had visited in the summer and fell in love with the sunshine, the lake and the long warm nights, but coming back in the winter felt like discovering an entirely new version of the same story. The air was quieter, the trees were dusted with snow and the whole property felt like stepping into a Hallmark movie in the most peaceful way.
This time, I did not come alone. I brought my mom Catherine, my best friend who is also my sister in law Tay, her sweet five-month-old baby Elle and Tay’s mom Sherry. My other best friend, Fran, and her mom, Mary, also joined us and stayed in the Loft Cabin, turning this into a full mother daughter trip, a multi-generational escape and the ultimate girls getaway in Ontario.
And it was perfect.
Making Memories Across Generations
From the moment we arrived, the winter calm wrapped around us. The cottage was warm, cozy and so thoughtfully prepared. As a new mom, Tay did not have to pack half her house because everything baby Elle needed was already there. A high chair, a playpen and all the little comforts that make traveling with a baby actually relaxing. It was a huge help and one of many reasons this is such an incredible Ontario cottage weekend destination for families.
My dog Bru came too, and he was living his best cottage life. He explored the shoreline, sniffed every trail and even dipped his paws in the icy water like the curious little adventurer he is.
A Weekend of Good Food, Good Wine and Good Company
One of my favourite parts of Skipping Rock is how it feels like home but better. We cooked big group meals together. Cozy breakfasts, comfort food dinners, snacks spread out across the counter. The kitchen had absolutely everything we needed. Every utensil, pan and cooking tool was provided, which made feeding a large group simple and enjoyable.
In the evenings, we poured wine, curled up in blankets and watched Dancing with the Stars and Hallmark Christmas movies. Watching holiday movies at a cottage somehow feels different, like you are inside the story instead of just watching it.
We used the helpful QR codes throughout the cottage to learn how to turn on the fireplace and how to get the hot tub going. Everything was easy and intuitive, which meant more time relaxing and less time figuring things out.
Our hot tub night was one of the highlights. Steam rising into the cold winter air, the sound of the bay in the distance and those long, meaningful conversations that only happen when you fully unwind.
The Power of Female Friendships and Mother Daughter Getaways
What made this weekend unforgettable was not just the cottage itself but the women who filled it. There is something special about traveling with the people who shape your life. Your mom, your best friends, your sister in law, the women you admire, love and lean on.
Watching different generations cook together, laugh together, help with baby Elle and simply enjoy uninterrupted time reminded me how important these relationships are. This was more than a winter cottage getaway. It was a reminder to slow down and appreciate the women who hold you up.
A place like Skipping Rock encourages connection. There is no rush and no noise. Just coffee by the bay, shared meals, late night talks and long walks with the people who matter. It is the perfect setting for a girls trip in Ontario or a quiet, meaningful mother daughter weekend.
A Winter Getaway Worth Repeating
Winter at Skipping Rock is a completely different experience than summer. It is calmer, cozier and filled with small moments that stay with you. The fireplace, the hot tub, the snowy trails, the soft stillness of the bay and the early sunsets all created a sense of peace that we all needed.
Whether you are planning a girls getaway in Ontario, a mother daughter trip, a cozy cottage weekend or a multi-generational family stay, I cannot recommend Skipping Rock enough. It is the kind of place where memories settle in and stay awhile.
We left with full hearts, tired cheeks from laughing and already planning our next visit.
Skipping Rock is more than a cottage stay. It is a place to reconnect with your people. And after this week, I am reminded just how important that truly is.
