My family and I spent 3 days and 2 nights at The Fern Resort in Orillia in the summer of 2015. We won the getaway through a draw LWAB had, which is why we decided to go despite the fact that it just 2 adults and a 7-month-old baby. We had an absolute blast and even my daughter enjoyed the new scenery and experiences, which led to 3 successful naps and a great night’s sleep for everyone.
Picture an all-inclusive resort aimed especially for families with children that's exactly who Fern Resort is. Tucked way back down along a scenic road, the resort is full of activities to keep kids entertained all day long, as well as keep parents engaged and the whole family discovering new exciting activities.
What to Do
Although our baby was only 7 months old, we decided to make the most out of our mini vacation (like most people with a new baby, we haven’t been out in a while). There are paths leading all around the resort, making it very easy to navigate around and get to different activities. There is a schedule of events and times at the front desk that changes daily.
From tennis and rock climbing to archery and zorbing, there is something for everyone. We climbed a big wooden playground (with the baby in our arms) and watched the older kids go down the long zip line. We also saw on the schedule that there was a time allotted for arts and crafts. My husband held our daughter and watched me jump on 1 of the 2 rectangular trampolines outside in a netted house. We also played some mini golf and had the baby help us hold the club.
The most fun was when we did the ropes course. We took turns getting harnessed up (one of us stayed on the ground and watched with the baby) and climbed a long wooden pole up to the logs. The challenge was to make your way across on logs that spin while holding your body weight up by hanging ropes. It tested strength, endurance, and especially my fear of heights. It was amazing!
There is a big area for outdoor swimming pools equipped with cute mini loungers, as well as a beach area. Unfortunately, the day we were ready to go to the pool it was chilly and raining, so we opted for the indoor pool instead. There was also a sauna and a hot tub nearby as well. There is plenty of space to use the stroller anywhere you go; some people even made sure to bring a stroller so their baby could take their naps in it while the older kids continued their activities so they didn’t have to go back to the room. If you don’t feel like walking through the resort, you can always rent one of the many vehicles on wheels they have available: bicycles, tricycle, 4 wheel jeeps, etc.
Where to Stay
There are many options on the resort when it comes to accommodations. We stayed in a regular room in a 2 story building. Although a little outdate, the room was a good size and we were provided a small metal crib that is low to the grounds. I made sure to bring her crib sheet with us to help with sleeping in an unfamiliar place so she would have a familiar scent (the mattress is smaller than a crib mattress, but a good size and would fit any baby under at least 2 comfortably). The accommodations, bedding, and amenities are far from spectacular, but they did the job and everyone got a good sleep.
There are also cottages, villas, and private areas to stay in, which obviously differ in price depending on the level of luxury you are looking for.
The People
It surprised us that most of the people working at the resort were high school seniors, graduates, and young university/college students. They made up most of the wait staff in the dining area, as well as the babysitting services and play village. Refreshingly, the fact that they are younger actually made a huge difference in our experience; they were extremely respectful, helpful, friendly, and great with little ones. They were knowledgeable about the resort, their jobs, and went above and beyond to make sure our stay was fun and comfortable.
Dining and Things to Make your Visit Easier
There is one main house where the front desk and registration is, as well as the dining area. For the duration of our stay, we were assigned to the same table every time so it was never a question of where to sit or if there is space, we just came in, found our table which the clean and comfortable high chair (with a big tray and bib provided) and started getting ready for our meal.
There were lots of choices of food, and we were pleased to find many healthy options: lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as plain steamed veggies that our baby enjoyed IMMENSELY. Although we tried our best to clean up after her, as you can imagine, the floor was a mess. Not once were we made to feel like cleaning up after her was a hassle and our waitress smiled, talked, and laughed with her a lot.
Not too far from the main building is a HUGE play village where you can drop your kids off (young or old) and RECEs will look after them as they play, climb, ride tricycles, etc., if you want some time along to explore with your partner or just focus on one child at a time. They also offer babysitting services after hours in a common area, as well as in your room for $8/hour. We didn’t take advantage of any of the babysittings since she was so young and still breastfeeding and very much attached to mommy, not to mention that we have never left her with anyone by that point yet.
When to Go
After talking to the staff and a few ‘regular’s at the resort, we were told that it’s a lot more fun and there are much more activities in the summer than winter. Although there are some fun winter activities, almost everyone recommended coming in the summer.
The best part of it all is that ALL of the activities I mentioned and some I didn’t (aside from the private in-room babysitting and maybe some spa packages that we didn’t look into) are fully included in your stay! No worrying about how much money you should spend, carrying around money, or kids nagging you to buy them things. You can just relax and enjoy your time away with your family.
Reviewed by Mary Hutcheon who lives in Georgina, Canada.
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