Ice cream? Treat yourself.
SUP rental? Treat yourself.
New Discovery Activity book? Treat yourself.
Big. Canoe. Tour. Treat yourself!
TREAT YOURSELF 2024!
BEST DAY OF THE YEAR!
~ Ontario Parks Staff
It’s International Self-Care Day (the best day of the year!), and we’re here to share how we treat ourselves at parks.
Let’s get right into the good stuff:
1. Go forest bathing
Treat yourself to something that feels good and is good for you: forest bathing.
Forest bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in a forested area and letting your senses engage with your surroundings.
Not sure where to start? Try Ontario Parks’ first designated forest therapy trail, Tower Trail at MacGregor Point Provincial Park!
Caught the hiking bug? Try taking a nature walk every day in August as part of our 30×30 Challenge! (Remember to celebrate Take a Hike Day this August 10!)
2. Snag a new Discovery Activity Book
If your little treats frequently take the form of pretty notebooks and bullet journals, treat yourself to our new Discovery Activity book.
This FREE activity book is your chance to record your nature observations, find a wildflower rainbow, and go to a moth party!
3. Big. Canoe. Tour.
Paddle a historic river in a replica Canoe du Maître this summer by signing up for a Discover the Mattawa River: Big Canoe Tour at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park!
See towering granite cliffs and windswept pines while you experience the Mattawa River as many before us have: by canoe.
4. Roofed accommodations!
Swap out your regular camping trip and swap in the luxurious treat of staying in a roofed accommodation!
The best way to snap up this popular treat is to look for mid-week openings or venture to new-to-you locations—like Rushing River Provincial Park or Blue Lake Provincial Park, which both offer trailer-equipped campsites.
5. Ice cream!
Looking for a treat to be the cherry on top of a great day adventuring? Have some ice cream!
Many parks sell frozen treats in their park stores – some, like Emily Provincial Park, Pinery Provincial Park, and Halfway Lake Provincial Park, even offer scooped ice cream!
If you’re looking for a sweet treat to brighten your day, head to a park store and check out all the delicious options available.
6. Take a weekday trip
Sometimes the best treat is getting away from it all and spending time in nature.
Beat the crowds and leave your stress behind by booking a midweek trip!
Want even more peace and quiet surrounded by stunning landscapes? Book your midweek stay at one of these northern gems:
7. Pick up a souvenir
Who doesn’t love a little treat that also supports parks?
Our new summer collection features new Turtle Protection Program merchandise, vintage tees, drinkware, sweaters, and more!
Already have a bunch of park t-shirts? Treat yourself to one more!
8. Rentals!
Canoes, kayaks, bikes, motorboats, paddleboats — all available for rent in select parks!
Feel like trying something new? Rent a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and explore Ontario’s lakes and rivers at new heights.
Not sure where to start paddling? Bonnechere Provincial Park and Rideau River Provincial Park both rent paddleboards and have winding rivers perfect for paddling and wildlife viewing!
9. See the stars!
Immerse yourself in the beauty of a starry night by booking a stay at one of our dark sky parks.
Quetico Provincial Park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park, offering its visitors an incredible view of a wide-open sky filled with a million points of distant light. Explore the stars by borrowing a Dark Sky Discovery kit from Quetico – it includes a planisphere, a headlamp with red light, and an Ojibway Sky Star Map Constellation Guide.
Lake Superior Provincial Park and Killarney Provincial Park are also designated Dark Sky Preserves by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, meaning viewing the night sky
10. Try a new park!
You can have some new-to-you parks, as a treat.
How will you celebrate International Self-Care Day?
Whether you choose something off this list or do your own form of self-care, it’s important to remember that taking care of yourself doesn’t stop after today.
Embrace the feel-good effects of the outdoors by adding nature to your self-care toolkit.
