If you’re looking for the perfect holiday date plan just an hour outside Toronto, then this day- or couples weekend getaway in Ontario is the best way to lean into the holiday season with your partner. It has all of the makings of a Hallmark movie: a cute town, a local Christmas tree farm, and plenty of opportunities to cozy up together.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to star in your own Hallmark Movie! This fun-filled, cheesy date getaway is the perfect way to get the holiday season off to a fun start with your partner.
Whether you’re looking to relax and unwind over a flight or craft beer or cider, shop for each other and everyone else on your list at cute local stores, or spend quality time together taking a cooking class, chopping down your own Christmas tree or curling up in a heritage movie theatre, then there is something on this list for every couple to enjoy this winter.
Feel free to tackle a few of these date ideas all in a day trip, or make it a weekend getaway to remember together. No matter what type of Hallmark Christmas Movie magic you’re looking to cook up together, you’ll be sure to find it on this holiday weekend getaway.
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Our Story Takes Place In…
…the town of Uxbridge!
Uxbridge is located northeast of Toronto in Durham Region. It isn’t far from the adorable towns of Goodwood and Port Perry, and it takes about an hour to drive to Uxbridge from Toronto proper.
The picture-perfect town of Uxbridge is just the right size for a cozy weekend getaway. It’s packed with cute things to do for your holiday partners’ date weekend, all located within a comfortable little radius. Very few places are far away in Uxbridge, and that makes it the ideal location for a fun couples’ date getaway.
Ultimate Ontario Presents: A Cheesy Holiday Weekend Date for Two
Whether you’re looking for a jam-packed day escape, or a couple’s weekend getaway in Ontario, there are too many amazing options to count when it comes to planning this trip away to Uxbridge.
While you can certainly attempt to tackle this all in one day, we’d highly recommend spending a little extra time in and around Uxbridge and making a weekend out of it.
Keep reading to learn about all of the fun, holiday-themed ways to get in the spirit this season!
Save the Local Christmas Tree Farm: Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm
We may have broken the rules a little on this one, but Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm isn’t too far from Uxbridge and it is definitely worth visiting on this romantic escape to the region.
While this Christmas Tree Farm is far from needing to be saved, Hope’s is an adorable, family-owned business that is much more than just a tree farm. Its owners, Dan and Rebecca, and the idyllic farm escape they’ve created truly makes it feel as if it’s been taken straight out of a Hallmark Movie.
You can buy a pre-cut Christmas tree, or have a cute date day activity where you cut your own real tree from their fields. They also have an outdoor store, with wreaths made out of real evergreens, and beautiful potted arrangements that would be beautiful on any stoop or front porch.
Beyond finding all the greens you’ll need for the holidays, Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm is a festive holiday escape all on its own. They serve hot apple cider and hot chocolate from their Cozy Saddle drink wagon, and they have a picturesque fire pit area outside by their century barn, where you can bundle up side by side. Their farm even has happy goats and a miniature donkey, who roam around their large pens and enjoy being fed Balsam clippings by you during your visit.
If you’re looking to do a little holiday shopping this season, then you’ll be excited to know that there’s a beautiful Christmas Market on site inside of their 18th century barn at Hope’s Farm, too. Not only is the barn itself such a beautiful and cozy place to be inside, but they carry high quality items from 50 local vendors, many of whom are within a 20 minute drive of the farm.
Their barn sells everything from crocheted baby booties to bath bombs, and knitted blankets to sweet treats. On top of all the holiday charm, the local and sustainable initiative of this family business is a reason in itself to stay for longer than you planned.
Before heading out to Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm, make sure you double check their hours. They’re open weekends from 9-5, and Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8pm.
Warm Up with a Hot Drink from The Bridge Social
After enjoying the magic of the Christmas tree farm, head on up to Uxbridge. The Bridge Social has all the makings to start a great day: delicious, nutritious food and snacks, delightful warm drinks to choose from, and some local shopping sprinkled on top for you to peruse and admire while you sip.
They’re known for their creative lattes and inventive drinks at The Bridge. Specials like a Chaga Protein Hot Chocolate or a Cosmic Creamer Latte with Lion’s Mane mushroom are staples on the menu. In addition to their bakery counter, sandwiches, soups and smoothies, they have a wonderful selection of grocery items for sale, like honey, bagels, spreads, pastas and more.
If you’re looking for more than just a great snack or grocery item, then definitely plan to spend some time looking through their other items for sale. They have everything from clothing and accessories to bath products and holiday wreaths. The Bridge also has a beautiful selection of locally created art that would make the perfect gift for the holidays.
Take a Holiday Cooking or Baking Class for Two at Passionate Cook’s Essentials
If you and your partner love to entertain or just enjoy cooking or baking, then taking a holiday cooking or baking class is such a fun way to spend the afternoon or evening in Uxbridge.
Passionate Cook’s Essentials is a specialty grocery, cooking and entertaining store in Downtown Uxbridge. They also have a wonderfully set up demonstration kitchen and bar with a variety of classes on weeknights or weekends that are sure to excite the novice and expert cooks.
On our recent couples’ trip, we took a holiday baking class with guest instructor Haley Prentice. Haley expertly led us through four of her own holiday dessert recipes, each with her own distinctive flair. Classes come with a glass of wine, and a serving and recipe card for each of the items on the menu.
It’s a great way to connect with your partner over something you both love–whether that’s the cooking and baking, or the eating, or all of the above!
Surprise Each Other with a Gift from Downtown Uxbridge’s Local Shops
Downtown Uxbridge makes for a great shopping destination any time of year, but it’s an especially wonderful place to come during the holiday season. Each of its distinctive shops along Brock Street offers creative and exciting gift options for anyone you’re looking to buy something special for, especially if you’re looking to surprise your partner on the road.
Highlights when you’re shopping along Brock Street include:
- Blue Heron Books – Chris and I are suckers for wonderfully curated independent book stores, and Blue Heron has been recognized as one of Canada’s best independent book stores. They frequently host festivals, events and evenings with famous Canadian authors. Their selection of books is also well curated, and their knowledgeable staff will help with any questions you have. It’s a great place to shop for the next great book your partner will read, or for another avid reader on your list.
- Presents Presents Presents: This shop has everything under the sun, and then some. It’s been in Uxbridge for 35 years and you can find bath products, books and stationary, clothing, games and even items for babies and young families. It’s a wonderful place to come if you’re looking for a surprising and special gift for anyone on your list.
- The Lemonade Stand: This shop has vintage finds, unique gifts and beautiful clothing. They have a little bit of everything–a little old, and a little new. They’re well known for their homemade poured candles with all sorts of exciting scents, and unique clothing and accessories with a feminine flair.
- The Bridge Social: Not only is The Bridge Social an excellent place to warm up with a hot drink, but they have a wonderful storefront, too. They’re connected to Blue Heron Books, making it easy to pick up a book, read it in The Bridge, and then shop for a gift at The Bridge. They have so many great items here, like clothing and accessories, locally made art and bath and body products.
- Passionate Cook’s Essentials: On top of being a great place to come for a cooking or baking class, Passionate Cook’s has everything you could ever need in terms of cooking, baking or hosting supplies. If you’re attending a party this year and want to put together the perfect hosting gift basket, this is definitely the place to come to.
Check Out Uxbridge’s Festive Events This Season
Every year, the town of Uxbridge has different festivals to celebrate the season. This year, there are two events we’d recommend checking out, depending on when you’re planning your holiday couples’ getaway.
- Holiday Trail – Celebrate the season by taking in the beautiful window displays and lights of the local businesses in Downtown Uxbridge, and warm up with hot beverages in the town under the stars. Various events are happening over December 8-9, and all of the details can be found here.
- Optimist Fantasy of Lights – this takes place for a month from early December to early January, where Uxbridge hosts one of the largest light displays in all of Canada. The drive-thru display is in Elgin Park each evening from 6-9:30pm.
Cozy Up Over a Festive Flight at a Brewery or Cidery
The town of Uxbridge is filled with delicious ways to wet your whistle this holiday season. The Second Wedge is a downtown staple, with several creative beers on tap, perfect for a sampling flight, or you can also take some to go from their bottle room. While they don’t have a kitchen, they do have some great snacks, like small batch kettle chips, and seasonal wood-fired pizzas or empanadas!
Two other great places to pop in for a flight are Slabtown Cidery and Banjo Cider. Each has their own unique atmosphere, and both are located in separate directions away from the downtown core.
Curl Up Close at the Local Movie Theatre: A Night at The Roxy
This is a can’t miss stop on your holiday couple’s weekend getaway in Ontario. The Roxy is a revived movie theatre that originally opened in Uxbridge in the first half of the 20th century. It was renovated and reopened in the 90’s, and serves as both an excellent place to cozy up and watch a movie together, and an homage to the history of film.
From its tickets booth to its concession stand, this theatre is any vintage lover’s destination in itself. They offer everything from delicious, buttery popcorn to all of the sweet treats you might like to go along with it. They also have a liquor license, so if you’re looking to cozy up with a craft beer or glass of wine, that’s a great option too.
If you’re looking to elevate your movie night together even more, feel free to order a custom local grazing board at least 24 hours before showtime.
Where to Stay on this Couple’s Weekend Getaway in Ontario
To really make the most of this time away in Uxbridge, we’d highly suggest you look into a cozy nature getaway with your partner to make the most of it.
Renting out a place a little outside of town is a great decision. Uxbridge is surrounded by beautiful natural surroundings, so staying at a cozy cabin like this cedar cabin, or this log cabin, or even this little cabin in the woods would be the perfect place to curl up together after a day spent exploring in Uxbridge.
No matter which of these activities you choose, you will truly be realizing some Hallmark holiday magic for you and your partner this season!
I want to thank York Durham Headwaters for their collaboration on this trip. All opinions are my own. For more ideas on ways to discover Uxbridge and Durham Region in general, you can visit the York Durham Headwaters website.
Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, history and adventures in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada and beyond on Instagram and TikTok @brimitchelltravels, and in her articles for travelingmitch.com, Ultimate Ontario, and here on We Explore Canada.