The coolish months between summer and winter can present challenges to the active family. It's nice to know there's a budding community close to the GTA that offers off-season, outdoor diversion. It's called Blue Mountain.

Most of us know this Collingwood community, two hours north of Toronto on Georgian Bay, as a ski area. But since Intrawest-- creators of Tremblant and Whistler/Blackcomb -- bought in, the resort has stretched its visit-ability from one season to four. During summer, winter, spring, and especially fall, there's something to do at Blue Mountain.

Intrawest's specialty is creating Disney-esque, pedestrian-only, open-air villages in which cars are taboo, streets meander, buskers abound, shopping is eclectic, and in which everyone is encouraged to gather in a town square for concerts and people watching. It's all very Old World European.

In Blue Mountain's case, the village is based on an idyllic old Ontario town, with a town dock, a town clock, a boardwalk, a firehall ... you get the picture. Designers --yes, this village is designed down to the last detail -- reportedly rambled through Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake, notebooks and sketchbooks in hand, to get the look. The result is a natural, worry-free place for kids to run and parents to wander -- just as my family did on a weekend visit in October.

The best part about a mini-vacation at Blue (as locals call it) is the ease of it all. My 2-year-old was able to run free without constraints of a stroller or a parent's hand. He spent several hours doing circles around lamposts, sitting by the outdoor fire, and hopping between rocks near the town fountain while his mom and dad took turns checking out the shops.

Families seem to gravitate toward the Fire Hall Pizza Co. for lunch and dinner. There are several restaurants in the village, but the Fire Hall appeared to be the most family friendly. This made it crowded and a challenge to find a table, so if your kids get cranky when they're hungry, dine early.

There's a small grocery store in the village that sells warm dinners, snacks and video rentals you can carry back to your accommodation. One of Intrawest's strong points is their cookie-cutter condominiums that top the village shops. These condos come equipped with full kitchens and dining-room tables so the family can eat in if necessary. With tired kids on holiday, it's always good to have this option.

There's no shortage of family-friendly recreation. In the off-ski season the surrounding ski slopes are open to hikers and mountain bikers. You can grab a lift to the peak then hike down the mountain--the paths are easily navigated, even by a 2-year-old. And Blue Mountain's Scenic Caves are nearby -- a self-guided tour of caverns, caves and lookouts cut deep in the Niagara Escarpment. We navigated our son through this maze with little effort, but strollers can't make it through tight spaces, so for babies, backpacks are best.

Also near Blue Mountain: horseback riding, Hummer tours, wall climbing, mountain bike rentals, the Bruce Trail, and a cycling path along the old rail lines near the shores of Georgian Bay. There are several driving ranges and golf courses in the area, including Blue's Monterra. In warmer months you can visit the resort's private beach on Georgian Bay, or rent a boat.

The Vanilla Pod Day Spa has been open less than a year and offers a full roster of massages, Reiki and skincare.

Blue Mountain is 11 km west of Collingwood off Hwy. 26, and 168 km northwest of Toronto. Visit bluemountain.ca or call 877-445-0231.