We Don’t Hibernate: Girls Gone Mild at Crystal Beach

Winters in Canada are long, and as such, our thoughts naturally turn to beach escapes to make life more bearable. I’m no exception to that rule, except I’ve learned over the years that the beach doesn’t need to be far and the time away doesn’t need to be long to break the monotony. Call it brilliance or denial, but I’ve learned that the three components needed to break even the most tenacious winter are as follows: a new location, a break from routine, and good friends. Oh, and a Canadian beach.

This year, a winter escape to Crystal Beach in Fort Erie, Ontario did the trick.

Now in its fourth year, my girlfriends and I have been running away together each mid-January for our affectionately but misappropriately named Girls Gone Mild weekend, which, as you may have guessed if you know us, is less mild and more wild and riled than you’d expect for a group of 50-somethings. I mean, when your watch starts giving you decibel readings during conversation, you know the gathering isn’t exactly zen. Oddly, though, it can break the winter blues better than any flight south.

Setting the Stage – The Perfect Accommodation

As most women know, the key to any great winter getaway is finding the perfect accommodation. Women want an aesthetically pleasing respite, somewhere that feels like home but without the stress of home ownership. The kind of place that has the following phrases on repeat: this is all I need, I could live here, and we should book this place again.

This year’s Girls Gone Mild headquarters was a beachfront Airbnb that checked every single box. White shiplap walls, a roaring fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows framing Lake Erie, and enough room for our crew to spread out without stepping on each other. The aesthetic hit that sweet spot between coastal cottage and modern escape; think warm wood tones, a sectional sofa that could fit our entire bestie cuddle puddle, and a kitchen big enough to accommodate multiple cooks (and cocktail mixologists).

Walking in was the usual organized chaos. We’re chronic overpackers, arriving with enough gear to outfit the North Pole: karaoke machines, board games, enough cozy clothes to start a winter wear boutique, and an alarming collection of black puffy jackets. One day we’ll work on adding some colour to our winter wardrobes, but that day is not today.

The house had that classic beachy cottage vibe but with a winter twist, which honestly felt perfect. Most of us don’t think about how beautiful a beach can be in winter, but Crystal Beach in January proved us wrong. Watching the sunset over the frozen lake from those massive windows, wine in hand and wrapped in blankets, was nothing short of heavenly.

And yes, there was plenty of parking for our four-car caravan. Because when your crew comes from all over Ontario, you need space.

Where We Ate (And Why It Mattered)

Food is always central to any successful Girls Gone Mild weekend, and we’ve nailed the formula: plan ahead, assign meals, and always—always—bring too much alcohol and snacks. Sometimes excess is a good thing.

Rizzo’s House of Parm – Take Out Done Right

The first night we ordered in from Rizzo’s House of Parm , and I need to be honest here. As someone who had to go gluten-free this year, I was bracing for disappointment. It’s Matty Matheson’s restaurant, so I knew the regular menu would be incredible, but gluten-free versions usually taste like sadness wrapped in cardboard. My expectations were on the floor.

In the end I don’t know why I ever doubted Matty. The gluten-free pasta was chef’s kiss! And I’m still dreaming about that marinara. If you have dietary restrictions and you’re worried about Fort Erie’s food scene, don’t be. Rizzo’s gets it.

Evermore Charcuterie – A Definite Must Do In Fort Erie

The second night we ventured out, and when I say “out,” I mean about 40 feet from the house straight into Evermore Charcuterie. Here’s the thing about visiting beach towns in winter: you can actually take over an entire restaurant. Which we did. The whole place was ours for the night, which meant zero judgment for our decibel levels.

Chef Amanda prepared a special meal for our crew, complete with gluten-free options that didn’t feel like an afterthought. The atmosphere was cozy and elevated, the kind of place where you lose track of time because the food, drink, and service are so good. In that moment, we could have been anywhere—Paris, Napa, Brooklyn—not a care in the world.

The best part? You can do this too. Just call ahead and make your reservation. Trust me, it’s worth it.

The Rest: Spreadsheets, Assignments, and Strategic Snacking

For breakfast and lunch, we used our tried-and-true system: the meal spreadsheet. Everyone got assigned a meal to handle, which meant we all got a break from the everyday routine of feeding people. Some brought charcuterie boards, others handled waffle duty, and there was, or course, someone who showed up with enough charcuterie to feed a small army.

The key? Overpack the snacks and beverages. You think you have enough wine? Bring more. Think you have enough chips? Double it. There’s no such thing as too prepared when you’re dealing with a group of women who’ve been talking nonstop for hours and need fuel.

What We Did (And How We Laughed)

DIY Paint Night: A Masterpiece in Progress

A new tradition for us is the DIY paint-each-other session. This time we drew beads from a bag, and whoever ended up with matching colours had to paint each other. The goal? Eventually have a painted portrait of ourselves by everyone in the group.

It’s clear I’m not an artist (see exhibit A above), but you can feel the love. Or at least the wine. Either way, these portraits are becoming our most treasured souvenirs from these weekends….hideous, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt all at once.

Bungee Fitness: Ungovernable and Unapologetic

We also booked a bungee fitness class with Paradisaea Circus Arts in Fort Erie, and let me tell you, as soon as we were strapped in, we became completely ungovernable. Laughing uncontrollably, getting killer wedgies, bumping into each other like bumper cars. Props to the instructor who did her absolute best to wrangle us. We salute you.

I highly recommend this if you want a core workout mixed with core memories. Just don’t expect to look graceful.

Games, Gossip, and General Mayhem

Games are always a must, and this year we added a few new classics to the rotation. You think you know your friends until you play Never Have I Ever in your 50s. Spoons (the card game) became an instant hit, complete with bruised knuckles and trash talk. Misheard Lyrics had us cackling until our sides hurt.

And of course, there were hours, literal hours, of just sitting around talking. No agenda, no schedule, just the kind of deep, funny, chaotic conversation that only happens when you’re fully unplugged and surrounded by your people.

Shopping Like It’s Our Civic Duty

Yes, we went shopping. Not everything was open in January, as expected, but what was open was perfect. We hit up Planks Canada and Beach and Bunkie, where a group of over-50 women dropped a stupid amount of money.

What? We were doing our jobs as good Canadians, supporting women-owned, Canadian stores and propping up our economy. We did our duty.

Beach Walks (Yes, Really)

The most surprising part of the weekend? We actually loved the winter beach. Bundled in our matching Girls Gone Mild hoodies (shoutout to The Sunflower Craft Co. in Burlington for the quick turnaround), we braved the cold for group photos on the snowy sand, watched the frozen waves, and marvelled at how stunning Lake Erie looks in January.

There’s something almost meditative about a winter beach. It’s quiet, raw, and beautiful in a way summer beaches aren’t. Plus, it’s a lot easier to get a good group shot when there aren’t crowds of tourists photobombing you.

Why Crystal Beach Ontario Winter Works

Here’s the thing about a winter escape to Crystal Beach: it doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive to work. You don’t need a flight to the Caribbean or a week off work. You just need a new location, a break from routine, and good friends. Oh, and a Canadian beach, because why should summer have all the fun?

The winter beach has its own magic. Frozen shorelines, dramatic sunrises, and the satisfaction of proving that Canadians don’t hibernate, we adapt. Crystal Beach in January gave us everything we needed: space to breathe, permission to be loud, and proof that mid-winter doesn’t have to feel bleak.

This was our fourth year of Girls Gone Mild, and honestly, it’s become the highlight of our winter. We don’t get to see each other at Christmas because our families get in the way (kidding, we love our families), and by mid-January, winter has officially gone on too long. The memories and laughs we make on these weekends carry us through the rest of the cold months. It’s become our favourite escape.

Four years in, this mid-January ritual has become non-negotiable because we’ve learned that the best cure for February fatigue is showing up for each other in January. Crystal Beach in winter gave us what we actually needed: space to be loud, permission to slow down, and proof that the best memories don’t require passports.