Set expectations before you leave home

Talk about the kind of trip you want before you pack the car. Not rules, just expectations. Make sure everyone brings what they need to enjoy time offline: books, games, headphones for listening to music. When kids (and adults) feel prepared, they’re less likely to default to scrolling.

It also helps to build anticipation. Before travelling, spend time looking at what the resort actually offers. Show the kids photos. Read through the activity list together. Talk about what you want to try first.

For example, at Port Cunnington Resort on Muskoka's Lake of Bays, families have access to 1,800 feet of waterfront. That means room for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding or swimming. At Cedar Grove Resort on Peninsula Lake near Huntsville, water tubing is a highlight. And at Rocky Crest Golf Resort, the multi-obstacle water park encourages guests to bounce, jump and splash into the pristine waters of Lake Joseph.

Pick one small check-in window daily

For teens, sports fans, or anyone keeping an eye on work, a short daily check-in window can help. Thirty minutes is often enough. Once that box is checked, it’s easier to put the phone away again. Ensure the window time is preset, happens at the same time for the whole group, and is followed by a set (time-specific) activity, such as a meal. This can help to transition away from devices and back into vacation-mode. Resorts are creative with offerings during busy seasons, so be sure to ask ahead and plan your screen check-in time right before a fun activity. Shamrock Lodge, for example, has ice cream boat trips that will appeal to kids of all ages.

To make the screen time feel more intentional, consider situating yourself in a scenic location. If staying at the spacious Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, for example, head to the pretty garden or enjoy the view from your beautiful suite. The lush green surroundings will beckon you to put the device down quickly.

Bring a real camera

This one matters more than it sounds. When your phone stays packed away and out of your hand, you’re less tempted to get caught up scrolling after taking a photo. A point-and-shoot or even a disposable camera keeps the focus on the moment.

If you're staying at a family-friendly resort such as Bayview Wildwood Resort, which has multiple activities, games, and shows for all ages throughout the sprawling property, consider bringing an instant camera. Your kids and teens will love documenting their adventures in a scrapbook as they go.

Stay somewhere with built-in activities

Resorts with scheduled activities solve a lot of screen-time problems. There’s always something social happening —swims, games, evening events — which reduces downtime (and requests for screens) without over-planning.

At Fern Resort on Lake Couchiching, daily programming is part of the experience. Children, preteens, and teens can join structured activities designed to maximize fun, build confidence, and help them make new friends. Think supervised games, sports, and group challenges that bring back the easy rhythm of summer camp.

Meanwhile, parents aren’t left wondering how to fill the day. There are adult sports, fitness classes, and recreational activities to join while the kids are busy — or plenty of options the whole family can enjoy together.

Choose shared screen time over solo scrolling

Not all screen use needs to disappear. Outdoor movie nights or family-friendly sessions turn screen-time into a group activity instead of a private one and feel like part of the vacation rather than a distraction.

Many Ontario resorts offer movie screenings as part of their summer programming. At Pine Vista Resort in the Kawarthas, for example, regularly scheduled family-friendly movie-and-popcorn times are part of the recreation program.

At Blue Water Acres on Lake of Bays, each cottage is equipped with a TV and DVD player, making it easy to plan an indoor movie night after a full day outside.

Plan ahead for rainy days

Inclement weather is when screen habits come back fast so plan for it before you leave.

• Pack proper rain gear so you can still get outside even when it is raining.
• Download a podcast or audiobook you can listen to together while stretching out on a covered deck or in your cottage.
• Bring one new board game everyone actually wants to play or ask ahead as many resorts have plenty of board games you can borrow during your stay. Springwood Cottage Resort has a dedicated board game room with arcade-style games and a library of more than 1,000 board games.
• Book a resorts with indoor pools and games rooms that keep kids active no matter the weather. JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa has an indoor-outdoor pool enjoyed by all ages, and an indoor arts and crafts studio.

Start the day without devices

Mornings set the tone. Before notifications and headlines have a chance to creep in, step outside. Walk down to the water. Pour coffee into a travel mug and sit on the dock. Take an early swim before breakfast while the lake is still calm and the air is cool.

When the day begins outdoors, screens tend to stay out of sight longer.

At Sherwood Inn in Muskoka, it’s easy to slip out early to the shoreline of Lake Joseph before the property fully wakes up.

Along Georgian Bay, Cobble Beach Resort offers long shoreline paths and open views that make morning walks feel purposeful. The light changes quickly over the water, and it’s worth seeing.

The routine doesn’t need to be ambitious. Fifteen quiet minutes outside does more than an hour indoors. Once everyone has moved, breathed, and noticed where they are, the day unfolds differently and devices feel far less urgent.

Plan for midday breaks

After several hours outside, everyone needs a break from the sun. If you're travelling with kids, have a plan to keep that pause from turning into default screen time.

Family-friendly resorts will have scheduled activities or indoor rooms to help make the most of the downtime.

If quiet is what you’re after, this is a good moment to reach for something tactile: a book you’ve been wanting to read, or a simple craft you never seem to have time for at home. Bracelet making, origami, or working on a small scrapbook all fit easily into these slower stretches of the day.

Keep one reliable activity to look forward to

Pick one special ritual each day to anchor the time when screens usually creep back in. It could be as simple as ice cream after dinner, a family walk at sunset, or a standing game of cards before bed. 

If evenings feel like the hardest stretch — when everyone is tired from a full day outdoors — many Ontario resorts build gentle wind-down moments into their programming, making that transition easier.

At Elmhirst’s Resort, evening bonfires and waterfront gatherings offer a steady closing note to the day. And at Bondi Cottage Resort, casual dock time and campfires create a rhythm families can return to night after night.

The power is in the predictability. When everyone knows something small but enjoyable is coming, the day transitions more smoothly.

Turn meals into events

Don’t rush them. Long breakfasts, slow dinners, dessert that lingers. Meals are one of the easiest ways to stay present, especially when dining rooms are comfortable and unhurried.

If you're staying for a longer stretch of time at a resort, you can spice up meal times by eating outdoors on a patio, having a picnic in a meadow, or packing a lunch to take on a hike.