Filed under: Country Inn, Couples, Food, Resort Hotel, Resort Lodge, Resorts of Ontario, Spa, Winter, family | Tags: Algonquin Park, family, dining, Niagara Falls, Canada, Toronto, Ottawa, Winter, New Year's Eve, Americana Conference Resort & Spa, Millcroft Inn, Brookstreet Hotel, Algonquin Log Cabin, Caledon Hills, snowshoeing, x-country, New Year's, New Year's Eve packages, deals, getaways, dogsledding, wolf howl, snow, Canadian, Rink at the Brink, skating, champagne
Snowshoe tracks in Algonquin Park near Algonquin Log Cabin Lodge
As promised in last week’s post, we’ve got some great ideas for New Year’s Eve this week: a family New Year’s Eve in Niagara Falls, elegant dining north of Toronto and in our nation’s capital and an Algonquin Park wilderness adventure complete with a log cabin lodge stay.
The Americana Conference Resort & Spa in Niagara Falls has “Family Spectacular” – non-stop New Year’s Eve fun for the whole family. It’s a big hit every year with an all-you-can-eat buffet and lots of entertainment like The Smudge Fundaes and the Zero Gravity Circus. More info here.
Water bucket and wave pool at the Americana in Niagara Falls
The Americana also has one- and two-night packages with the new Rink at the Brink. The one-night package includes tickets to the Rink at the Brink which is right by the falls, passes to Americana’s Waves Indoor Waterpark as well as your accommodation. Two night packages are the same except they’ve added a $50 meal voucher for the in-house restaurant and Waves snack bar.
Check out Tourism Niagara for more news on Rink at the Brink and other things to do in the Niagara region.
Holiday decorations at the Millcroft Inn and Spa
In the Caledon Hills, 45 minutes northwest of Toronto, the Millcroft Inn and Spa will ring in the new year with its “New Year’s Eve Gala Getaway”. You get two nights at the inn, a welcome reception on December 30th and then a three-course dinner from their a la carte menu. On December 31st there’s a Country Continental Breakfast Buffet, an Al fresco Lunch (on the Pinnacle or wedding garden, weather permitting). The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner has live entertainment with the Brenda Lewis Jazz Band, festive party favours and a champagne toast at midnight. January 1st starts with a light breakfast buffet. But if you sleep in, you can catch the New Year’s Day Brunch a little later.
Gratuities on food and beverages are included. This package starts at $299 CAD per person, per night (plus taxes, based on double occupancy and a two night stay, subject to availability). Valid December 30-31, 2009.
To get in touch with the Millcroft, call them at 1-800-383-3976 or check them out on the web. Also see the post we did on them last August and some comments about their food from last week.
Brookstreet’s four-diamond Perspectives Restaurant
The elegant Brookstreet Hotel might be the way to go in Ottawa. It has a seven course New Year’s Eve dinner planned. The food at Brookstreet is exceptional (CAA four-diamond rating for both hotel and restaurant) and the place has a real contemporary feel. You can get late night seating times for dinner priced at $149.95 per person and, if you decide t0 make a night of it, they’ll throw in a room for $99/double occupancy. Taxes and gratuities are extra. Personally, I have my eye on the 850 square foot Master Suite with Jacuzzi and balcony, but I haven’t called for a price on that yet. There are a lot of package options at this time of year, so check out the website for details and pricing.
The Algonquin Log Cabin
This next New Year’s Eve idea combines a log cabin stay in the Canadian wilderness with traditional Canadian winter activities. The place is Algonquin Log Cabin near Algonquin Park. Nothing beats a jump in the snow fresh out of this lodge’s wood-fired sauna! But hey, that’s just my opinion. If you want black dresses and high-heels on New Year’s Eve, you may prefer the Brookstreet or the Millcroft.
“Snowshoeing, Torch Lit Skating and Backcountry Skiing” are planned from December 31, 2009 to January 2, 2010 at Algonquin Log Cabin. This spectacular split log lodge with its huge fieldstone fireplace is on a lake bordering Algonquin. In winter, the park is a land of frozen lakes, waist-deep snow, and lots of crisp clear air.
Accommodation at the lodge is double occupancy with shared indoor washrooms, as well as a sauna and shower cabin. Group size is limited to 12 guests and two guides who prepare all the meals. After an invigorating day on the trail, it’s the perfect place to hang out. This New Year’s Eve getaway is priced at $475 per person. Add-on activities include ice fishing and dogsledding. Return transportation from Toronto is available for $175 per person. See the website for further details.
Filed under: Cottage Resort, Country Inn, Couples, Food, Resort Hotel, Resort Lodge, Resorts of Ontario, Spa, Winter, family | Tags: affordable, Christmas, Christmas turkey, Country Christmas, family, family lodge, Great Wolf Lodge, History Room, holiday, indoor waterpark, Jackson's Point, Little Inn of Bayfield, Muskoka, Niagara Falls, Niagara Festival of Lights, Ontario VQA wines, outdoor hot tub, Pine Vista Resort, Resorts of Ontario, Roberto Fracchioni, stargazing, Stoney Lake, The Briars, townhouses, Winter, winterized cottages, woodburning fireplace
Old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh rides at Pine Vista Resort
Last week, we blogged about the Idlewlyd Inn’s Dickens Dinner, Bayview Wildwood’s family Christmas plans, a Pillar and Post’s icewine lovers’ getaway and a Shamrock Lodge snowmobile package that’s close to OFSC trails. This week’s post brings you holiday news from five more Resorts of Ontario: Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, the Little Inn of Bayfield on Lake Huron, Pine Vista Resort in the Kawarthas, The Briars on Lake Simcoe, and the Millcroft Inn in Caledon Hills.
Santa and his elves on the water slide at Great Wolf Lodge
Holiday time in Niagara Falls is the season to combine waterslides and Niagara’s Winter Festival of Lights. From December 1-24 Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark resort, has tons of family things to do. There’s a gingerbread house so big you can eat in it. Santa pays a visit on December 5th. Family scavenger hunts and family dances will be held on Saturdays up to December 18th and Winter Friends Story Time is on every night at 8pm. Best of all, a one night stay gets you two days of water park play. Combine all of this with a visit to Niagara Falls’ Winter Festival of Lights and you’ve got yourself a great Niagara getaway. Great Wolf’ Lodge has a Winter Wonderland overnight that includes lunch in the Antler Shanty, one colour-you-own-craft for each child, 20 arcade tokens for each child and a 6X8 Thrill Pix photo and frame. Log on to the Great Wolf Lodge website for rates and availability or call 1-888-878-1818.
A pickup game of hockey at Pine Vista
How about a bit of stargazing with your family in a big outdoor hot tub? You’ll find one at Pine Vista Resort. It’s on Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, 90 minutes northeast of Toronto. Each of Pine Vista’s cottages and townhouses come with a fully equipped kitchen so you can cook your own Christmas turkey. They also have jacuzzi tubs, TVs, DVD players, woodburning fireplaces and decks with BBQs. Over Christmas, a mini winter carnival is planned with face painting, movie nights, outdoor games, maple toffee-making, campfire, and crafts. There will be horse-drawn sleigh rides too, along with skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. An indoor hot tub and games room are available and if a spa treatment sounds good, the resort can arrange that too. Affordable three-night Country Christmases are priced at $610 for a family of four or $505 a couple. To book, click here or call 1-800-634-2848.
Dancing Santa at The Briars
We visited The Briars earlier this year and blogged about its fascinating new history room. The resort is in Jackson’s Point, Ontario’s first cottage country, an hour north of Toronto. People used to travel to this little Lake Simcoe community from Toronto by radial railway (somehow that sounds incredibly civilized!). Two and three-night Christmas packages are available. If you’re a crowd, look into their lakeside family lodges. They sleep up to twelve comfortably. Highlights of a Briars holiday itinerary include a mulled cider welcome, an Irish Coffee party, a champagne breakfast followed by guided country walks or horse-drawn sleigh ride. They’ve even got a treat-making workshop for winter birdwatchers. On Christmas Eve, a festive buffet dinner with live entertainment and a visit from Santa is planned. Christmas Day includes the resort’s annual snow golf tournament followed by a punch party and a Christmas feast with all the trimmings. There’s also an afternoon at the movies, and to work off all the food and drink, a fitness centre with indoor pool, sauna and hot tub. Yoga lovers, don’t forget your mats! There are yoga classes here too, along with a wonderful spa. To book, call 1-800-465-2376 or book online
Two more inns sent us their Christmas menus this week. Both have loyal food-loving fans:
The Little Inn of Bayfield, 45 minutes west of Stratford on Lake Huron, is Ontario’s oldest hostelry. In the 1830s it operated as a stagecoach stop. Today it caters to those with a nose for fine food and wine. Cooking class weekends and winemaker’s dinners are held every month. Positive reviews have come from a long line of respected Canadian and US food writers. Every year, the Little Inn posts its Christmas menus on its website. A quick peek by yours truly made my mouth water. All Christmas meals will be paired with outstanding Ontario VQA wines and depending on the meal, meal prices range between $45 and $100 per person. If you and your significant other or the family want to make an overnight of it, check the Little Inn’s selection of one to four-night Christmas packages.
Food-lovers can expect great fare at the Little Inn of Bayfield
In early September, I blogged about my visit to the Millcroft Inn & Spa with a Canwest food writer. Roberto Fracchioni is the well-loved chef here. He hosts monthly cooking sessions that always draw a crowd. This holiday season Chef Fracchioni has planned a Christmas Day Dinner menu as well as two Christmas menus suitable for larger family gatherings. Lots of house delicacies are on all three menus. Dinners run between $56 and $65 per person. Chef Fracchioni and Pastry Chef Enrico Schulze will also create a customized menu experience if you want your own holiday event. Now, that would be a treatl! The Millcroft has a spa that is one of the largest in Ontario. Its spa menu for men has received a lot of attention. A Winter Bliss getaway ties this inn’s spa and culinary together nicely. It includes a three-course dinner for two, breakfasts, a $100 spa credit, and an ovennight at the inn. Priced per person from $282, double occupancy, Sunday through Thursdays. On Saturdays, the price is slightly higher at $295 pp/do. To view this and more Millcroft getaways, click here.
More new package deals are included in a monthly Resorts of Ontario newsletter. To sign up, click here.
Next week, we’ve got New Year’s Eve ideas from Resorts of Ontario, so stay tuned.
Filed under: Couples, Food, Resorts of Ontario, Winter, family | Tags: Bayview Wildwood, Christmas, Idlewyld Inn, Mrs. Beeton, OFSC, Pillar & Post, Shamrock Lodge
Holiday decorations at the Pillar & Post
Every Christmas we used to be like hamsters running flat out on one of those wheels. His mother would want us to spend Christmas with his family. My mother would want the same. Our holidays were one big blur. We’d entertain his family with a Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange, then stay up into the wee hours cleaning up before heading out at some ungodly hour to make it to my family’s Christmas gift-opening. Then one year I got smart and told my husband, “That’s it, no more. Let’s make this easy for ourselves and start to truly enjoy our families and the holidays.” Now we book dinner for everybody at a fabulous country inn. And you know what, everyone loves it. No dishes, no cooking, not even any Christmas shopping to speak of. Just great conversation, good food and fine wine. So, if you’re the ‘old us’ trying to keep everyone happy during the holiday season, here’s some ideas to inspire you to try something new. Check back often. We’ll be posting more over the coming weeks:
Beeton’s Book of Household Management
Calling all foodies! Isabella Mary Beeton was a contemporary of Charles Dickens and the author of “Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management“. One of the famous cookery writers of the Victorian era, Mrs. Beeton’s recipes are the inspiration behind a Dickens Dinner to be held at the Idlewyld Inn in London, Ontario on Sunday, December 6th. Intriguiing dishes like Mulligatawny Soup from the days of the British Raj and Nesselrode Pudding, a frozen pudding with ground chestnuts, candied fruit and liqueur will be served at the six course dinner. There will be readings by Charles Dickens and carolers too. Two seatings are planned for 5:30pm and 8pm. $65 per person. To reserve, call the Idlewyld Inn at 519-433-2891.
If you’re looking for a storybook setting to celebrate, Niagara-on-the-Lake is about as picturesque as it gets. You won’t find the golden arches in this architecturally pleasing town. Home to the Shaw Theatre Festival, this historic town’s buildings are beautifully decorated and strolling carolers are known to take to the streets during the holidays. At the town’s Pillar & Post inn, a former Niagara fruit cannery, they’ve put together an Icewine Lovers Getaway. Available until the end of February, it includes a three-course dinner and full breakfast in the inn’s Cannery restaurant as well as a night of accommodation. If you book mid-week, it is priced at $143 per person, double occupancy. Weekend rates run from $163 per person, double occupancy.
Since the 1880s, the Stanton family at Bayview Wildwood Resort has been involved in the business of travel in Ontario. So you might say they’ve figured out what makes a resort family Christmas truly special. Just 90 minutes north of Toronto on Sparrow Lake, this classic lakefront resort is a picture postcard setting. In winter, skating, snowshoeing and tobogganing are all popular and it’s not unusual to see families face off in a lively game of broomball too. Traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides always draw a crowd, and for the young fry, a popular entertainer hosts a special Christmas Eve family music revue which culminates with a visitor from you-know-who. Besides an indoor pool and whirlpool, the Bayview Wildwood has its own squash courts to work off all the good food. A three-night family package running from December 24-27th includes eight full meals, supervised children’s programs, evening entertainment and all the fun you can manage. Priced from $354 to $441 per person, double occupancy. One child stays for free.
The Shamrock Lodge
Finally, for all you sledders looking for a place to park your special “sleigh” Muskoka’s Shamrock Lodge in Port Carling is an affordable choice if you’re looking for somewhere to head during Christmas week. Open from December 27th, this cozy lakeside lodge has easy access to OFSC trails. There’s also homecooked country meals, a floodlit skating rink, Hot Stove Lounge and games room with billiards, and indoor pool, hot tub and sauna. Call for rates which include most meals and box lunches for the trails.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Barrie, Blue Mountain, Calabogie Peaks, Carriage Ridge, Carriage Ridge Resort, Dickson Manor, downhill skiing, eastern Ontario, Hidden Valley Resort, Hockley Valley Resort, Horseshoe Resort, hot tub, Huntsville, Jozo's, Mount St. Louis Moonstone, pet friendly, resorts, Resorts of Ontario, Sir Sam's, Sir Sam's Inn & WaterSpa, ski deals, snowboard, Spa, Toronto
With Winter 2009-10 fast approaching we thought it might be fun to check out some of the ski deals that Resorts of Ontario will be offering this year. The resorts included in this post either have their own ski hills or they are offering a ski deal with lift tickets included. However, there are plenty more out there with great winter deals that are close to Ontario’s downhill ski centres. For a complete list of these, check here.
Blue Mountain, Ontario’s best known ski destination, gets a lot of newbies wanting to try skiing or snowboarding so it developed a Discover Ski & Snowboard program. Since the program began, hundreds of couples, groups of friends and families have learned to ski and snowboard at the resort. This year, Blue Mountain Inn has a new Stay & Learn to Ski package to go along with its Discover Ski & Snowboard Program. The package includes one night of accommodation, a beginner lift ticket, equipment rental and lesson, a breakfast and a Pottery Restaurant dinner and is priced per person, double occupancy. Village Suites has a similar package with breakfast as a buy in option. If you decide to book either deal, drop by Jozo’s in Blue Mountain Inn for some great apres ski. When we visited Blue Mountain earlier this year, we heard it’s where all the locals hang out after a day on the hill. Similar getaways are offered at other Blue Mountain accommodations. For the best rates, reserve online or call one of the resort’s leisure and travel representatives at 705-445-0231 or 877-445-0231.
The new WaterSpa at Sir Sam’s Inn
Looking to combine romance and skiing? Sir Sam’s is the perfect find. This romantic Haliburton-area inn not only has its own ski hill, its WaterSpa is spectacular and the inn’s dining and wine list are both superb. Its ski hill has lots of gentle runs and a welcoming atmosphere for newbie skiers. This winter, Sir Sam’s has a two-night “Learn to Ski” package that includes accommodation, dinner and breakfast each day, plus a day on the hills with full equipment, lift ticket and lesson. Save $55 and go mid week when this getaway is priced from $670 per couple.
Eastern Ontario’s Calabogie Peaks and Dickson Manor have developed a fun package for couples looking for a brief escape from the holiday crazies. Running from December 20-23, the package includes an overnight in one of the manor’s deluxe rooms, dinner for two in its Canthooks Fine Dining Restaurant, 20% off of ski or snowboard lift tickets and complimentary ice skating, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. It’s priced at $199 per couple. Dickson Manor also has an outdoor hot tub, indoor pool and fitness centre.
One of the rooms at Hidden Valley Resort
Hidden Valley Resort is just outside of Huntsville, Ontario. Considered to be a good value ski hill with no line ups, Hidden Valley has its own luxurious hillside resort and restaurant. Ski & Stay packages here start as low as $85 per person, per night, double occupancy. Learn to Ski/Skateboard are two night packages starting at $215 per night, double occupancy. A variety of ski lift tickets are also offered to guests at a discounted rate.
Horseshoe Resort is just over an hour north of Toronto near Barrie, Ontario. It has a Ski & Stay package this season that combines unlimited skiing or snowboarding for two with one night of accommodation and breakfast, based on double occupancy. All rooms have wireless hi-speed internet, movies and video games. And here’s something worth noting, this hotel is pet friendly and has an 8000 square foot dog park. Priced from $2o3 per night, double occupancy, the package runs November 27-28, December 4-5, 2009 and then from December 11, 2009 – March 21, 2010
View from the deck of The Chalet at Horseshoe Resort
Close to Horseshoe Resort, you’ll find Carriage Ridge. This family-oriented resort has partnered with two area ski hills this winter; Horseshoe Resort and Mount St. Louis Moonstone. Its open-concept condo suites are suitable for couples, small families or groups of friends. The suites include kitchen facilities, a king side bed, queen sofa-sleeper, balcony and living area. One or two bedroom suites with full kitchens, fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs are available for larger groups. There’s also an indoor pool, kids pool, hot tub and games room. A “Ski-Xtreme getaway” is one of several offered this winter. It includes a one night stay in one of the oversized condo suites, a lift pass for Mount St. Louis Moonstone or Horseshoe Resort, lunch voucher and skiers welcome gift. Packages start at $89 per person, double occupancy and kids stay free.
The main buildings at Hockley Valley Resort
Hockley Valley Resort is another ski resort close to Toronto. We wrote a bit about it in last week’s post. It has a bunch of great ski packages listed on its web site starting at $229 double occupancy but we liked its Winter Bliss package. It includes one night’s accommodation, lift ticket for skiing or snowboarding, full buffet hot and cold breakfast, three-course dinner for two and a $75 spa credit per person for Hockley’s hillside spa. Priced from $463, double occupancy.
For more resort packages, sign up for the Resorts of Ontario newsletter.
Filed under: Cottage Resort, Country Inn, Couples, Food, Resort Hotel, Resort Lodge, Resorts of Ontario, Spa, Winter | Tags: Boy Free, Brookstreet, Canada's Capital, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Deerhurst Resort, Elmhirst Resort, girls, girls getaways, Hockley Valley Resort, Huntsville, Inn at Christie's Mill, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Perspectives, Renovate my Wardrobe, Resorts of Ontario, ski lessons, Spa, Style by Jury, Viamede Resort, Vinyasa Yoga, Wild Women's Weekend
There’s no better time than now to book a girlfriends’ getaway at Resorts of Ontario. From November to mid- December, occupancy rates are lower and prices can’t be beat. Add fine wine, delicious food and a spa date to the mix and you can see why getting away with the girls at this time of year is so popular. Just look at Deerhurst Resort and the town of Huntsville in Muskoka. Their Girlfriends’ Getaway Weekend, November 13-15, 2009, has already sold out but I called the resort today and rooms are still available. Entertaining workshops include a Renovate my Wardrobe at Deerhurst and a Style by Jury fashion show in downtown Huntsville. There’s also Wine Tasting with Ann Martin, a Natural Beauty Show with wine and tapas served, and morning Vinyasa yoga classes. To book, call Deerhurst’s toll-free line at 1-800-461-4393.
Part of the spa at the Inn at Christie's Mill
But wait, there’s more….
"Boy-free" spa date at Brookstreet
Last winter, I had the pleasure of visiting Brookstreet in Ottawa. Owned by billionaire Sir Terry Matthews, this place has all the ingredients for a great urban getaway for girls – luxurious accommodation, a gorgeous spa, four-diamond cuisine and outstanding fitness facilities. And because Ottawa is Canada’s Capital, the Brookstreet getaway could be combined with visits to national treasures like the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. I checked Brookstreet’s website and found its Boy-Free package is available Monday through Saturday until December 20th. Priced from $215 per person, based on double occupancy, the one-night package includes deluxe accommodation, a Table d’Hote dinner in Perspectives, its four-diamond restaurant, a $90 spa credit, an in-room movie, breakfast, plus complimentary indoor parking.
A mom told me that she and her girlfriends love booking a spa date at Hockley Valley Resort while their kids take a ski lesson at the resort’s ski hill. The spa lounge overlooks the hill so the moms hang out in terry robes sipping hot tea while watching the kids ski. For a spa date without the kids, Hockley’s Spontaneous Spa getaway is a one night package priced per room at $433, double occupancy. Besides accommodation, each gal receives a $75 spa credit, three-course a la carte dinner, and a full breakfast. For the ultimate private spa party however, consider this: Hockley Valley will let you and a group of friends book its entire spa after hours for a three hour date. Minimum group size is required and a surcharge is applied. Contact the resort directly for details.
Ski hill at Hockley Valley Resort
The spa at Viamede
In the Kawartha Lakes region near Peterborough, Ontario, Viamede Resort is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The resort which is on Stony Lake, two hours from Toronto and three hours from Ottawa, has special anniversary deals that include a Girls Just Wanna Have Fun two-night weekend. For $250 per person, choose either a winterized cottage or deluxe room accommodation with fireplace and whirlpool bath, depending on the size of your group. Breakfast, a 1/2 hour aromatherapy massage and a further $75 spa credit are included. Elmhirst’s which we blogged about last week is another Peterborough-area resort. It has a Wild Women’s Weekend planned for November 13-15, 2009. Four women can share a winterized cottage for $249 per person with meals included. Cottages include woodburning fireplaces and fully equipped kitchens. Spa services are available at the resort which has an indoor pool, sauna and hot tub.
Girlfriend getaways at the Inn at Christie’s Mill start at $197.50 per person (double occupancy) for one night of accommodation, dinner and breakfast, plus a $100 spa credit and beverage of your choice to enjoy with your spa treatment. This inn is on Gloucester Pool near Georgian Bay, just an hour and a half drive north of Toronto. It has a three-bedroom winterized cottage also available for larger groups. Travel writer Ken Bagnell recently wrote about his stay here for SUN Media.
More winter resorts with girlfriend getaway deals are found at Resorts of Ontario
Filed under: Cottage Resort, Couples, Food, Resorts of Ontario, Winter, family, fishing | Tags: airstrip, Canada, Canadian vintages, carp, chef, cottage, Cottage Resort, cottages, dining, Elmhirst's, farm fresh, fishing, float plane, hot tub, indoor pool, internet, kiteboarding, local cuisine, muskie, Ojibwa, ontario, preserves, resort, Rice Lake, sauna, snow kite, steak, tv, walleye, wild rice, wine cellar
Elmhirst Resort's snow kite weekend will be held January 29-31, 2010.
I’ve had a fascination with Rice Lake since moving to Ontario. An hour and a half drive northeast from Toronto, it’s a big, shallow lake known for its fishing, historic resorts and cottage communities. The lake got its name for wild rice that once grew here. It was a major food source for local Ojibwa who harvested it every year. The Trent Severn Waterway, a one hundred year old system of locks stretching from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe, raised the water levels on the lake and what little remains of the wild rice today gets eaten by birds. Elmhirst’s Resort is on the north side of the Lake, 1/2 hour from the Ontario city of Peterborough. Every time I’ve visited this resort, I’ve come away with a good story.
My first visit was years ago. I was with an Irish tv producer. He was scouting Ontario locations for a popular Irish travel show. I still remember the two of us strapping ourselves into the backseat of an Elmhirst float plane. The pilot started the plane’s engine and eventually shifted the joystick into full throttle. It was a windy day and we bounced across the waves and then suddenly we were airborne, flying just above the treetops. I remember having my elbow out the plane window just like in a car and counting all the osprey nests . The Irish tv producer and I were like two kids in a candy store. His one wish for Canada had been a ride in a float plane and here we were chasing his dream. It was fantastic fun. Just before beginning this post, I checked the Elmhirst blog and sure enough, float plane rides are as popular as ever. In winter, the floats are replaced with skis. Now, that would be something to try- taking off and landing in a plane fitted with skis. Elmhirst also has a private airstrip that attracts pilots from all over, including Swiss pilot Hansreudi Aeschbach who flew in for his 68th visit this past summer.
Fishing off the dock
On another trip to Elmhirst’s Resort, I was with my husband. We arrived on a beautiful June evening. The late day sun had cast a golden glow over the shoreline and I remember seeing all this movement on the water’s surface in front of our cottage. I had no idea what could make such a commotion, so when we were later dining at the main lodge, I asked. They’re massive Carp I was told. And what’s more, they’re a popular catch with the UK sportfishing crowd. Many come with their families to try their luck at snagging a big one. But it’s not the only fish you’ll find in Rice Lake. Bass fishing is big here too, so is Walleye (pickerel) and check out this Muskie caught by an Elmhirst visitor just last week.
The million-dollar wine cellar
Last winter, I was back at Elmhirst with a food writer and an event planner from a big Canadian travel media association. I’d never been to the resort in winter and I was impressed with the amount of snow they had. It was a beautiful, crisp evening. The stars were out as we made our way from the main lodge to the resort’s million dollar all-Canadian wine cellar. There we enjoyed some great vintages paired with tasty hors d’oeuvres made by chef de cuisine, Michael Sterpin. They’re serious about their food here and as local as you can get. Much of the menu is produced at the Elmhirst farm on site, including fresh eggs, Elmhirst’s Own corn-finished Black Angus beef, turkey, vegetables and herbs. Preserving is big too. I noticed jars of preserves lining the wall of the dining room entrance as we went in for dinner. All eight of us couldn’t resist ordering the house specialty; steak and frites. And when it came to dessert most of us couldn’t pass up the chance to try the wild rice pudding first concocted by the Elmhirst family’s 91 year old matriarch.
Morning walk up to the farm at Elmhirst Resort
There’s also an intriguing story that ties the resort and the area to Lord Nelson. In 1818, long before Canada was a country, King George IV of England awarded 1000 acres on the north shore of Rice Lake to Phillip James Elmhirst. Elmhirst had been a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and had fought for Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Fast forward to 1906 when the grandfather of present owner, Peter Elmhirst, acquired the “Walker Farm”, a 340 acre parcel of land on the north shore with a mile of scenic shoreline. This is the present day site of Elmhirst’s Resort.
There’s plenty to do here. Riding stables and trails are on site. In winter, old-fashioned sleigh rides are popular. Elmhirst also hosts an annual snow kite festival out on the frozen lake. Picture surfboards attached to massive kites skidding across the ice. There’s also cross country skiing and tobogganing and the resort hopes to offer icefishing this winter. And to soothe tired muscles after a day of outdoor fun, there’s always the hot tub, sauna and indoor pool. Modern cottage accommodation ranges from one to five bedrooms and all the cottages have fully equipped kitchens, woodburning fireplaces, jacuzzi tubs, television, internet and VCRs.
The cottages are cozy in winter.
Watch for great winter deals here. A popular package with Elmhirst guests is the Couch Potato getaway . Priced at $399 per couple mid week, breakfasts and dinners are included. The weekend version has Saturday breakfast and dinner and Sunday Brunch and is $429 per couple. Taxes are not included with either rate.
Many of the more than one hundred Resorts of Ontario across the province are open all winter and offer seasonal mid week and weekend deals for couples, families and small groups of friends.
Filed under: Resort Hotel, Resorts of Ontario | Tags: Briars, Diana Rowney, History Room, Jackson’s Point, Lake Simcoe
The Briars’ archivist Diana Rowney in action
The prospect of a “History Tour” at The Briars did not immediately fill me with anticipation. I was more interested in clambering around the rocky shores of Lake Simcoe taking pictures with the Nikon, or hanging out in the dining room with Carlos and Hylton, listening to their stories about “back home” in Jamaica.
Service at The Briars is excellent and very friendly
Diana Rowney
Don’t get me wrong, I like history, but there’s lots more to do here. Anyway… my mood improved when we rendezvoused with a gaggle of nurses in the foyer to start the tour. Then my mood improved considerably more when we were introduced to our tour guide, the incredibly engaging archivist Diana Rowney. She’s got a way about her that makes the stories come alive. And there are many stories too. Not just dusty, old grade school stuff. No sir. These stories are bawdy and raucous, as, I think, all good history should be. Here’s a link to some of the stories from the Briars’ history to whet your appetite.
It was all very civilized. After the tour we retired to the main veranda where the proprietor, Mrs. Sibbald, served us sherry. The conversation drifted between the modern resort industry in Ontario and the state of the nursing profession in that province.
Mrs. Sibbald entertaining guests on the veranda at The Briars
The resort is in Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe. It has been here for over 165 years. If the traffic is not bad, it’s about an hour north of Toronto.
Main entrance to The Briars Resort, Spa and Conference Centre
The accommodation is very comfortable and the service is fantastic.
The hallway just outside of our room at The Briars
Lake Simcoe shoreline
Filed under: Couples, Food, Resort Hotel, Resorts of Ontario, Spa, Winter, family, fishing, golf
Lobby at the Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, North Bay, Ontario
The first thing that struck us when we walked into the Clarion Pinewood Park Resort Hotel was its beautiful lobby. The stone walls and stone floor are fitting for a hotel that is in North Bay , the gateway to northern Ontario. This is Canadian Shield country, a rugged land of rock and water. North Bay (pop. 54.000) is at the strategic center of Ontario geographically where Highway 11 and the TransCanada Highway meet. That makes it a major crossroad in Ontario and a place where business deals are struck. The city is also a big destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially fishermen. That’s because it’s on Lake Nipissing which some refer to as the sixth Great Lake. The lake covers over 800 square kilometres and is relatively shallow so the fishing is excellent, even in winter. Ice fishermen come every year from all over North America to fish for trophy-sized Pickerel (Walleye), Aurora trout and Brook trout.
Model trains at Pinewood Park
We arrived at the Clarion Pinewood on a week night when the place was busy with business travelers. Its standard rooms were all full so, we chose one of the hotel’s mini suites with in-room jacuzzi bath. Hardly mini though. The generous suite dwarfed our king size bed and the in-room jacuzzi easily accommodated the two of us. It was a nice treat after a long day of travel. We chose to eat dinner at the hotel and on our way to the restaurant, discovered an amazing model train display. It’s the pride of the North Bay Model Railway Club and comes complete with Rocky Mountains, a prairie scene including a Farmers Cooperative grain elevator, railroad tunnels and bridges, and a roundhouse. Now, I don’t know my train sets but I am willing to bet this collection has some rare engines and cars. My favourite was a silver American Flyer that had a sleek art deco look to it. Other cars and engines included Lionel, Sante Fe, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Canadian Northern, and Ontario Northland. North Bay has always been a railroad town and is the south terminus for the Ontario Northland Railway so it was a nice surprise to come across the display in the Clarion Parkwood.
Part of Lake Nipissing from the beach at North Bay
At Explore Your Senses, I chose the grilled Northern Pickerel. This sweet-tasting fish is a northern Ontario delicacy. It was delicious. The next morning on a tour of the property, I learned that “Senses”is a common theme here. Not only can you explore your senses while you dine, you can “Revive Your Senses” at the hotel spa and the Executive Par 3 right behind the hotel is “Fore Your Senses”. Pinewood Park also packages with Osprey Links, an 18 hole, par 71, just five minutes away.
Downtown North Bay Ontario streetscape
Winter is truly celebrated in this part of Ontario where they get lots of snow. Cross country, downhill, snowtubing, snowmobile and blading packages are offered at Pinewood Park. All include accommodation, breakfast and dinner for two. Prices start at $199 per night, based on double occupancy.
We had a hot tub in our room at the Clarion Resort Pinewood Park
Filed under: Resorts of Ontario | Tags: American Plan, fall colors, fall colours, Modified American Plan, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving weekend getaways
Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October. This year it will be October 12th. American Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday of November – the 26th in 2009.
With high percentages of colour change, and low leaf fall, this is peak time for fall colors (colours), especially on the maples.
For something different this (Canadian) Thanksgiving, there are new mid-week and weekend deals available at Ontario resorts. “A resort provides a good base for a family get-together. You can put your feet up and let someone else do the cooking, or cook your own turkey in a glorious fall setting,” says Grace Sammut, executive director at Resorts of Ontario.
With over one hundred members, Resorts of Ontario is the province’s largest resort association. Properties are categorized into four groups: resort hotels, resort lodges, cottage resorts and country inns. Some offer accommodation with fully equipped kitchens while others are American Plan or Modified American Plan and include meals in their pricing. Prices range, and so do the amenities.
On the website, you can search for resorts across Ontario by experience, season or region. Advanced search allows visitors to search sub regions too, such as the Algonquin Park area. Links to individual member resort sites make it easy to compare packages and amenities.
Here is a sample of new Thanksgiving deals in each resort category:
Dickson Manor at Calabogie Peaks Resort
Resort hotel: Calabogie Peaks, fifty minutes southwest of Ottawa, has a deal for couples this Thanksgiving. Its two-night (Sunday & Monday) “Lovers” package includes standard room accommodation, continental breakfast both mornings, three-course dinner for two on one night and a welcome wine with cheese platter. Priced at $380.55 double occupancy, taxes included. Calabogie Peaks has chairlift rides to view the spectacular fall colors.
One of the cottages at the Irwin Inn
Resort lodge: The Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake just north of Peterborough has a Thanksgiving deal for young families (two adults, two children under 10 yrs). Two nights (Saturday & Sunday) with breakfasts and dinners, including a Thanksgiving feast on the Sunday night, Thanksgiving hayride, and use of all seasonal facilities. $275 per adult, double occupancy, taxes and gratuities extra. The two kids stay for free.
The dock at Foxwood Resort
Cottage resort: Foxwood Resort is on Lake of Bays in Muskoka, not far from Algonquin Park. Book three days over Thanksgiving and save 15% off regular daily rates. A three-day weekend package ranges from $385 for a one-bedroom cottage to $930 for a four-bedroom cottage. Fully equipped kitchens allow you to cook your own Thanksgiving dinner.
The Elora Mill Inn
Country Inn: The Elora Mill is an hour northwest of Toronto, close to the Elora Gorge. Its “Two Can Dine” dinner package includes a three-course a-la-carte dinner for two in the award-winning H20 Restaurant, accommodation in a historic guestroom and a country breakfast for two. From $163 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Taxes and gratuities are extra.
Check out the Fall Colour Report put out by Ontario Parks. Happy Thanksgiving.
Filed under: Country Inn, Resort Lodge, Resorts of Ontario | Tags: Claramount, County Cider Company, Countylicious, Fifth Town, Isaiah Tubbs, Prince Edward County, Quinte's Isle, Sandbanks, TASTE the County, The County, Waring House, Waupoos Winery
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Back in the early 90s, Prince Edward County (PEC) was known as Quinte’s Isle. Its claim to fame was Sandbanks, a provincial park with huge freshwater sand dunes – the largest in the world. Sandbanks is still here and as popuiar as ever and so is the local food and wine. “The County”, as she’s now known, is Ontario’s hottest foodie destination and on Saturday, September 26th, it’s hosting TASTE the County, an annual harvest event at its historic Crystal Palace in the Picton fairgrounds. Tickets are $25 and the gates open at 11 am.
If you can’t make TASTE, opt for a mid-week date later this fall. The Resorts of Ontario here offer great mid-week rates and there’s still a lot to see and do. A mid-week trip is what a travel and food writer and I did a couple of weeks ago.
The Waupoos Winery
Our County tour began with a “Preserve It” cooking class on a Wednesday morning at the Waring House Inn & Cookery. My dad’s dill pickles were legendary in my family so, I was keen to see how difficult it would be for me to make them. I discovered that pickling is pretty simple, but found that sterilizing the jars in boiling water takes nimble fingers and good concentration. Preserves are making a big comeback in Canada and our class was packed. Chef Kelly Attwells led the cooking lesson. He’s the Cookery’s new director. A County native, he’s just back from BC where he was head chef at the exclusive Island Lake Lodge. Besides running the Cookery, he’s also cooking with executive chef, Michael Hoy, at the Claramount Inn & Spa. Its four-diamond restaurant is called Clara’s. We ate dinner there on the Wednesday night and I thought the food and service were both superb and the inn and spa are gorgeous.
County Cider Company in Prince Edward County
The next day my writer friend and I toured the County end-to-end. This is a peaceful part of the world. Traffic was light and it felt good to hang out in the slow lane and meander around without a schedule. Highlights included Fifth Town, where artisan cheeses are aged in a temperature controlled cave. We also visited the County Cider Company. Its outdoor bistro has got to have one of the best vistas of Lake Ontario. Then it was on to Waupoos Winery, the County’s first winery. Next came Sandbanks and finally, the Isaiah Tubbs Resort.
Isaiah Tubbs Resort
My writer friend had spied it and its Sandbar’ “County wines by the glass” in the local tourism guide and the place didn’t disappoint. Not only was there an impressive choice of county wines to choose from, this resort is on its own private beach across from the Sandbanks dunes. So we made it our last stop and sat and sipped a glass of local wine as we took in the sights. A great way to end a perfect day.
The Claramount Inn & Spa
Later this fall, Isaiah Tubbs, the Waring House and the Claramount are all participating in this year’s Countylicious, running from November 4-29, 2009. Three-course dinners are just $30 per person. Look for special overnight packages at these Resorts of Ontario to compliment the Countylicious event.
