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 it began, hundreds of couples, groups of friends and families have learned to ski and snowboard at this resort. This year, Blue Mountain Inn has a new Stay & Learn to Ski package to go along with the Discover Ski & Snowboard Program. It 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. If you decide to book this deal, drop by Jozo’s for some apres ski. When we visited Blue Mountain earlier this year, we discovered it’s where 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.
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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.
Filed under: Cottage Resort, Couples, Resort Lodge, Resorts of Ontario, Uncategorized | Tags: Algonquin Park, American Plan, Beauview Cottage, Cedar Grove, fall color, fall colours, log cabin, Pow Wow Point
I’ve got fall colors, couples and honeymoons on my mind as I write this week’s blog. I think it’s because of our recent trip to Muskoka. I blogged last week about our stay at Foxwood Resort on Lake of Bays, meeting other couples and visiting the town of Dorset near Algonquin Park. This week, I’m writing about three other resorts that we visited in the area last week; Cedar Grove Lodge, Pow Wow Point Lodge and Beauview Cottages. Like Foxwood, they’re all cottage resorts, members of Resorts of Ontario and in fall, couples are a big part of their business too.
One of the log cabins at Cedar Grove Lodge
I’d never been to Cedar Grove but I knew about it from my years with Ontario’s offiical government tourism office. Its log cabins and fieldstone fireplaces are a big seller and last Thursday was no exception. Cedar Grove is just east of Huntsville on Peninsula Lake, down a gravel road from Highway 6o. The place was in siesta mode following lunch hour but several guests were signed up for a late afternoon pontoon ride. Others were in big Muskoka chairs reading on the dock and one couple was playing tennis. All the cabins ranging in age from 50 years old to 2 years old, were occupied but an NYC couple volunteered to show us theirs. The guy told us a big reason he and his wife chose Cedar Grove was because it’s pet-friendly. “We simply don’t travel without our dog, he said. “He’s had a stroke and a kennel would kill him.” Another deciding factor may have been their luxury log cabin. It was nice. Really nice. New, furnished in Canadiana style with two bedrooms, a comfortable living room and a massive fieldstone fireplace. No kitchen though. This resort is American Plan which means three meals a day are included in its daily rates. Meals are served in a classic resort setting and local suppliers like Edible Fungi, a shitake grower, are sourced. Cedar Grove is the only resort in Ontario to carbon offsets and it was the first of many Resorts of Ontario to receive the Four Green Leaf Audubon Award for its environmental practices.
Just before the leaves start to turn at Pow-Wow Point Lodge
Pow Wow Point Lodge is a country neighbour of Cedar Grove’s. The same gravel road off of Highway 60 takes you to it. Jack and Jacquie Howell bought Pow Wow in 1969. Their son Doug now runs it with his wife Dee, an interior designer. The main lodge has a big lounge, dining room and lakeview patio. I fell in love with the mini flatbed rail car that serves as a coffee table in front of the lounge fireplace. A beautiful upstairs suite was the location for Canada’s Worst Handyman which filmed its entire fourth season here. What really caught my eye at Pow Wow though was the Boathouse suite. An original Muskoka boathouse, it once served as staff quarters and then five years ago, Doug and Dee renovated the place. I think a stay here would make a great wedding gift.
Late-summer peace at Beauview Cottage Resort
Beauview Cottages Resort is on the upper half of Lake of Bays along with Foxwood and several other Resorts of Ontario cottage resorts. Owned by Gord and Nancy Bell, it’s located in a quiet bay not far from the Muskoka River. Smaller than the other resorts, it has a new two-storey honeymoon cabin. Beauview is popular with Europeans. Gord blogs and videotapes a lot, so maybe that’s why. The honeymoon cabin was occupied by a pair of honeymooners so we couldn’t check it out, but I did go into one of the older cabins. It was spotless and included a fully equipped kitchen, tv, and three-piece bath. But it was the private hot tub on the front deck that won me over. Four out of the six Beauview Cottages have one.
Fall colours were just starting so, I figure late September through early October, they’ll peak in Muskoka and Algonquin Park. For a listing of all Resorts of Ontario members in Muskoka, check here.
Filed under: Cottage Resort, Couples, Resorts of Ontario, family | Tags: 1920s, Algonquin, Algonquin guide, Algonquin Park, Anglican, Bigwin, Bigwin Island, boats, Canada, canoe, country church, Couples, deer, Dorset, fall colors, fall colours, Foxwood Resort, Global TV, Haystack Bay, Hidden Valley, kayak, Kevin Newman, Lake of Bays, Lake of Bays Boat Museum, Muskoka, National Post, Ojibwa, ontario, ping pong, Port Cunnington, Robinson's General Store, sauna, Shania Twain, snowshoes, steam yacht, swimming, wildfire
We’ve just come back from two glorious days at Foxwood Resort on the doorstep of Algonquin Park. The resort and the park are both over a century old and have an interesting connection. Tom Salmon, an early settler and original landowner of Foxwood Resort, guided at Algonquin Park. The resort has a 1912 photo of Tom at Algonquin sporting a big knapsack on his back.
Dockside at Foxwood Resort on Lake of Bays in Muskoka
We arrived on Tuesday evening and it didn’t take us long to appreciate our new surroundings. Foxwood is down a quiet lakeside road about 20 minutes from the west gates of Algonquin. A young fawn caught our attention as soon as we made the turn onto Fox Point Road off of Highway 35. We saw several more deer before reaching Foxwood 9 kilometres later. The resort is on Lake of Bays. Water flows from Algonquin Park into the lake which is crystal clear. Foxwood is on Haystack Bay, one of hundreds of bays along the lake’s 500 kilometres of shoreline. Our tidy, two-bedroom cottage comes with a fully equipped kitchen, sitting area, lakeside deck and BBQ. National Post’s star cartoonist, Gary Clement rented the same cottage with his family just last week and must have had a great time ‘cuz he cartooned it. He’s not the only celeb to frequent Lake of Bays. Global TV anchor, Kevin Newman has a place on the lake and so does singing sensation, Shania Twain.
”I Swam Haystack Bay“
This week, we were all couples including honeymooners Troy and Julie. The families have gone home. Resort owner, Rob Wallace says that’s typical for September. Summers attracts families then school starts and the resort becomes popular with adults and fall color seekers. The resort hasn’t been open in winter but that’s about to change thanks to a new luxury solar cottage. Beautifully appointed with a central fireplace, this two-bedroom place would make a great base for cross country or downhill skiers. Algonquin Park has 100 km of trails and Hidden Valley, 20 minutes west has downhill, including night skiing. If you prefer snowshoeing, the resort’s own trails start right outside the new cottage and snake around the resort’s one hundred acres. Light weight snowshoes are supplied. I think that’s fitting given that Tom Salmon was a snowshoe maker, having learned the craft from local Ojibwa. If you’re a collector, his old snowshoes are easy to spot because of a tiny signature salmon burned into each shoe.
The main lodge at Foxwood Resort
I love to swim so, I took advantage of the great swimming and twice swam across the bay to Haystack Island with co-owner Julia Wallace and daughter, Meg. Both are avid swimmers and the swim has become so popular with guests, the resort sells t-shirts which boast “I swam Haystack Bay”. Besides swimming, there’s a lakeside sauna, kayaks, paddleboats, and canoes, water skiing and wakeboard lessons and lots of land based activities to keep kids occupied. The lounge is popular on summer evenings and rainy days and includes a ping pong table, tons of boardgames, and a flat screen tv for those who just can’t bear to be without.
The Dorset fire tower, a spectacular place for fall colours viewing
Rob took us by boat around the lake. Glenn snapped pics of area highlights including the Dorset Fire Tower, Robinson’s General Store, and a Muskoka trademark, boathouses. Boats are a source of pride here and a special 44 passenger steam yacht built in the 1920s has been resurrected from the bottom of Lake of Bays and is being restored at Lake of Bays Boat Museum in Dorset. The Bigwin once ferried passengers from Port Cunnington across Lake of Bays to Bigwin Island. If you go into Dorset to shop for groceries or for a meal at Fiery Grill, be sure to check out the museum and the boat. She’s a beaut.
Foxwood Resort is one of several Resorts of Ontario in this region. For a listing of others, click here.
The Lake of Bays Marine Museum at Dorset
Filed under: Resorts of Ontario | Tags: Bayview Wildwood, Briars, Fern, Labour Day, Pine Vista, Sunny Point, Viamede
Monday, September 7, 2009 is Labour Day. Here is a short list of Resorts of Ontario members that are running two- and three-day Labour Day Weekend packages. The prices mentioned here are approximate, so check the links below for specific details.
Bayview Wildwood Resort – 1-800-461-0243 Viamede Resort – 1-800-461-1946 Sunny Point Resort – 1-800-265-0432 Fern Resort – 1-800-567-3376 The Briars Resort – 1-800-465-2376 Pine Vista Resort – 1-800-634-2848
Packages can also be booked online at www.resortsofontario.com.
Bayview Wildwood Resort is a great place for kids and families.
Bayview Wildwood Resort on Sparrow Lake in Muskoka has a three-night Labour Day special Starting at $384 pp/dbl. Friday, September 4 to Monday, September 7 - two Children stay for free. Their website has lots more information and there is a great photo gallery here.
Viamede Resort, “the Grand Lady” of Stoney Lake, has been hosting families and groups in the Kawarthas since Colonel Sam Strickland’s time in 1870! This luxury conference resort and spa is about 30 minutes north of Peterborough, Ontario. I just got off the phone with them… if you book for the three nights over Labour Day, they will give you 15% off the regular rates. Nice people. This is their website.
Sunny Point Resort is on Otter Lake, two hours north of Toronto. It has pet-friendly, waterfront, private housekeeping cottages and a main lodge/inn. Their three-night Labour Day Weekend package includes a boat and motor rental. It starts at $525 for three people in a Junior Suite, to $1995 for up to 14 people in the Grand Muskokan. Sunny Point Resort, Cottages & Inn
Fern Resort near Orillia – the home of rolls and honey
Fern Resort has introduced RSVP rates (Recession Sensitive Vacation Plan). Three nights over Labour Day weekend at Fern for a family of four will run about $1300. Fern Resort is an “American Plan Resort”, which means that all meals, entertainment and most sports and recreation facilities are included in quoted prices. Check the site or give them a call for exact details. Previous blog post on Fern Resort.
“The Briars” has been a fixture of the Ontario resorts industry for generations.
The Briars Resort & Spa has been at Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe for about 165 years! They have a wide variety of inn rooms and housekeeping cottages beside the golf course and along the lake. Check their website for availability. They have both two-night and three-night Labour Day packages starting at about $700 for two adults.
Pine Vista Resort in The Kawarthas is one of the great housekeeping resorts.
Pine Vista Resort on Stoney Lake has a two-night Labour Day package that includes a boat cruise and organized activities. It starts at about $500. Here is the website if you need details. 1-800-634-2848
