Canada Trip.co.uk

Well we decided to take a look at Deerhurst Resort, and well, let’s just say if you want somewhere truely special, this is the place you’ll want to base yourself on your visit to Canada.
Nestled on 800 acres of rolling, wooded countryside on Peninsula Lake in Muskoka, Ontario, Deerhurst Resort radiates the charm of its natural setting and rich heritage. Famed for its 1,600 fresh water lakes and striking granite outcroppings, Muskoka has been a celebrated vacation retreat since the 19th century.

Nearby Algonquin Park, immortalized on canvas by Canada’s most acclaimed artists, the Group of Seven, offers a legendary Canadian wilderness experience. Since 1896, Deerhurst Resort has made the most of this year-round natural playground setting with a full palette of leisure pursuits, guest comforts and engaging service. The centerpiece is the Pavilion, where guests enjoy full amenities under one roof – a new hotel wing, elegant conference center, restaurants, art gallery, lounge and indoor sports complex with a full service spa. Clusters of low-rise condominium style accommodations are tucked throughout the resort landscape by the lake, ideal for families or a getaway with friends. (more…)

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Posted in Algonquin Provincial Park, Muskoka, Ontario | 1 Comment »

Well, its time for another Muskoka article! This time, on the actual cruises themselves. If you’re in Gravenhurst, Muskoka – you really have to get the true muskoka experience and get yourself onto a steam ship! The Real Muskoka Experience’s Steamships allow you to do this!

To follow the story of the Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company from the re-sail of the Segwun after refurbishing in 1981 to present day, is a tale of unprecedented growth, success and achievement. It’s a story of the Segwun proudly plying the lakes and representing the elegance, style and heritage of Muskoka’s past and it’s a tale of Segwun today having earned a reputation as an Ontario tourism icon.

With a sailing season of just 145 days, present day Segwun welcomes passengers on board from around the world. From her scenic Lunch and Millionaires Row Cruises to the ever-popular Sunset Dinner Cruises, Segwun’s coal-fired engines work harder today than they did more than a hundred years ago. Combined with private charters, their “crown jewel” fills to capacity at 99 passengers and graces all three of the Muskoka lakes in true Segwun style. Photographs of the Segwun outweigh any other in the region, proving that she is the recognized symbol of Muskoka with many believing that her haunting whistle sounds out as the official “heartbeat” which awakens the region each Spring.

Recognition of the Segwun only escalated. As the sole survivor of the fleet, she continues to hold status with Canada Post as an official “Royal Mail Ship” and is granted permission to feature her private label wine throughout Ontario by the L.C.B.O. The Ministry of Tourism validated this success, with numerous ads promoting the Segwun’s significance as North America’s oldest operating steamship. In 2001 & 2002, the Segwun was voted Best Large Attraction by Attractions Canada. (more…)

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Gravenhurst is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 15 kilometres south of Bracebridge, Ontario. The Town of Gravenhurst includes a large area of the District of Muskoka, known to Ontarians as “cottage country.” The town centre borders on two lakes: Lake Muskoka, which is the largest lake in the Region, and Gull Lake, a smaller cottage-bordered lake. Another lake, Kahshe Lake, is situated ten kilometres south of the town.

The day we went, as you can probably see from the couple of photos i took, was a pretty gloomy rainy day, but it didn’t however spoil the ability for me to find somewhere fantastic to visit — or stay on your trip to Canada. One thing this place is ideal for is visiting all the many attractions in and around Muskoka, and of coarse Algonquin Provincial Park is only an hour north of here, so you could make Gravenhurst your launchpad to an adventurous holiday!

Gravenhurst was originally named McCabes Bay and later as Sawdust City. Gravenhurst was named after a village in England which is mentioned in Washington Irving’s Bracebridge Hall.

Nearby Muldrew Lake was named after the lake’s second cottager, Dr. William Hawthorne Muldrew. He was the principal of the first Gravenhurst high school in 1894. In 1901 he published a book called Sylvan Ontario, A Guide to Our Native Trees and Shrubs. It was the first book published on this subject in Ontario, and the drawings were his own. All the different types of trees and shrubs of Muskoka could be seen at the school, as he transplanted many of the specimens from Muldrew Lake. (more…)

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Just around the water from the sunset grill previously written about, is the Grace & Speed Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre in Gravenhurst!
This is the perfect place for anyone with an eye for history, and or boats! Step into the past to explore what it truly means to have a summer in Muskoka. The unparalleled facility aims to promote and preserve the traditions of the steamship, boat building and resort era while continually educating the public about these fascinating times.

If you follow the roads round the docks, you’ll come to this building – which does have free parking directly outside its front door. Heading inside, you’ll find the front desk and gift shop, and the door to the left of the front desk is where your journey into the era of boat building in muskoka begins!
Feast your eyes on Grace & Speed, North America’s only in-water exhibit of working antique boats. Featuring boats from local builders, Grace & Speed is awe-inspiring.
View all the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre has to offer, from the permanent to the feature exhibits. (more…)

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Yep, it’s another foody place! This time though, we’re not talking about a huge chain – this time its a single restaurant! The Sunset Grill in Gravenhurst, Muskoka.
By all accounts it was a generally miserable day weather wise, and we’d been to the Muskoka Store and it had more or less been raining continuously for a day. This is not normal weather for this part of weather.. grey skies may be common sight in Britain, but generally days of rain and cloud is not the norm here.. We’d gone to Gravenhurst to have a look around – and you’ll see a more general article on Gravenhurst in the next couple of months, but basically its a town built on the edge of a lake. Here on the wharf – with a car park right next to it is the Sunset Grill.

This is where we had lunch. If you head in – I’d recommend the Coffee, it was fantastic and with the added bonus of free refills its worth every penny! The menu has many classics – such as the BLT – or if you wanted to go for something more traditionally Canadian you could have the pea meal bacon on a bun. These sandwiches come served on a plate with veggy sticks (of cucumber and carrot), along with a separate dip, and a separate dressing for your sandwich. I had the BLT and it really was worth having – I’d recommend it to you – but .. what i liked the most? One of us couldn’t finish the Pea meal Bacon in a bun.. well there was my chance! Not only was the pea meal bacon cooked perfectly, it was really tender and thickly cut. The bread cake/bun was really soft – and of coarse it came with the veggy sticks and condiments. (more…)

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Posted in Muskoka, Ontario, Places to Eat | 1 Comment »

Well, i decided to break the recent double up of foody articles and include another article on the amasing Algonquin Park. I’ll say again what i always seem to say – and that should you be reading this as the first article you’ve seen about this Provincial Park, do not underestimate the size and sheer number of things to do in this place. The first time i went to Algonquin Park was in 2009 and we expected (having not done much research) the park to be similar to a UK national park such as the peak district.. but we were very wrong!
The park has many places of interest on the main route in the south, highway 60, especially trails you can go on. Just remember if you’re going to park up anywhere in Algonquin Provincial Park, you’ll need to pull up at the gates (big buildings just off the side of the road either end of Highway 60) and go in to get a Permit. These are $15.00 currently but the rates do change depending on the year.

The Trail this article is focusing on is the Peck Lake Trail.

Make sure you’ve picked up one of the Algonquin park news papers while you’re getting a permit, they’re free and they’re very .. VERY useful to use the map on the back so you know where you are going!

Before you go on any of these trails, remember to have brought with you, proper walking equipment – for example decent walking shoes with a good degree of tread, and comfortable clothes suitable for what ever the weather may be on the day you go on the trail. Another thing you’ll want to factor in is the bugs! If it’s forecast to be warm, chances are you’ll be up against the Mosquitoes and or Black Fly – so bring your bug repellent!

Peck Lake Trail is a 2.3 kilometre loop starting on Highway 60, 19.2km from West Gate of Algonquin Park. The trail takes you right around Peck Lake. The trail is of Medium difficulty, mainly due to the uneven and steep inclines you have to walk up and down. There are some fairly steep drops right by the path as well so make sure you have good footware on so you reduce risks of slipping. Remember to pick up one of the trail guides that you will find in the initial sign at the start of the trail. If you know you wish to keep the trail guide as a souvenir then put $0.50 into the pipe that is located right below it. Alternatively, you can always do this when you’ve completed your walk (or deposit the guide back in the small ‘letter boxes’ under the sign.
(more…)

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One of our earliest articles on Canada Trip was about Muskoka Wildlife Centre, and left as a comment by Suzie Q was a recommendation to go check out Walter Page’s Muskoka Store, so that’s exactly what we did!

This year’s first trip to Canada was different to previous trips as we seemed to have a whole variety of weather.. From bright hot sunny days of temperatures in the mid twenties right the way to snowflakes falling and settling over night, it all seemed to happen this last trip! It was on one of the more wet days that we happened to be passing here.. In fact it had been raining solid for over a day, but that didn’t make any difference to our experience of this fantastic store.

If you are driving north, passing Muskoka Wildlife Centre on your right, you’ll begin seeing signs on your right telling you how much further it is to the Muskoka Store, and with its large signs beside the road and its distinctive black and white log cabin style building you’ll find it difficult to miss, just remember to be in the right lane on the highway and start slowing down as soon as you see it as you pull straight off the highway into their large car park!

When you walk into the first part of the store, it had, on the day we went in, the feel of a garden centre, the feeling that sure, it’s a Store but you get the idea there’s much more there than it first appears.. And that’s exactly what you find out, turning left and walking down the corridor you step through a door and find yourself immersed in the cozy comfy environment of a cottage, a cottage that’s seen everything and been there for years – and so accumulated many mementos of its past.. the only difference is, almost all of it is for sale.

The store has been designed well, selling just about anything you’d ever want, especially if you happen to have a cottage in Muskoka! If you haven’t, that’s fine too – the store has a massive selection of gifts – so if you were stuck wondering what you may buy friends and family as mementos from Canada, or maybe you want to treat yourself, your almost sure of finding something you’ll want in this store! .. I certainly did!

(more…)

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Another of those quick micro articles, i spotted on Canada Travel’s website, it’s a special deal – a package holiday where you get to enjoy the diversity of Ottawa, a metropolitan city and of course the nations capital, and the picturesque setting of the Deerhurst Resort in Ontario’s Muskoka region situated west of Ottawa . Your accommodation in Ottawa is at the majestic Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

Yep that’s right! Huntsville, that’s very close to Muskoka Wildlife Centre – so remember to check our Muskoka articles if you’re thinking about heading off this way!

The price is £1069 sharing twin incl flights, 5 nights accommodation and car rental
First staying in Ottawa, located in eastern Ontario on the banks of the magestic Ottawa River – Then travelling to Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville, Ontario.
Daily departures are available though Pricing shown is based on travel in November. Read More for package details:
(more…)

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While visiting Canada, if you’re in the Muskoka region, why not take a trip to a place where you can see for yourself what things used to be like before the world of modern life crept into the area?

Muskoka Heritage Place is a trip back in time to an authentic pioneer village – all fully furnished genuine muskoka buildings including General Store, Church, Inn, Barn, Blacksmith Shop, dwellings and a trapper’s cabin. You will also find a First Nations’ Museum Exhibit & Encampment, the Muskoka Museum, Costumed Narrators, Farm Animals and Gardens and hands on demonstrations! If you’ve been to Beamish Open air museum in the UK, this place is a smaller version of that style of attraction, all based around a time gone by in Muskoka, Ontario. (more…)

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While visiting Juni (our adopted raccoon, if you didn’t know already) at Muskoka Wildlife Centre, I saw a stand with some leaflets on, one of them was initially what I thought to be simply a flyer to let people know all the places they could visit while visiting the Muskoka area, but what it actually was – was a way to see more in Muskoka and save while doing it!

So here’s what it’s about: (more…)

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Posted in Lake Simcoe, Muskoka, Ontario | 1 Comment »