2012 at Colonial Bay

It's been a great year here at Colonial Bay. We had wonderful guests, some here for the first time and some familiar faces back to see us again. In every season, Mother Nature delivered gorgeous views and amazing weather to help make everyone's holiday memorable.

Winter Sunset at Colonial Bay

Spring Sunset at Colonial Bay

Summer Waterskiing at Colonial Bay

Fall Colours at Colonial Bay

And we updated our entrance sign with help from Gus at Hilltop Signs (looks good, doesn't it?).

Colonial Bay Cottages new sign

This summer, our guests enjoyed swimming, water skiing, playing in the sand, fishing, kayaking or just relaxing in a Muskoka chair by the beach. Our new Saturn inflatable water toy was a big hit!

Kids flip for Saturn!

Weather conditions were perfect for spectacular Fall colours this year and winter arrived right on time to give us a great start to the ski season (still waiting on a bit more though...come on, Mother Nature!)

Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area

You can view more photos from the past year on our Facebook page (Don't forget to LIKE us if you haven't already!).

We hope your year has been fabulous, too, and we look forward to seeing some of you at Colonial Bay in 2013. As always, you can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy and fun-filled new year!
The Howell Family

Flavours of a Muskoka Christmas

Many holiday traditions center around food: big meals with family and friends, aprés-ski get togethers, potluck parties, or gifts of tasty treats. If you've been looking for some new recipes  to make for your family and friends this year, here are a few from Muskoka to get you started (and you can follow the links for more):

Hot Cranberry Dip (courtesy of Johnston's Cranberry Marsh - you'll find 32 more cranberry recipes here) 2 cups cranberry sauce 3 tbsp horseradish 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper This is one of the many delicious recipes found in June Johnson's "The Cranberry Cookbook – Recipes from 40 years of cooking with cranberries"· She serves this tasty, spicy dip with meatballs, vienna sausage, cut-up wieners or pieces of fruit.· Keep it hot in a chafing dish or an electric warmer. In a medium saucepan, mix all the ingredients together. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 5 minutes to blend flavours. · MICROWAVE: Blend mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir and microwave on high for 1 or 2 minutes more stirring after each minute until sufficiently hot. Makes 2 cups The Essential Guide to Making the Perfect Turkey Dinner (from The Muskoka Mirror) This one's too long to include here - follow the link to get the scoop! Decadent Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies (recipe by Cottage Cravings and published in Taste of Muskoka "Favourite Christmas desserts to savour and share" - there are three more dessert recipes at the bottom of the article) Brownie Base 1/2 cup Skor bits 1 cup sugar 1 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder 1/2 cup melted butter 1/2 cup cream 2 eggs 1 tbsp vanilla Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 9”x13” baking pan (or line with parchment paper). Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture and stir until batter is well mixed. Spread batter evenly in baking pan.  Bake for 25 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack. Mint Butter Cream Filling 1/2 cup butter (softened: like the consistency of ice cream) 2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar 1/2 tsp mint flavour 2 tbsp cream 1/2 tsp green food colour Mix together and beat well. Spread over cooled brownie base. Chocolate Ganache Topping 12 oz. of semi sweet chocolate 1 cup heavy cream 1 candy cane Heat heavy cream until it is just about to boil; remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Stir until completely mixed and glossy. Allow to cool and pour over mint butter cream. Crush candy cane and sprinkle on top. And here are some other tasty and hearty dishes to enjoy from around Muskoka: Winter appetites warmed by hearty comfort foods (published in Taste of Muskoka) Warmth, Soup, Life (published in Muskoka Life) Maple syrup moves beyond the breakfast table (published in Taste of Muskoka) Muskoka Maple Granola from Seasons and Suppers Annie's Meat Sauce and Gnocci (courtesy of That Little Place by the Lights) The holidays are just a few weeks away. We hope to see you at Colonial Bay this winter (click here to view the availability of our waterfront cottages) but wherever you spend your holiday season, we hope it's filled with laughter, love and cheer. Happy Holidays! The Howell Family

It's Winter in Muskoka!

Snow-making at Hidden
Valley Highlands Ski Area 

Winter arrived in Muskoka last week and you know what that means, don’t you? Ski season is right around the corner. Snow making is in full swing at our local slopes and it won’t be long before both downhill and cross-country trails are open.

The Muskoka landscape offers the perfect mix of terrain for skiing: gently rolling hills with the occasional heart-stopping drop for family-friendly and thrill-seeking alpine skiing alike; secluded forests for tranquil cross-country skiing tracks (and snowshoeing too!).

Here’s where you can get your ski on near Colonial Bay:

• Arrowhead Provincial Park has 29 km of groomed, track-set, cross-country ski trails and 12km of skate skiing trails for beginner to expert skiers. Both classic and skate skis can be rented from the Park Pro Shop. Glide silently through the trees and then warm up next to the bonfire before exploring another trail.
• Our local alpine ski area, Hidden Valley Highlands, has surprisingly varied terrain given its size. With twelve runs ranked from easy (green) to most difficult (black diamond) and a terrain park, there’s something for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. For first-timers and those who want to improve their skills, the Snow School offers both beginner group lessons or one-on-one private instruction.

Weather permitting, both Hidden Valley and Arrowhead will have terrain open through the holidays this year.

Torchlight Parade, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area

If you’re planning to be in Muskoka for the holidays this year, Hidden Valley has two celebrations: the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and New Year’s Eve family-friendly fireworks. Check out their events page for info.

Other local holiday events include:

• November 30 – Huntsville Santa Claus Parade – The parade starts at 6:00 p.m. on Main Street in Huntsville
• December 22 – A Portage Flyer Christmas at Muskoka Heritage Place - Ride the Portage Flyer to visit Santa from 5-8pm
• December 22, 23, 28, 29 – SantaFest at Santa’s Village from 11-4 each day - Admission includes horse-drawn sleigh rides, gingerbread cookie decorating, craft making, colouring & letter writing, petting farm, marshmallow roasting, story time and visits with Santa

We hope to see you this holiday season! You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (Don’t forget to check out our winter special from December 21-January 7!)

Warm wishes,

The Howell Family

Muskoka: the best place in the world

Muskoka is among the world’s best vacation destinations according to National Geographic Traveler magazine. Our beautiful region was awarded top spot as a summer destination for 2011 and was named one of 20 Best of the World destinations for 2012. (We would argue it’s THE best, but we’re biased.)

Here’s what the magazine had to say:

“Just two hours by car—but a world away—from powerhouse Toronto beats the heart of Ontario’s cottage country, Muskoka. Families have gathered here for generations to revel in true wilderness. The 2,500-square-mile area includes 8,699 miles of shoreline, 17 historic towns and villages, and innumerable waterfalls and lakes framed by the peaks of Algonquin Provincial Park to the east and the isles of Georgian Bay Islands National Park to the west.

There’s plenty to do here but nothing you’d put on an agenda. Lounge with friends, barbecue everything, watch the night sky from the dock in the pitch black, play board games while listening to the rain. And run around barefoot all day.”

All of which you can do at Colonial Bay, by the way!

While it ranks 9^th on the 2012 list, Muskoka is forever #1 in our hearts. We hope you agree.

We are busy preparing for winter and what may be one of the best ski seasons in recent years (if snow forecasts are correct). If you’ve never visited Muskoka in the winter, this might just be the perfect year to do it. You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (Don’t forget to check out our winter special from December 21-January 7!)

Until we see you again,

The Howell Family

Winter in Muskoka

Pen Lake from Colonial Bay (photo by Ben Howell)

We know, we know. There are still some leaves hanging on the trees and daytime temperatures are in the teens this week, so why are we already talking about winter? 

Well, we like winter. The Muskoka landscape is stunning when it’s blanketed in a soft cushion of white (and particularly so when it’s lit up with a gorgeous sunset like in this photo of Pen Lake from Colonial Bay). Plus, there are lots of ways to play in the snow in Muskoka: downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, skating, and snowshoeing (see our previous post about winter activities here or you can find more information on our website here). 

When you get tired of being outside (or if it’s not your thing in the first place), you can visit the shops in historic downtown Huntsville, relax in front of a crackling fire, share a hearty meal with friends and family or attend some local events.

Here are a few upcoming events to kick off winter in Muskoka:

Warren Miller’s Flow State, Algonquin Theatre, November 16

Santa Claus Parade, Main Street Huntsville, November 30

A Portage Flyer Christmas, Muskoka Heritage Place, December 22

Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area, December 24

New Year’s Eve Family Skate, Canada Summit Centre, December 31

If you’ve never experienced Muskoka in the winter, why not make the trip this year? You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (Don’t forget to check out our winter special from December 21-January 7!)

The Howell Family

Savouring Muskoka

An early morning shot from the dock at Colonial Bay

Muskoka in the fall is a pleasurable assault on the senses. Brilliant red, orange and yellow trees make beautiful vistas even more so; fallen leaves crunch and swirl underfoot; crisp morning air is gradually warmed by the rising sun; the smell of a crackling fire offers the promise of warmth; and local chefs bring out the best of the season with mouth-watering, hearty dishes.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend at Colonial Bay (and hope all of our Canadian friends did too). We even had the first snowfall of the year, albeit a small one. Ski season isn’t far off!

In the meantime, it’s still a great time to visit Muskoka and enjoy what Fall has to offer. The colours have now passed their peak for this year but there are still a lot of leaves on the trees making for a beautiful Fall drive or a hike in the woods. If you like horses, it’s a lovely time of year to go for a trail ride. Algonquin Highlands Trail Riding is a short drive to the east of Colonial Bay.

This coming weekend (October 13-14) is the annual Bala Cranberry Festival, a celebration of all things cranberry. You can tour the marshes where the berries grow and sample a variety of cranberry products, including wines from Muskoka Lakes Brewery.

If that only whets your appetite for more of Muskoka’s culinary best, don’t forget to visit one of Muskoka’s award-winning craft breweries or delectable locally-owned restaurants.

And, as always, when you’re done exploring, your cozy waterfront cottage awaits at Colonial Bay. Check our availability for the rest of the Fall season and heading into winter here.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

The Howell Family

Fall in (love with) Muskoka

You love Muskoka, don’t you? We know that if you’ve visited us once before (or many times), then you must. We don’t think it’s possible to come here and not be touched by Muskoka's natural beauty, charming towns and fabulous people. 

If there were ever a best time to fall in love with Muskoka, Autumn is probably it: warm days (mostly…), cool nights, a show of colour that gets better with each passing day and lots to see and experience without the crowds of summer. 

If you're planning to visit this month, here’s a taste of what’s happening for the rest of September in Muskoka:

• The display of gorgeous fall color has started but isn’t at its peak yet (that means there’s still time for you to get here to see it). In Muskoka, most areas are reporting 5-20% change while Algonquin Park is reporting 40% change. If you’re on Facebook, watch our page for photos or check out Algonquin Park’s photo stream for theirs.
• Film North, the Huntsville International Film Festival, presents a selection of Canadian and international films at the Algonquin Theatre from September 20-22.
• The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour runs the next two weekends, September 22-23 and 29-30. Visit with local artists in their studios and see them in action!
• Culture Days celebrates the arts and cultural life in communities across Canada on September 28-30. There are creative events and activities happening across Muskoka. Check out the calendar of events to see what’s on.
• Northwords Muskoka Literary Festival runs from September 28-30 with author presentations, workshops and special events. If you love books, this event is for you!
• For all you cyclists out there (of both the road and mountain variety), The Muskoka Bicycle Festival celebrates all things bikes on Saturday, September 29.

As always, we’re happy to see you any time of year but if you’ve never come for a visit in the Fall then check out the availability of our waterfront cottages and experience what some call Muskoka’s most spectacular season.

The Howell Family

Fabulous Fall in Muskoka

Fall 2011 at Colonial Bay

Huntsville Fall Fair
September 21-23, 2012 at the Huntsville Fairgrounds, Ravenscliffe Rd.
-Midway, Live Music, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Contests and More!
Huntsville Fall Fair
September 21-23, 2012 at the Huntsville Fairgrounds, Ravenscliffe Rd.
-Midway, Live Music, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Contests and More!

While it’s not yet officially Fall (September 22 gets that honour), the cooler nights, shorter days and changing leaf colours signal that the change in seasons is not far off. It’s a beautiful time to visit Muskoka – the busy-ness of summer has subsided but the weather is still warm enough for hiking, biking, boating and swimming.

It’s also a time to celebrate the Fall harvest at one of our region’s annual Fall Fairs. With everything from horse shows and tractor pulls to artists and local growers, a fall fair is an excellent way to glimpse the diversity of rural life in Muskoka. Here are the local fairs happening in September:

South River Fall Fair

September 7-9, 2012 at the South River Community Centre, 1A Lincoln Ave (West off Hwy 11 & Ottawa Ave)

-Variety Show, Mutt Show, Exhibits, Western & Light Horse Show, Heavy Horse Pull, Parade, Lumberjack Competitions, Horseshoe Pitching Contest, Poultry Show, Livestock Displays, Children’s Games

Stisted Fall Fair "A Little Country Fair, with a Big Country Heart"..

September 8, 2012 at the Stisted Fairgrounds, Etwell Rd.

-Exhibits, Horse Shows, Egg Toss, Swede Saw, Nail Driving, Shoe Kick, 3-Legged Race, Corn Roast and more 

Bracebridge Fall Fair

September 14-16, 2012 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds, 331 Fraserburg Rd.

-Midway, Live Music, Tractor Pull, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Chainsaw Carving and more!

Whether you choose to take in a Fall Fair or not, the Fall colors are worth a visit to Muskoka all on their own. Mother Nature follows her own calendar so be sure to check the Fall Colour Reports for Muskoka and Algonquin Park before you head out. And if you’ve ever wondered why the leaves change colour, check out this article by HuntsvilleAdventures.com.

We hope you’ll come to visit us this month, particularly if you’ve never experienced Fall in Muskoka. It’s an amazing sight! You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

Happy Travelling,

The Howell Family

Making Art in Muskoka

From the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery

The arts are alive and well in Muskoka and Fall is the ideal time to explore the diversity of artists in our region.

First, check out The Art Space by the Huntsville Art Society (across from River Mill Park in Huntsville, open Tues – Sun). From August 31 to September 30, The Art Space presents Canadian Spirit/Huntsville, “an interactive installation of music, painting,  and sculpture  as part of Huntsville’s celebration of  the 100th anniversary of Tom Thompson in conjunction with the Tom Thomson Gallery in Owen Sound”.

While you’re in town, don’t forget to search out the murals that make up the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery (pictured in the image above). Celebrating the unique art of Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven, these large outdoor murals are scattered throughout Huntsville with satellite installations in Algonquin Park, Dorset, Dwight, and Baysville. Take a tour of the downtown Huntsville collection using this map.

If you drive to the other Group of Seven satellite installations, make sure you stop in at the Algonquin Art Centre to see their latest exhibit. “Our 2012 art exhibit celebrates the unique story of water in Algonquin, from its origins in the Park’s highlands to its oceanic destinations. The story is told through the perspective of Canada’s leading landscape and wildlife artists, whose works reveal the powerful and inspiring nature of water.” The Algonquin Art Centre is open until October 21.

One of the highlights of the Fall art season is the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour, which gives visitors a peek into the studios of area artists. “Conceived by one individual three decades ago, the idea of giving people a glimpse into the studios where raw materials are transformed into superb art pieces still holds its appeal.” This year’s tour is September  22-23 and 29-30.

Fall is one of the most beautiful time to visit Muskoka and combining your stay with a visit to local artisans makes it doubly so. If you’ve never been to Muskoka in the Fall, maybe this should be the year. You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

We hope to see you soon!
The Howell Family

Making Music in Muskoka

Muskoka is a hot-bed of creativity. The beautiful, rugged landscape provides inspiration for artists of all types: painters and illustrators, sculptors and fibre artists, vocalists and musicians. We’ve highlighted visual artists on our blog before, but we also have a wide range of local musical talent.

If you’re a lover of music, check out some of these local artists:

Laganza

Tina Turley

Linda McLean Band

Big East

Muskoka Music Men  

Victoria Banks (formerly of Muskoka and now a Nashville recording artist)

And if you’re in Muskoka in August, Concerts in the Park at Huntsville’s Town Dock runs to the end of the month every Wednesday evening at 7:00pm. Bring your lawn chair and a toonie for some tunes.

•        August 8 – Cameron Of Lochiel Pipes & Drums
•        August 15 – Big East
•     August 22 Northern Lights Steel Orchestra

We had a fantastic August long weekend at Colonial Bay. Our guests enjoyed watersports, fishing, and basking in the sun on the beach or at their waterfront cottages. It was a beautiful weekend, despite a bit of much-needed rain on Sunday. And the summer is only half over! There’s still time to join us for more Muskoka fun. You can see our availability here.

We hope to see you soon!
The Howell Family

Image via Flickr user fmerenda

A Howling Good Time

Are there wolves in Muskoka? Yes! But chances are you won’t see them. These beautiful but elusive creatures are hard to spot. If you aren’t lucky enough to see them, you may hear them howling at night. 

There are two types of wolves in Muskoka: the Eastern Wolf and its larger cousin the Grey Wolf, which is more typically found in Northern Ontario (they are sometimes collectively called Timber Wolves). The photo above is Akayla the Grey Wolf, a captive wolf at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. Here are some interesting facts about wolves that you may not know: 

• A wolf’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than a human’s and they can hear as far as 10 km away. These strong senses help make them effective hunters but also make them extremely hard to spot in the wild; they are very shy around humans.
• They primarily eat white-tailed deer but may also eat moose or beaver. Packs may travel long distances to find food; their range can be as large as 500 sq km but is more typically 150 sq km.
• Wolves have few predators: humans, bears and other wolves.
• Only the leaders of a pack, the alpha male and alpha female, mate to produce pups. Between 3-8 pups are born per year and are nursed by their mother for the first 6-8 weeks. Once they are weaned, other members of the pack help to feed the pups, first with food regurgitated from their stomachs and later with solid food.
• Scientists believe wolves howl for a variety of reasons: a single howl helps members of the pack keep in contact; a group howl may be used to defend territory or for social cohesion. You can listen to a pack howling here (recording courtesy of The Friends of Algonquin Park).

Every Thursday in August, Algonquin Park holds its extremely popular public Wolf Howls. If you’re planning to stay at Colonial Bay Cottages or visit Muskoka during August, you might want to consider adding a Wolf Howl to your agenda.

We still have some waterfront cottages available in August. Why not book a stay at Colonial Bay Cottages before summer's over? We're having one of the hottest, driest summers on record and the gorgeous weather looks like it's going to continue right through August. You can view our availability here.

From our Muskoka chair to yours,

The Howell Family

Triathlons in Muskoka

Not only is Muskoka a renowned vacation destination, it has recently become a popular site for triathlons. There are seven events still to come this year, culminating with the challenging Ironman 70.3 in September.

Part of Muskoka’s popularity for triathlons is the same reason other visitors converge here in the summer: pristine lakes, rolling hills and gorgeous scenery. Those features make for pleasing yet challenging race routes and provide ample training opportunities on many of Muskoka’s back roads and tucked-away lakes.

If you’re a triathlete, or have always wanted to try one, here are this year’s Muskoka triathlons:

• MultiSport Triathlon /Duathlon (includes a Give-it-a-Tri), Gravenhurst, July 14-15
• Muskoka Kids Tri (includes an adult try-a-tri), Port Sydney, Saturday July 21  
• Subaru Muskoka 5i50, Huntsville, Sunday July 22
• The Muskoka Grind, Sunday August 5, Limberlost Forest Reserve (just north of Colonial Bay!) - Off-Road Triathlon, Duathlon and Trail Run
• MultiSport Triathlon/Duathlon (includes a Give-it-a-Tri), Bracebridge, August 11-12
• MultiSport Triathlon, Bala, August 19
• Subaru Ironman 70.3, Huntsville, Sunday September 9

For more information about triathlons in Muskoka, go to the TriMuskoka website.

If you’re visiting Colonial Bay Cottages this summer (and why wouldn’t you be?!), why not check out a race and cheer the athletes on? If you haven’t booked yet, you can see our availability here.

We hope to see you soon!

The Howell Family

Life from a Muskoka Chair

The Muskoka chair is our iconic image of summer and it’s the perfect spot to kick back and relax. You wouldn’t think a wooden chair could be so comfortable. On the beach, on the dock, by the fire, or in the woods, they are an inviting place to take a break wherever you find them.

Here are a few suggestions for what you can do from a Muskoka chair:

• Listen to the loons early in the morning.
• Do some yoga (yes, really)
• Read a book. To keep with the theme you could check out these ones written about or in Muskoka, but really any book will do.
• Pretend to read a book while secretly napping.
• Not-so-secret napping (but remember, more than one kid out there has pranked a snoozing parent).
• Think about going for a swim.
• Decide to enjoy one of Muskoka’s famous beverages instead.
• Dry off in the sun after a swim.
• Dig your toes in the sand.
• Have another nap.
• Warm up in front of the fire pit.
• Eat corn roasted over the fire.
• Have your picture taken to remember your trip to Muskoka.

There’s a Muskoka chair waiting for you at Colonial Bay this July long weekend. (If you haven't booked your spot yet, you can see our availability here.) And if you get tired of that, you could head out to one of the Canada Day celebrations in Huntsville or the rest of Muskoka.

We hope to see you soon!

The Howell Family

Teeing it Up in Muskoka

Muskoka’s landscape – with its abundance of rocky outcroppings, trees and water - makes for some stunning (and sometimes challenging) golfing. Whether you’re looking to just hit a few buckets of practice balls at the driving range or want to play 18 on a world-class golf course, you’ll find just what you’re looking for within a short distance of Colonial Bay.

Right across the road from Colonial Bay is The Acres Driving Range. It’s a well-marked range with both natural grass or mats on the elevated tee deck. They have natural target greens and bunkers to aim at (or avoid!). Clubs are available to rent and lessons are available by appointment.

A short drive to the west down Highway 60 are the two courses at Deerhurst resort. The Highlands is a majestic, world-renowned course that offers challenging lies and gorgeous views. Deerhurst’s Lakeside course is a good choice for beginners and families or anyone who wants to play a quick game.

Further west along Highway 60 are ClubLink’s Grandview courses: the 18-hole Mark O’Meara and a 9-hole Academy course. The Mark O’Meara offers spectacular views of Fairy Lake from a course that winds through granite outcroppings and towering trees. The Academy course is ideal for a quick round or a game with kids.

The historic Huntsville Downs course opened in 1925 and was originally designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson. Huntsville Downs is playable by inexperienced golfers but still challenging for more experienced players. They offer the option to play 9 or 18 holes and, in truly family-friendly fashion, let’s kids under 12 play free when playing with an adult (starting July 9 – contact the course for full details).

Bigwin Island Golf Course (pictured above) provides a unique experience for golfers: the course is on an island in Lake of Bays and is accessible only by water or air. Public play is available in the spring and fall: Monday to Friday after 10 am or Saturday and Sunday after 1 pm in May, June, September and October. Check their website for information on tee times and access to the island.

There are more courses further afield in Port Sydney, Bracebridge, Port Carling, Windermere and Gravenhurst. You’ll find a comprehensive list at Explorers’ Edge. Why not head out for a round the next time you stay at Colonial Bay? And when you return to your waterfront cottage, a Muskoka chair on the beach will be waiting for you.

Happy golfing!

The Howell Family

Summer, welcome to Muskoka!

The unofficial start of summer is here! The May long weekend (celebrating the Victoria Day holiday but also affectionately known as May two-four) has almost arrived. We’ve been enjoying summer-like temperatures and although the water is still cool it’s not too early for a dip in the lake. If that thought gets your teeth chattering, here are some other activities to try out this weekend at Colonial Bay and in Muskoka:

Get out on the water – we have a fleet of canoes, kayaks and paddle boats for our guests and the waterskiing boat is ready to go. Or maybe you’d like to try surfing?

Take in some local history – The pioneer village and train at Muskoka Heritage Place open for the season on May 19.

Go for a hike – Muskoka has an abundance of trails and world-renowned Algonquin Park is just a short drive away from Colonial Bay

Go for a spin – For two-wheel enthusiasts - the pedal-powered kind! – you can find maps of some local cycling routes and trails here. (And don’t forget about the Spin the Lakes Tour the following weekend on May 27^th with 20k, 50k, 110k and 170k routes around beautiful Lake of Bays.) If driving is more your style, check out our previous post of local driving tours - beautiful any time of year!

Soak up some sun – sink into a Muskoka chair, dig your toes into the sand and enjoy the sunshine!

We still have a few waterfront cottages available for the long weekend. Check out our availability on our website. For our American friends, Memorial Day is May 28 – call us for a Canadian lakeside get-away!

Here’s to summer in Muskoka! We hope to see you soon.

The Howell Family

Blackflies aren't all bad. Really!

Spring in Muskoka sometimes requires a sense of humor. Like when winter hasn’t quite loosened its grip and we swing wildly from summer to winter and (hopefully soon) back again. Or when the sun is shining but the lake is still ice cold. Or when spring has finally sprung and everyone wants to be outside but Mother Nature decides that this would be the perfect time to unleash the blackflies. 

Blackfly season is, fortunately, short lived. For the uninitiated, blackflies emerge late in the spring usually from about mid-May to late June. (Our initial blast of warm weather this year has brought the first wave out earlier than usual but our recent snowfall will take care of those.) They look like miniature, hump-backed house flies. And the females bite, often working their way under waistbands, socks and hairlines where they can get their fill of blood unnoticed.

You’ll find plenty of unfavorable opinions about blackflies without searching too hard. To say they’re a nuisance is putting it mildly. But rather than repeat all the bad things about blackflies, we thought we’d share some of the good.

You didn’t know there were any good things about blackflies, did you? Well here they are along with a few other interesting facts:

• They are tasty snacks for trout when the adult flies emerge in the spring. A healthy black fly population can mean a healthy trout population.
• They are one of the biggest pollinators of blueberries. No blackflies, fewer tasty snacks for us.
• They can’t handle polluted water, so a thriving blackfly population is an indication that our streams and rivers are in decent shape.
• Only the females bite and they use blood meals only for egg production. Both males and females feed on nectar to get energy for flight (which is why they are such good pollinators).
• The average adult lifespan is just 3 weeks.
• Unlike mosquitoes, which thrive in pools of standing water, blackflies need running water to breed.

For more about both blackflies and mosquitos, check out this video from Science North:

While we don’t expect anyone to jump for joy the next time a blackfly bites, we can at least recognize them as part of a healthy ecosystem. And that’s what everyone comes to Muskoka to see.

When will we see you next? The May long weekend (the unofficial start of the summer season, even if it's not quite summer yet) is fast approaching. You can see our availability for May and beyond here. We hope to see you soon!

The Howell Family

Wildlife Babies in Muskoka

Wildlife viewing is a highlight for most visitors to Muskoka and when baby animals are spotted, the thrill factor increases significantly. Who doesn’t like to see an adorable bundle of fur hanging out next to its mama? But you may not know much about these cute little creatures so we thought we’d give you some fun facts about the young of some of Muskoka’s most popular animals.

Black Bears - Newborn bear cubs aren’t much bigger than a chipmunk (1/2-1 pound). A litter of 2-3 cubs is born in the mother’s winter den in January or February. They start to get active within a few months and by the time they leave the den are capable of climbing a tree. Bear cubs grow rapidly – their mother’s milk is high in fat and protein – and weigh up to 9 pounds by the time they leave the den and up to 65 pounds by the time they are 9 months old. Cubs stay with their mom until they are about 1.5 years old when she is ready to mate again.

Beavers – A litter of 3-5 baby beavers, called kits, are born in late April to late June. At birth, their eyes are open, they are covered with soft fur and they weigh about 1 pound (.45 kg). They begin to swim not long after birth (the same day!) and within a month they will be able to hold their breath and swim underwater. When the kits get tired, mom will carry them on her back. Kits are weaned at about two weeks and don’t reach adulthood in their second winter.

Loons – The loons return to our lakes in April or May. They begin mating and nesting almost immediately, laying 2-3 eggs per year. The eggs hatch in June and chicks can swim and dive within hours of hatching. When they are tired or cold, they will sometimes ride on a parents’ back. Chicks are fed by their parents until they can dive and catch their own food at about 8 weeks. They learn to fly by about 11 weeks but don’t fly south until late fall, usually long after adult loons have left. The young loons stay in their southern habitats and don’t return to the nesting area where they were born until they are three years old.

Moose – Moose calves are born in mid-to-late-May, weighing 25-35 pounds at birth (less if there are twins). They are very vulnerable at first and the Cow (mom) will keep her calf hidden for a few days after birth. The calves can stand within a day, are capable of outrunning a human within a few days, and learn to swim within a few weeks. Calves grow at an incredible rate in their first summer, gaining more than 1 pound a day in the spring and later more than 4 pounds a day. By fall, the calf will weigh 300-400 pounds. In Ontario, the natural mortality of calves can be high due to extreme spring weather and predators. Up to 75% of calves may die in their first six months of life.

Wolves - A litter of 3-8 pups is born in mid to late April in a den site, usually a hole in the ground. The pups are nursed by their mom for their first 6-8 weeks. After weaning, they rely on other pack members to feed them. By July, the pups are big enough to be left in a sheltered area while the adults go hunting. Adult pack members carry food in their stomachs and regurgitate it for the pups. By late summer and early fall, the pups are able to eat solid food brought back by the adults.

Nearby Algonquin Park is an ideal place to watch wildlife. We hope that the next time you visit Colonial Bay, you’ll be lucky enough to see one of these adorable babies. You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here. (And don’t forget – the May long weekend isn’t far away. It’s the ‘official’ start of the summer season in Muskoka.)

See you soon!

The Howell Family

Image via Flickr user MaugiArt