Summer, Straight Ahead!

Muskoka is a beautiful place to be any time of year but she really shines in the summer. With an abundance of water sports, outdoor activities, cultural events and opportunities to just relax, summer in Muskoka is fabulous! Here are some of the things you can look forward to if you plan to visit us in the next few months:

• For anytime fun, try hiking, biking, driving tours, golf, geocaching, or a variety of watersports (even surfing!)
• Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour, June 8 & 9
• Farmers’ Markets in Dwight (NEW!) on Tuesdays, Gravenhurst on Wednesdays, Huntsville on Thursdays, Rosseau on Fridays and Bracebridge on Saturdays
• Canada Day Fireworks in Huntsville and a Strawberry Social at Muskoka Heritage Place, July 1
• Nuit Blanche North street festival, July 13
• Algonquin Park Wolf Howls, Thursday nights in August
• Huntsville Jazz Festival, Aug 1-3
• Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Weekend, Aug 17-18

Come and see what else Muskoka has in store! You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

With warm summer thoughts,

The Howell Family

What's Happening in October in Muskoka

It’s almost October and that means both Thanksgiving and the peak of fall colors are right around the corner.

Muskoka is truly a year-round destination and there are plenty of events to take in this month once you’ve finished oohing and aahing over one of Mother Nature’s finest shows. To catch the peak of fall colors, the first week of October is the best time to visit us at Colonial Bay, but the colors will remain beyond Thanksgiving. Our Muskoka cottages are calling you (can you hear them?).

Here’s just some of what’s happening around Muskoka in October:

• September 30-October 2 - North Words Muskoka Literary Festival
• Saturday, October 1 from 3:30-7:30 pm - Port Sydney Turkey Dinner & Fireworks at the Port Sydney Community Hall. Tickets available at the door. Fireworks at the Port Sydney Beach starting at dusk.
• Saturday, October 1 - WSE Waterski Show - Say goodbye to summer with WSE's final waterski show of the 2011 Summer Season at the waterfront at Deerhurst Resort.
• Saturday, October 8 - 1st Annual Great Muskoka Paddling Experience - Muskoka's first annual paddling race on the Muskoka River in Bracebridge. Features 12km and 20 km events. The event will be hosted out of Bracebridge Bay (by the waterfalls) and will have put-ins at Annie Williams Memorial Park (just down the river a tad). Kayak and Canoe events are scheduled. Proceeds support the Muskoka Watershed Council.
• October 14-16 - The 27th Annual Bala Cranberry Festival - For all things cranberry! Cranberry marsh tours, bazaar, petting zoo, midway and more.
• Tuesday, October 25 Stuart McLean and The Vinyl Cafe at the Algonquin Theatre. Tickets available at the box office or online.
• Monday, October 31 from 5-8 pm "Umpteenth Annual" (23rd) Great Pumpkin Trail at Muskoka Heritage Place. Trick or treating in the pioneer village, especially for the very young. $3.00 per head or $10.00 per family. Head must be attached to a body.

If you’re planning to visit our Muskoka cottages this month, why not take in one of these local events? And, of course, you can just hang out at Colonial Bay’s waterfront or relax in front of the fire. Life doesn’t get much better.

You can view the availability of our waterfront Muskoka cottages and book online here.

We hope you’ll visit us again at Colonial Bay soon!
The Howell Family

September in Muskoka

September is almost upon us with its return to school and work routines, but it’s still technically summer and it’s also one of the best times to visit Muskoka. The weather (and the lake!) is still warm enough for swimming, summer crowds are starting to dwindle, and the trees are starting to show their brilliant colors. And if you get bored of sitting by the water (we’re not sure how that’s possible, but just in case…), there are still plenty of events around to entertain you. Here’s what’s happening in Muskoka in September:

• Sunday, September 11, Pen Lake & Lake of Bays, Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 - Swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles…or just come out and cheer on the athletes in this gruelling competition.


• Saturday, September 17, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Shades of Autumn Antique, Classic and Custom Car Show, Downtown Huntsville - If four wheels are your passion, the 9th annual car show is an adventure that will accelerate your heart rate with 300 auto exhibits up and down the main drag.


• September 22-24 Film North Huntsville International Film Festival, Algonquin Theatre - Three days, 25+ movies, world premieres, old classics, and multiple chances to rub shoulders with film industry professionals - what more could a movie buff want!? Tickets available at Algonquin Theatre


• September 23-25, Huntsville Fall Fair, Huntsville Fair Grounds off Ravenscliffe Road - midway, great food, contests and more!


• September 24-25, 10am-6pm, 33rd Annual Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour – Visit 25 studios across Muskoka and see the beautiful context in which the artists work at this spectacular time of year.


• September 30-October 2, North Words Muskoka Literary Festival - Join the likes of Margaret Atwood to learn the “Stories Behind the Books”. Tickets available at Algonquin Theatre.

Will we see you at Colonial Bay this fall? Check out our new website for the availability of our Muskoka cottages and online reservations.

We look forward to seeing you!
The Howell Family

Good Reads

August is a time for relaxation. The days are long and warm and the busyness of September is far enough away to be ignored for a little bit. And what better way to relax than to settle into a Muskoka chair with a beverage in one hand and a book in the other?


Muskoka is home to many authors, both seasonal and year-round residents, and some have set their works in our beautiful region. Here are a selection of nonfiction and fiction Muskoka-based tomes from local authors. Check them out online or at one of our local bookstores. And if you have a favourite that we haven’t mentioned, make a note in the comments to tell us about it.

• Trails and Tribulations: Confessions of a Wilderness Pathfinder - Canoeist and naturalist Hap Wilson shares stories of his adventures in the Canadian Shield.
  


• PenLake: Reflections on Peninsula Lake - The Peninsula Lake Historical Committee presents a look back at pioneering and cottaging on our very own Pen Lake!
  


• The Law of Three: A Sarah Martin Mystery - Caroline Rennie-Pattison’s second novel in the Sarah Marin Mystery series.
  


• Getting Rid of Rosie - Lynda Simmons’ fun tale of a ghost that won’t go away. Partially set in Muskoka.
  


• The Drowned Violin - An Alan Nearing Mystery by Mel Malton for kids 9-12.


• Murder in Muskoka series - 4 books by 88-year-old author Liam Dwyer featuring Inspector Murdoch: Murder in Muskoka, Gold & Greed, Muskoka Cross & Double Cross, Muskoka Death & Diamonds.


• The Muskoka Novels (The Summer Before the Storm and Elusive Dawn) - Historical novels set in Muskoka by Gabriele Wills.

If you’ve always wondered what inspires authors to write, consider attending the 2nd annual North Words Muskoka Literary Festival in Huntsville from Sept 30-Oct 2.

The theme is “Stories Behind the Books” and features authors Margaret Atwood, Vincent Lam, Charles Foran, Cathy Buchanan, Gill Deacon, Tish Cohen, Claudia Dey, Richard B. Wright, Camilla Gibb, Terry Fallis, Ed Lawrence and Cynthia Lord. And if you come, you just might catch the first wave of fall colors while you’re at it. Yet another great reason to visit Colonial Bay!

You can see the availability of our Muskoka cottages here.

We hope to see you soon!

The Howell Family
Colonial Bay Cottage Resort

Lazy Days of August

We had another fantastic long weekend here at Colonial Bay. Our guests took full advantage of the amazing weather to spend some time on the water.

If you missed it, there’s still the whole month of August, some would argue the best month of the summer, to enjoy. And if fabulous weather and the chance to relax lakeside (or in the lake like this…

)

aren’t enough to entice you, there’s a whole raft of events happening this month in Muskoka. Here are just a few of them:

Concerts in the Park, Huntsville Town Dock, Wednesday nights until Aug 24 from 7-9 pm
Bring a lawn chair and a toonie for some tunes!
• August 10 – Cameron of Lochiel Pipes & Drums
• August 17 – Mahon Family
• August 24 – Northern Lights Steele Orchestra

 

Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Tour, Aug 13 & 14, 10am-6pm
The Artists of the Limberlost open their doors for visitors to explore their work, techniques and working environments. Enjoy an extensive variety of art and craft by a total of 20 talented creators, all within a compact and pleasurable 20 km route. There is no charge for the tour and it starts right from Colonial Bay’s doorstep!

Huntsville Water Fest, River Mill Park, Aug 13, 1-5pm
A celebration of water and its life-giving qualities with a full day of fun, family-friendly, water-themed events and performances.

Field to Fork Tasting, Brooklands Farm, Milford Bay, Aug 14, 1-4pm (tickets are $65)
Sample a variety of tantalizing locally-inspired food dishes and beverages from Muskoka’s premiere Chefs and Restaurants, while learning about the vast amount of culinary and agricultural resources that Muskoka has to offer.

 

Summer Sidewalk Adventure, Downtown Huntsville, August 20. 9:30am-5pm
The kids will love the activities. Everyone will love the live music. The downtown shops will be bursting out onto the street with bargains during this day-long event.

We hope you’ll join us this month!
The Howell family

Summer Fun = July in Muskoka!

Another long weekend has come and gone but the amazing summer weather continues! If you didn’t have a chance to visit Muskoka, we hope you had a fabulous long weekend wherever you were. And remember, only 24 days until the next one!

In the meantime, there’s lots happening around Muskoka this month:

• Concerts in the Park - Wednesdays throughout July, 7pm, Town Docks, Huntsville – Every Wednesday evening, bring a lawn chair and a toonie for some tunes!


• Celebrate the Street – July 9, 9am-2pm, Huntsville – Buskers, children’s games, artists’ demonstrations and performances from the Edge of the Woods theatre company


• Nuit Blanche North - July 9, 9pm-2am, Huntsville – The streets will come alive with an exciting program of free contemporary artistic activities, events and exhibits taking place in unconventional places in and around Huntsville’s downtown core.


• 31st Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show - July 9, 8am-5pm, Gravenhurst Wharf – Features over 100 traditional antique and classic boats plus a display of approximately 100 antique and classic cars organized by the Pink Slips Car Club.


• Firefly Festival - July 15, 6pm-midnight, Downtown Huntsville – Huntsville’s quaint Main Street closes to cars, and opens to a Friday evening of family fun, live music, great food and shopkeeper specials.


• Muskoka Arts & Crafts 49th Annual Summer Show - July 15-17, Annie Williams Park, Bracebridge - Two hundred sensational artists and craftspeople from Muskoka and across Canada show and sell their original and handmade works. Hours: Friday, 10am-7pm, Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm. Admission by Donation. Free Parking. The park is located at the corner of Santa's Village Road and Wellington Street.


• Cushion Concerts - Saturdays from July 16 to August 6, 10am-11am, River Mill Park, Huntsville – A fun-filled program presented by local performers that will introduce children to the wonders of a variety of different musical styles. Sit on our cushion, or bring your own. Best of all, it's free for everyone!


• Firefest - July 30, 5pm, Dwight – Don't miss Muskoka's biggest beach party at Dwight beach! Activities include a BBQ & beach activities begin at 5pm: Northern Lights Steel Band, Lake of Bays Water & Rescue Boat and a Gigantic Fireworks display at dusk. Help support our volunteer firefighters & have a good time. $5.00/person or $20.00/family.


• And, of course, there's always beach fun, watersports and campfires at Colonial Bay!

Have a fantastic July and we hope to see you soon!
The Howell Family