Spring Update

With the end of a long dreary winter we are excited to move into the next season. Things around Colonial Bay are beginning to green and seasonal life is returning. Geese are on the lawn (much to our disappointment!), more ducks are arriving daily, and minks and even a beaver are exploring in the water. Loon calls are also starting to break the silence on calm, quite mornings. 

Bruce has finished another season at Hidden Valley, our local ski hill, managing the ski school. Nicolle had a busy winter being the ‘support crew’ for Addie’s recreational ski racing. Luke and Ben are both home from Ottawa where they are in school. Everyone in the family is excited to take advantage of being in Muskoka for the summer. This includes taking part of daily activities around Colonial Bay. Particularly, reconnecting with guests at the campfire and watching kids enjoy the simplicity of splashing in the water.     



Our summer season is beginning to take shape. No major projects are being taken on this spring. However, annual painting, cleaning, and ‘touch-ups’ will revive the property and accommodation. For those that want to kick-start their Muskoka vacationing early, we are happy to share our May special! Book online and receive 30% off your stay anytime during May (excluding May 17-19). Simply add ‘Spring into Spring’ in the comments section when booking.         

We look forward to seeing you this season!

Celebrate the Snow at Muskoka’s Winter Carnivals

Huntsville's Main Street becomes a winter wonderland!

This has been a winter like no other, or at least it feels that way. Lots of snow and lots of cold interspersed with some “warm” spells (which don’t last long – Mother Nature isn’t shy about letting us know who’s in charge). And so what else can we do but celebrate winter while it lasts? Fortunately, we have some help with that – it’s Winter Carnival time again!

The fun kicks off this weekend in Port Sydney, continues with the new Winter Comedy Carnival in Huntsville, and wraps up at the end of February with Gravenhurst’s Winter Carnival.

January 22-26, 57^th Annual Port Sydney Winter Carnival: Enjoy tons of great food, including the popular Grand Marche, a showcase of Muskoka restaurants. There are kids’ activities on the beach at Mary Lake, both outside and in the giant igloo. Plus there’s music, entertainment, face painting and more!

January 31-February 2, Huntsville Winter Comedy Carnival: New this year! Inside, two of comedies finest – Brent Butt and James Belushi – perform on Friday and Saturday nights. Outside, Huntsville’s main street is transformed into a winter wonderland with a Nordic course, ski and snowboard demos and live music. This is one carnival not to be missed!

February 7-9, 47^th Annual Port Carling Winterfest: The weekend is chock full of entertainment including dancing, skating, wagon rides, kids’ activities, competitions and even a Polar Bear Dip.

February 14-15, 24^th Annual Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival: With tons of outdoor activities that take over the entire community, including snow sculpting, food, and demonstrations, this carnival is worth the drive to Dorset.

February 21-22, 44^th Annual Dwight Winter Carnival: Just up the highway from Colonial Bay, the Dwight Winter Carnival is a small but mighty local favorite. They’re still planning events for this year, but in the past we’ve been treated to a dance, demonstrations, dog sledding, mini-snowmobiles, balloon rides and one of the best pie competitions around (and you can even buy one to take home).

February 21-23, Gravenhurst Winter Carnival: With past events like a demolition derby, polar bear dip, glow in the dark skating, and bed races, we’re excited to see what the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival has cooked up this year. You can bet they’ll be some of the most interesting and entertaining winter carnival events around. Go to their website for a full list of activities and events.

And don't forget that Muskoka plays host to the Ontario Winter Games this year from February 27-March 2!

It’s been a fantastic year for all outdoor winter activities - cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through Muskoka’s forests and across its lakes (be sure to check ice conditions first!), snowmobiling, skating and alpine skiing. The winter conditions are likely to last well into March break this year. As always, we look forward to having you visit us at Colonial Bay, no matter what time of year. You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

Stay warm out there!

The Howell Family

Snowshoeing is for everyone!

One of the best activities to get out and enjoy our winter wonderland is snowshoeing. It's easy (if you can walk, you can snowshoe) and it's a great family activity--everyone from young children to seniors can do it.

If you're picturing something like this:

times have changed! Today's snowshoes are lightweight, aluminum-framed and much smaller than the classic wooden snowshoes. 

Here's what you need to know to get started:

Gear and clothing

• You can rent snowshoes at many outdoor outfitters. They'll help you select the size that is right for you and the terrain you plan to hike.
• Poles can be helpful on uneven terrain and for when you fall down. (We all do at some point!)
• Wear warm, comfortable footwear and wool socks. Nothing will ruin your day faster than cold, wet feet.
• Dress in layers. You may work up a sweat once you get going. Wool and polyester fleece can help you stay warm even when wet. A waterproof, breathable outer shell is essential to help regulate body heat.
• Don't forget your sunglasses! Sun reflecting off of snow can be blindingly bright.

Technique

• Snowshoeing really is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other. You may need to widen your stance slightly, but that's all.
• If you do fall down, the easiest way to get up is to roll over on your front and then push up until you are kneeling. From there, you can lift one leg and then the other so that you're crouching and then use your knees to brace your hands and push the rest of the way up.
• To turn around, walk in a big circle if there's room. If the trail is too narrow, you'll have to turn in place. Make a T with one foot in front of the other and then bring your other snowshoe parallel with it so that you've done a 90-degree turn. Then repeat so that you're facing back in the direction you've come.
• For moderate hills, you'll need to use a slightly different technique. You'll notice that there are claws on the bottom of your snowshoes. If you step into an incline with your toe (heel raised), the claws will help you gain traction uphill. To go downhill, if it's not too steep you can walk normally. For steeper downhills, you may need to side step with your snowshoes perpendicular to the trail. Remember to step wide enough that you don't step on one shoe with the other. It helps to keep your weight on the uphill edge of your snowshoes.

And, most importantly, have fun! Bring a thermos of hot chocolate or soup along, find a sunny spot to sit, and revel in being out in the snow!

There are two fabulous places near Colonial Bay for snowshoeing:

• Arrowhead Park, located just north of Huntsville, has trails for everyone from beginners to experts. With 29 km of track-set, cross-country ski trails, 12km of skate skiing trails and 6 km of marked snowshoe trails, you’ll be able to spend the whole day exploring. Classic ski, skate skis and snowshoes are all available to rent. A day use fee applies to access the park.
• Limberlost Forest Reserve is just 10 km north of Colonial Bay. Access is free to the public and they have 70 km of trails for backwoods skiing or snowshoeing.

If you want to visit us this winter, you can view our availability here.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you and yours a happy New Year!

Have fun in the snow!
The Howell Family

Christmas in Muskoka

Christmas, and winter in general, is a great time to spend with family, friends and community both indoors and out. There are three local events that will help you do just that and get in the Muskoka holiday spirit.

On December 21 from 5-8pm, the Portage Flyer takes the young and young-at-heart on an open-air train ride through snow-covered trees to visit Santa. Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies are served while you wait to board. Tickets are just $5 per person. It's an annual Muskoka tradition that shouldn't be missed.

On December 21-23 from 11am-4pm, visit Santa at his other home before he heads out to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve. SantaFest at Santa's Village has a bunch of activities included with the price of admission ($8/person, 2 and under free):

❄ Horse drawn sleigh rides (from 12-4)
❄ Seasonal Kids Activities
❄ Face Painting
❄ Gingerbread Cookie Decorating for kids
❄ Craft Making
❄ Colouring
❄ Petting Farm
❄ Marshmallow Roasting
❄ Letter Writing
❄ And of course visits with Santa!

You can even head back to Santa's Village on December 28 for Thank Santa Day!

On Christmas Eve, head out to Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area for the Torchlight Parade. An annual family-friendly favourite, the parade features skiers and boarders descending the Flying Dutchman carrying brightly lit torches. There are complimentary cookies and hot chocolate in the chalet and live music from 5:30-6:30pm.

Whether you're spending Christmas in Muskoka or somewhere else, we wish you and yours a very merry, relaxing holiday season.

All the best,
The Howell Family

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Winter has arrived in Muskoka! Okay, maybe it's not officially winter, but Muskoka has snow and winter temperatures so we're calling it a done deal! Since there isn't enough snow yet to do many of our favourite outdoor activities (except downhill skiing!), we thought we'd enlighten you with some interesting snow facts.

Snow did you know:

• While it's not true that our Inuit neighbours to the north have 100 words for snow, there are a lot of different types of snow out there. Check them out here.
• There are also different names for snow formations. You can learn about those here.
• Our local ski hill can make snow at -2.5C (that's why they were able to open last weekend when there was only a skiff of real snow on the ground).
• Snow appears white because it reflects light
• If the temperature rises above 0C during a snowstorm, the falling snow will melt mid-air and turn to rain.

While we wait for Mother Nature to catch up with her snowmaking, here are some winter activities to get you thinking about playing in the snow:

Downhill Skiing
Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area is just a short drive from Colonial Bay and they are open now for weekend skiing. (Daily operations start Dec 20.) With a variety of groomed runs suitable for skiers of all abilities, Hidden Valley is a great place to spend a day with family. They also offer ski and snowboard rentals, a terrain park, night skiing and lessons. Lift ticket required.

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
There are lots of trails in Muskoka that are suitable for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The closest to Colonial Bay are at Arrowhead Provincial Park and Limberlost Forest Reserve.
Arrowhead Park, located just north of Huntsville, has trails for everyone from beginners to experts. With 29 km of track-set, cross-country ski trails, 12km of skate skiing trails and 6 km of marked snowshoe trails, you’ll be able to spend the whole day exploring. Classic ski, skate skis and snowshoes are all available to rent. A day use fee applies to access the park.
Limberlost Forest Reserve is just 10 km north of Colonial Bay. Access is free to the public and they have 70 km of trails for backwoods skiing or snowshoeing.

Skating
The Town of Huntsville offers two venues for skating. The Summit Centre has indoor skating available during scheduled times (a fee applies) plus they offer a Free Family Skating during the holidays during scheduled times. 
Arrowhead Park will continue the Ice Trail, a 1.5km skating loop through the forest, again in 2014. The park also has an outdoor skating rink overlooking Mayflower Lake. A gazebo at rinkside offers a place to change skates or take a break. The park has two heated warm-up shelters and an open fire when you need to warm up. Skates are available to rent. A day use fee applies to access the park.

Snowmobiling
If snowmobiling is your thing, check out the local trails here or if you’ve always wanted to try it out, you can find tours and guides here.

Dog Sledding
A variety of local operators offer dog sledding tours in Huntsville or nearby Algonquin Park. Try Snow Forest Adventures or Huntsville Dog Sled or check Google for more.

Relaxing Fireside
At the end of a day spent playing outside, there’s nothing quite like relaxing in front of a crackling fire. Or you could just spend the day that way too! All of our winter accommodations have fireplaces. If you’d like to experience Muskoka in the winter (and we think you should!) you can see our availability here.

Come and play in the snow with us this winter!
The Howell Family

Enjoy Muskoka on the quiet side

What's there to do in Muskoka in November? After the summer crowds have dispersed and the trees' fall colours have turned to their winter garb, Muskoka is still an amazing place to visit. Here are some options for local activities that you might find enjoyable.

Arrowhead Provincial Park

Stubbs Falls

Did you know that you can still hike and bike in Arrowhead Park after they've closed in the Fall? The trails are blissfully quiet and with less leaf cover you have greater opportunity to see wildlife. You can park at the gate and walk the 1.5 km to the park office (which is also closed, so be sure to bring snacks and water along). From there, you can access all of the trails. Stubbs Falls is particularly beautiful, especially if night-time temperatures have been cool -- look for icicle-covered branches at waters' edge. The park re-opens in the winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skating. (The skating trail is one of our family's favorite winter activities!)

If being outdoors isn't your thing, there are lots of other options. Why not visit some of Muskoka's award-winning breweries? Most offer tours (and tastings!) year round. The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery is beautiful at any time of year and much of it can be viewed from the comfort of your vehicle or with short walks through downtown Huntsville. Local artisans are featured at galleries and shops throughout Muskoka. If you've never made the trip to the Oxtongue Craft Cabin, just a short drive from Colonial Bay near the neighbouring town of Dwight, it's a hidden gem.

Snow making at Hidden Valley Highlands

Of course, this time of year many of us are already thinking about winter and the fun that comes with it. Our local ski hill has been testing their snow-making equipment, turning their small corner of Muskoka into a winter wonderland. 

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, Muskoka has lots to offer. We hope you'll visit soon!

The Howell Family

Nature in Disguise

Tamaracks (photo courtesy of Ontario Parks)

Fall in Muskoka is synonymous with the colourful show put on by the sugar maples, birch, aspen and red oaks. But amongst those deciduous beauties is a pretender whose colours are peaking now: the Tamarack.

Also known as the Larch, the Tamarack is a deciduous conifer – a tree with needles that are shed in the fall. The Tamarack is a brilliant yellow this time of year, in stark contrast to the surrounding evergreens and barren deciduous trees that have already lost their leaves. Their unexpected colour prompts some to ask why they’re dying—they’re not. Their soft, bluish-green needles will return in the spring.

Ruffed Grouse at Limberlost Forest Reserve

The Tamarack’s autumn “disguise” as a deciduous tree is right out in the open, but other animals in Muskoka blend right in to their surroundings this time of year. A stellar example is the Ruffed Grouse, which can be difficult to spot any time of year as it makes its way through the undergrowth. Often, the only time you see one is when you almost step on it—it flies off in a ruckus, leaving you startled and it safely hidden before you realize what’s happened.

And then, of course, are the animals who

Snowshoe Hare (photo courtesy of the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

adapt with the seasons like the Snowshoe Hare. A rusty brown in the summer, it turns white in the winter so that it mostly blends in with the snow. (The better to hide from its abundant predators: lynx, bobcats, fishers, owls, coyotes and wolves.)

Finally, there’s the creature most adept at disguising itself: the human child at Halloween. In search of its main prey—candy—they go to great lengths to alter their appearance to capture their treats. In Muskoka, a great place to see them in their natural habitat is at Muskoka Heritage Place Great Pumpkin Trail on October 31:

This 25th Annual Community Event is a great alternative to having your children go door to door through busy streets in traffic, in the dark. Held in the Pioneer Village within the gates of Muskoka Heritage Place, this traffic free and youngster driven Hallowe'en event proves as much of a social event for the parents as it is for the kids. From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with last admission 7:30 p.m. Cost: $3.00 per head (head must be attached to a body) or $10.00 per family.

With the leaves mostly gone and the first sprinklings of snow arriving this week, our thoughts have turned to winter activities. Don’t forget all that winter in Muskoka has to offer: alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, snowmobiles, snow forts, snowmen and more! (Or cozy up next to a warm fire with a good book...you don’t have to go outside!)

We hope you’ll visit our winter wonderland this year,

The Howell Family