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

Giving Thanks in Muskoka

Living and operating a small resort in Muskoka gives us much to be thankful for: beautiful lakeside views, a friendly community and great guests. We’re grateful that you choose to spend your vacation time with us (or that you’re maybe considering it!).

We’re also grateful for the abundance of local producers who provide delicious produce, meats, preserves and honey. At this time of year, when turkey and cranberries are on almost everyone’s mind, we thought we’d remind you that Muskoka is home to two commercial cranberry marshes. Both—Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Iroquois Cranberry Growers—are in Bala. Every October on the weekend following Thanksgiving, you can join the entire town of Bala in celebrating all things cranberry at the Bala Cranberry Festival. The highlight of the festival is the marsh tours but if you can’t make it that weekend, you can also visit the marshes throughout October to see how the cranberries are harvested. Check their websites for details, or watch this video from the Rick Mercer Report a few years ago to get a quick lesson in cranberries.

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without cranberry sauce (and that doesn’t mean the gelatinous goop that comes in a can). Here’s one of the best cranberry sauce recipes around—tart with a rich cranberry flavour—and super easy to make. If you try it (and we think you should!) you can adjust the sugar to your taste.

Killer Cranberry Sauce (source unknown)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ c sugar
• 1 navel orange
• ½ tsp. grated ginger
• 4 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
• ½ c toasted pecans (optional)

Instructions:

1. Grate the orange peel and add to a pot with the sugar and ginger. Add the juice from the orange and simmer over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add cranberries and cook until most of them have popped (about 5 minutes).
3. Add pecans (optional).
4. Cool and serve.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The Howell Family

The Peak of Fall Colours

Algonquin Park Fall Colour Report

Muskoka’s fall colours are fleeting. Within a few short weeks the landscape will turn from lush green to brilliant reds, orange and gold and then they’ll be gone. Peak colours, when viewing is at its best, will occur over the next few weeks.

You can follow the fall colour report yourself here.

We’ve talked before about the best places to view Muskoka’s beautiful fall colours by car, foot or bike, but we also recommend getting up close and personal with the trees to learn more about them (respectfully, of course). Most people associate the changing colours with sugar maples for their stunning red leaves, but many tree species change leaf colour in the fall. You can learn more about the tree species in our region in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Tree Atlas (pictured in the image below).

Do you remember learning in a school science class why trees change colour? If you’ve forgotten, here’s an infographic that covers the basics. [source]

We are enjoying perfect fall temperatures right now—warm, sunny days with bright blue skies and cool, clear, cloudless nights that are perfect for viewing the stars. (Did you know that it’s dark enough here to see the milky way in the night sky?) We’d love for you to visit us this fall to enjoy the colours—some say it’s the best season to be here. (We say, any season is a great season in Muskoka!) You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here if you’re planning a fall trip. And don’t forget that Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

The Howell Family

Enjoying Fiery Fall Colours

Autumn is a great time to hit the open road: sunny blue skies, crisp air, gorgeous colours and less

traffic. If you’re planning to visit Muskoka this fall, here are some classic drives, tours and hikes you should try out.

Classic fall drives

Lake of Bays tour:  approx. 90 km (1.5 hours or more, depending on the number of times you stop)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 east through Dwight to Highway 35.
• Turn right onto Highway 35 to Dorset. (If you have time, the hike up to the Dorset Fire Tower provides a beautiful vantage point over Lake of Bays.)
• Right onto Highway 117 to Baysville. (If you detour along Old Highway 117 to Norway Point, you can arrange for a water taxi to Bigwin Island.)
• Right onto Brunel Road in Baysville.
• Right onto South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).
• Left onto Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay.

Huntsville Chain of Lakes tour: approx. 100 km (2+ hours, depending on the number of stops)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).
• Right on South Portage (Muskoka Road 9) to Muskoka Road 23
• Right on Muskoka Road 23 back to Highway 60 (You have just circled Peninsula Lake)
• Left on Highway 60 to Highway 11 (Passing Fairy Lake)
• Left onto Highway 11
• Right on Ravenscliffe Road
• Left on E Fox Lake Road
• Left on Hoodstown Road (Muskoka Road 45)
• Right on South Drive (still Muskoka Road 45)
• Left on Etwell Road
• Left on Aspdin Road (You have just circled Lake Vernon)
• Right on Highway 11 to Port Sydney
• Right on Muskoka Road 10 through Port Sydney (Passing Mary Lake). Consider stopping for a picnic lunch at the public beach in Port Sydney.
• Left on Brunel Road to Huntsville (If you have time, stop at the Brunel Locks and watch the boats or at Lions Lookout above the Canada Summit Centre for a sweeping view of Fairy Lake and the Town of Huntsville)
• Right on Main Street
• Right on Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay

Algonquin Park Tour: approx. 180 km to the East Gate of Algonquin Park and back (3+ hours depending on how often you stop)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to Algonquin Park (a visitor’s pass is required for the park - you can purchase one at the West Gate) 
• The drive through the park is beautiful and offers abundant opportunities for short hikes or viewpoints.

Hiking

The viewing deck at the Algonquin Visitor’s Centre (at km 43) will give you the most accessible panoramic view in the park or check out these trails: Hardwood Lookout (13.8km); Track and Tower (25km); Centennial Ridges 37.6km); Lookout Trail (39.7km) and Booth's Rock Trail (40.3km). For other hiking trails in the area, check here.

Guided Tour

Don’t like to drive but still want to take in the scenery? Check out this tour offered by the Town of Huntsville during Thanksgiving:

Guided Tour of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, Saturday October 12^th – Thanksgiving Weekend!!

Photo courtesy of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery

Take a guided bus tour of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery in Huntsville and outlying communities.  This tour will feature a collection of world-class re-production murals celebrating the unique artwork of Canada's Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven.   The tour travels through Huntsville, Dwight, Port Cunnington, Dorset, Baysville and back to the Town of Huntsville.  Includes lunch at Port Cunnington Lodge and a stop for brewery samplings.  All of this with the spectacular backdrop of nature's fall colours.  Meet at Algonquin Theatre, Tom Thomson statue at 8:45am. Tour Guide and transportation included.  Bring visiting family and friends on this fabulous Thanksgiving weekend event.  Tour Guide: Gerry Lantaigne, Artistic Director.  Seats are limited, so register early!

8:45am-5:30pm

$95.00 per person

LINK for more information: http://huntsville.ca/en/living/LeisurePrograms.asp

LINK to Register online:

https://onlineca.activecommunities.com/huntsville/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp and click on Adult Programs. Online registration number: 12682.

Classic Cars

Photo via the Downtown Huntsville BIA

If you’re not up for the drive but want to see some classic cars, check out the Shades of Autumn Antique, Classic and Custom Car Show this weekend on Huntsville’s Main Street:

If four wheels are your passion, this one day car show is an adventure that will accelerate your heart rate. 300 exhibits up and down the main drag, trophies and door prizes – this is one automotive competition that you can take in on two feet.

We hope to see you soon, or if you’re just driving past give us a honk on your way by. There are still some waterfront cottages available for the Thanksgiving long weekend. If you’ve never visited Muskoka in the fall, why not now?

The Howell Family

Our Muskoka Om

Is there a better way to relax than yoga? Okay, we’ll admit that sitting dockside in a Muskoka chair is pretty good, too. But when you combine the two—yoga and water (not the Muskoka chair)—it becomes a magical experience. Yoga on the beach, on the dock or on the water is a wonderful way to practice.

This summer we had yoga on the dock with Andrea Johnston from Karma Connection Yoga. Doesn't it look like fun?

Whether you choose to join a group class like this one, get some private instruction, or practice on your own, you might find that you feel a deeper connection with nature during a waterfront session. You can even do yoga on the water! SUP or Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga is gaining popularity and is offered by several studios around Muskoka. Or you could just rent a SUP from a local outfitter and try it yourself. It’s easier than it sounds! This video from Active Turtle in Bala will give you a tiny taste of what it's like to balance on the water.

If you’re relatively new to yoga and are looking for a simple practice to start your day on solid ground, check out this video from Wendy Martin of Sacred Breath Yoga / Ahimsa Yoga in Huntsville.

No matter when, where, or how you choose to do it, yoga can be a great addition to your vacation. And when you're done, that Muskoka chair on the dock awaits.

The last long weekend of the summer is here already! You wouldn't know that fall is almost upon us...look at those temperatures! 

We still have a few waterfront cottages available for this weekend. Why not join us for one last blast of summer?

The Howell Family

Muskoka: An Artist’s Paradise

Mark Kulas painting (photo via Artists of the Limberlost)

The Muskoka landscape with its natural beauty, abundance of wildlife and peaceful atmosphere Open Studio Tour is on August 17 & 18 from 10-6.
have been attracting artists for years. This coming weekend, you can see the works of our local artists just up the road from Colonial Bay. The Artists of the Limberlost

Each studio is open to the public so that you can see the art, techniques and working environment of the artists. The studios also invite guest artists to exhibit their work. Here’s who you’ll see if you take the tour this weekend:

Studio 1
Jerry Friedman - driftwood sculpture
Guests:
Brad Wookie - wildlife watercolour
Barb Ten Eyke - painter

Studio 2
Susan Higgins - fused & stained glass
Guest: Vicki Sharp - jewellery

Studio 3
Brian Markham - woodturning
Guests:
Carol-Ann Michaelson – pottery
Bob McLean - painting

Studio 4
Mark Kulas – painting (pictured above)
Guest: Dan Hill - pottery

Studio 5
Catherine O’Mara - egg tempera painting
Guests:
Cirvan Hamilton - contemporary furniture
Rudi Stade - rustic furniture

Studio 6
Brenda Wainman Goulet - bronze sculpture
Guest: Elizabeth Siegfried - photography

Studio 7
Jeff Miller - oil & acrylic painting

To see more of Muskoka’s talented artists, consider taking in these other art experiences:

• The Art Space by the Huntsville Art Society (across from River Mill Park in Huntsville, open Tues – Sun). In addition to art, from Aug 15-21 you can enjoy The Art Space Sessions—intimate concerts featuring local musicians.
• Have you found all of the murals in the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery? 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.
• To the west of Colonial Bay in the heart of Algonquin Park is the Algonquin Art Centre. Their current exhibit celebrates The Canadian Sheild. The Algonquin Art Centre is open daily (10-5) until October 21.

Summer isn’t over yet. If you’re looking to make one last getaway before the kids go back to school or your Fall schedule starts in earnest, check the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

We hope to see you soon!
The Howell Family