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

Fire & Fun

Here comes the long weekend! And with it, comes Firefest, THE big fireworks event for our neighbouring town of Dwight. It is always held on the Saturday of the long weekend in August, starting at 5:00 pm on Dwight Beach and wraps up about 10:00 pm with a fireworks show from a barge in the bay. It’s also a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department. If you’re in Muskoka for the long weekend, it’s a great event with live music, fun activities, great food and, of course, fireworks!

Closer to home (as in our own backyard) you can enjoy fire of a different sort. Throughout the summer we have a campfire for our guests to enjoy. We regularly host corn roasts— there’s nothing quite like corn on the cob roasted over an open fire—and ‘smores nights. Or if a plain, ole marshmallow is your thing, you can roast those, too! Join us and relax fireside for a great end to a summer day. 

Young guests enjoying Friday night 'smores.

Summer is also the time for a classic summer sight: fireflies. They sometimes make an appearance at Colonial Bay, much to the delight of our guests. They may be small, but they elicit almost as many smiles as seeing a moose or a bear. And you can catch & release them (unlike moose and bears). Apparently this year has produced a bumper crop in Ontario, but this weekend may be your last chance to see them. They’re usually gone by early August.

The fireflies may be gone, but we won’t be! You can see the availability of our waterfront cottages here. There’s still more than a month left of summer and then we’re into the beautiful colours of fall. We hope you’ll visit us soon!

The Howell Family

What’s SUP? Surfing the lakes in Muskoka

Nicolle Stand Up Paddleboarding on Pen Lake

Stand Up Paddleboarding (or SUP) is rapidly gaining popularity for its accessibility and its unique vantage point on the water. Nicolle is a huge fan of SUP (that’s her in the photo), so we thought we’d share a little bit about this emerging sport.

SUP has its roots in surfing but because you propel yourself with a paddle rather than relying on the waves, it can be done on any body of water and is ideal for exploring Muskoka’s lakes and rivers.

It’s easier than it looks. Stand Up Paddleboards are wide and surprisingly stable. You can start out kneeling until you get a feel for the balance and then gently stand up when you’re ready. Your feet should be hip-width apart and parallel (not one in front of the other). Keep your knees slightly bent, your toes pointed forward and your back straight. That’s it. Once you begin to paddle, it’s even easier to remain stable.

Paddling is a bit different than in a canoe or kayak. Here are some more tips and a video from REI:

• The elbow (angle) of the paddle faces away from you.
• Keep your arms straight and twist from your torso as you paddle. Think of using your torso to paddle rather than your arms. You have more strength in those abdominal muscles than in your arms.
• Push down on the paddle grip with your top hand.
• Plant the paddle by pushing the blade all the way under the surface, pull it back to your ankle, then out of the water.
• When you're beginning, keep your strokes fairly short and close alongside the board. No need to overpower it.
• A small draw stroke at the beginning of the paddle stroke will keep you going forward.
• To go in a reasonably straight line, paddle about 4 or 5 strokes on one side, then switch to the other.
• When you switch sides, you'll reverse hand positions.

On a Stand Up Paddleboard, you get a unique perspective that you can’t get from a boat or a canoe. (Have you ever tried standing up in a canoe? We don’t recommend it!) You can see farther over the water and deeper into the water than from a canoe or kayak. Paddleboarding is also a great core workout and you can even do yoga on one!

If you want the feel of surfing on the lakes, you can also surf behind a boat or with a bungee using The Muskoka Surfboard. Here’s a picture of Luke giving a demonstration at the recent Rotary Dockfest in Huntsville.

Luke on a Muskoka Surfboard at Rotary Dockfest in Huntsville

Both SUP and surfing are fun, family-friendly activities and we hope you’ll try them the next time you’re at Colonial Bay. (And we hope that's soon!) You can see the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

From the waterfront,

The Howell Family

Happy Canada Day long weekend!

Psst…it’s someone’s birthday soon. You know who we mean, don’t you? Canada, of course! The first long weekend of summer has finally arrived and with it an abundance of activities to celebrate Canada Day. You can find a full list of all of Huntsville’s Canada Day celebrations here, but these are some of the highlights:

• O Canada in River Mill Park, 10 a.m. – dignitaries, cake, the Muskoka Concert Band and eco-crafts (if you’re hungry, arrive early for the Lions Club Peameal on a Bun breakfast at 9:00)
• Strawberry Social and Steam Up Day, Muskoka Heritage Place, 10–4 – entertainment, strawberry scones, and demonstrations (village/train admission fee required)
• Huntsville Train Station open house, 10–4
• Brunel Locks celebration, 11–4 – free hot dogs and drinks!
• Trillium Jazz Band on the Town Hall steps, 11–1
• Royal Canadian Legion, starting at noon – pipe band, wildlife exhibits, and dunk tank, plus a free roast beef dinner at 5 p.m.
• Fireworks, Avery Beach in Huntsville – at dusk (10:00)

As for the rest of the weekend, there’s still lots to do:

• Check out Huntsville’s newest farmers’ market, the 100k Farm, Fresh & Homemade Market on Saturday from 9-1 (beside Pharmasave downtown)
• Stop for ice cream
• Take a cruise on Lake of Bays in the newly refurbished SS Bigwin (Sunday at 11:00)
• Go hiking, biking, take a driving tour, go golfing, try geocaching, or do some watersports (even surfing!)
• And if you’re staying at Colonial Bay you can (taking a deep breath here): swim, canoe, kayak, read a book, boat, play badminton, tell tales at the campfire, play volleyball, go fishing, play horseshoes, sail, build sand castles, sun bathe, go water tubing, go paddle-boating, play a board game, roast marshmallows, watch wildlife, or relax in a Muskoka chair, all without ever leaving the property!

We hope you have a wonderful long weekend. If you’re still looking for somewhere to relax, we have just a few waterfront cottages still available. Details here. 

Happy Canada Day!

The Howell Family