New Accommodation Added

We have recently added more accommodation to the North Muskoka Website:

Blue Spruce Resort

A 4 seasons Housekeeping Resort on Oxtongue Lake. Algonquin Park only 5 minutes away. Our Cottages, Studios & Suites are … A STEP ABOVE. All with fully equipped kitchens, wood burning fireplaces, TV/VCR/DVD and gas BBQ’s. The Studios and Suites are air-conditioned and Cottages have Jacuzzi tubs. In summer, we have a playground, 2 tennis courts, 2 sandy beaches, a wide array of boats including water-skiing / tubing. In winter, ski on our own groomed trails. A toboggan hill & skating rink are both floodlit for night use. Snowmobile trails from the door.

Address info RR. #1 Dwight On, P0A 1H0 (705)-635-2330 Fax: (705)-635-9443 www.bluespruce.ca

Cedar Grove Lodge 1-800-461-4269 www.cedargrove.on.ca

An eco-friendly lakeside resort located on beautiful Peninsula Lake. We offer individual lakeside cottages, many of then log, all with wood burning fieldstone fireplaces. Bring your appetite to the lodge because all rates include three meals per day. In summer enjoy free waterskiing, canoeing, tennis and more. In winter, skate on the lake, cross country ski or relax in front of a roaring fire. Please visit our website for current rates, over 100 photos, and 10 interactive panoramic photos.

Lumina Resort 1-800-461-4371

Family oriented full service resort located on Lake of Bays. One to five bedroom cottages, also separate rooms in the main lodge. Rates include full breakfast and dinner daily. Pool plus beautiful beach and swimming area. All sports, kids program, playground, boat rentals, social director, tennis. Wedding and Group packages ,
www.luminaresort.com or email info@luminaresort.com

Algonquin Lakeside Inn

Just five minutes to Algonquin Park and open year-round. A resort offering non-waterfront/waterfront rooms, romantic suites and cottages. Casual fine dining in our Eat Smart-regulated restaurant. Serving both breakfast and dinner . Free canoes and kayaks to our guests. Check out our availability with the on-line reservations system:
www.algonquininn.com
tel 1-800-387-2244
tel 1-705-635-2434
email stay@algonquininn.com

Norsemen-Walker Lake Resort 800-565-3856
www.norsemen-walkerlake.com
A relaxing all-season resort nestled in the woods on Walker Lake. Just 15 minutes from Huntsville and Algonquin Park. A great choice for an intimate and cozy family retreat. Lie on the beach, paddle a canoe, cuddle by a wood-burning stove, or soak in a Jacuzzi tub. Treat yourself to outstanding game, seafood and steak at The Norsemen Restaurant, an "Old Muskoka" tradition.

The Pines Cottage Resort 705-635-2379
www.algonquinparkaccommodations.com

With a large beach, on a quiet corner of Oxtongue Lake, The Pines Cottage Resort has been a favourite destination for generations of guests. Under the ownership of Bartlett Lodge in Algonquin Park, The Pines Cottage Resort has been updated throughout. Full service housekeeping cabins with BBQ’s. Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, outboard rentals and children’s play area or a 7 minutes drive to Algonquin Park. Join us at the Beach!!

Christmas and New Years Availability

Beauview Cottage Resort:
We are filled up for New Years and almost filled for Christmas week.
(a 3 bedroom cottage available until Dec 30th). http://www.beauview.com/

Colonial Bay Resort has cottages open for Christmas week and a couple still open for New Years. http://www.colonialbay.com/

The Norsemen - Walker Lake Resort has two cottages left from the 18th to the 30th. We’re filled up for New years. http://www.norsemen-walkerlake.com/

Bondi Resort is filled up from the Dec. 24th till the January 3rd.

Nor'Loch Lodge has one - 2 bedroom cottage self catering over Christmas, and a few adult suites with meals over New Years. http://www.norloch.com/

Tally Ho Inn
We have accommodations for both Christmas and New Years www.tallyhoinn.com

Logging Chain Lodge
Has only a 3 bedroom self-catering cottage available at Christmas with check out of December 26th only. www.loggingchainlodge.com

Algonquin Lakeside Inn - First winter open in a long time!
Vacancies at Christmas and New Years
www.algonquininn.com

Algonquin Outfitters Nordic Ski Seminar

Algonquin Outfitters, on the Main street of Huntsville, are offering a free seminar on Nordic skiing this Monday, Dec. 15th. It's on twice, at 4 pm and 7 pm, and AO do ask that you register with them. www.aohuntsville.com will get you to their site.

Bryan Allen, former Provincial and National Ski team member, an arctic ski guide and North Pole trek guide -- also described by AO as their "go to guy" for all things Nordic -- will be there.

Our ski trails at Bondi Village Resort www.bondi-cottage-resort.com are not as distant nor demanding as a trek to the North Pole, but they are close to hand, and open for skiing. In fact, we've been on the trails for almost two weeks, and there is more snow falling!
Our trails are open to the public for a small fee that contributes to the grooming of the trails, and we do require you to stop and register at our office, please.

Nancy
www.bondi-cottage-resort.com
visit our Resort Blog for lots of information on what's happening at our place!

Snow Ho Ho

Let's face it. Winter is more fun when you can play with the season. Our snow has arrived up here in North Muskoka. Our roads are clear, and we're ready for the season! The ice is starting to form on our bay.

Brian is out working on the ski trails. We've got almost 20k of trails at Bondi Village, along with toboggan hills, snowshoe trails and rentals, a tubing run, and lots of wildlife to watch.

Some of that wildlife might include David and his buddy Mike, who were delighted to have the chance to get the snowmobiles out of storage and ready to go. Obviously in November the Snowmobile Clubs (ours is the Algonquin Snowmobile Club) don't have their trails open, and since there's no ice it's a really excellent plan not to try any water crossings, but the season is approaching fast.

For those seeking less adrenaline, like Nancy, taking a slow ramble in the woods or the back fields to check out the animal tracks and listen to the snow crunch underfoot is a great excuse to get outdoors.

Winter's here. You should be too! The resorts of North Muskoka are all set to provide you with family winter memories that will last for generations!

Local BLOGs to Visit

Lots of great information, photos and videos.

Visit our Local BLOGS

Bondi Village Cottage Resort BLOG by Nancy Tapley

Colonial Bay Cottage Resort BLOG by Bruce Howell

Beauview Cottage Resort BLOG by Gord Bell

Hooray for Wet People Cheering

One of the competitors in the Muskoka Ironman 70.3 hollered this back to Dave and Carol, who were at the end of the Fox Point Road, slightly damp, cheering for the cyclists. There was quite a little crowd out there at the 20 km. mark. We had a sign out to cheer the athletes, but it was probably blocked by specators -- and they were cheering enough to more than make up for that!


There were people out at the ends of driveways, clustered at road junctions and all the way long the route, despite the overcast and sometimes rainy weather. Nobody's spirits were dampened. Ashley took refuge under Dad's umbrella at Dwight, but was glad to be there watching. Her class wrote to one of the athletes last spring, as a pen pal exercise, which we think is an inspired way to get the community connected.It's always more fun when you've got someone you know to cheer for!

Congratulations on a great job to all the volunteers who turned out in droves -- be it to staff the water stations, direct traffic or paint the kids' faces. You are the cogs that make the wheels turn.

Congratulations to all the athletes, in all the categories. We were delighted to see you here in the Lake of Bays, and are looking forward to your return next year. Now that you've seen the lay of the land, we're sure you've discovered that in addition to the big hosting resorts and the Huntsville motels, there are plenty of smaller resorts around the Lake of Bays that would be ideal bases for training camps, support people, families and athletes. Down the Fox Point Road, our resort, BONDI VILLAGE, and FOXWOOD INN offer housekeeping cottages. Along South Portage Road, you bike right past the door of BEAUVIEW. And of course Dwight Beach is the home of LOGGING CHAIN LODGE and NOR'LOCH LODGE. COLONIAL BAY is just up Hwy 60, enroute to Huntsville. There are also plenty of motels out here, and resorts offering meal plans as well -- check us out at www.northmuskoka.com.

It's a little shameless self promotion, but -- to be really honest -- we'd all love to host some of the athletes to promote that community connection to this race that makes it so very special. It's a great way to get to know some of you -- and we don't see why Huntsville should have all that fun :) We'd like to meet you too!

Welcome Athletes, Muskoka Ironman 70.3!

The athletes are rolling into Huntsville and the area for the Ironman 70.3 that takes place this Sunday.
Saturday, in Huntsville, the main street will be closed for the Ironman Festival, an open street celebration with entertainment, special sales, and food. The Terry Fox Run will also be held that day, so there's plenty to do. There is even an Athletes' Forum at the Algonquin Theatre from 11 a.m., where you can drop by and talk to some of the competitors about how they train, what they eat, etc.
There's nothing like the personal touch to make an event like this more interesting to the general public, and getting to know some of the athletes is the best way to do this.

On Sunday, the bike portion of the race comes around Lake of Bays. While the athletes will be working hard, we hope they'll have a moment or two to admire the view. (and look for the sign of encouragement posted by BONDI VILLAGE RESORT!) This course really is spectacular. There are a ton of volunteers working to provide the water stations, ensure the roads are clear of debris, and generally assit the competitors towards a smooth competition. The roads are OPEN, so motorists are asked to use EXTREME CAUTION when encountering or overtaking the bikers. Give them lots of room, please!

There are competitors here from Ecuador, Europe, England, the USA and Down Under. With our Australian connections, we'll be out cheering for the Aussies and the Kiwis (and of course, for our friends from Huntsville who will also be out there, pedalling their buns off)

Some of the competitors have brought their families along, and are making it a bit of a vacation. Next year, we hope they'll consider staying here with us at BONDI VILLAGE RESORT www.bondi-cottage-resort.com We've got a brilliant base from which to train, and can offer a true Muskoka lakeside experience, complete with our dark skies programs, wolf howls, and our own organic garden to help them 'eat healthy'. We're close to the action, to Huntsville and Algonquin Park, yet far enough out to ensure a quiet, restful location.

Best of luck to the competitors, and our best wishes for a safe, exciting day of competition here in God's Own Country, Muskoka!