Waiting on the Volcano

If you're stuck in the airport, waiting for the Iceland volcano to finish making an ash of itself, why not consider waiting it out up here in North Muskoka?

We're only a few hours from the airport -- easy enough to get there when the planes are able to start flying again. Housekeeping cottages and family run resorts are affordable, even for those at the tail end of their holiday spending! And there's plenty to do that won't cost a lot while you're here.

Bondi Village, for example, offers free passes into Algonquin Park for all their guests. They also have hiking trails that are available if you are staying at other area resorts.

Sitting in an airport, watching the monitors tell you your flight isn't going anywhere fast is no fun for anyone.

Plan Ahead and Reserve your Muskoka Experience

Tee off time at the Muskoka Highlands Golf Course

18 holes of Golf at the Huntsville Downs Golf Club , Deerhurst Highlands

Spa Visit at Trillium Spa

Steam Train ride, Visit Pioneer Village at Muskoka Heritage Place

Boat Cruise on a Steam boat R.M.S. Segwun Steamship Cruises

Visit Santa's Village in the Summer

Tree Top Climbing at Eaglecrest Aerial Park

See a performance at the Algonquin Theatre

Get Tickets to a Performance of the Decades Show at Deerhurst Resort

Hike or bike, look for moose, birds in Algonquin Provincial Park

Fishing Guide, Boat or Snowmobile Rental with Redline Rentals

Motor Boat Rental from the Baysville Marina May - October

Wakeboarding lessons from the Base Camp in the Summer

Horse Drawn Carriage or Sleigh Ride from Barnboots

Algonquin Highland Trail Rides (Oxtongue lake, Hwy 60)

Andrews Oxen on Limberlost road -- they'll take you for a different wagon ride, drawn by their two lovely oxen! Very unusual!

Sultry Spring Fever

Holly Cole will be at Deerhurst April 17, part of the www.huntsvilleadventures.com Spring Fever Concert Getaway weekend.

Her sultry, soulful songs combine with a fab weekend of shopping and dining specials.

Which combines beautifully with a little 'quiet time' at the North Muskoka resorts. Bondi Village is offering Super Spring Specials, 3 nights, 4 people, $500... 3 night, 6 people, $600, along with On-going specials for Seniors and Couples. Bondi provides a pass into Algonquin Park as well, so you can combine Holly's concert with the majesty of the unfolding Canadian Shield Spring... and probably catch a moose as well as a songstress. www.bondi-cottage-resort.com

Lake of Bays shifting, Sparkling Waters Appear

Lake of Bays is sparkling again.  Last night the moon glistened off the ice and this morning we can sit on the dock and watch the ice moving, shifting, tinkling and disappearing down the lake through the streams and waterfalls to the south.
Come and join us this weekend we are expecting more of the same, sun and sparkling water.

Beach Weather in Muskoka

Why would you want to go South, on days like this? This young deer was enjoying basking on some greening grass right at the water's edge at Bondi Village Resort this morning.

This is a great time of year for wildlife spotting --the moose are starting to come out to the road's edge in Algonquin Park, and the Visitor Centre is open. You never know what you'll see from the viewing deck at the Visitor's Centre -- last month, there was a pack of wolves on view!

And all through March, you can drop by the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, with free admission for kids accompanied by their adults. Be sure to say Hello to Woodrow the Beaver, proudly sponsored by Bondi Village Resort; and to Rufus the Bobcat and Yeti the Lynx, proudly sponsored by Cedar Grove Lodge.

Deer Hunting in March (with a camera!)

It was a bright sunny day so I went deer hunting and shot a lot of deer ... with my camera!
You can be assured of seeing deer when you drive down Fox Point Road on the other side of Lake of Bays.

Some people still feed the deer and my friend Brian from Bondi Village Cottage Resort told me where to look!

Beauview Cottage Resort, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada http://www.beauview.com/ 800-363-6047

Lake of Bays Region Offers Rich History for Travelers

Lake of Bays Region Offers Rich History for Travelers Seeking a Muskoka Ontario Canadian Tourism Getaway
In addition to the shear beauty of its nature landscape of forest, lakes and wetlands, the Lake of Bays region of North Muskoka Ontario has a rich and fascinating history.

Two dedicated, local organizations understood the importance of preserving the area’s history. The Huntsville and Lake of Bays Railway Society and the Muskoka Pioneer Village joined forces to preserve a valuable piece of the Lake of Bays unique past.

Stretching east from Huntsville all the way through to the southwest boundary of Algonquin Park and encompassing the communities of Baysville, Dwight, and Dorset, the Lake of Bays was originally occupied by the Algonquin and Huron tribes.

In the 1600s, early explorers such as Samuel Champlain passed through the area and were followed by missionaries and later, the first European settlers. To help encourage settlement, the Free Land Grant and Homestead Act of 1868 was created, which offered 200 acres of land, free of charge to settlers willing to clear land and build a home.

Ultimately, logging became the dominant industry of the area, necessitating the construction of a transportation network that included both rail and water.

In an effort to meet the needs of travelers seeking a Canadian getaway, Muskoka’s Lake of Bays sported the first “wilderness” resorts, sometimes as basic as a spare room in someone’s modest farmhouse. As the Muskoka tourism industry took off and tourists began to flock to the Lake of Bay Ontario area, a variety of inns and lodges started to dot the Lake of Bays waterfront. Large, multi-room luxury Muskoka Ontario resorts, such as the Bigwin Inn, were built to cater to the ballooning Canadian tourism industry.

As a direct result of the booming tourism, many resorts and inns were created to meet the needs of individuals desiring to catch a glimpse of this beautiful territory. There are many fine full-service resorts and cottage rental resorts that offer year-round accommodations to those that might want to tour the area and learn more about the past as well as the role Lake of Bays has played as a major North American tourist destination.

Muskoka’s Lake of Bays is also right next door to Ontario Canada’s famous Algonquin Provincial Park, which also boasts a rich history.

For area information and lists of Muskoka vacation accommodators, please visit the North Muskoka Resort Group’s website at http://www.north-muskoka.com