Relaxing at Deerhurst, Muskoka
This summer I decided not to go far for my vacation, but to do something locally. I lived in Northern Ontario for four years before, so I know there is a lot to explore here.
Deerhurst Resort was founded in 1896 in Muskoka, one of the most beautiful places in Ontario. It’s about two hours away from Toronto and minutes from the Algonquin National Park.
Muskoka landscapes inspired the Group of Seven (artists), which paintings of Canadian landscapes you can see everywhere at Deerhurst.
Mom standing in front of Painting done by Group of Seven at Deerhurst, Muskoka, 2011
The resort is also famous for launching Shania Twain’s career in late 1980s and for hosting G8 Summit in 2010. They mention G8 every chance they get. Photos from the Summit are hanging in the halls and there is even a G8 desert on the menu at the restaurant. I tried it. It’s OK.
G8 dinner desert on the menu at Deerhurst, referring to G8 Summit in 2010 that was held there.
We were wondering how they maintain their 780 acres of lakeside property. The place looks huge, but well groomed.
Mom is admiring flowers in the garden at the Deerhurst resort.
Sunset at Deerhurst, Muskoka
Deerhurst offers a lot of activities. In the summer, you can rent boats or jet skis, go on a boat tour, play golf, tennis, swim in pools or in the lake etc.
Boating at Deerhurst, Muskoka.
Boats on the Lake, Deerhurst, Muskoka.
However, I found this place a bit too quite and a bit boring for me. I think Deerhurst is ideal for kids and family types… or maybe if it was my first trip to Muskoka, it would’ve been different, but It wasn’t my first trip. I’ve been there before. So I ended up spending most of my time reading by the pool.
Pool at the Deerhurst Resort was my favourite place to hang out.
While there, we went for a horseback riding. Horses that we were riding, were only allowed to walk, and not run. For me that was not as exciting, as I’ve hoped for. We were told that those horses never ran in their life. I thought that was kinda cruel for the animals that were built for speed to never experienced it.
Horseback riding at Deerhurst, Muskoka, Aug 2011.
We’ve also made a boat trip to Huntsville one day. It’s a very cute, but small town popular with boaters in the summer.
Me on Huntsville bridge, August 2011
Downtown Huntsville is just one very short street 
We visited a couple craft stores there and had a lunch on the patio of “The Cottage”, a restaurant on the waterfront, which was recommended to us by locals and was pretty good.
Visiting Craft Store in Huntsville, August 2011.
"The Cottage" Restaurant, Huntsville, Ontario.
Overall, my vacation was quite nice and relaxing, which is exactly what I was aiming for.
So if you’ve never been to Muskoka, I highly recommend it. The nature is truly beautiful there and the little towns and resorts around the area have a lot to offer, both in the summer and in the winter.
