Mother’s Day, tulips, walks through the fields, the first picnics, and festivals… We’re always very busy in the spring in Montreal.
Would we love to get away every other day to take a walk in the woodsand eat zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta on an Adirondack chair at the top of a hill while watching the sun set? Yes. Unfortunately, we have to work or—horror of horrors!—go to school.
If we only have time for one spring road trip, we’re going to Muskoka, Ontario—which is often compared to the Hamptons, the waterfront villages where Manhattan’s chicest set (and Martha Stewart) spend their vacations.
Muskoka and its lakes, which are also very chic and smell of cold water and sun-warmed spruce trees, are about a 6.5-hour drive from Montreal. It’s a bit far, but for a spring weekend, it’s perfect.
The Northern Hamptons
The Muskoka region has three large lakes and a multitude of very chic cottages for rent, where you can dip your toes in the water facing the lake and think of nothing but the sun.
We recommend taking a stroll and stopping in the lakeside villages…
- For coffee, we’ll stop at The Pearl / 3047 Muskoka Rd 169, Bala, ON
- For a beer, we’ll stop at Clear Lake Brewing Co. / 4651 Southwood Rd, Torrance, ON
- To spend the weekend at a B&B, we’re heading to The Inn on Bay / 291 Bay St, Gravenhurst, ON
Natural Parks
Muskoka is known for its lakeside cottages, small-town vibe, and location in the heart of natural parks.
Algonquin Provincial Park —to go camping, hiking, kayaking, and strolling through Ontario’s oldest park
Arrowhead Provincial Park—for a picnic along its 15 kilometers of trails, an afternoon at the beach, and a visit to Stubb’s Falls
Hardy Lake Provincial Park—to dip your toes in a glacial-era lake, visit small islands, and identify Atlantic plants
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park—to go fishing, camp on the beach with a dog, and go biking
