20 Reasons You Need to Go to Muskoka

When the Real Housewives of Toronto start to feel more like desperate housewives, they do what any sensible person would do: head out of town. One destination of choice is the District of Muskoka, a mere two hours or so from Toronto. Picturesque Muskoka is Ontario’s cottage country, with plenty of reasons why you should visit.

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1. Maple Syrup

From mid-March to mid-April, maple syrup takes centre stage in Muskoka, with the area’s maple farms offering tours to see how Canada’s favourite sweet treat is produced. Restaurants get in on the act with maple-themed dishes while even the local breweries have special maple-flavoured offerings.

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2. Arrowhead Provincial Park

In winter, Arrowhead Provincial Park, just north of Huntsville, is a snowy playground where you can go skiing, skating or snowshoeing. In the warmer months, it offers hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing, camping or simply sunbathing on the lakeside beaches.

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3. The Views

There are spectacular views to be had throughout Muskoka, especially in autumn when the leaves are a riot of colour. Two of the best spots are Lions Lookout overlooking Huntsville and Fairy Lake, and the 100-foot Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower just north of Dorset.

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4. Steamships

In summer, three steamships sail the lakes of Muskoka just like these stately vessels used to do 150 years ago. While the Wenonah II is a replica built in 2002, the Royal Mail Ship Segwun and the Wanda III are the real deal, having been built in 1887 and 1915 respectively.

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5. Santa’s Village

In summer, even Santa spends his days in Muskoka. Santa’s Village Family Entertainment Park is a Christmas-themed amusement park where young and old can go on a variety of rides, brave the zip lines, pet Santa’s deer or meet the jolly man himself.

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6. Beer

With three craft breweries in Muskoka, you’ll never go thirsty on a hot day. Bracebridge is home to Muskoka Brewery, while Baysville is where you’ll find the Lake of Bays Brewery. The newest kid on the block is Sawdust City Brewing Co. in Gravenhurst.

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7. Unique Wines

Unlike the vintages from Ontario’s more famous wine regions, the award-winning wines at Muskoka Lakes Winery do not come from grapes. Instead, they’re made from what’s grown locally, including cranberries, blueberries, apples and maple syrup.

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8. Golf

Muskoka is one of Canada’s most popular golfing destinations. Choose from the variety of courses to find one that suits your skill level or try them all by booking a golf package.

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9. Muskoka Heritage Place

Located in Huntsville, Muskoka Heritage Place lets you travel back in time. Here you’ll find the Muskoka Museum, the Muskoka Pioneer Village and the fabulously fun Portage Flyer, a steam train that takes you on a scenic trip along the Muskoka River.

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10. Diving

The lakes of Muskoka offer excellent freshwater diving and snorkelling. You can even explore shipwrecks such as the Waome in Lake Muskoka’s Milford Bay or the S.S. Mohawk and S.S. Mary Louise in the Lake of Bays’ Portage Bay.

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11. Wakeboarding

Where there are boats, there are wakes; and where there are wakes, there will be someone trying to ride those waves. Muskoka has several outfits renting wakeboarding gear and offering lessons to visitors wanting to learn this thrilling sport.

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12. Festivals

Throughout the year Muskoka hosts festivals and events celebrating everything from art and music to good food. These include the Baysville Walkabout Festival, the Dockside Festival of the Arts, the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival and the Bala Cranberry Festival.

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13. Rotary DockFest

One of the most unusual sporting events in Muskoka is the Rotary DockFest held every summer in Huntsville. While there’s nothing strange about watching participants race through obstacles on the Muskoka River, you might do a double take when you see what their choice of vessel is: bathtubs!

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14. Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve

By day, the Torrance Barrens provides great hiking opportunities but it’s at night when it really shines. Because of the lack of light pollution, it’s one of the best places to go stargazing in Southern Ontario.

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15. Theatre

You don’t have to go to the big city for a night at the theatre. Muskoka is home to the Huntsville Theatre Company and the Gravenhurst Opera House, both of which stage quality productions throughout the year.

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16. Farmers’ Markets

The farmers’ markets of Muskoka offer the best in fresh produce, homemade goodies and arts and crafts. There are markets in Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Bala, Port Carling, Bracebridge, Rosseau, Baysville and Dwight.

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17. Visual Arts

In the early 20th century, the Group of Seven found inspiration in Muskoka for their paintings of the Canadian landscape. You’ll still find many galleries and art studios throughout the region or you can simply admire the mural known as the Port Carling Wall.

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18. The Tree Museum

There are plenty of places to go for a walk in the woods in Muskoka but the Tree Museum offers a truly unique experience. Along the trail, in the woods and on the rocks, you’ll find beautiful sculptures and installations by landscape artists.

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19. Waterfalls

Muskoka boasts nearly 20 gorgeous waterfalls, some of which require a bit of a hike while others, such as the Bracebridge Falls (pictured), can be seen from the road. Ragged Falls near Huntsville is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area.

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20. Cottages

While Muskoka has plenty of accommodation options, from campsites to historic inns, it would be a shame to visit cottage country without staying in a cottage and simply getting away from it all. Whether you want luxury right on the water or cozy, rustic style in a village atmosphere, you’ll find that perfect cottage for rent.