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Story and photos by Barb Rees
Welcome to Muskoka, On. “Once discovered, never forgotten.” Algonquin Park borders it on the east and the Georgian Bay Islands on the west. The largest lakes Muskoka, Rosseau, Joseph and Lake of Bays are out-numbered by over 1,600 smaller lakes plus 21 golf courses. What a recreationist’s paradise! You’re about to take a mini-trip around some of the high points of Muskoka, which we explored in 2003, 2007, and 2013. www.discovermuskoka.ca
Huntsville, “Touch the past. Embrace the future,” has a population 19,500. In 1870, the first post office opened and the area was named Huntsville after George Hunt. The Huntsville Visitor Centre is on the corner of Highway 11 N (coming in from the south) beside the Dionne Quint Museum. Of note, it has the best laid out sani-dump we’ve ever seen.
Downtown Huntsville is rich in old stone buildings, funky stores and eateries along the river. When we were there in 2007 a giant canvas was set up by city hall and for $2 the public could add their brush stroke to replicate one of the Group of Seven paintings. I added my sweep of colour. In 2011, there were 33 of these paintings on the walls of businesses, creating a massive outdoor gallery. We found “mine.” The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery has over 80 paintings displayed in Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and Algonquin Park. For locations go to: www.thegroupofsevenoutdoorgallery.com
Bracebridge “The Heart of Muskoka” with a population 16,000 is ideally situated cottage country, and a favourite of the rich and famous who visit. 22 waterfalls and 22 parks are in the area and it’s a lush setting as the town located on a hill overlooking one of the falls on the Muskoka River. In 1862, Muskoka Road was completed to the falls. A settlement sprang up and incorporated in 1875. www.bracebridge.ca
We always stay with our friends George and Sheila Morrison, who we met in 2003 at the farmer’s market. When we visited in 2007, Sheila took us to High Falls for pictures. Across from it was a water park so we drove there for ice cream. These three 60ish people opened their eyes wide when they rounded the corner to see a sign “Clothes optional beach.” Sure enough, some people were dressed but the guy serving the ice cream wasn’t. I asked Sheila what she wanted to do. “I came for ice cream. I’ll just look him in the eye and get ice cream.” She did. We still laugh about our nude experience. Another special person makes his summer residence in Bracebridge, Santa Claus who has an amusement park open year-round.
Bracebridge farmer’s market is held Saturday in a downtown park and is a most enjoyable one for us to sell at as we’ve done all over Canada. The Morrison’s started the original Bracebridge farmer’s market in 1987. The best part of the markets is the social, family atmosphere. Families stroll, eat, visit and purchase home grown products. They could buy a loaf of bread at a supermarket cheaper than at the market, but it wouldn’t have been prepared with as much love nor support a local business, plus it tastes better. When you’re travelling Ontario you can find farmer’s markets in most places: www.farmersmarketsontario.com
Our friends were celebrating their 50th anniversary so we went on a Muskoka Lake cruise. At Gravenhurst, we took the R.M.S Segwun for a one-hour tour. Built in 1887 in Glasgow, Scotland, the Segwun was originally a paddle wheeler named Nipissing ll. In 1925, she was launched as a steamship and renamed with the Ojibwa name Segwun meaning ‘spring time.’ She plied the lakes delivering mail until 1958. They began refurbishing her in 1973 and Prime Minister Trudeau launched her in 1974. She is the oldest operating hand-fired steamship in North America. There are a variety of cruises to choose from: Canada Day Fireworks, Cottage Tour, Nostalgic 100 Mile Cruise and for the kids, Pirate Cruise and Noah’s Ark Cruise. www.realmuskoka.com/muskoka-steamships
The lake’s shoreline is dotted with the “cottages” of the rich and famous, where properties start at ¾ of a million dollars. You can own one of these cottages complete with an island for only $14 million.
The people of Ryde (part of Gravenhurst) created a Ryde Barn Quilt Trail by painting quilt designs on boards then mounting them on barn walls. What a fun 40-minute drive. www.rydebarnquilttrail.com
Bala “The Cranberry Capital of Ontario” nestled along Muskoka Lake is the hub of cottage country, thus its population swells from a few hundred to thousands in the summer. A stop at Johnson’s Cranberry Marsh Winery and Store for a taste of cranberry wine is a must. The Cranberry Festival is held the weekend after Thanksgiving. www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca
Up the road from Bala, Port Carling has a mural that from a distance looks like a ship, but in reality it is 9,028 photos telling the story of the area from 1860-1960. What a labour of love. There is so much to experience in Muskoka, land of cottages and lakes; you’ll want lots of time to enjoy it.
Barb Rees, Mètis writer, is the author of four RV Canada books with the fifth due in the fall of 2014. From their home in Powell River, BC, with husband Dave, they have travelled Canada from coast to coast to coast on working holidays since 2003. Information on the books available at: www.write2dream.com