Bay Street Bull | Muskoka 2010

VOL.7 NO.2

PARADISE FOUND Own a piece of heaven

COTTAGE CHIC

THEBAYSTREETBULL.CA $7.95

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Naturally modern style

TECH TOYS: Sports boats that thrill

IN THE ISSUE:

fe a t u re s

THE RUSTIC GREEN 8 Courses designed with Mother Nature in mind.

departments

UP FRONT 6 The Maserati four door, a Swarovski timepiece, a deluxe condo and more.

TECH TOYS 68 Luxury sport boats bring new meaning to the term pleasure craft.

ON THE SHELF 78 Enjoy Muskoka through pictures and words.

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TOUCHED BY TRADITION Historic resorts continue their long run of excellence.

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THE PAMPERED MAN Muskoka spas offer great guy getaways.

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THE SUMMIT Deerhurst prepares to welcome the world’s leaders.

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A BETTER BREW Discover the difference of craft beer.

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COTTAGE CHIC Where natural materials meet modern style.

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BULL REVIEW The new Cadillac SRX gets a dramatic overhaul.

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PARADISE FOUND Own a piece of heaven at a fraction of the price.

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DINING WITH A VIEW Muskoka eateries pair local fare with stunning scenery.

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THE COTTAGE CONCIERGE Specialty services redefine ‘roughing it.’

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ALGONQUIN PARK Explore the rugged landscape of Ontario’s untamed wilderness.

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SMALL TOWN CHARM Northern hamlets cater to big city tastes.

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FAIR GAME Mixing business with pleasure key to midway’s success.

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WHAT’S ON MUSKOKA Your guide to the region’s fairs, festivals and fiestas.

Cover photo by Comstock/GettyImages

Photo Credits on page 82.

THE BAY STREET BULL | 3

Photo: Ruslan Sarkisian

BAY STREET PUBLISHING Vol. 7, No. 2 VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER Fred Sanders EDITOR Catherine Roberts CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Cara Smusiak ART DIRECTOR Mark Tzerelshtein CONTRIBUTORS Bryan Dearsley Mike Dojc Kim Kerr Marc Phillips Sarah Scott Karen Wehrstein PHOTOGRAPHER Ruslan Sarkisian DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING SALES Bill Percy advertising@thebaystreetbull.ca HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENT Mark Waxer ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christophe Boilley COMMUNICATIONS FACILITATOR David Rees The Bay Street Bull is published six times yearly and distributed in Toronto’s financial and business districts.

Distribution method: hand-delivered, inserted, mailed and retail. Editorial + subscription + retail advertising enquiries to 305 Evans Ave., Etobicoke, Ont., M8Z 1K2. info@thebaystreetbull.ca WWW.THEBAYSTREETBULL.CA

ugged but refined’ is perhaps the best way to describe Muskoka. This part of the Canadian Shield contains the beauty of towering pines, aweinspiring rock formations, rushing rivers and 1,600 glistening lakes. Unforgettable sunsets, the vivid red of cranberries, and the spectacular autumn foliage let you know that the First Nations peoples aptly named the region ‘the land of the red earth.’

Once thought of as cottage country for celebrities and Toronto’s affluent, Muskoka is much more. It represents one of the largest densities of resorts and retreats in Canada, making the region a fantastic destination for vacations, a weekend getaway with the family, corporate meetings and conferences, and even international political meetings. Case in point: Writer Sarah Scott takes a look at Deerhurst Resort’s preparations for the upcoming G8 Summit in June.

The majestic landscape is accompanied by interesting attractions and activities. As Karen Wehrstein discovers, there are steamboat cruises; an antique boat museum; fairs; a bio sphere; and every kind of arts and culture event imaginable. And Kim Kerr finds the eateries provide outstanding local cuisine with the region’s customary friendly service, in surroundings that are simply stunning.

Driving the winding roads of Muskoka will lead you to some of the best and most beautiful golf courses available anywhere in the province, and teeing off on one of these courses will provide you with an extraordinary golf experience to be remembered for years. Those winding roads will also lead to some beautiful cottages, and if a rural retreat is what your heart desires, then Bryan Dearsley offers a range of real estate opportunities for those, even on more modest budgets, who are willing to think outside the waterfront box.

In search of some untamed wilderness? Whether you’re up for spending a day in the woods, or roughing it for a week in a tent, Algonquin Provincial Park is your destination. Algonquin’s vast opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and hiking, as well as its fantastic educational programming, make it perfect for an adventure. One upclose look at a moose or the sound of a wolf’s mournful howl, and you’ll be back again and again.

How best to navigate the water wonderland of Muskoka is, of course, a personal choice. But if speed is more your style, then you’ll enjoy Mike Dojc’s cruise through the best of the best sport boats in Tech Toys. With luxury interiors, customization options and high-tech features, these boats bring new meaning to the term pleasure craft.

When in Muskoka, one must experience one of its greatest pleasures: the worldfamous Muskoka Chair. Relax in one, and you will never want to leave this awesome region. Like me, you’ll probably take home a couple for the patio or deck, where you can sit back, sip your favourite drink, and enjoy the memories of this magnificent place.

We would like to thank Larry Wright at Muskoka Tourism for his co-operation in making this special issue possible. We always enjoy hearing your thoughts on the magazine. If you’d like to send us a letter about this issue, or have an idea you think we should explore in the magazine, please address your letter to The Publisher, The Bay Street Bull, 305 Evans Avenue, Etobicoke, Ontario, M8Z 1K2, or e-mail me at publisher@thebaystreetbull.ca.

Fred Sanders, Publisher 4 | THE BAY STREET BULL

Unlimited Golf WITH ANY

Stay & Play package

U P

F R O N T

Maserati Quattroporte As part of the comprehensive five-year plan announced by the Italian automaker Fiat Group, Maserati recently debuted two new sedans. One is the successor to the current Quattroporte, costing around the same price.

The other, the Sport GT S, is positioned to rival BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Offering a staggering 440 horsepower from its 4.7-litre V8 engine, the GT S model also has a quick shift gearbox and a racing-style suspension system. Look for the special edition GT S later this year. maserati.com

Edgemere Estate

When the Edgemere Estate went on sale for $45 million in 2006, it became the most expensive residential property ever to be listed in Canada. Now the Edgemere property, located on Lake Ontario along Oakville’s gold coast, is reinventing its self as a condo complex. Renamed Edgemere Private Residences, it will consist of 30 luxurious condos in 10 buildings. Each condo will have multiple fireplaces, custom-designed kitchen, a library, a wine cellar and a spa-style master bathroom. Every unit will also be connected to the heated underground garage by a private stairway and personal elevator. nichedevelopment.com

Time Well Spent For the woman interested in a sporty (and affordable) timepiece, Swarovski has created the Octea orange sports watch. The steel case is 39 mm wide, the rotating diver’s bezel features Swarovski crystals, and the movement is Swiss quartz. Its trademark swan logo sits at the 12 o’clock indicator and you can choose between a rubber strap or a metal bracelet. Both, however, have inset faceted hematite stones that give the watch its fashionable look. swarovski.com

Springtime Pommery French champagne company Pommery has just released their Springtime Brut Rosé, a sequel to their popular Wintertime Champagne. This latest addition to the world’s first collection of seasonal champagnes has a fruity bouquet of red berries, red currants, fresh pomegranate and mellow kiwi and a flavor that would pair perfectly with your eggs—Benedict, Florentine or Norwegian. For the real oenophile, the champagne consists of 60 percent Pinot Noir, 25 percent Chardonnay, and 15 percent Meunier, and has been aged for 20 months. A nice complement to any brunch. pommery.com

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Sharp Suits Not all suits are created equal, as former fashion editor Eric Musgrave knows all too well. In his new coffee-table book,

Sharp Suits, he explores the evolution of the modern suit over the past century.

Organized thematically, the book examines several styles—the single-breasted suit, the striped suit and the Dormeuil suit—from different philosophical and cultural perspectives. With an introduction by Richard James, one of the more recent arrivals on London’s famed Savile Row, and a variety of high-quality colour reproductions, most of which are quite remarkable, this is an excellent primer on classic men’s tailoring. pavilion.com

M U S K O K A

G O L F

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Rustic

n e e r G Courses designed with Mother Nature in mind

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

hat a difference a year can make. With more sunny days already under our belts than we experienced in the whole of 2009, this is shaping up to be one dynamite golf season. And nowhere is the relief more palpable than in Muskoka.

Don MacKay, owner of Muskoka Highlands Golf Club in Bracebridge, can’t recall ever seeing anyone teeing off so early.

He opened for business on March 18, determined 2010 would make up for last year’s rainy mess and the nasty fallout from the global financial crisis.

“As far as I’m concerned, golf’s back, and we’re ready for a fantastic season up here,” says MacKay. To prove it, he described how just a few days before March Break he’d gone snowshoeing, not even suspecting that a few days later he’d be opening his 18-hole, Scottish-themed course. True, he does have a few advantages over most other Muskoka courses, including high elevation and plenty of exposure to the drying effect of sun and wind.

W

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But as Mackay admits, there’s still some way to go before Muskoka Highlands—along with the region’s 30 or so other courses—experience the kind of revenues they’d grown accustomed to. In the case of Muskoka Highlands, that was a peak of 25,000 rounds a year, a far cry from the now more common 15,000 bookings of the past few years.

“Everyone in the industry’s felt the pinch,” says MacKay. “Not just the guys up here in Muskoka. If it wasn’t raining, they predicted rain. Between the weather and the economy, business took a beating. But nobody’s closed down, nobody’s laying off.

So Muskoka’s in pretty good shape golf-wise.”

The promise of better weather and an early start to the season has proven to be a bonus for players, too. Get the clubs out of storage now and you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of fantastic savings on green fees, as well as stay and play packages. For example, Deerhurst Resort—host of June’s much anticipated G8 Summit—is offering substantial savings for its Highlands Stay and Play Packages for visits prior to June 30 (unlimited golf over a 24-hour period from $144.50 per person). Green fee savings—some as high as 50 percent—can be had at Deerhurst and other excellent Muskoka courses, so long as you’re prepared to head up north a few weeks early.

Despite the recent tough years, there’s little doubt Muskoka’s reputation as a golf Mecca is growing. But don’t take our word for it: The Globe and Mail’s Globe golf magazine rated Muskoka one of Canada’s six leading golf destinations, along with Whistler, the Rockies, P.E.I., Toronto and Mont Tremblant.

And The Globe’s list of the top 100 Canadian courses includes Bigwin Island Golf Club (ranked 2nd), Rocky Crest (5th) and Taboo (6th). Also mentioned were the Lake Joseph Club, the Mark O’Meara Golf Club at Delta Grandview, Deerhurst’s Highlands course and, of course, The Rock.

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Building and operating a golf course—whether of the 18-hole championship variety or a gentle nine-holer—in what is pretty much wilderness is no easy task. And, if it’s a challenge today, imagine how difficult it must have been taming the rock, water and trees 100 years ago, when the region welcomed its first golf course.

That first course was Windermere Golf and Country Club, established in 1919 as a semi-private golf and tennis facility catering to guests of nearby hotels like Windermere House.

The core group behind the course were some of Toronto’s leading bankers, merchants and barristers—most of them summer residents—who took it upon themselves to build a golf course to make the area an even more desirable place to vacation. Land was purchased, and the then Head Professional at Toronto Golf Club, George Cumming, was retained to design the course. Although plans were for an 18-hole course, only nine holes were initially developed. This was increased a few holes at a time until Windermere became the full 18 of today.

While the $1 green fee is a thing of the past, the tradition of great golf is very much in evidence across the region. Whether you’re after a challenging 18 holes carved from the Canadian Shield, or something a little more park-like, Muskoka’s got something for all levels of golfers. Framed by white birch, hemlock, pine and maple trees, deep bunkers, granite outcroppings, spectacular views, ponds, marshes and abundant wildlife, it’s a golf experience you won’t soon forget.

To help you plan your perfect Muskoka experience—and hopefully get you on the fairways earlier this season—we’ve put together a cross-section of some of the very best golf opportunities the area has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a championship challenge or something suitable for the whole family, you won’t be disappointed—Muskoka simply offers some of the best golf anywhere, whatever your preference.

And this year, the weather’s guaranteed to co-operate.

THE ROCK

THE ROCK Par 71 6,649 yards Design by Nick Faldo.

Green Fees (Peak, Friday-Saturday): $109.

Stay and Play available.

Ultimate Experience: Playing the new Rock and knowing you can beat it.

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Forget everything you’ve heard about The Rock Golf Club. Gone are the days when only a pro could claim to have tamed the course. Built in 2004, The Rock quickly gained a reputation as one of Canada’s toughest courses. Fortunately, the owners realized tough doesn’t necessarily mean fun.

After undergoing renovations designed to improve the playing experience for golfers of all skill levels, the award-winning Nick Faldo-designed course has reopened and is well worth a second look. The highlight of the project was the redesign of six holes to enhance approach shot views while eliminating blind shots and sloped landing areas. Renovations also included the expansion of tee areas and the widening and leveling of fairway landing zones. The result? Increased visibility, better playability, and much improved shot-making opportunities—all without having altered the integrity of The Rock’s original design.

Additional renovations included alterations to 14 holes, the removal of exposed surface rock, and the reconstruction of all greenside bunkers.

The results are astounding. The Rock, more than ever, looks and feels like it’s always been a part of Muskoka. Located on Lake Rosseau, probably one of the region’s most sought-after lakes, the 6,649-yard course is carved tight with narrow, tree-lined fairways and sloping greens meandering through rock out-

croppings, hardwood trees and rolling hills. Sure, the natural hazards still favour accuracy, but don’t let that put you off. If you’re not at the top of your game, it shouldn’t matter anymore—the course is now capable of inspiring golfers of all levels, with the emphasis on strategy and playability as opposed to sheer brilliance.

Apart from the wonderful golf, The Rock has also made a name for itself in the environmentally friendly department.

The course boasts involvement in programs aimed at attracting and monitoring birds, protecting wildlife, and improving water conservation and efficiency.

New for 2010 is the addition of Maple Hills Golf Club (part of Clevelands House), which is now being managed by The Rock team. This nine-hole, par-32 golf facility also overlooks Lake Rosseau and is perfect for a quick round when time’s short.

After a round, check out the refurbished Fairways Grille. Its patio overlooking the 18th hole is stunning.

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MUSKOKA BAY Par 72 7,367 yards Design by Doug Carrick.

Green Fees (Peak, Friday-Saturday): $215.

Stay and Play available.

Ultimate Experience: After countless wonderful views along the way, the best is from the clubhouse as you unwind.

MUSKOKA BAY CLUB Located in Gravenhurst, Muskoka Bay Club has a number of distinctions: not only is it the closest Muskoka course to Toronto, it boasts more million-dollar views than perhaps all other courses in the area combined. Whether you’re teeing off from the first with its hilltop view of the valley floor below, or perched on the expansive balcony of the course’s awe-inspiring clubhouse, the views are priceless, and well worth the green fees.

The moment you arrive, it’s evident every penny of the $22 million that Freed Development spent on the Doug Carrick-designed course was money well spent. Set amidst 112 hectares of prime real estate, it’s as if Muskoka is embracing you as you wind your way through the mature forests and majestic wetlands incorporated into the layout. It’s evident that the scenery has shaped the style of the course: the seemingly endless expanses of rock, countless trees, wetlands and constant elevation changes dictate the ebb and flow of the game.

Surprisingly, the course—selected by Golf Digest as the best new Canadian course in 2007—is not the beast you might first have thought. Carrick’s intention was to work with rather than against golfers, and play becomes no more challenging than other com14 | THE BAY STREET BULL

parable courses. The elevated tee decks are placed as much for their incredible views as for practical reasons—they eliminate the blind shots. Still, at a lengthy 7,367 yards and par 72, you should have an inkling of what you’re doing some of the time.

Not to be outdone by the course, the magnificent cliff-top clubhouse is Muskoka Bay’s crowning glory. It’s an impressive 1,530 square metres and boasts an indoor-outdoor bistro, dining room, entertainment lounge and pro shop. There’s also a fully equipped fitness studio, spa rooms and private lockers with steam shower, tennis courts, infinity-edge swimming pool, cabana bar, fire pit, wraparound terrace and kids’ splash pool. With so much to do, some may wonder: why bother with the golf? For those wanting to extend their visit, a play and stay program is available on-site at one of Muskoka Bay Club’s luxurious Villas.

MUSKOKA HIGHLANDS Some of the world’s best golf courses are built to run with the land, embracing its imperfections, making few, if any, big changes. Move as little dirt as possible, do minimal landscaping, and you’re left feeling you’re playing something Mother Nature created. Greens and tees couldn’t go just anywhere—the land dictated they be placed exactly where you find them. It certainly worked in places like Scotland’s St. Andrews—the oldest golf course in the world.

And that was the idea behind Muskoka Highlands Golf Club, near Bracebridge: do things the Scottish way, working with the natural setting to create a great golf experience. It didn’t hurt that Muskoka and Scotland are climatically in the same growing zone, allowing the course’s designers to use the same fescue grasses. The result: beautiful greens and some of the best putting surfaces anywhere.

Perched atop some of the region’s highest terrain, Muskoka Highlands is almost constantly exposed to the sun and wind, a fact which, combined with the lack of MUSKOKA HIGHLANDS trees, means it has good drainage Par 69 and is very green. The first nine 5,636 yards holes were introduced on what was Design by Don MacKay. once a dairy farm in 1993; the adGreen Fees (Peak, Weekend): $60. ditional nine holes were added in Stay and Play available.

2000, and so seamlessly you’d think it had been an 18-hole course from Ultimate Experience: Family nights the get go. (after 6 p.m.), adults play for $10, kids For junior golfers, Muskoka swing for $1 per hole.

Highlands is as kid-friendly as it

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Experience nature on your terms at The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Book your escape at jwrosseau.com or call 1-866-240-8605.

The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa P.O. Box 31, 1050 Paignton House Road, Minett, Ontario, P0B 1G0

www.jwrosseau.com

DEERHURST HIGHLANDS gets. The course holds reduced rate family nights six times a week, and up to 150 juniors pass through the course’s clinics and week-long camps annually. There are even fun activities, such as “Snag,” for four- to six-year-olds, where oversized clubs are used to drive tennis balls at colourful targets.

The 180-square-metre clubhouse is perfect for unwinding. Overlooking the 1st and 9th tees, it’s home to a comfortable bar and lounge, and a dining area with a capacity of 100.

DEERHURST HIGHLANDS & LAKESIDE With the G8 Summit at Huntsville’s Deerhurst Resort this June, there’s probably no better time to play one of the resort’s two top-notch courses. Winding its way through an old forest that is interspersed with rocky outcrops and streams, the dramatic 7,011-yard, 18-hole Highlands course was Muskoka’s first championship course. This par 72 Thomas McBroom gem is extremely playable, proving that great golf can be played on what’s basically a foundation of rock and swamp.

By framing the margins with spectacular granite outcroppings, McBroom was able to work the rock of the course in strategic and dramatic ways. The Highlands’ 10th hole is a classic, and one of Muskoka’s most memorable. If the rock doesn’t deal your ego a blow, keep an eye on the nasty bunkers surrounding the multitiered green.

For a quick round with the family or a warm-up before hitting the links, the par 64 Lakeside—a McBroom redesign—with its strategic water hazards and deep bunkers, is a lot of fun for players of all levels.

The Deerhurst Golf Academy offers hour-long junior clinics. Promising youngsters can train for tournaments with pro Dave Castellan once a week, or participate in a junior camp for seven- to 12-year-olds. Crowned one of Canada’s 16 | THE BAY STREET BULL

Par 72 7,011 yards Design by Robert Cupp and Thomas McBroom.

Green Fees (Peak, Weekend): $140.

Stay and Play from $144.50.

Ultimate Experience: “Island and Highlands” package includes Bigwin Island and Deerhurst Highlands (available spring and fall).

DEERHURST LAKESIDE Par 64 4,596 yards Redesign by Thomas McBroom.

Green Fees (Peak, Weekend): $70.

Stay and Play from $109.50.

Ultimate Experience: A private lesson with Dave Castellan, the academy director and one of Canada's top instructors.

top 50 golf instructors by the National Post, Castellan’s young-player clinics focus on full swings, short game essentials, safety and golf etiquette.

Deerhurst resort is much more than just golf. The Highlands’ lounge boasts a classy bar and a new casual eatery, Maple.

NORTH GRANITE RIDGE Established in 1999, North Granite Ridge in Port Sydney is quickly achieving that “must-play” status. While much of the credit goes to architect Jason Miller, kudos must be given to the course’s new owners’ panache. They’ve created a superb 18-hole experience with a perfect mix of undulating greens and narrow fairways that ensure accuracy and strategy will see you through.

While North Granite Ridge offers the same rugged beauty as its higher-profile Muskoka neighbours without the high cost, it doesn’t short-change on the challenge side of things. With the exception of just one hole, every par 4 and par 5 comes in under 460 yards. Set among a quiet evergreen forest, well away from any roads, you’ll find few distractions, even from other players. 

NORTH GRANITE RIDGE Par 70 6,252 yards Design by Jason Miller.

Green Fees (Peak, Friday-Saturday): $60.

Ultimate Experience: Getting two great rounds for the same price some courses charge for one.

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R E S O R T S

A N D

S PA S

Touched by

Tradition

Historic resorts continue their long run of excellence

BY KIM KERR uskoka has seen a rich legacy of grand hotels come and go. In the early days of the 20th century, they dotted the shores of lakes big and small, drawing people away from the cities during the sultry summer months. The region’s early days as a vacationer’s paradise can be traced back to the mid-1800s when immigrant farmers settled the area. It turned out that the rugged, rocky soil was all but impossible to farm thanks to the ever-present Canadian Shield. But where some saw only hardship, others saw opportunity.

These visionaries encouraged sportsmen from Toronto and the United States to travel north to hunt and fish. Demand quickly grew, and accommodations—sometimes fancy, sometimes rustic—were built for their guests.

It wasn’t long before word of this wild paradise spread. Entrepreneurs from places like Pittsburgh and New York headed north to build their own version of grand hotels. The rest, as they say, is history. The breathtaking scenery, tranquility, pristine lakes and clean, invigorating air gave these city dwellers a chance to escape not only the heat of summer, but also the congestion and pressures of business. Some things simply haven’t changed.

M

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CLEVELANDS HOUSE When Charles Minett opened his resort in Muskoka in 1883, a funny thing happened: Asked to label the hotel’s first guest register “Cleeve Lands” after Minett’s birthplace in England, the printer mistakenly changed the name to Clevelands. The mistake was never corrected, and some 127 years later, Clevelands House has become a name synonymous with Muskoka’s long tradition of hospitality.

Set on a vast, 163-hectare estate with more than 900 metres of prime waterfront, a visit to Clevelands House is like stepping back in time. Located on the western shores of Lake Rosseau, the resort has retained its old-fashioned charm— never more so than when the RMS Segwun, North America’s oldest still-operating steamship, pulls up to the docks for one of her weekly lunchtime stops. (A nice touch, as Minett designed the hotel to resemble the steamboats that once brought his guests.)

The Dining Room, Lake Rosseau Club and Sagamo Centre are fully licensed and each offers a different ambience to suit your mood. If it’s fine dining you’re after, Executive Chef Henry Marcan knows how to please. With some 25 years at Clevelands House under his belt, he’s no doubt one of the reasons guests come back time and time again.

Apart from three great meals a day, there’s also a world of other wonderful things to do, including tennis (the resort boasts 16 courts), a nine-hole on-site golf course (play privileges are also available at The Rock, the neighbouring Nick Faldo-designed course), swimming, outdoor barbecues, fitness facilities and a sauna. Boat rentals, cruises and waterskiing are also available.

Kids are well served, too. The resort’s children’s program employs 55 qualified counsellors to care for and entertain those from newborns to teens. And to top it off, the 4,000-squaremetre Play World is the largest of its kind. Combined with swim programs, movies, arts and crafts, entertainers, sports and nature exploration, you’ll dare any of your offspring to say they’re bored.

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Accomodations run the gamut from standard bedrooms in the Main Lodge, Manor House and North Lodge, to private bungalows and cottages on the lake.

WINDERMERE HOUSE Windermere House, one of Muskoka’s oldest resorts, had surprisingly humble beginnings considering its present status as one of Ontario’s classiest boutique-style hotels. Founded in 1870 as a family home, it expanded rapidly as ever-increasing numbers of sportsmen and vacationers descended upon the village of Windermere by steamer. By 1890, the property had grown to such an extent that it could accommodate more than 200 guests.

The “Lady of the Lake,” as Windermere House was affectionately known, became the place where Toronto’s affluent stayed and mingled. And so things remained until a tragic fire during the filming of The Long Kiss Goodnight burned the resort to the ground. Rebuilt in 1997 and then stunningly refurbished in 2008, the resort has never looked better.

The lake views, regardless of where you happen to be on the property, are simply stunning. But it’s from the huge porch that wraps around the main level of the building that you get that

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sense that Windermere House is still grand and has lost nothing of her luster. If you’re dining at the Rosseau Grill, Windermere House’s fine dining establishment, the awesome food from the kitchen of Executive Chef Jay Scaife only enhances the experience of watching a perfect lake sunset.

Windermere House also hosts a number of unique music events each year, including its popular Symphony on the Lawn starring Michael Burgess, Boris Brott and the National Academy Orchestra (July 23rd). The concert is free for guests sitting on the lawn. Lunch will be served on the Verandah at a cost of $60 per person (reservations are required). And some of the luncheon proceeds will be donated to the National Academy Orchestra.

New for 2010 is the spa, which opens in early July, and Bionx electric bicycle rentals. Lifted from the Canadian Olympic Village, Bionx bicycles boost your natural energy anywhere from

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25 to 300 percent, enabling you to enjoy cycling regardless of age or training level. (Windermere House is one of only two Muskoka resorts with Bionx.)

Another unique Windermere House feature is its popular Wasabi Sushi Café, Lake Rosseau’s only authentic Japanese dining option. Sample the extensive sushi selections, like their delicious Windermere roll featuring yellowtail, salmon, tuna, smelt, egg, avocado and cucumber, or some Louisiana tempura with crawfish, avocado and cucumber with a sweet-spicy sauce Accomodations include some of the most luxurious rooms and suites in Muskoka, and a variety of packages—including golf at Windermere Golf and Country Club—are available.

SEVERN LODGE The Lodge is located in the southwestern part of Muskoka near Georgian Bay and the hamlet of Port Severn, and encompasses more than 40 hectares on 600 metres of pristine waterfront. Situated in a quiet, sheltered bay on the northern shores of Gloucester Pool, the western most lake of Ontario’s historic Trent-Severn Waterway, the resort overlooks a spectacular array of picturesque pine-clad islands.

The resort bears the unique geographic distinction of being a part of Muskoka while boasting access to the big waters of Georgian Bay and beyond (if you felt adventurous, you could boat to the Atlantic from the resort). So don’t be surprised if, while lounging by the pool, you see the odd large yacht coast by.

The resort even has a few boats of its own for guests to enjoy, including an antique Ditchburn yacht.

Severn Lodge has been owned and operated by the Breckbill family for nearly a century, and you’ll more than likely have the

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pleasure of meeting one of the family members during your stay.

The Main Lodge was originally built in the mid-1800s as the area headquarters for the Georgian Bay Lumber Company. It was later sold to a wealthy social club from Pittsburgh for use as a vacation spot.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two or some quality family time, this fully inclusive resort offers a variety of packages featuring luxury accommodations with spectacular waterfront views, fantastic food and a wide range of recreational opportunities. Supervised children’s activities are both educational and fun-filled, and include crafts, picnics, water sports, competitions, beach bonfires, and hot dog and corn roasts.

Accommodations run the gamut: individual cottages, multiunit lodges, and studios. For those who wish to do their own cooking, there are fully equipped studios and cottages.

BAYVIEW WILDWOOD RESORT The 110-year-old, family-owned Bayview Wildwood Resort is one of Muskoka’s closest lakeside getaways. Situated in the historic lakefront village of Port Stanton, on the shores of Sparrow Lake, the resort is just minutes away from the port city of Orillia and is accessible via the Trent-Severn Waterway.

It’s not uncommon to find families that have been visiting Bayview Wildwood for three generations. You can relax by the lake, and enjoy the sandy beaches, the convenience of an optional all-inclusive meal plan, and a wealth of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Children can stay active playing basketball or shuffleboard, swimming, learning to canoe or kayak, or exploring the playground. Structured activity programs invite them to meet new friends and give mom and dad some time on their own. Modern conveniences and comfortably appointed lakeview accommodations range from suites to the refurbished Albert Manor, a huge, five-bedroom, 100-yearold heritage home that sleeps 12.

But Bayview Wildwood isn’t just for families. Couples can enjoy romantic lakeview suites with fireplaces, fine dining,

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evening entertainment and spa services, and Casino Rama just a 20-minute drive away.

Bayview Wildwood is a great destination any season. In summer, it’s all about the boating, fishing, beach activities, hiking, cycling and tennis, while the winter months include ice skating and curling on Sparrow Lake, sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris and tobogganing.

PORT CUNNINGTON LODGE Lake of Bays has had its fair share of resorts come and go. The first vacationers arrived close to 150 years ago, preferring the primitive lodgings springing up along the lake’s 585 kilometres of shoreline to other better-known parts of Muskoka. One notable survivor is Port Cunnington Lodge, which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Established in 1890, the resort has been family-run since it was built by Boyce Henry Cunnington.

Situated on nearly nine hectares of land with 540 metres of very private shoreline, the resort’s centrepiece is its original Victorian lodge, though they have added several family chalets to the property over the years. The latest additions include two state-ofthe-art, eco-friendly cottages, making Port Cunnington Lodge the only family-owned resort in Canada to have a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation. The LEED program promotes sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The mirror-image, timbre-framed cottages, each with four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and a single bedroom guesthouse attached by a deck, can accommodate approximately 20 of the lodge’s 134 guests. The interiors of these Chris Schmittdesigned cottages where inspired by the First Nations peoples.

The resort also offers a variety of traditional accommodations in some of the older chalets, with each offering a lake view and ranging in size from 117 to 270 square metres. All of them are unique, which adds an intimate, almost village-like feel to the property.

Finials to furnishings, candles to canvas, leather to linens, wrought iron to rustic lighting, bedding to baths... North Muskoka House represents a full-service residential and commercial design firm featuring a 13,000 sq. ft. building on Fairy Lake encompassing a retail showroom, design offices and a full-service textile workroom.

North Muskoka House has a variety of decadent selections to suit any décor. We also offer consulting and creative services to meet all the demands of a truly distinctive design. Drop by and see us today — Muskoka retold at North Muskoka House.

DEERHURST RESORT Built in 1896 by Charles Waterhouse, a young immigrant from England, Deerhurst was the first major resort on the northern lakes of Muskoka. Originally accessible only by steamboat and consisting of a main lodge situated on about one-and-a-half hectares, the resort’s opening season attracted just two guests paying the princely sum of $3.50 per week (including meals).

My, how things change. Fast forward 114 years and Deerhurst is now Muskoka’s largest resort, capable of hosting more than 1,000 guests in 400 rooms and suites. Fortunately, it occupies such a large swath of land—some 320 hectares on Peninsula Lake—that there’s plenty of space for everyone and little crowding, even during the busy March Break. You don’t have to walk far from the main buildings to stumble across deer silently poking their way through the forest. The peacefulness of the sunset at the end of the day and the call of the loon still hold the same appeal today as they did for Charles Waterhouse and his guests more than a century ago.

Deerhurst Resort is also well known as an entertainment hub.

Recent music programs have included Holly Cole, Johnny Reid

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and Chantal Kreviazuk, and the resort is home to LIVE at Deerhurst, a song-and-dance show and Canada’s longest-running stage production. Add two 18-hole golf courses, a spa, 2,250 square metres of meeting space, and an extensive waterfront, and it’s easy to see why Deerhurst was chosen to host the upcoming G8 Summit. 

The Pampered

MAN

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

t is the attention to detail that makes a visit to Spa Rosseau so sublime. Part of The Rosseau, a JW Marriott resort, this huge, two-storey spa immerses you completely in an experience where every tiny detail takes on significance.

This full-service luxury spa has separate areas for men and women, plus couples facilities.

There are 11 treatment rooms, including a Vichy room for hydrotherapy services. The Robin Barker Salon offers hair styling and makeup consultation. Spa guests will enjoy the private, year-round outdoor swimming pool and men’s and women’s relaxation lounges. Daily memberships are also available and include access to the relaxation lounges, private pools and the steam and sauna rooms, as well as refreshments. It’s all about indulgence— and that’s exactly what I’m here for.

I

Showered, relaxed and wrapped in a housecoat I never want to leave, my feet are immersed in eucalyptus-scented water, while a masseuse makes my legs feel like more than mere modes of transport. I’m offered soothing tea while the treatments and their benefits are explained. As a first-time spa goer, I feel surprisingly at ease, and my sense that this spa world is—well, girly—is quickly disappearing.

Having decided on a massage, I’m immediately presented with a variety of oils and told to choose one—using only my sense of smell. There’s no need to read labels as my nose, I’m told, would instinctively select exactly the right oil for me. Somewhat skeptical, I beginning sniffing and am ‘guided’ to the invigorating mix of licorice and spices that is supposed to rejuvenate and energize.

Now ready for my treatment, I’m ushered into a tranquil room and lie on a massage table. It doesn’t take long before I start to drift away, feeling relaxed and as comfortable and cozy as a cradled newborn. But just as I seem to have settled into that state of bliss, I’m told I’m finished. Surely, I tell myself, 80 minutes could not have passed. But alas, it has.

Back in the men’s lounge, I’m invited to wile away the rest of my stay in one of the hot tubs, the steam room, sauna, or just kick back on a lounger and simply be.

I think about indulging in one of the other services for men. There’s a facial that includes a deep cleansing masque and a facial massage, plus take-home tips for the perfect shave. There’s something called “Earth’s Elements,” but that sounds a little too New Age for me. I could finally get something done to this hair of mine. But, you know, solitude feels just right. And I know I’ll be back.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 27

THE SUMMIT W ORLD LEADERS HEAD TO RESORT COUNTRY

BY SARAH SCOTT

I

f you pick up the paper in Huntsville, a town of 18,000 in the Muskoka region north of Toronto, you’re bound to find some deliciously local news— a surprise appearance of a moose swimming across the lake, perhaps, or a political brawl over a new cat bylaw or a new boat launch site. Until now, the biggest event there has been the Ironman, a grueling swim, bike and run marathon that draws hundreds of the world’s most hardened endurance athletes.

But now, a big fish is swimming into this small pond— or to be more precise, eight big fish. On June 25 and 26, Huntsville will host the G8 Summit—the annual meeting of the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with their considerable entourages.

The entire event in Huntsville lasts less than 48 hours, since the leaders are scheduled to fly back to Toronto for a meeting with the G20, which includes the leaders of China, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. Yet in this small town, preparing for the leaders is a massive multimillion-dollar effort that is giving the town a new glimpse of the perks and burdens of power—and a new view of itself.

The leaders will be staying at Deerhurst Resort, a 320-hectare property with 400 rooms in several low-rise buildings nestled along Lake Peninsula, about 13 kilometres from Huntsville. Deerhurst, which caters to

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families, is often fully booked with 1,000 guests, but nothing can compare to the meticulous planning for this meeting of eight of the most powerful leaders on the planet. Consider the food. As a founding member of the Savour Muskoka Culinary Trail, Deerhurst takes great pride in pickling ramps or wild onions, or using heirloom tomatoes in a soup. Local food is “shorthand for a little piece of the culture,” especially for people who are attending a conference and don’t have time to go out, says Deerhurst spokesperson Anne White. This time is different. Although Deerhurst makes its own maple syrup and honey, the hotel’s chef was advised that Health Canada officials would have to know where exactly the wild ingredients came from—and will even be in the kitchen watching the cooking. Health Canada, in other words, “is the taster for the world leaders,” says White. One of Deerhurst’s specialties is its butternut squash soup with homemade maple syrup. Protocol officials removed soup from the menu. The reason: No world leader wants soup on his tie when he steps out for a photo opportunity.

The resort’s rooms are spread over the property, which poses another logistical problem. The leaders and their staffs will have just flown in, and those on European time will not have had time to adjust. They’ll still be working and may request breakfast at 2 a.m. Deerhurst usually delivers in a small van, but security didn’t

like the sound of that. As of late April, the resort was still trying to figure out how it would deliver scrambled eggs in the middle of the night, and get them to the door while they’re still warm. There are lots of details like that to be ironed out. It’s like assembling a 1,000-piece puzzle without seeing the picture on the top of the box, until the very last minute, White says.

The resort has been completely renovated for the G8.

Splash toys have been removed from the beach. A playroom has been turned into a printing shop. The indoor tennis court will be used for the massive press briefings.

The kids’ games room will be a lounge for weary translators. The entire resort and its golf course close to the public June 15. They have 10 days to get ready, but only three days after the G8 to get back to normal in time for the Canada Day long weekend. “It’s an epic job,” says White.

When Huntsville was announced as the location for the G8 summit, many people wondered where the 4,000 expected journalists would stay, and some cottage owners even hoped that they could rake in thousands of dollars by renting out their lakeside retreats. It didn’t quite work out that way. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the G20 would immediately follow the G8, and the larger meeting would take place in Toronto, it was decided that the media headquarters would be in Toronto rather than Huntsville.

The international reporters will take a bus to Deerhurst and may never set foot in Huntsville.

It seemed like a missed opportunity to showcase the beauty of Muskoka, so Muskoka took action. “If Muhammad won’t come to the mountain, we’ll take the mountain to Muhammad,” says Michael Lawley, executive director of Muskoka Tourism. To ensure international reporters see what Muskoka looks like, a 540-square-metre display about the region is being built in the media centre. It’s being created by Lord Cultural Resources, the firm that designed the popular Ontario pavilion at the Vancouver Olympics.

Not surprisingly, police will be combing the region, especially in and around Deerhurst, although G8 Summit Integrated Security Unit officials won’t say just how many RCMP officers, Ontario Provincial Police and other security forces will be on duty. They are setting up a perimeter around Deerhurst to protect the leaders and prevent them from coming in contact with

protesters, but they’ve disclosed few details. The G8 website does provide some intriguing hints about just how far the authorities are going to protect the leaders. Boats, for instance, will not be allowed on Peninsula Lake or the canal leading to the lake, and it looks like the police will be monitoring activity below the lake’s surface as well; the OPP is in charge of “underwater search and rescue.” They’re also preparing for terrorists: a “chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives team” of OPP officers will be on guard. The security unit is also taking a proactive, diplomatic approach to protesting, holding talks with protesters in advance, and informing them of restrictions under Canadian law—it’s illegal to block a highway, for instance, or make use of an “offensive volatile substance.”

For a small town in Muskoka, pulling off an event of this scale will be a huge coup for the conference business in the region, says Lawley. “It demonstrates we can host just about any event,” he says. “We’ll have bragging rights.” The G8 summit will leave a tangible legacy too, one that is funded mostly by the federal government. (The MP for the area is Industry Minister Tony Clement.) The federal government paid more than $16 million of a $20-million expansion of Huntsville’s community, which is adding an Olympic-size hockey rink. As well, a $10-million, 2,700-square-metre research building has been constructed, mostly with federal funds; it will be used by researchers and students of the University of Waterloo who are studying the resiliency of the ecosystem. The step into the knowledge-based economy is very exciting for the community, says Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty. “Everyone’s really pumped.” 

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A Better

BY MARC PHILLIPS

Brew

Discover the difference of craft lager

N

orth America used to be home to a host of odd beers.

In the 1870s, the continent had more than 4,000 breweries, working in dozens of regional and ethnic styles. The best of the bunch was brewed by Adolphus Busch, whose St. Louis Lager took on more than 100 European beers at a competition in Paris in 1878, winning gold and causing an “immense sensation.” While German-style beers dominated in the U.S., Canadian breweries produced English beers.

But as the North American beer market was soaring, so too was the temperance movement, and when prohibition was enacted during World War I, it heralded a transformation of North America’s beer industry.

Quebec was the only province that escaped full prohibition. A loophole allowed some Ontario breweries to keep beer flowing by selling using Quebec merchants. Capitalizing on this business models was Ontario brewer E.P. Taylor.

After temperance was repealed, he launched the Brewing Corporation of Ontario Limited (later renamed Canadian Breweries Limited). Following the lead of large U.S. breweries, who were diluting their lager for the readjusted tastes of a generation drinking Coca-Cola, Taylor contributed to the rise of flavourless Canadian beer.

Yet a change has been brewing in North American beer over the last few decades. There are now more than 1,500 North American craft breweries, with nearly 100 in Canada.

The beginnings of Canada’s craft industry was a reaction in the mid-1980s to what was perceived as the blandness of the

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beers coming from the bigger players, such as Molson and Labatt breweries. And microbrewers are making a dent in the market. The microbrewed segment has snagged about five percent of the Ontario market and 12 percent of the market in British Columbia since 1984.

Perhaps it’s not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of cottage country, but Muskoka is home to awardwinning craft breweries.

Founded in 1996, by Gary McCullen and Kirk Evans, Muskoka Cottage Brewery has from the beginning focussed on excellence and innovation, as well as environmentally sound and sustainable practices. Their craft beer contains no additives, no preservatives and no adjuncts (cheaper ingredients or those that shortcut the brewing process).

Nor is it ever pasteurized.

Muskoka Cream Ale, their flagship beer launched 1996 is now widely recognized as the signature beer of Muskoka. Found on tap across Ontario, this British-style cream ale is crisp and refreshingly hopped with a wonderful malt balance. Not wedded to any one particular brewing style, they used traditional German brewing to produce their Hefe-Weissbier (“hay-fa-vice”) beer. This wheat beer is unfiltered and, as a result, is naturally hazy. The hops are restrained, allowing for the distinctive fruity and spicy character that is enhanced by a special strain of yeast. For those who prefer a North American-style beer, they have a premium lager that is all malt.

“I WAS STILL IN UNIVERSITY WHEN I STARTED BREWING, AND I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH I GOT SOME HELP FROM A BREW MASTER. HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO GET THE PARTICULAR TASTE I WANTED FROM MY BEER. HE WOULD TELL ME, ‘ADJUST YOUR HOPS, TRY A DIFFERENT MALT,’ AND I WENT FROM THERE.” The Lake of Bays Brewing Company is Muskoka’s newest microbrewery, having opened Victoria Day weekend in Baysville, Ontario. President Darren Smith started home brewing early. “I was still in university when I started brewing, and I enjoyed it so much I got some help from a brew master,” says Smith.

“He taught me how to get the particular taste I wanted from my beer. He would tell me, ‘Adjust your hops, try a different malt,’ and I went from there.” Smith first began experimenting with strong beers: “A chocolate stout I made was big hit at parties,” says Smith. “It was 11 percent alcohol.”

It turns out that brewing is a family tradition.

Thomas Lea, his great-great-great-grandfather, ran Lea’s Virgins Inn, a pub and inn—reputed to have been the last surviving thatch-roofed building in Preston, Lancashire, England—in the late 19th century. Since transportation and

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Cranberry

Wine

storage were dicey in those days, pubs couldn’t rely on regular shipments of casks from established breweries to keep up with demand, particularly in smaller towns such as Preston. This meant Lea and his wife, Jane, almost certainly brewed their own beer on their premises to serve their clientele. So it seems the Lake of Bays Brewing Company is continuing the family brewing tradition after a short century-long break.

The microbrewery houses the company’s brewing facilities, as well as a retail store where you can purchase their beer in bottles or kegs. Lake of Bays’ flagship lager is an American-style Pale Ale. The amber-coloured beer has a fresh citrus and floral hop aroma, with caramel malt sweetness and medium hop bitterness. “I want my beer to be as clear a pale ale as possible,” says Smith. “I’m aiming for an approachable beer that everyone will enjoy, yet is high quality, has a good head on it and that everyone will be able taste the malt.”

Careful not to turn people off with excessive bitterness, Smith says he developed the recipe “to create an approachable, highly drinkable beer without sacrificing our craft beer credibility.” To do this he kept the recipe simple, based on the belief that good beer is mainly the result of high quality ingredients and a consistent process. He even threw out the tradition of using a dozen different kinds of malt and more than five distinct hop varieties. Lake of Bays Pale Ale can be found in local Muskoka eateries, at the LCBO and at the Lake of Bays Brewery retail store. 

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Boiled, sweetened and turned into sauce, cranberries go nicely with a holiday bird. But pressed into wine?

Matthew French, owner of Johnston Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery in Bala, says cranberry wine is not only tasty, but a wonderful source of vitamin C. In 2001, French and his wife, We n d y, s t a r t e d making wine from pure cranberry juice. Their first release of 600 cases sold out in 16 days. They’ve since produced blueberry wine and a cranberry desert wine, Red Maple, made with maple syrup.

Unlike red grapes, cranberries are frozen before being ground and pressed, so wine can be made year-round. Muskoka Lakes Winery has produced so many award-winning wines it’s hard to choose the best. If, however, this is your first time navigating the fruit wine world, double gold winner Cranberry Blueberry should be your first stop. 

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COTTAGE

COUNTRY RETREATS BLEND TRADITIONAL MATERIALS AND MODERN STYLE

BY KIM KERR o you’ve bought your dream leisure property in Muskoka. Perhaps a rustic lakeside cottage, or maybe a newer property overlooking one of the area’s magnificent golf courses. Trouble is, how on earth do you capture that classic Muskoka look, the one you’ve seen so many times featured in the many lifestyle magazines that showcase those picture-perfect cottage interiors?

The answer’s simple: Get help—lots of help. And that’s exactly what we did. There are numerous interior design companies specializing in that particular Muskoka look and feel, so we selected two we knew had a reputation not just for their workmanship, but for their experience.

We asked designers to showcase properties that spoke to Muskoka’s spirit—that unique blend of tradition, modernity and rustic finishes. The results are simply stunning.

S

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Muskoka Living Interiors has been providing cottage design solutions for more than 15 years. Now headed by Cory Defrancisco, this successful family business has grown from a 180-square-metre storefront in Port Carling to a huge 1,620-square-metre store and warehouse. Not bad for a former Bay Street bond trader. The company’s design philosophy is simple: Let the spectacular natural beauty of Muskoka serve as inspiration, while paying careful attention to the unique needs and tastes of their clients.

PHOTOS: (clockwise from top right) 1. Inspired by sunny days on the dock, bright and cheerful fabrics make this room come alive with the spirit of summertime in Muskoka. 2.

This all-season log cabin is the perfect place to curl up on rainy summer days and cold winter nights. Cozy up in a burnished leather chair with a favourite book or to play a friendly game of chess. 3. Much attention was paid to kitchen functionality while maintaining a Muskoka theme.

Hand-distressed custom cabinetry and painted ceilings contrast with the antique hemlock floors.

4. A china hutch painted pale blue and white, and distressed for a weathered look, is the perfect home for white ceramics and glass accessories in a chic cottage kitchen.

5. This great room is at once commanding and inviting. Pashmina wool rugs, buttery leathers and the soft light of the huge antler chandelier make this space look and feel like it’s been in the family for years. 6. Custom fabric makes a statement in this classic cottage great room. Curved king trusses and a grand antler chandelier give the room a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for all to enjoy.

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Located on Huntsville’s Fairy Lake, interior design firm North Muskoka House has made quite a name for itself in the two years since opening its doors. As owner and principal designer Kristine Brigden likes to say, the business aims to “embrace the pioneering spirit of those who seek the undiscovered, the fresh and the innovative.” Her style is about creating talking points for summer gatherings at the cottage, recognizing the fact most are bought as much for entertaining family and friends as their role as personal retreats.

PHOTOS: (clockwise from top left) 1. A 4.5-square-metre glass walled steam shower separates the sleeping area from the mahogany panelled dressing area in Buffalo Sabres’ Derek Roy’s master suite, a personal touch the hockey player had been wanting to create for years. 2. An inviting bar offers guests a place to perch and watch the action at the pool table. In the main living area, the windows extend up to the cathedral ceiling, for a stunning view of Lake of Bays. 3. This main floor suite was designed for Roy’s parents, and it includes an expansive ensuite and dressing area complete with a claw foot tub and custom glass shower.

4. Roy’s state-of-the-art kitchen features granite countertops, a pot filler faucet over the cook top, and the hemlock floorboards and salvaged barn beams that run throughout the house.

5. Walking into Roy’s cottage, visitors have a view of the main living space, which features an espresso-coloured sectional sofa, a glass-topped salvaged-wood coffee table, and an entertainment unit.

6. Roy’s huge, one-of-a-kind bed—so heavy it had to be lowered by crane—was handcrafted using driftwood by Sticks and Stones in Huntsville. 

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B U L L

R E V I E W

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’s new CEO Ed Whitacre Jr. means business. Just two weeks after taking over the largest U.S. automaker, this no-nonsense Texan shook up the company’s famously bureaucratic culture by promoting several young executives and drastically streamlining its ponderous decision-making process. Last month, Big Ed—as he’s affectionately known—paid back $8.1 billon in loans to Canadian and U.S. taxpayers. Now, having steered this behemoth on the road to recovery in 12 short months, Big Ed is intent on recapturing the market share by rolling out some impressive new rides.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX is dramatically different from the original SRX, which was sold from 2004 to 2009. The previous model was based on the CTS and had rear-wheel drive, a V8 engine and a third row of seats. The 2010 SRX is smaller and more fuelefficient, has front-wheel drive, and only two rows of seats, for a maximum seating capacity of five. The base engine, a 3.0-litre, 265-horsepower V6, is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. To bring the design of the SRX closer to the rest of the Cadillac family, designers have incorporated vertically stacked headlights, a chrome grille and an elegant, sweeping roofline.

The suspension system uses stabilizer bars in the front and back, along with a linked H-arm at the rear, to control body roll and provide a smooth ride. And let’s be honest, the ride is part of what makes sitting in a Cadillac such a treat.

GM

— MARC PHILLIPS

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R E A L

E S T A T E

PARADISE OWN A PIECE OF HEAVEN AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

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Found t’s early April, and by rights, Ben Imrie should be a little more, well, relaxed. But although his busiest season is still some three months away, the Muskoka-based realtor is working harder than ever, chasing new listings and closing deals.

While such an upswing in the market flies in the face of everything we’ve been reading of late regarding real estate, Imrie’s not surprised. He saw it coming: An early start to spring, coupled with a trickle-down effect from Toronto’s hot

I

housing market, topped by the looming HST deadline, all add up to a greater number of motivated people. “I’ve certainly had a lot more showings than usual given the time of year,” says Imrie, a sales representative with Chestnut Park in Port Carling. “I’ve not seen this type of action for a few years, and it’s shaping up to be a tremendous year for everyone, buyers and sellers alike.”

While there’s little doubt the greatest pull real estate-wise in Muskoka is for lakefront properties, there are numerous

alternatives popping up. “What people seem to be looking for are smaller, older cottages they can renovate over time and put their own stamp on,” says Imrie.

“These aren’t necessarily bargain properties, but they’re less expensive than some of the already renovated or rebuilt cottages up here.”

And bargains, as Imrie points out, simply don’t happen in Muskoka. “When you hear what people are after—waterfront, west facing views, boathouses, level lots—they soon realize they’re going to

have to pay for it,” Imrie says. “But it all boils down to knowing what you want, and what it’s going to take to make that Muskoka dream a reality. Normally, it’s patience, and money.”

There’s no shortage of options.

Golfers in particular are well served. A little further north from Imrie’s Lake Muskoka office, realtor John Aben is selling one of the region’s most exclusive subdivisions, the Highland Estates near Huntsville. Overlooking Deerhurst Resort’s championship Highlands Golf Course, the homes he’s selling range in price from $600,000 to a cool couple of million—and that’s without the lakefront. “We’ve seen a mix of golfers and non-golfers buy into the lifestyle at Highlands,” says Aben. “Not only are they getting a tremendous summer home, they’re getting Deerhurst, too.

That’s priceless.”

The connection to Deerhurst runs deep. While all Highland Estates homes are unique and custom-built to the clients’ specifications, Deerhurst Resort does have some input in the final design.

“There are covenants in place that stipulate home designs have to be approved

by Deerhurst,” says Aben. “And that’s a good thing for everybody. It’ll ensure the quality of homes built here stays high, and that every property has features that’ll make sure it fits in with that special Deerhurst feel.”

Phase one of the development is well underway and includes 16 lots nestled between the Highland fairways. The west-coast style homes—ranging in size from 171 to 450 square metres—are located along quiet, tree-lined streets just minutes from Deerhurst and all of its many amenities. If it’s water you’re after, owners get docking privileges at Deerhurst-owned Penn Lake docks, with access to downtown Huntsville and Fairy Lake. Discounts are provided at Deerhurst’s golf courses and sports club, and Algonquin Park is only a 20-minute drive away.

A little closer to home, the Muskoka Bay Club is a large, masterplanned community located on the outskirts of Gravenhurst, just 90 minutes from Toronto. Featuring a mix of luxury homes and villas centred around numerous amenities, Muskoka Bay is already well known for its outstanding Doug Carrick-designed golf course. With miles of scenic trails to hike, bike or ski, plus skating, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, every season’s covered.

“Sales have been great this spring,” says Chuck MacDougall, director of sales, marketing and construction at Muskoka Bay. “We’ve seen a huge increase (in) people wanting to buy memberships in the golf club, as well as the Stay and Play program.”

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FRACTIONAL LIVING Take a look at your holiday activities over the last few years. What have you spent on cottage rentals or resort stays? What do you think you’ll spend in the next few years?

Lakefront properties sustain their value and have a track record of increasing in value. The prospect of selling your fractional share at some future point, or perhaps even handing it down to the kids, is worth taking into consideration. Add to the mix the fact that most fractional ownership properties offer exchange programs with international travel options, and it can make good sense over strictly renting or leasing.

But with so many projects on the go, how do you choose what’s best for you? First, consider the time it will take to get to the property. If you’re only spending a week at the place, you’ll want the travel time to be not much more than a three-hour drive. The more consecutive weeks you buy, the further afield you can consider.

Financially, there are many price points available, with amenities and options galore. The best prices are on projects just under way. Visit several projects and decide which serves your needs the best, remembering flexibility is key.

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Aimed directly at those interested in offsetting the cost of a real estate purchase, Muskoka Bay Club’s Stay and Play program allows owners to select the weeks they want for themselves in their fully furnished three-bedroom ravine villa each year (starting from $459,900), with the remainder made available for rental purposes.

“It’s proven hugely popular,” says MacDougall. “Especially amongst people who want a place in Muskoka, want the lifestyle, but don’t want the huge expenditure and work that usually goes along with purchasing up here. This way, you get the tremendous amenities—the golf, the water, everything—without having to lift anything more than a golf club.”

The amenities MacDougall refers to are centred around the development’s crowning glory, the spectacular 1,260square-metre Clifftop Clubhouse. Designed by award-winning architect Richard Wengle, this recreational and social centre boasts an indoor-outdoor bistro, dining room, entertainment lounge and pro shop. It also has a fully equipped fitness studio, spa rooms and private lockers with steam showers, while outside amenities include award-winning golf, tennis, an infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the first two holes, a fire pit, a wraparound terrace and a kids’ splash pool. The Clubhouse initiation fee of $15,000 is included with the purchase of a home or villa, and a monthly fee of $250 per family keeps your membership in good standing.

Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank in order to build a legacy of family vacationing in Muskoka, and there are now numerous relatively inexpensive

alternatives to traditional cottage ownership. Muskoka Bay Club is launching one of its newest concepts, Muskoka Lofts.

Starting at $289,900, these 72- to 99square-metre units are located along the golf course’s 13th fairway. Only 20 units will be available in phase one, although if successful, a second phase may be added. And loft owners can also offset costs with the development’s Stay and Play program.

Another option gaining popularity is fractional ownership. Simply put, you purchase only the time you need, and let someone else take care of the upkeep for you. It’s a model that’s proven remarkably successful in Muskoka. In fact, many of the established fractional developments have seen multi-fraction purchases being made by families who could well afford the price of a traditional cottage but simply don’t want the necessary upkeep that those properties require. Like a cottage, fractionals come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from resort-styled luxury homes and villas to no-frills cottages. The amount of time you can purchase also varies, with options ranging from one or two peak summer weeks to larger quarter shares.

One of the newest entrants to the fractional market is Windermere House, a longtime fixture of Muskoka’s vacation industry located on one of the most expensive stretches of real estate in Canada. The Cottages at Windermere House are situated on the Settler’s Bay property adjacent to the resort, and six of the 12 planned cottages—each with three bedrooms, sundeck, gas fireplace and an unobstructed lake view—have been built,

Luxurious Living

Nestled among the fairways of Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course. Masterfully crafted, one-of-a-kind, luxurious estate homes bring together the full convenience of moder n living with the splendor of nature’s r ugged beauty.

Deerhurst Highlands Drive Huntsville ON 705 789 0117 info@highlandestates.ca www.highlandestates.ca

with occupancy ready in time for summer.

An exchange program with Preferred Residences is in place, as is a unique program allowing owners the chance to extend their vacation time in the main resort. Five- and seven-week fractions allow owners to choose the weeks they need, with prices starting at $149,900.

Another fractional development with a resort attached is The Cottages at Port Stanton, adjacent to Bayview Wildwood.

This cottage resort offers fractional ownership in two- and three-bedroom Muskoka-style cottages just steps from Sparrow Lake (five week fractions start at

$59,000). Ownership privileges include membership with Interval International, a vacation exchange company, and a rental program. One of the first fractional ownership resorts in Ontario, The Cottages at Port Stanton is now in its third phase.

Further north, the Black Pebble in Dwight has just eight freestanding Confederation-built log cottages available for fractional ownership, and prices range from $98,000 to $315,000. Amenities include an outdoor heated pool and a beach on Lake of Bays. On Lake Vernon near Huntsville, a new development called Shoreline’s Marina Club will soon be offering cozy log homes sleeping eight. Only 16 cottages will be made available, all with direct water access to downtown Huntsville. Pricing starts at $65,000.  48 | THE BAY STREET BULL

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Dining with

aView

Muskoka eateries pair culinary delights with breathtaking scenery

BY KIM KERR

o vacation would be complete without a sampling of the local fare, and few places in Ontario offer so vast a variety of excellent food options as Muskoka. With more great dining locations than you could reasonably expect to visit in a lifetime and something to suit everyone’s palate, Muskoka is a food lover’s paradise.

Good food can be had in many destinations, but Muskoka offers something you simply can’t get anywhere else—those incredible views of the rock, trees and water that have made the area so popular with visitors for close to 150 years now.

Even in the early days of Muskoka tourism, the meals lodges offered were as much a part of the attraction as the scenery. Huge woodstoves dominated resort kitchens, and handwritten menus changed daily, tempting guests with wonderful local ingredients.

While the woodstoves have gone, the focus on local produce remains. The region is home to some of Canada’s finest chefs. And one of the mandates of our homegrown talent is to ensure the fantastic specialty dishes and desserts on offer include locally sourced ingredients such as maple syrup, cranberries, spices, fish and game.

To help you get the best from your Muskoka food experience, we’ve done the footwork for you and have featured those locations that combine the magic of a great view with that focus on fantastic local fare.

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THE BAY STREET BULL | 51

THE VIEW: Make a reservation for Table 202 at Elements. The unspoiled view of the southern tip of Lake Muskoka is first rate and picture-perfect.

You’re almost guaranteed to see the RMS Segwun steaming her way up the lake.

The brand new Elements restaurant is located at Taboo Resort and boasts a lounge and a culinary theatre where guests, encircling an open kitchen, are treated to a chef’s tasting menu.

THE FOOD: Exquisitely presented and almost too lovely to eat. But don’t let that stop you. Dig in and enjoy fresh hummus, strawberry granité, an appetizer of beef consommé “Champs Elysée” with truffle, puff pastry, enoki mushrooms and small beef meatballs, or Georgian Bay pickerel orange and carrot soup with mint pesto and vanilla yogurt, followed by Ontario rack of lamb with fava beans, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, polenta gratin and pesto jus, or grilled beef tenderloin.

THE DETAILS: Elements Restaurant at Taboo Resort, Golf and Spa, Gravenhurst.

A Seven Course Affair Menu from Arowhon Pines Restaurant, Algonquin Park Guests begin by helping themselves to two convent tables full of hot and cold appetizers: honey garlic chicken wings baked with sesame seeds, pâtés and terrines served with chutney and freshly baked melba toast, Ontario wild rice salad, maize-fed chicken breast with blueberry vinaigrette, smoked lake trout mousse on cucumber and pumpernickel, barbecued red peppers with anchovies and capers, braised leeks with herb dressing.

Garden salad.

Warm buttermilk biscuits.

Enjoy a hot or chilled soup at your table: clam mussel and sweet corn chowder, chilled strawberry soup.

ENTRÉES: Golden summer trout from Northern Ontario, served with baby potatoes and fresh mint, sautéed zucchini, eggplant and summer Squash.

Roast loin of pork stuffed with apples and prunes, leek, potato and onion gratin, green and yellow beans with fresh herbs.

Rack of lamb scented with rosemary and garlic, mint sauce from our garden, croquette potatoes, steamed cauliflower, cheddar cheese sauce, snow peas and carrots.

THE VIEW: Since opening in 2008, Regatta Steak and Seafood Grille has proven to be one of Muskoka Wharf’s key attractions. Its patio overlooks Muskoka Bay and it is a great place to people watch.

THE FOOD: For a starter, try the vodka-soaked salmon salad or the beef slider, a strip loin stacked on a Bermuda onion ring, goat cheese mashed potato, mushroom cap, topped with a creamy gorgonzola sauce—a meal in itself. Entrées include Georgian Bay Trout, which is baked and served over asparagus, with organic watercress, Himalayan red rice and peppered pineapple salsa, or the grilled pork rack chop served over fingerling potatoes, seasonal vegetables, sweet mustard sauce, sided by a green apple mango chutney (or local seasonal variations).

THE DETAILS: Regatta Steak and Seafood Grille, Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst.

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The Finale: an antique table filled with country-style desserts fresh from the bakery: Warm desserts—fruit crumble with vanilla custard, banana bread and butter pudding with rum and raisins, fruit tarts, pies and strudels, lemon date chiffon pie, English truffle, maple mousse, ice cream bombes, cakes, squares, cookies, and so on. Cheese board with homemade toasts, seasonal fruits.

Modesty aside, the very best freshly brewed tea and coffee within miles, which may be enjoyed on the lakeside verandah.

Bring your own wine.

IF HEAVEN HAD A CLUBHOUSE, THIS WOULD BE IT.

Welcome to Muskoka Bay Club, a four season community who’s crowning glory is the incredible 17,000 sq. ft. Clifftop Clubhouse.

The definitive recreational and social centre - a place to play and relax. It’s heaven on earth. Come by for a visit today.

Four Season Homes from $464,900.

Villas from $459,900.

Lofts from $289,900.

Golf and Social Memberships available.

Book your wedding, special event or tournament today.

Resort-style amenities and luxury accommodations.

BEST COURSE YOU CAN PLAY 2009, SCOREGOLF MAGAZINE / BEST NEW CLUBHOUSE 2009, FAIRWAYS MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2008, BUILDING INDUSTRY AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION / BEST CONDITIONED GOLF COURSE IN CANADA 2008, SCOREGOLF MAGAZINE / BEST NEW GOLF COURSE IN CANADA 2007, SCOREGOLF MAGAZINE

169

Lake Muskoka

11

Muskoka Bay 11

90 min. from Toronto

118

Gravenhurst

VIP FLY & PLAY Contact Emily at 416.360.0600 For details and bookings.

1217 North Muldrew Lake Road, Gravenhurst, Ontario info@muskokabayclub.com Call 705.687.7900 muskokabayclub.com

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Prices, sizes and specifications subject to change without notice. E. & O.E. Illustration is artist’s impression.

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THE VIEW: Perched high up on a south-facing ridge above Lake Muskoka, Taste (part of Touchstone resort) certainly lives up to its name; the food is first-class, and the décor is extremely inviting and tasteful. If the weather’s warm enough, the view’s even better from the sprawling patio.

All steam ed up over dinner

THE FOOD: Arborio risotto (including local forest-grown mushrooms) and “The Last of the Beets,” a variety of local beets in a vinaigrette for appetizers, followed by melt-in-your-mouth braised beef cheek with pistachio popcorn and Yukon braised reduction, or Pacific salmon with ancient roots and oyster mushrooms. And for the ultimate dessert, call ahead and request the Mr. Nitro Ice Cream—this amazing flaming experience is one you, and the kids, won’t soon forget.

THE DETAILS: Taste, Touchstone On Lake Muskoka, Bracebridge.

The View: Perhaps the ultimate Muskoka dining experience is aboard the oldest operating steamship in North America, the exquisite RMS Segwun. Make a reservation for the Sunset Dinner Cruise, affording views of Muskoka’s breathtaking sunset as you dine. Lunch cruises are also available. If travelling in a group aboard sister ship Wenonah II, request the Commodore’s Dining Room, which features a private licensed patio for up to 10 guests.

Themed dinner cruises on the Wenonoah II include murder mystery, casino and western ho-down for grown-ups, and Noah’s Ark and pirates for the kids. If you can swing it, try the daylong Thanksgiving Cruise (dinner at a classic resort), or one of the ship’s overnight cruises. Reservations for cruises must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

The Food: Set dinner menu starts with assorted breads and organic green salad with balsamic vinaigrette. The entrée is roasted rib eye of beef with jus served with creamed potatoes and seasonal market fresh vegetables, followed by cake for dessert.

The Details: RMS Segwun and Wenonah II, The Real Muskoka Experience, Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst.

a.com k o k s u m p m www..cca

CAMP

MUSKOKA Register Toll Free: 1888Online ETemleapilh: monaie: 705-64735-4-60CA00MP (2267) l@ @campmusk oka.com

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High Tea The View: The Blue Willow Tea Shop not only offers wonderful views of Lake Muskoka, it’s also a fantastic place to simply sit and people watch.

Both its dining room and patio overlook the Muskoka Wharf’s Centre Square. Visit during the weekends, when events such as the Antique and Classic Boat Show take place, and it’s like having a ringside seat.

The Food: There’s more than 14 teas on the menu but there’s much more than tea to be had at the Blue Willow. The shop offers a variety of tea accessories, books and tea caddies, and lunch and dinner menus are also available. For lunch, try something traditionally English—egg, bacon, sausage, grilled tomatoes and baked beans—or the signature pork tenderloin sandwich.

Keep it English for dinner and try the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding or the wonderful steak and mushroom pie. Of course, traditional high tea with scones, jam and cream are always available. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere as well as the friendly, informative staff.

The Details: The Blue Willow Tea Shop, Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst.

A Cottage Lending Program for Cancer Survivors of all Ages.

You Can Make A Real Difference!

Visit our website www.cottagedreams.org or call 416-763-2009 #888550100RR0001

Is your cottage sitting empty during the week?

Would you like a tax receipt?

Do you know someone with cancer?

Cottage Dreams Cancer Recovery Initiative is a registered charity that offers recent cancer survivors the opportunity to spend a week at a private, donated Ontario cottage to reconnect and rejuvenate with family and friends after successfully completing treatment.

For over a century, Canadian families have been finding peace, tranquility and inspiration in cottage country. Cottage Dreams was created with this in mind.

Introducing our Newest Supporter: The Cottages at Windermere House A magnificent luxury fractional ownership cottage development on Lake Rosseau. The developers are supporting Cottage Dreams by donating a portion of the proceeds from any fraction sale by a Cottage Dreams supporter to our organization until May 31, 2010.

Visit www.windermerehouse.com/thecottages

www.cottagedreams.org 56 | THE BAY STREET BULL

THE VIEW: Windermere House is unique in that diners have four locations from which to admire the same glorious Lake Rosseau vistas: the fine-dining Rosseau Grill, the Windermere Pub and Patio (the place to celebrity-watch in Muskoka), PJ’s Lobby Bar and the Wasabi Sushi Café. The resort’s beautiful spacious lawns frame the perfect views of Lake Rosseau.

THE FOOD: Kick-off with the Caesar salad or the marinated giant prawns in a tomato horseradish jam with lemon curd wafer, yuzu and crispy calamari. Entrées also offer a twist on classics: the chicken supreme showcases locally grown carrots, along with a spiced lentil and corn hash; and the grilled beef tenderloin comes with twice-baked scallion and chevre potato, parsnip white chocolate puree and roast asparagus. Yes, you heard right, chocolate and beef. “It’s a classic French pairing, but we’re having some fun with tradition and used parsnips that go along well with white chocolate,” says Executive Chef Jay Scaife.

THE DETAILS: The Rosseau Grill, Windermere House, Windermere.

THE VIEW: Deerhurst’s got it all: Sweeping lake vistas and sophisticated dining using fresh, local ingredients. While Eclipse restaurant is cavernous, the soaring ceiling of Douglas fir beams is not without its charm. But it’s the huge picture windows overlooking Sunset Bay that make the place so special.

Executive Ch ef, Rory Golden THE FOOD: Deerhurst produces its own maple syrup, honey, shiitake mushrooms and herbs. Staff even forage for seasonal ingredients like wild leeks, sumac and cat tails. Chef Rory Golden and his crew work with more than 20 area suppliers to ensure his menus are replete with local fair. Try the smoked Milford Bay trout tossed with white truffle roasted cauliflower, fresh dill, roasted beets and linguini noodles; the rack of lamb with winter vegetable flavoured couscous on a wild blueberry sauce, with a reduction of Muskoka Lakes blueberry wine; or the Ontario pickerel paired with jade rice, layered with roasted butternut squash on beet beurre blanc.

THE DETAILS: Eclipse, Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville.

Rory Golden is known as the “chef’s chef.”

Named Chef of the Year by the Muskoka and District Chefs Association, he’s also been acclaimed Central Region Chef of the Year by the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks.

As Executive Chef at Deerhurst, Ontario’s largest resort, Golden directs the operations of five kitchens and a staff of 50. He believes culinary arts should be interactive, and encourages his staff to participate in developing menus. His skills have been enjoyed by VIPs such as Queen Elizabeth II, and will be on display at the upcoming G8 Summit.

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THE VIEW: Muskoka’s eastern boundary encompasses a little bit of Georgian Bay. Visit The Dining Room at Rawley Resort, and you’ll notice the scenery’s just that little bit different—a little more windswept and rugged. The dining room, in fact, offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of Little Lake and the last lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway before Georgian Bay, and is particularly stunning when the sun goes down.

On th e Grill

THE FOOD: Spicy Cajun snow crab cakes or Caesar salad, followed by a topnotch ribeye steak with roasted red peppers, or Atlantic salmon wrapped in phyllo, served with shrimp bisque and banana-crusted king prawns. For desert, there’s tiramisu and the most deliciously decadent chocolate cake you’ll ever taste.

THE DETAILS: The Dining Room, Rawley Resort, Port Severn.

Menu from Regatta Steak and Seafood Grille, Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst

APPETIZERS Regatta Seafood Chowder Loaded with a medley of seafood, cilantro and jalapeno oil.

Vine Tomato Tower Red and yellow tomatoes layered with spring seedlings, bocconcini, garnished with cassava chips in a purple basil vinaigrette.

Fresh P.E.I. Mussels Steamed in a Thai green curry coconut broth, garnished with scallions and rice stick noodles.

Pan Seared Scallops Digby scallops over shiitake mushrooms, light truffle cream and lotus root chips, garnished with sweet pea tendrils.

King Crab Cakes Alaskan crab served with a mango fennel slaw, sided by a chipotle ranch dipping sauce.

Chef’s Signature Steak Slider C.A.B. striploin stacked on a Bermuda onion ring, goat cheese mashed potato, mushroom cap, topped with a creamy gorgonzola sauce.

ENTRÉES Blackened Halibut Stacked over California rolls with Asian style vegetables finished with a tomato basil salsa.

THE VIEW: It doesn’t get much better than dining at Arowhon Pines. The resort and restaurant is one of only three resorts permitted within the gates of Algonquin Park, and you really do feel like you’re somewhere truly special inside the large, sixsided heritage dining room built in 1938. The vast teepee, constructed of hand-hewn logs, accentuated by wrap-around views of Little Joe Lake and the dense surrounding forest, dominates the grounds. The view inside is almost as breathtaking, with a towering stone fireplace rising to the centre of the building’s high cathedral ceiling. A must for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you’re planning a trip to the Park.

THE FOOD: The resort grows its own edible flowers, herbs and rhubarb. The rustic setting suits the hearty, wholesome food, and dinner features items such as Berkshire pork, lamb, venison, salmon or grouper with Singapore noodles. The dessert menu includes chocolate mousse, butter tarts and berry pies. Be sure to take your own wine, as Algonquin does not permit the selling of liquor; no corking fee is charged.

Ahi Tuna Steak Ponzu glazed tuna topping a stir-fry with rice stick noodles and light shrimp sauce.

THE DETAILS: Arowhon Pines, Algonquin Park.

Georgian Bay Trout Baked lake trout served over asparagus, organic watercress, Himalayan red rice and peppered pineapple salsa.

THE VIEW: When dining at Cottages, it almost doesn’t matter whether you reserve a window seat or dine on the huge patio—the view from almost anywhere on the property is amazing given its elevation high above Lake Rosseau. Rather than looking across the lake, you’re looking down on it, into the nooks and crannies of the splendid shoreline.

Roasted Chicken Breast Grain fed chicken over truffle-mashed potatoes, with seasonal vegetables and Portobello mushroom jus.

Grilled Pork Rack Chop Served over fingerling potatoes, seasonal vegetables, sweet mustard sauce, sided by a green apple mango chutney.

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THE FOOD: Cottages offers hearty farm-to-fork cuisine. For appetizers, try the sweet potato and corn chowder, the meatball sliders in a marinara sauce with parmesan (it’s the GM’s grandmother’s recipe), the mussels in a white wine sauce.

For an entrée, try the beef tenderloin, lobster macaroni and cheese, or halibut served on a bed of vibrant red, beefy tomatoes.

THE DETAILS: Cottages, The Rosseau JW Marriott Resort and Spa, Minett. 

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The Cottage

Concierge Specialty services redefine ‘roughing it’

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

C

ottaging has changed a lot in the past few decades.

Gone are the days of tiny cabins and fishing for dinner, and in its place are well-appointed retreats and all the specialty services a cottager could want.

For athletes, celebrities and fitness junkies, staying in shape is a must, even during a vacation. And that’s where Adam Godard comes in.

Godard is a sought-after personal trainer, and owner of Bracebridge Source for Sports. Like many Muskoka residents, his family has benefited from the annual influx of summer residents for decades: his father has built and renovated countless cottages, while his mother has provided care-giving services for those who choose to spend their

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twilight years at the cottage estate.

“I grew up knowing there would always be work in Muskoka if you had the kind of skills visitors wanted,” says Godard. “More and more people are choosing to spend more time at their cottages, even retiring there.”

Like many successful Muskoka entrepreneurs, much of Godard’s business comes from referrals and word of mouth. His clients have even been known to fly him on vacation with them, just to ensure he’s around to help with their workout regimes. “It happens,” says Godard, whose client list reads like a who’s who of North American actors, athletes, musicians and entrepreneurs. “It gets to the point that you’re almost family. Trust is key, as well

as discretion. It’s important that we respect our clients’ needs for privacy.”

It’s that same sense of privacy that has led to the success of Muskoka’s international lifeline, the Muskoka Airport in Gravenhurst. With more than 13,000 comings and goings annually—none of them from scheduled flights—the airport handles more private aircraft during the busy summer months than many international airports. Thanks to an on-site car rental service, clients can get off their jet, pick up a non-descript mid-size, and drive to their summer homes without being recognized.

Toronto Island Airport (less than an hour’s flight away) is home to Cameron Air, offering all kinds of aircraft, including floatplanes that can take you pretty much anywhere in Muskoka. Cameron Air also offers tours over Muskoka, including a stop at the airline’s private island on Lake Muskoka.

The standard return price per person from Toronto Island for a group of up to eight is $2,750, while a three-passenger plane runs about $1,375.

Although not an airline, Stratos Jet Charters Flight Coordinators provides several aircraft options for charter to and from Muskoka Airport. The company helps arrange departures and eliminates the hassle of security lines and ground transportation arrangements. Hourly rates for private aircraft to Muskoka start at $1,500 for a turbo-prop, or $2,000 for a light jet.

So popular is flying to Muskoka that Deerhurst Resort has its own private, 900-metre-long executive airstrip capable of handling small aircraft (up to a Dash 7), floatplanes and helicopters. The strip sees up to 150 private aircraft visits annually.

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RESOURCE CENTRE An excellent source of cottage-related info is CottageCountry.com, an online resource for both property owners and travellers to cottage regions across Canada and parts of the U.S., including Muskoka. The site offers information for travellers looking for cottage rentals, B&Bs, resorts or other types of accommodations.

Visitors are also provided with the latest recreational information concerning a wide variety of activities, including golf, boating, fishing and other cottage type activities. A wide selection of accommodations for travellers to cottage country is provided, and property owners looking to rent their cottages have access to an excellent listing page that includes property photos, amenities, description, availability calendars and a secure contact with the property owners. Ratings and functions are also available, providing useful, meaningful feedback from travellers who have experienced the vacation property.

And Muskoka Tourism, naturally, provides a great deal of information related to area attractions, accommodations and businesses. For more details, visit their website at discovermuskoka.com.

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Another great service is Muskoka Golf Airways, which provides amphibious touchdown at almost any of Muskoka’s golf courses and resorts—even straight to the dock at your cottage. Its refurbished 1948 de Havilland Beaver aircraft can land on water or land, carries four golfers and their clubs, and costs between $2,000 and $2,500 per day depending on the destination.

After you’ve settled in, a gourmet meal might be just the thing—and if a private dinner is what you’re after, turn to My Chef in Muskoka.

Located on Lake of Bays, My Chef in Muskoka brings the chef’s table to the cottage kitchen. Along with sumptuous cordon bleu menus for groups of up to 20, the company—the brainchild of Chef MacKenzie Taylor and his wife Kyla— also provides catering services for garden parties, cocktail soirees, wedding rehearsal dinners and holiday gatherings for up to 80 guests.

Private consultations and site surveys at your cottage are performed up to 10 days prior to the chef’s visit, providing an opportunity for you to discuss your expectations, preferences, wine palate, food allergies and the like. Equipment and

table setting requirements are also discussed.

MacKenzie completed his culinary apprenticeship under the mentorship of Scottish Certified Chef de Cuisine Roddy Fenner at the upscale Port Credit Yacht Club. Other acclaimed restaurants he’s been associated with include Vancouver’s MoonBean’s Bistro, Toronto’s historic Sultan’s Tent, and the Prime Steakhouse, a newly renovated 400seat Scottish manor, where he worked with consulting Chef Domenic Zoffranieri, president of the Escoffier Society.

While a private meal prepared by an accomplished chef will elevate cottaging to a whole new level, you haven’t truly experienced Muskoka until you’ve spent time aboard a classic wooden watercraft, the kind of blast-from-the-past you see zooming across the lake from time to time.

Muskoka Launch Livery Ltd. lets you live the dream and have your very own classic Duke Playmate for a day or two. Delivered to your cottage or a nearby marina, the beautiful wooden classic is fully equipped, gassed-up and ready to go. Owner and boat builder Stan Hunter is quick to point out this particular vessel was made more for pleasure than speed, but a leisurely pace does have its benefits. And with scenery as beautiful as Muskoka’s, you’ll want to take forever. 

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Algonquin

Park

Experience Ontario’s untamed wilderness

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

S

pring came early to Algonquin Provincial Park. The trees budded sooner and the wildlife seemed eager to make the most of the warm weather—and so too will visitors.

Established in 1893 as a wildlife sanctuary, the Park was “discovered” by fishermen before it was made famous by Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven. A host of visitors, who came by train and stayed at one of Algonquin’s several hotels, soon followed. Over the years, Algonquin has earned a place in the hearts of countless individuals. The Park has been celebrated in more than 40 books, a musical score (the Algonquin Symphony), and countless landscape paintings, some of which hang in the National Gallery.

Since its creation, the Park has grown to 7,653 square kilometres—one-and-a-half times the size of Prince Edward Island. It stretches from North Bay to the Ottawa River and is framed by the Trans Canada Highway to the north and Highway 11 to the west; Highway 60 passes through the Park’s southwest corner and frames the park to the southeast. The Park lies in a transition zone between deciduous forests typical of areas to the south, and the coniferous forests typical of areas to the north. Even a short trip will take you by maple forests, spruce bogs, beaver ponds, campgrounds, lakes and cliffs.

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Stay in Style It’s well worth tackling what must be one of the longest driveways in North America in order to enjoy the many delights offered by Arowhon Pines. Located well off the Highway 60 Corridor (10 kilometres north on Arowhon Road, and 15.4 kilometres east of the West Gate) and surrounded by a remarkable blue- and evergreencoloured forest, the Arowhon sits on Little Joe Lake, a postcard-perfect setting from which to watch wildlife and enjoy the great outdoors while never being too far from those creature comforts of home.

If you’re planning on visiting Algonquin for just the day, Arowhon always welcomes daytrippers for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The resort’s food is first-class, as is the huge six-sided dining room at the heart of the property. And when it comes to food, there’s only one rule here: “If you’re not proud of it, don’t serve it.” So says the sign in large letters hanging over the kitchen, put there by Arowhon’s owner and executive chef, Helen Kates.

Of course, you’ll want to stay longer if you can, and a variety of excellent packages are available, ranging from weekend to week-long stays. Themed getaways for 2010 include a special Canada Day weekend yoga retreat with four days of yoga, meditation, canoeing and hiking.

Stargazers who don’t want to miss the remarkable Perseids Meteor Shower—a natural phenomena producing up to 60 meteors per hour—need to block off the second weekend in August. If a scheduling conflict exists don’t despair, the resort has purchased a new telescope and invites guests to spend an evening with a professional astronomer.

For those looking for more athletic endeavours, Arowhon Pines is located in the middle of some of the best canoe routes in Canada, and available packages include overnight camping trips, fully outfitted and guided, departing from the resort’s dock; experienced campers are welcome to go it alone. Day trips along the shorelines that inspired Tom Thomson’s famous landscapes are also available. It’s a leisurely day trip by canoe to the cairn that honours him, and packed lunches are provided.

Log cabins of all sizes are scattered around the lakefront and are decorated with pine furniture and rustic Canadiana. The most romantic are the one-bedroom cabins with their stone fireplaces. Whether your party includes two, four or more, you’ll enjoy meeting travellers from ever corner of the globe.

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With Algonquin’s diverse habitats comes a plethora of plant and animal life. Hundreds of studies of the Park’s ecosystems, plants and wildlife have established Algonquin as an important site for biological and environmental research. More than 1,000 species of plants, 45 species of mammals, 272 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 54 species of fish and approximately 7,000 species of insects can be found within Algonquin’s boundaries. It’s little wonder so many are drawn here to witness Mother Nature in all her splendor.

Algonquin also offers plenty of activities for visitors. The Park is home to countless trails, including three overnight backpacking trails for experienced hikers, and more than a dozen walking trails, ranging from easy to challenging, suitable for day outings. Three more trails are located on the Park’s north and east sides, each designed to explore a different aspect of Algonquin. Trail guides are available online, or at trailheads, the East and West gates and the Visitor Centre bookstore.

For those with a penchant for water, there are 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometres of streams and rivers in Algonquin. Notable among these are

Bartlett Lodge Located on Cache Lake, about half way between Algonquin’s East and West gates on Highway 60, Bartlett Lodge is a short boat ride across the lake from Cache Lake Landing. Guests stay in their own cabins but enjoy their meals in the main lodge’s dining room.

Killarney Lodge On the shores of Lake of Two Rivers, along the Highway 60 corridor, sits Killarney Lodge. For more than 70 years, this family-run business has been offering private, spacious and beautifully decorated cabins along the water’s edge, in the heart of a magnificent nature preserve.

Canoe Lake and the Petawawa, Nipissing, Amable du Fond, Madawaska and Tim rivers, formed by the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age.

Canoeists and kayakers are well served with countless routes suitable for all levels. Local outfitters can supply everything needed for your trip, right down to pre-packaged food and a guide.

No visit to Algonquin Park would be complete without a stop at the Visitor Centre. Opened in 1993 to celebrate the Park’s 100th anniversary, the Centre has natural and cultural history exhibits, a restaurant, bookstore and The Algonquin Room, showcasing Algonquin art.

Algonquin Park has excellent visitor programming, including a guided walk series. Park naturalists lead a leisurely 1.5- to 2-hour educational walk exploring themes such as birds, wildflowers, mush-

rooms or logging history, or concentrating on general topics such as forest ecology or animal signs.

Guided walks are held daily from late June to Labour Day. One of the best known of Algonquin’s programs—the Wolf Howl—takes place after sunset every Thursday from the beginning of August to Labour Day (weather permitting). The evening begins with a slideshow about wolf ecology, and is followed by a short journey by car to an area wolves are frequenting. Naturalists imitate wolf calls, hoping for a response from the shy animals. There is no guarantee the wolves will be heard, but those who have been on a successful howl unanimously agree: nothing captures the spirit of Algonquin’s wilderness like the haunting cry of wolves on a cool August night. 

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T E C H

T O Y S

hrottle T FULL

Speed, power and high-tech features take boating to the next level

BY MIKE DOJC

he lure of cruising on the deep blue attracts legions of leisure seekers to the boating life. Though inhaling the intoxicating cocktail of leather mingled with notes of petrol while hugging esses in a brand new sports car may stimulate the same pleasure receptors in the brain as opening up on the throttle and beginning to plane, boating takes the pursuit of leisure to a unique place in the pantheon of motor sports.

In a car there are limitations—speed, lanes and curbs. Boating offers true 360-degree hairblowing-in-the-wind freedom: you can chart your own course and cruise all over the lake whichever which way your desire takes you. On the water, you are instantly transformed into the master and commander, an Admiral Nelson or Captain Sig, whichever floats your boat.

Watercrafts offer a higher degree of personalization than landlocked transport. Even when pulling into the country club in a late model

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convertible, chances are there’s going to be at least one similar model already in the parking lot. Pull into a marina on any given Saturday and model duplication will be as rare as a mermaid sighting.

And while everyone at one time or another has bestowed a nickname on their car, beloved boats are showered with christening ceremonies replete with the Queen, champagne, speeches and a brass band.

There’s an old seafarer zinger that a government contractor, who made his fortune by charging for various contract modifications, christened his new yacht “Change Order” while naming the yacht’s dingy “Original Contract.”

Of course before you can bestow a sobriquet on your new baby, you’ve got to pick one out.

Just make sure there’s plenty of room for soaking up the sunshine—long lost friends will begin popping up regularly on hot summer days.

STINGRAY 230SX

This sleek 6.9-metre water rocket is for drivers who like to push it to the limit. There are a variety of formidable engine options, but this speedster demands to be rigged to the max. The most powerful option: a gasoline- powered Volvo 8.1 GXI packs 420 horsepower.

While flying across the water at an exhilarating clip is the main attraction of this sport boat, the company refused to skimp on the interior, which is stocked to the gills with plush creature comforts.

Features include adjustable lighting and a screened deck hatch, and in the galley you’ll find a cabin with both v-berth and facing seats.

Lift up the sectionalized V-berth to reveal a porta-potti with a self contained holding tank, a freshwater sink and a removable stove. stingrayboats.com

BENNINGTON 2550RCW Since hitting the scene in 1997, Bennington Marine has carved out a niche for itself as a purveyor of pontoon paradise with the comfiest interior features around. While perfect for taking a running cannonball plunge, this is clearly not a summer camp pontoon boat.

Drift away on the open seas with more than a dozen of your closest friends in this stylish party vessel. Standard features include a redesigned reclining helm seat, LED mood lighting, a mahogany kidney-shaped table and a pair of chaise loungers. All 2010 luxury R-series models can be enhanced with Bennington’s new Baja Graphics Package. Modern Java Metallic graphics choices for the boat’s side panels include Midnight Black, Regatta Blue or Amber Yellow. benningtonmarine.com

COBALT 232 WSS The 232 WSS is a wave piercer built for wakeboarding enthusiasts who crave Cobalt’s sophistication, richly appointed style and extravagance. The sleek 232’s cockpit is primped with anodized aluminum gauge bezels and machined billet fittings, top-of-the-line stitching, and the instrument panel is dressed up with a fetching black powder coat. Integrated racks on the port and starboard securely stow your prized wakeboards, and a swivel mechanism brings them inboard for easy access. There is also ample stowage space for snorkel or scuba gear in a locker underneath the boat. Enhanced options include a tower spotlight, tower speakers and a driver’s rearview mirror. walkerspointmarina.com THE BAY STREET BULL | 69

REGAL 44 SPORT COUPE Find your power boating bliss with this starter yacht—for a mere half a million. The Coupe, a cozier version of Regal’s 52 flagship, gives you as many interior customization choices as a brand new condo. Storage is as compartmentalized as a luxurious walk-in closet, so your gear won’t get lost in the bowels of the stowage boxes. Pick out upholstery fabrics, flooring, countertops, TVs, you name it, in the master and guest cabins. The Volvo Penta IPS joystick makes leaving the slip a breeze, and an electrically sliding hard top sunroof, which adjoins to the windshield and optional cockpit enclosure, affords the Coupe all-weather capabilities. Standard twin petrol motors, each packing 375 horsepower, are the base option for propelling this beauty across the water. regalboats.com

COBALT A25 The maiden voyage in Cobalt’s new A series, the A25, is a giant leap forward in aesthetics for the brand. The stunning subtle sweep of the hull’s profile, which gives it the appearance of a larger and longer vessel, comes from a five-piece mold and hours and hours of hand craftsmanship. As a result, there is less bow rise when you accelerate, turns are smooth, and the drive is more enjoyable for everyone aboard. Cobalt’s new Touch Tech displays GPS, maps and full engine data on a snazzy touch screen located on the centre console. The unique swim platform stretches one metre aft, and its optional step deploys 25 centimetres below the water’s surface for easy entry. Power this baby with a MerCruiser or Volvo Penta engine and forget about making bunny hops. walkerspointmarina.com

SEA-DOO CHALLENGER 210 SE This runabout can hold up to 10 passengers—quite a feat for a 6.25-metre boat. The Challenger features Sea-Doo’s signature direct drive jet propulsion, a system that pops the boat directly onto plane and minimizes bow rise. It also augments your field of vision so you can always see what’s dead ahead, a viewpoint that can be obscured while accelerating in bow-lifting stern drives—and an unobstructed vantage is a necessity for navigating crowded waterways. The roomy cockpit feels like that of a 7-metre boat, and innovative rear deck Transat seats fold out into comfortable loungers and can be stowed away and transformed into a wide, open sundeck. Two other prime sun-soaking perches are the wide-open bow seats, which will surely have “dibs” called on them by family members. sea-doo.com 70 | THE BAY STREET BULL

SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE 210 If you do your swiftest thinking 6 metres above lake level, enjoy toe-side back rolls and spinning around like an inverted tilta-whirl, chances are wakeboarding or wakeskating are a couple of your favourite ways of enjoying the life aquatic. To take your tricks to the next level check out the Super Air Nautique 210. With Nautique’s LINC system digital console you can toggle between screens displaying engine info, ballast levels, GPS trip routing and the stereo system. There’s also video integration, so you can put together a highlight or blooper reel of your adventures and watch it right on the boat in high def. Even if your aerial endeavors are not turning heads, rest assured that passersby will be scoping out the ride, which comes in new metal flake gel-coat colour options: silver or gun metal. pridemarinegroup.com

CHRIS CRAFT SILVER BULLET 20 This slender metallic-painted sport boat is limited to 150 customers around the globe, so if you feel the inclination, snap one up before they’re all gone. The standard version of this flared bow, five-seater packs a Volvo 5.0 GXI 270-horsepower engine, which can manage a brisk 93 kilometres per hour at 4,900 rpm, enough power to satisfy the finickiest of throttle jockeys. Fusing the timeless allure of classic Chris Craft elegance with state-of-the-art technology, speed and luxury, this is a Silver Bullet well worth boarding. pridemarinegroup.com

SEA-DOO RXT-215 The 215-horsepower, 1,494 cc supercharged intercooled Rotax 4-TEC engine on this personal watercraft will jet you around on a white-knuckled tour of your aquatic neighborhood. To tame this savage beast, utilize the electronic throttle’s less aggressive “touring” mode. The Sea-Doo’s genteel side is also on display with its patented braking and reverse system that slows down the pace on demand with a simple squeeze of a lever on the left—just as it is on a motorcycle. The computer’s “brain” (dubbed i-Control) prevents stops that would send the pilot flying over the handlebars. If you crave even more power, opt for the 260-horsepower RXT-X model with just as many water horses galloping inside the Kawasaki Ultra 260X. sea-doo.com 72 | THE BAY STREET BULL

REGAL 2300 Seven metres of fun in the sun, the 2300 is 20 centimetres longer and 15 centimetres wider than its 2200 predecessor. And thanks to Regal’s patented FastTrac hull technology, designed to reduce surface tension when the boat skims the water, the full-beam step cuts down on drag and friction, and inverted strakes on the hull make steering through tight turns a breeze. The 2300 packs a spacious 4.5 cubic metres of storage space, enough to stow everything you could possibly want to tote along on your voyages. An optional water sports arch can be activated with a flick of a dashboard switch and electrically collapses when you need to put it in the garage. Get your 2300 sputtering with a myriad of engine options including a 1X300-horsepower MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI and sextet of Volvo Penta engine options including diesel. regalboats.com 

In the beginning ....

The evolution of classic boating

1969 COBALT

COBALT A25 - NEW FOR 2010

...40 years in the making

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Charm

SMALL TOWN

Northern hamlets cater to big city tastes

BY KAREN WEHRSTEIN ired of the cottage, worn out from waterskiing, wanting to get out and mix or catch a nice meal and some interesting sights? Then you’re ready for a trip into town. And Muskoka’s municipalities have plenty to offer.

Gravenhurst is the first town you meet when entering Muskoka by

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Highway 11, and it has re-invented itself several times, from a lumber town to an industrial town to a vacation centre. Several years ago, it transformed an unsightly waterfront into the gorgeous Muskoka Wharf, housing shopping, dining and condos. Farmers’ markets in Muskoka sell much more than produce and trinkets—

how about dried insect art?—and Gravenhurst’s is arguably the best, with some 90 booths stationed on the Wharf every Wednesday in the summer.

One must-see is the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre, better and more evocatively known as Grace and Speed.

Gravenhurst was the centre of Muskoka’s early 20th-century boat-crafting culture, creating the beautiful mahogany and chrome classics that are now lovingly maintained by collectors around the lakes. This museum celebrates that heritage with working specimens displayed in the water.

Near the Wharf is Gallery By The Bay, which is operated by an artisans’ collective, so there’s generally an artist on site working during business hours.

The famous humanitarian doctor Norman Bethune was a Gravenhurst native, and the house in which he was born is now a national historic site. Gravenhurst Opera House, built in 1901, with chandeliers shipped from France, was originally the town hall and it is also open for tours.

When you get hungry, Gravenhurst has plenty to offer. Alain Irvine is the culinary genius behind North Restaurant and Lounge, an eatery combining somewhat rustic décor—barnboard flooring, leather chairs and Group of Seven paintings— with quality food for a relaxed but excellent dining experience. For breakfast or lunch, you could try Moments and Memories Café. In 2009, owner Sheryl Fallon left the corporate world after 31 years to fulfill her dream of opening a café in Muskoka, and, in the process, has created an intimate little space for 15 to 20 people.

Bracebridge is perhaps the only town in Ontario named after a novel, Bracebridge Hall, a humorous 1822 work by Washington Irving. But it does have, as its centerpiece, a bridge overlooking a beautiful thundering waterfall.

For historical interest, you can visit the old stone generating station by the falls, built 110 years ago and still powering part of the town with the original four generators.

On weekends, during the summer, you will find art on the street, but it’s not just by anybody. “Art in the Heart” showcases the cream of Muskoka’s emerging artists, and the discerning collector might find a rare gem.

Six Degrees Muskoka is not just a gallery, but a demonstration space, computer animation school and headquarters of Don and Jen Skinner. As commercial landlords, this visionary couple own several of the 19th-century buildings in the city’s core, and are working on a 10-year plan to renovate them and rejuvenate the downtown.

They are definitely worth meeting.

Until three years ago, no good Japanese restaurant could be found in Muskoka, but when Wabora opened its doors, that changed. Offering a beautiful THE BAY STREET BULL | 75

homeland, Italian-speaking wait staff, and an authentic menu.

Muskoka was dominated by the lumber industry until the old-growth forest was logged out, at which time, the local economy relied mostly on tourism. Visitors would arrive by steam-powered ships and the railroad. Muskoka Heritage Place in Huntsville offers a taste of that past with the recreated Portage Flyer steam train and its pioneer village.

Between lakes Muskoka and Joseph sits Muskoka’s municipality of Port Carling.

A two-time national winner of the prestigious Communities in Bloom contest, this village is planted spectacularly every year by a dedicated group of volunteers. During the summer months and on weekends, the town pulsates with the energy and activity of cottagers, day and night. On a long weekend, don’t leave your LCBO purchasing until anywhere near closing time, or you’ll find yourself in a queue to the back of the store.

It’s unusual to find a place with a population of less than 1,000 with five art galleries, but Port Carling has them—visit Gail Wilson Stained Glass, by appointment or by chance, to meet a delightfully quirky artist—as well as numerous boutiques and night spots. If you like crêpes, you’ll love Just Crêpes, founded when owners and avid skiers Dave and Janine Heaslip decided Port Carling needed a fine breakfast place in the image of their favourite crêperie in Mont Tremblant. Excellent dinner fare is to be found at the Delta Sherwood Resort’s techno décor and a full Japanese fusion experience, this is a sushi lover’s haven. If, however, you’re looking for a Frenchbased menu, you’ll want to hit One FiftyFive on Manitoba Street, owned by a Bracebridge native who wandered the world to learn his trade before returning home in 1995 to share his passion for food.

On Main Street, which is dominated by early 20th-century brick buildings, the Nutty Chocolatier is the candy store of a child’s or adult’s dream. Decorated in the Victorian style, the shop offers choice Belgian chocolate and truffles, as well as ice cream and a vast array of other sweets.

Also on Main Street, The Finds combines a café serving a full range of coffees and teas with funky, off-the-wall art such as piano-finished canoe shelves.

In a quieter part of town, but still within walking distance of Main Street, is La Dolce Vita Trattoria. Owner Eve Luchetta has brought a slice of Italy into small-town Muskoka, with décor imported from her 76 | THE BAY STREET BULL

dining room, which was completely renovated last year after a fire.

Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Muskoka, Bala is the home of the Bala Museum, a must-visit if you’re an Anne of Green Gables fan, as Lucy Maude Montgomery had roots here. The best baked goods in Muskoka are to be had at an unassuming place named Don’s Bakery, which is jammed on summer weekends; be there early or they’ll be out of brownies and other favourites.

Bala is rich in galleries, too. Right next

door to Don’s is the stunning Iroquois Artisans, a gallery devoted to works by First Nations artists. You step into another world in this place, one in which art is tied inextricably to spirituality and nature.

The best fine dining in Bala is to be had at the Moon River Lookout, offering a mixed fine menu in typically Muskoka quasi-rustic décor. It’s a car trip to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh, which sounds like your ordinary cranberry farm until you learn it’s also the home of the awardwinning Muskoka Lakes Winery, the

brainchild of co-owner and sommelier Wendy Hogarth.

Port Severn heralds the beginning of Muskoka via the 400, and leads to the tiny hamlet of Honey Harbour, which provides access to the freshwater paradise of Georgian Bay and its 30,000 islands, named a UNESCO international environmental heritage site in 2004. Port Severn also links Georgian Bay to the Trent River and Lake Ontario by the Trent-Severn Waterway. It’s all about boating in these towns.

It’s a drive, but the Big Chute Marine Railway, which transports boats between two reaches of the Severn River over an 18metre drop, is something a bit different to see, and a one-of-a-kind in North America.

It can be combined with a meal at the Riverhouse Restaurant, which features warm wood décor and big river views.

Honey Harbour’s Delawana Inn offers good fare throughout the day and in Port Severn, Christie’s Mill Inn and Spa offers a dock-and-dine experience at its restaurant, Twigs. Here you’ll find the bay is like a physical presence, its unceasing west wind stunting the evergreens into natural bonsais, with every branch pointing east. 

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ON THE SHELF

No Return by Gordon Aiken (Blue Butterfly Books) traces the longstanding animosity between Richard Bell, a farmer and township clerk, and A. P. Cockburn, steamboat magnate and Liberal candidate, as their feud comes to a head in the 1872 federal election. Proving that partisan politics has very deep roots in this grand country of ours.

Muskoka

Reads

etween the rugged coastline of Georgian Bay to the west and the forested wilderness of Algonquin Park to the east lies nearly 6,500 square kilometres of ancient rock, crystal-clear lakes, secluded bays and charming towns. Known as the “land of the red earth” by local aboriginal peoples, Muskoka proper consists of the townships of the Lake of Bays, Georgian Bay and Muksoka Lake, as well as the larger towns of Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. It also includes the smaller towns of Rosseau, Bala, Dorset, Milford and Port Carling.

With the arrival of European settlers, Muskoka underwent various developmental stages. First came the logging era as homesteaders cleared the land, then came the steamship era, which gave rise to Muskoka’s grand hotels and the current tourism era. In his fourth book, Muskoka (Key Porter Books), photographer Mike Grandmaison travelled Muskoka’s lakes, trails, back roads and towns, capturing the unforgettable sunsets, spectacular autumn foliage and the region’s signature cranberry crops throughout the year to create a visual celebration of this beloved “red earth.” While Grandmaison admits he has never owned a cottage in Muskoka (or anywhere else for that matter), his parents were cottagers for almost 40 years. Located on a quiet bay on a small northern Ontario lake near Sudbury, this family cottage became a retreat: “A sanctum,” says Grandmaison, “where I would go to explore and discover the natural world and it ended up shaping my life as a naturalist and a nature photographer.” 

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Raisin Wine

by James Bartleman (McClelland & Stewart) is a funny and poignant memoir from Ontario’s former Lieutenant-Governor, chronicling a boyhood spent in poverty—surrounded by an eccentric and loving cast of familial characters—in one of Canada’s wealthiest and bestknown playgrounds.

Marty’s World Famous Cookbook

by Marty Curtis (Whitecap Books) reveals the secret of making the perfect butter tart, among other to-die-for recipes. And who better to deliver the goods than the ambassador for Canada’s national pastry and owner of Muskoka’s landmark café?

Spirit of Place

by John McQuarrie (John McQuarrie Photography) combines more than 450 archival and contemporary images to capture the essence of Muskoka— scenic trails, pristine waters and small towns—giving the reader a glimpse of how the region evolved from a virgin forest into a vacation hotspot.

FairGam e Mixing business with pleasure key to midway’s success

BY KIM KERR he fall fair is a decades-old tradition, one that’s very much ingrained in the North American psyche. For some, it’s a chance to show off the summer’s bounty or prize livestock. For most, it’s one sugar-fuelled weekend a year spent ushering the kids from the petting zoo to the bottle-smash, to the wacky shack and the tilt-a-whirl. But for people like Randy Homeniuk, the fair is just another day at the office.

Homeniuk owns Homeniuk Rides Inc., one of the country’s most successful midways, and a family-operated enterprise for more than 30 years. A certified ride inspector and a member of the advisory board for the Canadian Safety Standards Association, Homeniuk’s reputation in the amusements business community is impressive. And as former president of the Canadian Chapter of the Showman’s League of America, he’s the industry’s go-to guy in Ontario.

This year, Homeniuk will again be at the Bracebridge Agricultural Society Fall Fair & Horse Show (Sept. 17-19), and the neighbouring Huntsville Fair (Sept. 24-26), two of the many regular stops on his annual journey across

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Ontario. “We’ve been coming to Muskoka every year since 1982,” says Homeniuk. “I love it up here. The nicest scenery, the nicest people. No two days are the same, and no two places are, either.”

The Bracebridge and Huntsville fairs feature the usual agriculture and horticultural displays, food, crafts and live entertainment. Not surprisingly, the region’s history of logging is also celebrated with events like the lumberjack, axe throw and pulp toss competitions. And of course, there’s the midway—Homeniuk’s domain. Bracebridge and Huntsville are just two of the 25 fairs Homeniuk and his team of 50 participate in each year.

Despite the Great Depression, the recent recession, the advent of Chuck E. Cheese-style entertainment, sky-high insurance rates and gas prices, “carny” life continues. Sure, it has evolved. Gone are the bearded ladies and the telepathics, but many aspects of carnival culture have survived. The itinerant work, the whirling rides, clowns, games, food stands, and the midway are all still there. Carnies are still close-knit and somewhat private. A small, subculture of nomadic families who relish spending months travelling around the heartland of North America, with its agricultural communities and small town dwellers, entertaining those who continue to look forward to their yearly visits.

As an owner, Homeniuk knows all too well the life of a carny: he’s on the road throughout the season—along with his wife, sisters, dad, and his faithful dog, Buddy. Buddy is sort of a mascot.

He works alongside the staff, greets the fair visitors and enjoys some of the rides.

“There’s never a dull moment,” he says. “One day you’re truck driving, cleaning equipment, setting things up. Next day, you’re in the cotton candy booth. I enjoy working the rides seeing the kids faces, and every day I get to meet different people.”

But as much as Homeniuk likes to talk about the fun side of things, running an operation like his requires the big-business acumen of a savvy entrepreneur, the organizational powers of a four star general, and the patience of Job. Not only does he have a large staff to manage, there’s the convoy of 25 tractor-trailers he has on the road each week, plus the financial responsibilities.

“There are a lot of costs involved,” he says. “About 50 to 75 percent of revenues go back into the business. Transportation is the biggest expenditure. We’ve got 25 rides in total, and can set up two fairs at a time in different locations. That’s a lot of hauling and logistics.”

The rides themselves are a hefty expense. Last year in Muskoka, Homeniuk showcased the latest addition to his stable of rides, the Expo-Wheel. The cost for this sevenstorey-high Ferris wheel? A cool $500,000. (And another $150,000 for the generator to run it.) But, as Homeniuk says, it’s the price you pay for quality, safety and practicality. The state-of-the-art ride folds down into a single trailer, takes just an hour to dismantle and six more to set up. It’s even energy efficient, a remarkable feat given its countless LED lights.

“Time’s money,” says Randy, a little unconvincingly.

Somehow, with this guy, you can’t help feeling the money’s nowhere near as important as the fun he provides.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 81

What’s On Muskoka JUNE 2010

One of the most anticipated annual events in the region is Doors Open Muskoka (June 25–27). This year, three areas are featured on three distinct days: the Township of Muskoka Lakes showcasing heritage sites in Bala and Port Carling, Fri. 25th; Bracebridge, Sat. 26th; and Gravenhurst, Sun. 27th.

Admission is free, and business hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 12 – 13 Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour June 25 – 26 Cottage Country Comedy Festival (Bracebridge)

JULY 2010

Gravenhurst’s Antique and Classic Boat Show (July 10–11) is the not-tobe-missed event for boat lovers. Held at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst, it’s the perfect place to check out the exquisite craftsmanship of more than 100 wooden vessels (many of them made locally) and some classic fiberglass boats.

AUGUST 2010

Baysville Riverfront Arts and Crafts Festival (Aug. 7–8) boasts 80 vendors, with all proceeds from the event being pumped back into the community. The 19th Annual Gravenhurst Dockside Festival of the Arts (Aug. 20–21) is one of the largest outdoor events of its kind in Ontario, and is chock-full of great exhibitors.

Aug. 10 Port Sydney Annual Regatta Aug. 14 Honey Harbour Jazz Festival

SEPTEMBER 2010

Muskoka’ fall colours are among the most spectacular anywhere, and the annual Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour (Sept. 25–26) is the perfect excuse to visit one more time before winter.

Sept. 17 – 19 Bracebridge Fall Fair Sept. 24 – 26 Huntsville Fall Fair

OCTOBER 2010

The Bala Cranberry Festival (Oct. 15-17), celebrating the harvest, includes tours, live entertainment and vendors.

July 23 Symphony on the Lawn starring Michael Burgess (Windermere House)

Oct. 21 – 24 Fall Flavours Food and Wine Weekend (Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville)

PHOTO CREDITS

July 17 – 18 Thunder in Little Norway 70th Battle of Britain Air Show (Gravenhurst Airport)

BOATING FOR THE CURE Boating for the Cure (June 26) is a fun-filled, daylong boat rally established by Muskoka’s community members to join in the fight against cancer. The proceeds benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.

The fun begins with a welcome breakfast at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst, and boats depart at 10 a.m. along Lake Muskoka, escorted by the RMS Segwun steamship. Along the way, participants collect treasure maps to guide their journey and tokens to turn in at the end of the day at an awards ceremony and reception. Sponsors Edgewater Boats and Pride Marine will once again be selling special editions of their 145cc 4.2-metre boats in pink and blue. A portion of each sale goes to the foundations.

For more information visit boatingforthecure.com.

8. Muskoka Bay [Peter Wong]; 9. Taboo; 10. The Rock; 12-13. The Rock; 14. Muskoka Highlands; 16. Deerhurst Highlands; 17. North Granite Ridge; 18-19. Spa Rosseau Pool; 20. (Top) Main Dock and Ships, and Clevelands House main hotel; (Bottom) Windermere House; 22. (Top) Severn Lodge pool and archive photo circa 1896; (Botom) Windermere House's Rosseau Grill; 24. Port Cunnington Lodge's new eco-friendly cottages; 26. Spa Rosseau; 27. Deerhurst Resort; 28. G-8 summit; 29. Deerhurst Resort arial photo; 30. Lea's Virgins Inn; 31. Lake of Bays Brewery. Photos by Larry Wright; 32. (Left) Darren Smith, owner of Lake of Bays Brewery [Larry Wright]; (Right) Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Winery; 34-35. North Muskoka House: Derek Roy's Lake of Bays cottage; 36. Muskoka Living Interiors; 38. North Muskoka House; 44. Lake Joseph Cottage. 45. Muskoka Bay Interior. 46. (Sidebar) Lake Rosseau; (Right) Muskoka Bay; 48. (Top) Highland Estates; (Middle) Little Lake Joseph Cottage; (Bottom) Muskoka Bay; 50. Grilled salmon; 51. Touchstone’s Taste Restaurant; 52. (Left) Taboo; (Right) Arrowhon; 54. Deerhurst Resort’s Eclipse Restaurant; 55. (Left) Touchstone’s patio; (Right) RMS Segwun’s Dinning room; 56. Windermere House: Pub (top) and Grill (bottom); 57. Deerhurst: Plates (left) and Executive Chef, Rory Golden (right); 58. Rawley Lodge; 64-67. Algonquin Park [istockphoto.com/Dreamstime.com]; 74. Downtown Huntsville [Heather Douglas]; 75. Gravenhurst: Wharf (top)and Opera House (bottom); 76. Huntsville: Swing Bridge (top) and Muskoka Heritage Place Train (bottom); 77. Gravenhurst Wharf with classic boats; 80. Homeniuk Rides at Bracebridge Fairground [Larry Wright]; 81. Randy Homeniuk and Buddy [Larry Wright]; 82. Boating for the Cure [Larry Wright].

82 | THE BAY STREET BULL

Every puddle starts a conversation.

So whether you’re driving through ice, gravel, mud, or rain, you can do so with confidence, knowing that quattro will be there to improve performance, and help you maintain control. Thanks to quattro, the Audi A4 makes the most of even the least amount of traction.

With quattro®, our celebrated all-wheel drive system, all four wheels of the Audi A4 are constantly communicating with each other to help keep you in control under virtually any road condition. It works by monitoring traction at each wheel. The moment one wheel loses grip,

it diverts power to the wheels with the best foothold. It does this almost instantly, so you’re never even aware it’s happening.

You just keep driving, calm and in control.

What’s more, with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split, quattro provides athletic handling in even the most dire conditions.

A4

www.audi.ca © 2010 Audi Canada. European model 2010 Audi A4 shown with optional equipment that may not be available at the time of purchase. “Audi,” “A4,” “quattro,” “Vorsprung durch Technik,” and the four rings emblem are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. To find out more about Audi, see your dealer, call us at 1-800-FOR-AUDI, or visit us at www.audi.ca