With gorgeous lakes, sprawling woods, spas, resorts, and more flavour than you can imagine, the Muskoka Region is the perfect getaway spot for couples. Romance is heavy in the fresh and fragrant air here, and boredom is far from view. National Geographic has even rated the Muskoka area one of the Top 10 Summer Trips as well as one of Canada’s 50 Places of a Lifetime, so bring your sweetheart and come out to cottage country, where every day is a holiday.
Lavish in a Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Lady Muskoka
Lady Muskoka is a 300-passenger ship that sails through the islands on the Muskoka River — creating the perfect backdrop for a sunset cruise. Settle in and enjoy the freshly crafted dinner that is prepared by the award winning chef David Friesen and let yourself be pampered. There is also a selection of drinks that can be brought by caterer to perfectly compliment your sunset experience. The Lady Muskoka has been rated the #1 tour in Bracebridge, so you and your sweetheart won’t want to miss it. Be sure to book ahead.
Get away with Severn Lodge’s Couples Retreat
Let Severn Lodge take care of the planning with their romantic couples retreats. Your breakfasts and dinners will be taken care of with flourishes of champagne and chocolates — you won’t have to stress about a thing. You can also partake in lake activities such as row boating and canoeing, or stay on the premises and enjoy the heated pool and hot tub. The 100 acres of woods give you all the hiking opportunities you need as well as the setting for a truly romantic getaway.
Bond with Horses at Back of Beyond Equine Centre
Have the equestrian adventure of a lifetime by heading over to Back of Beyond Equine Centre, where you will be able to make connections with the horses as well as book equestrian experiences to get the most out of the beautiful landscape, regardless of the season. Through Back of Beyond, you can go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride during the day, during sunset, or the recommended romantic evening ride. Most of the horses here are retired or rescued show horses, so be sure to thank your new friend as you leave.
Delight in Whimsy at Whimsical Bakery
Announcing itself as “The sweetest spot in Muskoka”, Whimsical Bakery is located in Huntsville and features delectable treats baked with love and more than a hint of magic. The downtown dessert cafe is the perfect spot to caffeinated with a sweet treat to share between you and your partner — or in the likely case that sharing becomes too difficult — enjoy a couple of them. Whimsical Bakery is also part of the Muskoka Maple Trail, so be sure to check out their sweet maple treats for a true taste of the area.
Have a spa day and then some at JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa
Spa Rosseau is one of the most often cited spa experiences of the Muskoka region. With luxury amenities including a private outdoor pool, a HydroSpa, and an Oxygen Bar, this spa will have you so relaxed you’ll forget what day it is. The spa activities can be catered for individuals, but they provide exceptional treatments for couples. Spa Rosseau is part of the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa, so if you’re looking for a spa vacation, checking into this luxury resort for your Muskoka stay is a fine idea.
Spend a night out at the Gravenhurst Opera House
If Gravenhurst is the gateway to Muskoka, then its Opera House is a gem in the moulding. This centre for arts and culture has been credited with being the home of the birth of summer theatre in Canada, making it a piece of cultural history as well as a fabulous spot for a date. Check out the website to see what’s playing. Whether it is a night of theatre or of music, you’ll leave with all the special energy of partaking in live performance and embracing cultural heritage.
View the Muskoka colours from above by Helicopter
Muskoka is a vast region with so much to see — it would be impossible to experience it all in one getaway, but you can get close by gaining some elevation. See the beautiful Muskoka region by helicopter for an unforgettable memory from your romantic getaway with Heli Muskoka. This company works on call 7 days a week to best service your timeline and offers sightseeing tours and fall colours tours (a must for any autumn visits!). Visit their site or give them a call to book your tour by helicopter.
Let Trillium Resort and Spa pamper you
Trillium Resort and Spa is an “adult only” getaway that features “bedsitting” cottages among the woods as well as all sorts of activities to keep you active and engaged, regardless of the season. The resort is also pet friendly for those planning to bring some tagalong guests on their getaway. The highlight of Trillium Resort and Spa is perhaps the spa itself, which is a 5,000 square foot post-and-beam facility. Here, enjoy locally handcrafted spa products as the experts at Trillium anticipate your needs. You just won’t want to leave.
Have Valentine’s Day every day at Couples Resort
“Stay connected. Valentine’s Every Day. All-Inclusive” reads the website for Couples Resort, and truly, the experience is all about romance on the beautiful Muskoka landscape. The resort prides itself on being both modern and rustic, embracing the area but making sure that every guest has everything they need. With five-course gourmet breakfasts and dinners and a location on the banks of a semi-private lake, you and your sweetheart will find everything you need at this specialized resort and spa.
Ice skate among the cranberries
Experience the magical winter wonderland that Muskoka becomes from the Cranberry Ice Trail. You’d be hard pressed (no juice pun intended!) to find something more romantic than skating along the crystal pathway made for optimum sightseeing.The trail is 1.2 kilometres and goes by 12 acres of cranberries on one side, and woods on the other. You can even stop by the waterfalls and warm up by the fire for a truly spectacular date. This activity is weather dependant, however, so plan your date accordingly.
Stay in a cottage at Bayview Wildwood Resort
At Bayview Wildwood Resort, you can choose what kind of accommodation feels right for you and your partner. This resort features resort rooms, suites, and cottages for those who want to experience the namesake experience of cottage country. For a truly spectacular experience, book one of the specialty cottages and enjoy the lake straight from your porch or deck. Bayview Wildwood Resort also features Echo’s Dining, an upscale casual dining lounge with sprawling lakeside views.
Taste and Tour at Sawdust City Brewing Company
The early settlement along the south-eastern shores of Muskoka was called Sawdust City for the lumber yards that made it up, and Sawdust City Brewing Company holds onto this heritage in its name. This craft brewery is proud of where it is located, so a tour here is more than just beer tasting and meandering, but evokes history and educates you and your partner on the area. Tours of this award winning brewery run every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, though tour requests can be made online so as to fit your getaway schedule.
Have a movie night at the Drive In
For a date night with a little more nostalgia, check out the Muskoka Drive In and take in a flick. This Drive In theatre is home to the 50 cent popcorn refills and even has a grill open so you can buy gourmet hotdogs, sausages, and hamburgers on the Friday and Saturday night showings. Don’t just see a movie in theatres, make the most of the luscious Muskoka environment by heading down to the drive in.
Have a sweet brunch at Soul Sistas Cafe
Soul Sistas Cafe is located in Huntsville and is known for its delightful health & wellness recipes. This is the go-to spot for anyone with a dietary restriction as they have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and organic options. Everything here is handmade on site, making the food a true Muskoka experience. This cafe serves breakfast and lunch — so head down for a romantic brunch that is sure to have something to delight both of you.
Find Magic at Nuit Blanche North
Nuit Blanche North takes the Nuit Blanche tradition of the all-night arts festival and brings it to Huntsville. This street festival embraces all kinds of art forms to put on an incredible night that glimmers with the magic of Muskoka. The 2018 theme for the festival — which takes place on July 28th — is “So What Now?” in response to the Canada 150 celebrations that happened through 2017. Embracing an ideology of thinking outside the box, this is a festival that will open your eyes to new possibilities. It’s a perfect date night.
Tour the Muskoka Art Scene at the Autumn Studio Tour
Embrace the flavours of the land at Muskoka Lakes Winery
Muskoka Lakes Winery is all about reflecting the area in which their wine comes from. This principle is called Terroir, and it is the first thing you will learn about from this proud winery. Made from the best quality fruit and traditional methods that embrace the flavours of the area, Mukoka Lakes Winery is one getaway trip you’ll definitely want to taste. Take a tour and learn all about the history, processes, and flavours that go into these wines. And make sure you have a taste of the cranberry and cranberry-blueberry wines — they truly put this name on the map.
Catch a summer concert at the Kee to Bala
The Kee to Bala is a wooden structure and concert venue that has been part of the Muskoka region for 75 years. This marvellous venue, which stretches out into the bay, has seen talent like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong pass through and continues to draw huge names to this day. For the couples who love music, you won’t want to miss the concerts that happen here during the summer. Check out the lineup online to find what gets your blood moving. As an added note: the Kee to Bala also makes a fantastic wedding destination.
Make a cottage your adventuring home-base at Oxtongue Lake Cottages
Year-round. Beach front. Pet friendly. The Oxtongue Lake Cottages has been running for more than 40 years and giving couples the ideal place to stay on their romantic getaway. With opportunities to swim, sunbathe, fish, canoe, hike, and generally make the most of the area — this is the perfect place to stay for the couple who wants to make memories by adventuring. Check out what specials are on to see if you can get a deal by staying for one or two more nights: there will always be more to do.
Have a delicious date night at The Antler Steakhouse
Head to Deerhurst in the summertime for an incredible dining experience: The Antler Steakhouse. Serving high quality steaks, local wines, and all with local ingredients, this is the romantic date night you might not have known you were craving. This loghouse restaurant overlooks the canal between Fairy and Peninsula Lakes and features an outdoor fireplace for an extra romantic touch. This steakhouse can become a busy spot, but booking a reservation is easily done online.
Find your Farmer’s Market
Muskoka is made up of many communities that each have their own unique atmosphere, history, and — for the most part — farmer’s market. Shopping at the many farmer’s markets of this lush region is a part of life out in cottage country, so be sure to stop into one or a few to get down to the roots of the land. Whether it be an art piece, a delicious treat, or some of the beautiful fruit that Muskoka is brimming with, you and your partner will be sure to find something as you traverse the vendors. Find the market for you by checking out the Muskoka website.
Tour the Muskoka Roastery Coffee Company
Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. is open and willing to share what they know and have discovered about coffee with anyone who wants to learn. With special show roasts happening every Friday at the newly expanded roasting factory and a brewing tour that will walk you through the ins and outs of creating and blending the perfect Muskoka cup of coffee, this is the place to be for any coffee lovers who want to learn more. Pick up a bag or two at the end and bring the taste of Muskoka home with you.
Cuddle under the stars with a movie
Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and some movie snacks for a romantic night watching a movie under the stars. Every Thursday night in July and August is Cinema Under the Stars — a Gravenhurst festival that will have you feeling as though you are living inside a movie. The magic is palpable as people come together to enjoy the film together and watch the sky over the lake grow gradually darker. Showing nostalgic classic films as well as more recent releases, you might want to see what’s playing online, or head on down and let yourself be surprised.
Get your party on at Huntsville’s Midnight Madness
For the 41st year in a row, Huntsville is putting on Midnight Madness: a street festival that runs through the evening until midnight and features dancing, shopkeeper specials, and great food. The 2018 festival will occur on July 20th and will — for the first time — have a DJ for the Midnight Madness street dance. Perfect for reinvigorating your getaway with the fresh energy of the community, you will love this original street party event.
Canoe or kayak together on one of the many lakes of the area
Head to the Paddle Shack to rent a canoe or a kayak and float together along the beautiful shorelines of the lakes for a relaxing date. The Paddle Shack is open in both Gravenhurst and Bala, though they ask that you call first to reserve your gear. There are many styles of kayak and canoe available, so ask the experienced and informed staff to help you find exactly what you need to get the most out of all of the water and wildlife that the area offers.