Welcome to Ontario, Fleuvee!

I do not know exactly what you have in mind when you say "upscale". If you mean "high end" then I wld recommend Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park. Google for more info.

Killarney lodge is also nice.

Ocean

Thank you Ocean for your suggestions.
Yes, I mean higher end.
Something very nice, comfortable with good dining.
I will check out the places you mentioned.

These places are "high end Muskoka"...not The Ritz, if you know what I mean. The are what I wld call "rustic high end".

The dining room @ Arowhon is quite spectacular....soaring ceilings.

The dining room @ Killarney has no view. But the food is very good.

Ocean

Hi Ocean
I looked both places up and sound like what we are looking for.
I appreciate the tip about the dining views at Arowhon.
It sounds like it's a bit closer to our home in Aurora.
Do you know of other resorts in other areas?
I am also looking to find a place in the Finger lakes of NY.

Stay at the Deerhurst Resort just outside Huntsville and take advantage of your tax dollars at work:

http://www.thestar.com/news/torontog20summit/article/901563--ottawa-won-t-say-what-it-paid-deerhurst-resort-to-host-g8-summit

Deerhurst is a huge mega complex/conference center type place. It does not have the charm that Arowhon & Killarney have.

Fleuvee, Arowhon is "a bit closer" than what?

seems like Arowhon is a bit closer than killarney to aurora. According to map quest.
Not really sure though.

Arowhon Pines & Killarney Lodge are very close to each other. Killarney is on Highway 60 about 15 minutes past the road you take to get to Arowhon. The road from Highway 60 to Arowhon seems to take forever....it's probably only about 15 minutes but it always seems long to me. So, in terms of time, Arowhon & Killarney are probably about the same amount of time from Aurora.

Many people rave about the dining room at Arowhon. But I prefer the Killarney experience over Arowhon. Go to their respective websites to help you decide. The cottages at Killarney are very nice. I believe each one comes with a canoe!

Ocean

Hi - There is a Killarney "Mountain" Lodge in Killarney Provincial Park - much farther north, as well as Killarney Lodge in Algonquin Provincial Park, which can cause confusion.

When we visit the Algonquin/Muskoka area we usually rent a cottage, but we have stayed at the Delta Grandview - which is a Condo Style Resort in a nice setting on a lake on the outskirts of Huntsville. Two Golf courses, and an easy day-trip to lovely Algonquin Park if you want some nature and wildlife. The restaurant on site is good, some of the units have water views, and there are a number of other good restaurants within a 5 to 10 minute drive.

Another Resort we have not stayed in but have seen (and heard is very nice) is Domain of Killian which is in the Haliburton rather than Muskoka district: http://www.domainofkillien.com/

Here's a website you might also check: http://www.resortsofontario.com/

Hi ocean and mat54,
Ocean- so glad you said Killarney was your preference, as I could not decide. My husband called and we will decide when to go.
Mat54- I just called domain of Jillian.
It sounds great as well.
Now I have two places to try out.
Really appreciate your help.
I will let you know how our trip went( after we decide when and where).

HI there. If y9ou are looking for somepalce for just you and you husband to get away, you might want to look to the edge of Muskoka. Couples Resort on the edge of Algonquin is a bit pricey for some but has great on site dining and lovely rooms or cabins!.

On our way to Killarney lodge.
Will let you know what we think.
It sounds wonderful.
Will check out Arowhon pines as well.

Great!
You picked a perfect time to go to cottage country.
Will you be there for the weekend?
This gorgeous weather is supposed to continue into the weekend with perhaps some rain/thunderstorms Wed.

Yes, check out Arowhon Pines too & also Couple as recommended by Darlene. I do not know anything about Couples. You will pass it on your way to KL & AP so may as well check it out!

Ocean

Ocean
We are sitting by the lake outside cottage 11.
Very pretty, peaceful. Lunch was delicious.
The couples resort sounds more like a hotel type place/ mostly good reviews .dome not good though.
Will stop by Arowhon pines tomorrow,.
Not sure how many days we will stay. The joys of being retired.
Thanks again for your suggestions.

Fleuvee, that's wonderful! I cannot remember exactly where #11 is located. Aren't the grounds beautifully landscaped? We have not been to KL yet this summer so I have not seen their 2011 gardens. They usually have the most beautiful begonias!

Have you gone out in your canoe?

What's for dinner tonight? We usually go to KL for dinner several times throughout the Summer. It has always been excellent (except once when we had the lobster). Their soups are v/ good. I always have a big, chocolate sundae, topped w/ whipped cream & a cherry, for dessert! I feel like a kid! .

Oh, I forot to tell you that @ KL & AP you "bring your own wine".They are not licensed. No liquor licenses can be granted within Algonquin Park. Did you bring some wine?
If not, & you want some, there is an LCBO in Dwight on Highway 35 ( just south of Highway 60. It's about 40 minutes from KL.). You wld have passed 35 on your way to KL from Aurora.

Enjoy!

Ocean

OceanBreeze, just continuing on the topic a bit..... we stay up in the Algonquin area probably a couple of times a year on average. I've heard the food is particularly good at Bartlett Lodge but we have yet to try it. I see you didn't mention it at all, either as a place to stay or eat. Do you have any experience?

By the way, anyone in Algonquin who would love a cold beer after a long hot hike - the Portage Store restaurant on Canoe Lake in the park is licensed (they must own their property, I would guess). They offer rather pricey and casual, but decent, food (burgers, sandwiches, etc.) and may also sell wine, I'm not sure.

mat, Bartlett Lodge is a place we keep meaning to visit. It's a short boat ride. I, too, have heard that the food is great. I just Googled them. Looks wonderful!

Thanks for the reminder about The Portage Store. Yes! The Portage Store sells beer and wine. Now I am really confused about the liquor license "law" w/in AP.

Ocean

Hi ocean and mat,
Well, we checked the area out well.
First: we did enjoy cabin 11- close to the end near the peninsula.
A bit of traffic noise during the day, but this cabin is in a better place than those that face the road.
The food was excellent.
Cream of cauliflower soup, prime rib and trout.
And yes an ice cream sundae and pecan pie .
We went to see couples resort- big , well maintained. More like a conference center .
This morning- took the long 8 km rough road to Arowhon pines.
Glad I didn't stay there.
Firstly- you are sort of stuck there.
Extremely isolated( too much for me)
Dining room and view- better than the others we saw.
Accommodations ( I only saw lodge type room) very dated , dingy in need of major upgrading.
We only stayed at Killarney one night as it was pouring this morning.
Wanted to try domain of Killean- which was recommended by a fodor poster.
It's in haliburton. We drove for 90 min. And entered a dingy, dark lobby. Saw a room in the inn. Horrible. It smelled very musty and only had a small window that opened.
Grounds not well kept.
We got back in the car and drove home.
All to say- we would stay at Killarney again.
The only negative for me is that there are no screens on porches , so it's impossible to sit out at night without getting eaten alive.
Thanks again.

Fleuvee,
Thanks for the update. So happy that Killarney Lodge worked for you. How are the gardens this Summer?

I feel the same way about that road into Arowhon Pines & agree about the need for a major upgrade/refurbishment. Although I have never stayed @ AP, that was my general feeling last time we went there.... for lunch I thnk it was.

Next time maybe you can try Bartlett Lodge as suggestd by mat. It looks v/ nice.

Just out of curiosity, how long was the drive from Aurora to Killarney Lodge?

I will e heading North soon & looking forward to getting there!

Ocean

I was just thinking, perhaps you shd call Killarney, tell them you enjoyed your stay but that you wld have enjoyed it even more if the porch had been screened. That is not a major improvemnet in terms of cost. But, it could be a major improvemnet in terms of enjoyment. Big ROI for Killarney & Guests many of whom return, year after year.

Ask to speak w/ the Owner(Miglin). He is a bit abrupt & kind of a "know it all" but once you get past that, he is ok.

Ocean

My typing is awful...sorry for my typos...

Yes, good feedback. As mentioned, I have never stayed at Domain of Killean, but a number of years ago I heard it was nice and it's not cheap, plus the photos on the website look good. But you never know.....
We were up in Algonquin just last week and the bugs are particularly bad this year in some areas - all the rain in the spring, and a late spring at that. They're not always that bad but unpredictable. The black flies are usually gone by now (but weren't last week) and the mosquitoes usually ease up considerably by mid summer.

It took 3 hours from aurora to Killarney lodge.
We did meet Poppy &Eric- the owners for over 25 years.
Both very nice.
Good idea to call and suggest screened porches.
Enjoy your trip.

I will read the negative reviews first from now on , because they have proven most accurate on the places we saw.
The one on domain of killian was right on!
Let me know if you have more good ideas !

Forgot to answer your question about the gardens!
Nice begonias around the front reception area.
Other than that / nothing special.
I did however like the black iron pots on the balconies with small purple flowers in them.
Wish I knew what they were called. I have never seen them before.

A little bit of Canadian legal history for you. Miglin vs Miglin is a very famous Canadian divorce case. It went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. The main issue focused on the division of property. One of the more contentious issues was: Who gets KL? Obviously, Eic got it. Poppy is Mrs. Miglin #2 so she has not been there for 25 years.

Wow- very interesting.
Poppy did tell me that Eric has been the owner for about 25 yrs , snd she has been spending summers there for 17 yrs. I thought it sounded like a second marriage.
We are born in Montreal and spent almost all our lives there till last year.
I didn't know the story. Interesting!

Yes, if you want more info, just Google Miglin vs Miglin.
But, maybe now you already have more than you want!

You were right about the second marriage. Actually, I do not know if they are married, or what. I often wonder if she has read the case!

I love Montreal! My son went to school there & I loved going to visit!

To be more precise, the case focused on Separation Agreements.

Hi ocean,
Now you really have my curiosity going about Eric.
In their news letter they talk about their 4 children( ages 17-25??) and show the pictures.
I guess the first 3 must be from his first wife?
My husband and I are born in Montreal and lived there most of our lives.
Our sons grew up there too.
We know Maine, new Hampshire and vermont well .
We decided that it is worth the extra 5 hours driving to visit our favorite inns ,in new England.
More to do and see than north of Toronto .
The ocean in ogunquit Maine is our favorite.
Great lobster and outlets to add to the fun.

Is Maine 8 hours from Aurora? Or more? I would have thought it was a lot more. Are you in New England now?
I love the ocean having grown up in NS. (Hence my screen name)
When you are in Maine do you ever go to Nova Scotia?

As I understand it, all 4 are from marriage #1.

Ocean

Hi again.
Ogunquit Maine is about 11 hrs from aurora.It is a beautiful seaside town with a huge white sand ch and huge tides. We have been Going for over 30 yrs. An easy 5 hr drive from Montreal .
Now with a much longer drive , we found a nice place about 5 hrs away in north hero NY, to stay overnight.
We have been to Halifax many times- and Newfoundland once .
We love the drive along the lighthouse route thru Chester to Lunenburg.
So many beautiful places.

Fleuvee,
Have you been to Cape Breton Island, NS ( I just knew we cld bring this thread back to travel for those who may have been wondering about our aside!!). If not, you have to go!
Cape Breton was just voted "Top Travel Destinatin" in Canada.

Ocean

Ocean
We drove the cape Breton trail,
But it was raining ,and a long time ago.
Too bad.
I think you have to be lucky to be there when it is sunny and clear.

The trick is to allow a few days for the Cabot Trail....fog days, rain days.
It's nice there now...you shd go! You wld love Keltic Lodge
(not the Inn, Main Lodgelocated on a peninsula( way bigger thanthe one @ KL) which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.)

I saw your post about brown sod.
Funny/ we have the same problem. We live in a new development and had nice grass till the landscaper did our interlock.
Some grass areas were damaged and now matter what we try some areas are still brown.
Frustrating.
Do you live in Ontario?

Hi - the topic on this post is wandering, the only problem with that being that I want to comment on the Cape Breton comments but they won't by necessarily be seen by people following NS or CB threads.

It's mentioned here and in a number of other posts I've read that Cape Breton can be foggy and rainy. We've stayed in Cape Breton 4 times in the last 18 years and maybe we've been lucky because we've never found weather to be a major problem. If there was fog at all, it has usually been in the morning and burned off quickly, or later in the evening in the highlands, and I don't remember ever getting much rain (our last visit was last summer). Maybe it's the time of year - one visit was in the first half of July but the other 3 have been around the end of August.

Just thought I'd offer that piece of information for whatever it's worth.

mat,
Your comments are very interesting. I wonder if we shd start a CB thread. I apologize for wandering...I tend to do that. Sorry.

There is no question about it, that Cape Breton Island can be rainy and foggy. You have been very fortunate indeed if you have had 4 "fogless" trips around The Cabot Trail! Because of its coastal location, the possibility of fog always looms on Cape Breton Island. I was there the beginning of June and our flight out of Sydney was cancelled (not delayed...cancelled) because of fog. It was foggy for 2 entire days! I have never seen anything like it at that time of year. We have also had fog in Cape Breton over Thnaksgiving weekend and even once about 10 years ago on Christmas Day!! It was weird hearing fog horns on Christmas morning.

So, as I have said above, the trick is to allow as many days as you can to tour The Cabot Trail. If you do not get fog (the kind that hangs around) or rain, then that's great. But if you do, then you will still have time to explore the grandeur & beauty of one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on Earth.

Fleuvee,
Yes I am in Ontario. Grass is now golden brown...like straw. Yours too? "The Guy" has not come back to replace it. And, this morning I noticed that one of our newly planted trees has some yellow leaves instead of green. What's going on?

Ocean

Sorry Mat about wandering off the subject.
You are right but I couldn't resist.
Ocean- my husband just bought EZSeed- guaranteed to grow on cement.Our 3 new trees have some brown edges.
Will let you know.

Mat and Ocean
I posted a new thread in Bayfield, grand bend - lake Huron area.
Can either of you comment?
Maybe you have been?
Thanks

We visit Lake Huron regularly. Bayfield is a cute little town surrounded by summer homes and cottages. One well-known inn which I have not stayed in or eaten at. OK beach. We usually do it as a day-trip for lunch and a walk around.

Grand Bend is an old-time Beach Town, popular with young people, although there is a growing community of affluent summer and retirement homes in the area. Nice but very busy town beach. We've stayed at an older Inn right across from the beach a few times but I don't know of many truly upscale accommodations here. We've also rented a cottage/summer home in the Southcott Pines subdivision just south of town. Down the Road is large and pretty Pinery Provincial Park with miles of shallow water beach, sand dunes and a number of nice nature trails.

We don't have the ocean here in Ontario or as much quaint history as New England. But some other thoughts:

Muskoka Cottage Country - you could investigate some of the more upscale full-service resorts on the big Muskoka Lakes near Bracebridge and Gravenhurst. Algonquin, where you were, tends to be most popular with nature and adventure seekers for wildlife viewing, hiking and backcountry camping and canoeing.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pretty Victorian Town with several very upscale Inns/Spas, some excellent dining and a famous Theatre Festival (Shaw Festival). It's in the middle of Niagara Wine Country - Excellent wineries scatterd around the Niagara Peninsula, most offering tastings and tours, several with very excellent dining. For an extra diversion, Niagara Falls is a short scenic drive down away down the Niagara Parkway.

Stratford west of Toronto is another charming town, with another famous Theatre Festival (Stratford Shakespeare Festival, but not just Shakespeare), a selection of fine dining opportunities (a famous Chef's School in town) as well as shops and cafes to mosey around.

Farther afield, Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula can be fun. The town is tiny but cute, built around a small natural harbour with a few restaurants, some shops and great sunsets. It is adjacent to 2 National Parks - Bruce Peninsula where the Niagara Escarpment follows the shoreline of Georgian Bay - lovely walks and views. Also Fathom Five which includes the limestone Islands offshore with Rock Formations and many shipwrecks (there are glass-bottomed boat tours). Scuba diving is popular here because of the clear water, wrecks and rock formations.

So, a few more ideas for you.....

Thanks Mat,
Lots of good info.
We are on our way to Goderich/ Bayfield for a night .
Will explore the area.
We know N O T L very well.
Actually stayed at pillar and post a few weeks ago.
Our sons wedding was there 2 yrs ago.
Another 2 day trip will be Tobermory .
I have heard about it.