BAK, an Algonquin Question for you!
May 27th, 2004, 01:43 PM
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BAK, an Algonquin Question for you!
I'm new to the forum but got this message to another of my notes:
Message: If it was me (I live in western Canada), I had 8 days, I would fly to Ottawa, spend a few days in the Ottawa area and then I would drive to Algonquin Provincial Park for the rest of my stay.
And I would post a question on this forum asking BAK where the best and most scenic places to stay are!
Mr. or Ms. BAK, any ideas for us regarding Algonquin...we're a family of four (2 under 10), big outdoor people, don't care about TV, do care about well-prepared food, and oh boy would my son like to see a moose.
Any ideas so appreciated!
Message: If it was me (I live in western Canada), I had 8 days, I would fly to Ottawa, spend a few days in the Ottawa area and then I would drive to Algonquin Provincial Park for the rest of my stay.
And I would post a question on this forum asking BAK where the best and most scenic places to stay are!
Mr. or Ms. BAK, any ideas for us regarding Algonquin...we're a family of four (2 under 10), big outdoor people, don't care about TV, do care about well-prepared food, and oh boy would my son like to see a moose.
Any ideas so appreciated!
May 29th, 2004, 12:45 PM
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Unfortunately, I'm not an Algonquin Park expert.
I'ver mostly just driven through, and spent my time at private cottages in other parks of the Muskoka area.
I'll ask some questions, and report back, though.
The park is beautiful, there are rules about power boats, there are some excellent restaurants, and a friend has a cottage right next door, so I've been close, but not in places the public can pay to use.
As for moose, I've seen more in Alberta than in Ontario.
BAK
I'ver mostly just driven through, and spent my time at private cottages in other parks of the Muskoka area.
I'll ask some questions, and report back, though.
The park is beautiful, there are rules about power boats, there are some excellent restaurants, and a friend has a cottage right next door, so I've been close, but not in places the public can pay to use.
As for moose, I've seen more in Alberta than in Ontario.
BAK
May 29th, 2004, 04:09 PM
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The surest way to see moose in Algonquin is to drive the highway, preferably near dawn or dusk. The moose like to drink the slightly salty water at roadside in the spring and early summer. We saw almost 30 on one exceptional pass through the park on late May evening. Later in summer and into autumn they are harder to see but much better looking than the rather ratty looking creatures they are in spring. I have occasionaly seen moose while walking trails. While this is much nicer than seeing them at roadside it is not a regular occurance.
I am not sure about what to suggest for a place to stay as no one place stands out as being especially more "scenic" than any other place that I am familiar with. The closest community to the park is Whitney, 5 km form the east gate. It has a couple of motels, some cottages (looked good for a family to me) and an expensive resort. West of the park there are some places along the highway.
I am not sure about what to suggest for a place to stay as no one place stands out as being especially more "scenic" than any other place that I am familiar with. The closest community to the park is Whitney, 5 km form the east gate. It has a couple of motels, some cottages (looked good for a family to me) and an expensive resort. West of the park there are some places along the highway.
May 29th, 2004, 06:52 PM
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In the world of coincidence, I'm sitting in a Starbucks downtown and my friends Jim and Jane from Burlington show up, unexpected, and Jim goes camping in Algonquin park every fall.
He points out that it is a very pristine park, with very little public accomodation, and is primarily for backpacking campers, including those willing to portage to get to the interior lakes.
The best resprt (and there are very few) is Arowhon Pines, with a web site at http://www.arowhonpines.ca/
Send your children to the web site and they'll hear the sound of a loon, if your computer is set up for this kind of thing.
Food there is great; it's owned by the family of the food critic for Canda's best newspaper. So it's a great place for people who don't want to camp, who love the outdoors, and who enjoy wonderful food.
The otehr area I'd look at is the Honey harbour area of Georgian Bay, and the Delawana Resort. I spent many summers in the area when I was around ten years old, and it is very interesting to kids.
Try this web site:
http://www.hotelfun4kids.com/Hotelan...o/delawana.htm
because it is aimed at families. Plus
http://www.delawana.com/
for the hotel's own site.
Honey Harbour is rocky and windswept, while Algonquin park is forested and generally "smaller" although Jim remarked tonight that some of the lakes are bigger than you'd expcet, especially when paddling.
In early September, he and his friends have gone for an entire week without seeing anyone else.
BAK
He points out that it is a very pristine park, with very little public accomodation, and is primarily for backpacking campers, including those willing to portage to get to the interior lakes.
The best resprt (and there are very few) is Arowhon Pines, with a web site at http://www.arowhonpines.ca/
Send your children to the web site and they'll hear the sound of a loon, if your computer is set up for this kind of thing.
Food there is great; it's owned by the family of the food critic for Canda's best newspaper. So it's a great place for people who don't want to camp, who love the outdoors, and who enjoy wonderful food.
The otehr area I'd look at is the Honey harbour area of Georgian Bay, and the Delawana Resort. I spent many summers in the area when I was around ten years old, and it is very interesting to kids.
Try this web site:
http://www.hotelfun4kids.com/Hotelan...o/delawana.htm
because it is aimed at families. Plus
http://www.delawana.com/
for the hotel's own site.
Honey Harbour is rocky and windswept, while Algonquin park is forested and generally "smaller" although Jim remarked tonight that some of the lakes are bigger than you'd expcet, especially when paddling.
In early September, he and his friends have gone for an entire week without seeing anyone else.
BAK
Jun 2nd, 2004, 08:55 AM
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I can't resist adding a few notes to this inquiry since my wife and I think Algonquin is one of the most beautiful and wonderful places to visit the out-of-doors in Canada, and given that it's Canada, that is saying something. We are from the States and have visited our fair neighbor to the north many times over the years, from east to west--Perhaps it's because we live in PA and find that Algonquin is pretty accessible that we think so highly of it.
We have stayed in Arowhon Pines in the park, and while the food is good I found it overpriced. There are 2 or 3 other resorts/lodges in the park, all privately owned and all pricey. But if price is not a problem, then so much the better.
As an alternative, we found a very nice, small lodge only a 12-minute drive from Algonquin's East Gate called Hay Lake Lodge. It consists of about 7 or 8 cabins of different sizes and mostly facing the water. The cabins are rustic in motif but "modern" in conveniences (electric, hot rnning water and full kitchen)-no TV or radio thank goodness!). Hay Lake is not strictly in the park but its opposite shore abuts the park. The prices are less than the park lodges, very family oriented, and the hosts, Phil and Erin, are most congenial hosts. The lodge has two plans, one without meals and the other which includes two meals a day (breakfast is served to you in your cabin and dinner is served in their dining room or on the deck). We always choose Hay Lake when we're not camping and are never disappointed. Suggestion: Go to Algonquin's website, which is pretty much run by the Friends of Algonquin Park, click on the accomodations link, and it'll pull up a number of facilities in or close to the park, including Hay Lake Lodge. Also, Hay Lake is great to listen to loons at night all summer and into early fall when they migrate south.
In the park is an incredible nature center, again run by Friends of Algonquin, with a nice restaurant and deck overlooking a large meadow. We have visited the park in midsummer and fall and have never failed to spot moose. As Gavin says, most moose, including large males, can be readily seen in Spring from Hwy 60 which is the only road which traverses the extreme southern end of the park (the vast majority of the park is only accessible by canoe or walking). But moose is seen (albeit in lesser numbers) all year long. The nature center has a info board inside the entrance which visitors can jot down what wildlife they have seen, the area and time observed.
In summer the park naturalists run day and evening indoor and outdoor lectures, as well as canoeing and walking excursions. If by chance you are planning on an August visit, the park runs "wolf howls" on Thursday evenings during the month, weather permitting. The park has a large number of resident wolf packs and they try (with great success)to have the wolves respond to human howls. It is truly the "call of the wild" to listen to these creatures on a still night in the middle of nowhere. Have fun!
We have stayed in Arowhon Pines in the park, and while the food is good I found it overpriced. There are 2 or 3 other resorts/lodges in the park, all privately owned and all pricey. But if price is not a problem, then so much the better.
As an alternative, we found a very nice, small lodge only a 12-minute drive from Algonquin's East Gate called Hay Lake Lodge. It consists of about 7 or 8 cabins of different sizes and mostly facing the water. The cabins are rustic in motif but "modern" in conveniences (electric, hot rnning water and full kitchen)-no TV or radio thank goodness!). Hay Lake is not strictly in the park but its opposite shore abuts the park. The prices are less than the park lodges, very family oriented, and the hosts, Phil and Erin, are most congenial hosts. The lodge has two plans, one without meals and the other which includes two meals a day (breakfast is served to you in your cabin and dinner is served in their dining room or on the deck). We always choose Hay Lake when we're not camping and are never disappointed. Suggestion: Go to Algonquin's website, which is pretty much run by the Friends of Algonquin Park, click on the accomodations link, and it'll pull up a number of facilities in or close to the park, including Hay Lake Lodge. Also, Hay Lake is great to listen to loons at night all summer and into early fall when they migrate south.
In the park is an incredible nature center, again run by Friends of Algonquin, with a nice restaurant and deck overlooking a large meadow. We have visited the park in midsummer and fall and have never failed to spot moose. As Gavin says, most moose, including large males, can be readily seen in Spring from Hwy 60 which is the only road which traverses the extreme southern end of the park (the vast majority of the park is only accessible by canoe or walking). But moose is seen (albeit in lesser numbers) all year long. The nature center has a info board inside the entrance which visitors can jot down what wildlife they have seen, the area and time observed.
In summer the park naturalists run day and evening indoor and outdoor lectures, as well as canoeing and walking excursions. If by chance you are planning on an August visit, the park runs "wolf howls" on Thursday evenings during the month, weather permitting. The park has a large number of resident wolf packs and they try (with great success)to have the wolves respond to human howls. It is truly the "call of the wild" to listen to these creatures on a still night in the middle of nowhere. Have fun!
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