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.