Discovering romance in the wilderness - Algonquin Park
The Couples Resort offers the kind of rooms usually only found in five-star hotels, but you would never guess that turning off Highway 60 just before the liquor store in Whitney and driving along a wooded shoreline road to the Resort site.

The 12 new master junior suites, which opened last summer, however, are the ultimate in indulgence. When the soundproof door swishes shut - there's a noise-reducing seal that falls into a groove at the bottom of the door - you step into a dream hideaway.

Each suite is 1,000-square-feet, with a balcony overlooking the lake. There are two marble bathrooms, one with a double steam shower and four shower-heads and a vanity, and the other with a bidet and a toilet. The main room has a king bed and luxurious soaker Jacuzzi tub, a full sofa sitting area in front of a wood-burning fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling stone slate surround, a dining area for two and a big-screen plasma high definition television. Outside on the deck, which has a one-way mirrored glass railing, there is an outdoor, year-round hot tub.

Full breakfast and sumptuous four-course dinners prepared by Belgian-trained chef Ronnie Coppens are included in all rates - North American Inns magazine voted the "Bear Trail" dining room as one of the top 10 dining experiences in North America.

With all this luxury - there's also a spa - there's a temptation to stay put, but it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to explore. Stay 5 nights midweek and have 4 Free Spa hours per couple.

For more information click on www.couplesresort.ca or call 1-613- 637-2662.
Roberta Avery is a freelance writer based in Meaford, Ont. Her trip was subsidized by The Couples Resort.

Credit: Special to the Star



         
Blue Mountain Resort
  Briars Resort
       
Couples Resort
   
         
Westwind Inn
 
Mountain Springs
 
Deerhurst Resort
 
Horseshoe Resort
 
 
Bayview Wildwood Resort
 
Elmhirsts
 
Christie's Mill
 
Americana
 
         
PineVista
 
Carriage Ridge Resort
 
 
Adventure Lodge
 
         

Northridge Inn
Giant white pines, goose down duvets and fireplaces complimented by exceptional dining and accommodations. Snowmobiling, dog sledding, and romantic getaways.
www.northridgeinn.com

Sir Sam's Inn
Haliburton's couples resort with skiing, dogsled & snowmobile tours. Intimate lakeside accommodations featuring whirlpool bath and fireplace. Superb dining and more!
www.sirsamsinn.com

   

Adventure Lodge
“ADVENTURE LODGE” – ALGONQUIN PARK’S GRAND CABINS. A tranquil escape of serenity and seclusion, the Adventure Lodge is a place to unwind and explore. Enjoy lounging in quiet relaxation or fill your days with outdoor wilderness activities. The Adventure Lodge is located along the boundaries of Algonquin Park nestled amongst the whispering forests. Adventure Lodge is a fifteen minute walk from the charming town of Whitney, and only five kilometers from the breathtaking and beautiful Algonquin Park. Book on line or call 1-613-637-5507.
www.adventurelodge.com

Americana Resort
The Americana is Niagara’s great value Waterpark resort. The indoor Waterpark is a tropical 84º all year round, with wave pool, water slides, tipping bucket, kiddie pool and much more. Themed events on weekends and daily during major school breaks. The resort also offers 200 beautiful guest rooms, including bunk bed suites and romantic jacuzzi and fireplace suites. Luxury spa, restaurant and bar, free parking, great package deals. Call 1-866-241-2189 to reserve or visit www.BestResortNiagara.com

Bayview Wildwood Resort
Getaways at Bayview Wildwood are FUN! Enjoy the best of winter with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or skating. Savour special moments indoors. Get away with our Winter Weekend Packages from $240 pp/dbl including 2 nights, 3 meals, recreation programs, and entertainment. Midweek, you’ll love our Tuesdays are Free Special with 3 night packages from $249 pp/dbl. Holidays excepted. Enjoy our Holiday Packages from $102 pp/nt dbl and March Break specials from $135 pp/nt dbl. Children’s Stay Free Packages available. Call 1-800-461-0243.
www.bayviewwildwood.com


Blue Mountain
Ontario’s Winter Playground! The best way to enjoy an Ontario winter is to get out and play! Whether you crave an adrenaline-filled day on the slopes or a relaxing stroll through a welcoming Village, Blue Mountain is the place to be. Downhill enthusiasts enjoy 34 trails across the Niagara Escarpment, ranging from beginner to double black diamond. Maximize your on-snow time with 13 lifts, including four high-speed six-person chairs, and plenty of action after the sun sets, with 22 trails and 10 lifts under the lights. If you’re looking for something to do off the slopes, take the family to Plunge! Aqua Centre, enjoy a romantic spa experience at Le Scandinave or visit Activity Central to organize an off-site excursion like dog sledding or cross-country skiing. The Village at Blue Mountain is the centre of the resort, where you can kick back in our luxury accommodation ranging from slope-side hotel rooms to luxury boutique-style village suites, indulge in fine shopping and dining and enjoy a host of winter events and entertainment. Getaway to Blue Mountain this winter.
www.bluemountain.ca

The Briars Resort & Spa
Winter Beauty, Warm Comforts. The magic of winter comes naturally to The Briars Resort & Spa. This celebrated resort comes alive with wintertime activities spread out over 200 acres of pure beauty along the shores of scenic Lake Simcoe. Snuggle in to a horse drawn sleigh ride through pristine woodlands. Catch up with your loved one as you meander along country lanes. Break out the cross-country skis. Go snowshoeing, just because you can. Let time stand still with a mug of cocoa cradled in your hands, as you ponder an afternoon skate on our private pond or the silent grandeur of the lake. Experience true intimacy with the outdoors through guided nature and energy walks. Come inside and surround your senses with the pleasures of a full service spa nestled within historic architecture. Tread water in our indoor pool at the same time as you watch snow gently fall outside. Linger over delicately prepared meals served by staff ready for your every need. Take time out for yoga class. Capture a breathtaking view from the tower’s upper reaches… Find yourself this winter in the comforts, history and magic of The Briars. Please visit our website to explore the many alluring winter getaways waiting for you between now and next Spring.
www.briars.ca

Carriage Ridge Resort
Located only 1 hour north of Toronto, Carriage Ridge Resort offers you the best access to winter recreation in Central Ontario. Enjoy our ski-in ski-out location on the ridge of Horseshoe Resort and easy drive to Mount St Louis Moonstone. Hardwood Hills Nordic ski trails, Snowmobile adventure tours and Winter Tree Top Trekking are only minutes away. Your condo-suite provides all the comforts of home and resort facilities include an indoor pool, hot tub, games room, daily activities and more!
www.carriageridgeresort.com


Couples Resort
Love is in the air and it's time to think of the world's romantic destinations such as Paris, Rome, Niagara Falls, the Caribbean, Bali and Whitney, Ontario. Whitney? "A lot of Europeans hearing about the incredible Canadian wilderness and the romance of the voyageurs see Algonquin Park as the ultimate romantic destination," says John Sorensen, whose family has owned The Couples Resort (formerly called the Bear Trail Inn) on the edge of Algonquin Park for four decades.
Sorensen, who is president of the 138-member Resorts of Ontario, says that while Europeans and Americans regard many Ontario destinations as exotic locales, it's sometimes harder to convince Ontario residents to view them that way.
"It's the same the world over, people don't always recognize what's in their own backyards," says Sorensen. In the early days, his parents Fritz and Gertrude Sorensen, who bought the former lodge on Galeairy Lake in Whitney in 1951, entertained a lot of European visitors who were wowed by the lodge's location.
www.couplesresort.ca


Deerhurst Resort
Two hours from Toronto, escape to Deerhurst Resort’s powdery-soft duvets, glowing fireplaces and soothing spa. Satisfy your appetite for adventure with snowmobiling, skiing and dogsledding. Get your groove on at live shows. Or just throw off your parka and relax. This winter, warm up to our Muskoka, right next door to Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area. B&B Package from $85pp (some conditions apply). For complete package details call 1-800-461-4393 or visit
www.deerhurstresort.com


Elmhirst's Resort
Relax by the fire in your cozy cottage with a good book or an old friend; swim in the indoor pool; enjoy a massage or spa treatment; treat yourself to a wine tasting in the cellar before dinner or venture outdoors for skating on the lake; snowshoeing; cross country skiing; an exhilarating snowmobile safari or perhaps a romantic horsedrawn sleighride. Our menu features Elmhirst’s Own Black Angus Beef and regional cuisine. Centrally located for reunions; value priced for guilt-free escapes. Come on up to our place. Elmhirst’s Resort 1-800-461-1940
www.elmhirst.com


Horseshoe Resort
Horseshoe Resort is nestled in the heart of beautiful Horseshoe Valley and is your ideal resort destination for the whole family. At just under an hour north of Toronto - and with the longest ski season in Southern Ontario - Horseshoe Resort is a favourite destination. Enjoy the warmth and hospitality of The Inn at Horseshoe Resort and relax in one of our 102 well appointed guest rooms, pamper yourself in luxury with a treatment at the Spa & Salon, complete your day by savouring an exquisite dining experience.
www.horseshoeresort.com


The Inn at Christies Mill
The Count’s Muskoka Retreat in the winter features. Luxurious Suites with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Lakefront rooms with misty morning sunrises. Romantic dining at Twigs with its friendly service. Relax and rejuvenate at Avalon Spa – famous for its Golden Goddess Body Wrap and anti-ageing treatments. Lounge by our indoor saltwater mineral pool as winter swirls around you. Minutes from Downhill Skiing at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. Cross Country Skiing at Hardwood Hills and the Wye Marsh.
www.christiesmill.com


Mountain Springs Resort
Frosty Fun! Winter at Mountain Springs Lodge has many wonderful activities to enjoy. The woods are laced with kilometers of trails to explore by snowmobile, cross-country skiing or snow shoeing. Participate in a scenic afternoon sleigh ride with family or alpine ski at Ontario’s largest mountain resort, Blue Mountain. After a day on the slopes come inside and relax and enjoy your hot toddy curled up in front of your fireplace or sitting mountainside in our 12 person outdoor hot tub.
Contact us at 1-800-704-8633 or visit our website.
www.mountainspringsresort.com


Pine Vista Resort
You’re going to love the crisp days, cozy nights and fun, carefree atmosphere at our family owned Pine Vista Resort. We’re located  90 min NE of Toronto on Stoney Lake. Four star cottages, wood fireplace, whirlpool bath, full kitchen TV/DVD,. Skating, x-country skiing, snow shoeing, tobogganing, indoor games & fitness rooms,  Massage,  two hot tubs & horse drawn sleigh rides. Winter fun & affordable Holiday packages. Last minute Deals. & on-line booking. 1-800-634-2848 
www.pinevista.com


Westwind Inn
Enjoy an unforgettable holiday at the Westwind Inn, Ontario's best kept secret! Just 90 min. N.E. of T.O., in a spectacular lakeside setting. Superb meals, comfy rooms, fireplaces, jet tubs for two, spa services, outstanding attractions & so much more! Hike, ski or snowshoe on private woodland trails, skate on the lake under the stars, relax in the sauna, soak in the outdoor hot tub or private indoor pool. Simply the best atmosphere for peaceful relaxation! Pkg’s with meals from $110 per person. Call now for details. You deserve a break! Open Xmas & New years. 800 387 8100 info@westwindinn.net
www.westwindinn.net

 

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