Muskoka holidays - Bountiful, leisurely and natural

Muskoka's capital Huntsville is a popular spot for hiking and more

While much of the city’s attractions lie in the surrounding Great Outdoors, visitors can enjoy the Thursday morning farmers market on Main Street, with local vendors offering a wide range of homemade traditional foods, regional organic produce and unique souvenirs. Wine enthusiasts should be sure to stop at Wine Not Huntsville for the unique opportunity to create their own wine - complete with personalized label, and art lovers won’t want to miss taking a stroll downtown to browse the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery with its more than 90 murals celebrating the artwork of famous Ontario landscape painters. Shoppers can peruse the over 120 boutiques and independent shops featuring handcrafted, locally-made items, while the Muskoka Marine Museum hosts a vast number of refurbished and refinished antique boats that provide a glimpse of life in this area of Canada well over a century ago.

Just a two hour drive from Toronto, visitors will discover why the Muskoka region was named one of the must-see places in the world by National Geographic: Arrowhead Provincial Park. There are a wealth of hiking trails that offer the chance to be surrounded by nature and glimpse wildlife like beaver, deer, fox, and even moose, along with the occasional bear, as well as waterfalls that provide the perfect spot for picnicking and soaking up the scenery. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the main beach for exploring the lakes and rivers too. When the area is transformed into a winter wonderland, visitors can glide through the forest on the ice trail, soar down the tubing hill, snowshoe or cross-country ski.

Reasons to visit Huntsville, Muskoka

• As Huntsville is set on three picturesque lakes, visitors can enjoy many public beaches for swimming, as well as canoeing and kayaking. On land, the area is popular for hiking, biking and camping
• A winter wonderland during the chillier months of the year, Huntsville hosts an ice trail for skating as well as the chance for magnificent snowy hikes via snowshoes or cross-country skis
• Wildlife lovers can glimpse fox, deer, moose, beaver and bear as well as an array of bird life, including Great Blue Heron
• Shopping in town offers something for everyone, from the weekly farmers market to fabulous antique shops selling one-of-a-kind treasures and a wealth of boutiques featuring unique gifts and souvenirs
• Enjoy a host of cultural attractions, including an outstanding museum, art galleries, free public art exhibits and the Algonquin Theatre, which hosts plays, musicals and more
• With its unspoilt, natural beauty, charming towns and stunning lakes, this area is the perfect spot for a quintessential cottage-country escape