My wife and I stayed here for 1 night in February. She was recovering from cancer treatment and was struggling with anemia. I let the hotel know that we needed a room close to the elevator and facilities given her breathing difficulties with any distance of walking. I was also recovering from shoulder replacement surgery, carrying our luggage was not great for me either. The hotel management and staff went above and beyond to make sure our trip was perfect. Bags were taken to the room, our car was parked, a small dessert was left in the room fridge for us, and to top it off a thoughtful card was left in the room wishing her good health and recovery.
The resort itself is amazing. We enjoyed the spa with massages in the massage chairs, and the pool, hot tub and sauna specific to the spa area. It was quiet and relaxing. We also enjoyed the regular indoor/outdoor heated pool and hot tub. Both pools and hot tubs were amazing. It was so nice to enjoy warm water outside during the winter. The views were stunningly beautiful.
There is a fire pit with chairs and the staff give you 2 graham crackers, a piece of chocolate, and a marshmallow, all in a sealed bag and a campfire roasting stick. You can enjoy the fire and make a smore. They happily tell you to come back if you want another.
They went through in great detail what we could do while at the resort. There was paddle and rock painting, smores, a small skating rink on the upper deck of the resort, snow shoes, fat tire bikes, and other things that I cannot remember. There was a small fee for paddling painting (as you had to purchase the paddle), while other things listed were free of charge. On top of that, they also provide you with information on external private companies that you can contact about doing other things like, skating along a path, snowmobiling, hiking, and ice fishing. Having said that, the resort pool and hot tub are so spectacular, you might not want to leave to pay for other activities off-site.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the room. We got an accessible room, and it was perfect. It was very clean, modern, beautifully decorated, and spacious. It had a 1/2 size fridge, a 2 burner built in hotplate, dishes, kettle etc. There was a sit down shower with a shower wand. There were bath robes and slippers. There were other amenities in the room if needed, like a sewing kit and other things that I do not normally see in a hotel. Even the light fixtures were perfect with leaf designs, reminding you that this beautiful hotel had been dropped in and surrounded by the spectacular Muskoka region with stunning outdoor visuals at every turn.
The restaurants included a steakhouse (Muskoka Chophouse), an Italian restaurant (Teca), and the Muskoka Lakes restaurant that was not specific to one type of food and the Cottages Restaurant, which offers a la carte or the breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelets, chafing dishes of hot options, fresh fruits, pastries, breads, porridge, cold cuts, and cheeses, with multiple drink options included with your buffet. Ask for a seat by the window. You will not be sorry, as you will be provided with stunning lake view, and a look out to the patio which had snow globes for outdoor dining and also the small ice rink on that patio, since it was mostly unused in the winter.
I can imagine that sitting on the patio would be spectacular in the nicer weather, especially in the early fall when it is warm enough to sit outside in the day, and provide you with a view of the changing colours of the leaves. Getting back to the meals. We ate every restaurant, except the steak house. All were excellent. They were not cheap, but they were excellent quality and the service was superb. Specifically, the service was attentive, helpful, and friendly.
There was a bar area in the central hotel with an acoustic duo doing covers in the evening. The bar itself, had stunning lights overhead. Although we did not stay for drinks, it was certainly inviting and had we stayed longer, I have no doubt we would have enjoyed an evening at the bar listening to the musicians perform.
As much as we enjoyed the food and the amenities (and there were many to enjoy), the stand out for us was the service. The staff was amazing. When we arrived, the staff knew that my wife had spent the last year fighting cancer (because they reached out ahead of time to see if we were celebrating anything), and that she was now facing breathing difficulties with the after effects of treatment (we found out two days later she had bone marrow failure - MDS). A friendly staff member, knowing I had shared what my wife was going through, was kind and empathetic, explaining that he had fought cancer and beat it and knew my wife would also be successful in her own battle with cancer. We both appreciated this kindness and empathy.
It was a quieter time of year, but we were still surprised when some staff knew our names and addressed us by our surnames while we were at the resort. They allowed us to check our luggage at the front desk early, so that we could enjoy the facilities including access to lockers in the change rooms that lock. They brought up the luggage when we returned, so that all we needed to do was pick up room keys (cards). The next day we wanted to stay later. As there was room availability, they provided a late checkout, so that we could get maximum use of the amenities. When we asked about dining and directions, staff did not just give directions, they walked us to the restaurants and chatted with us. When we brought luggage down at the end of the trip, they brought our car to the front door and loaded the luggage. They wished us a good day and encourage our return. Something we will certainly do.
This resort was perfect. After a year of hell for my wife, it was wonderful seeing her happy. The staff made this beautiful resort hotel perfect for us and I cannot thank them enough for a brief, but wonderful stay.
CA