THE MUSKOKA JOURNAL
Stories from around the lakes.
Long-form guides, seasonal notes and local knowledge: what to see, where to eat, and how to make a better visit to Muskoka.
FEATURED · HISTORY & CULTURE
Indigenous Muskoka: the peoples, the treaties and the places to learn
Long before steamships and cottages, Muskoka was Anishinaabe homeland. A respectful introduction to the Nations, treaties and communities of the region today.
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SEASONAL
Things to do in Gravenhurst in winter: markets, music, skating and dark skies
Holiday markets, the Opera House stage, a year-round museum on the wharf, free outdoor rinks and dark skies: how to spend a winter weekend in Gravenhurst.
SEASONAL
Bracebridge in the snow: the Festival of Lights and where to shop
The lights are the reason to come, but the shops, the falls and an early dinner are what make the evening work.
ITINERARIES
A winter weekend in Huntsville, without a car full of gear
A two-day plan for a cold weekend: rent the gear, skate the trail, and keep everything else within walking distance of Main Street.
OUTDOORS
Dark skies over Torrance Barrens: how to plan a stargazing night
How to plan a night under one of Ontario's darkest skies: timing, what to bring, and how to behave in a protected preserve.
GUIDES
Three days in Muskoka: a first-timer's route
One long weekend, three very different days: waterfalls and main streets, a lake crossing and a slow morning in the woods.
FOOD & DRINK
Butter tarts, breweries and bakeries: a Muskoka food crawl
Butter tarts in Bala, a taproom near Torrance and a cranberry marsh in autumn: a three-stop crawl through Muskoka's local food.
SEASONAL
Where the colours are: planning a Muskoka autumn leaf weekend
The colour window is short. Here is how to time it, and three different ways to see the region at its best in October.
OUTDOORS
Honey Harbour to Beausoleil: a Georgian Bay day on the water
Island trails, sheltered paddling and a marine railway on the way home: a Georgian Bay day that works from Honey Harbour.