From late September to about the third week in October, fall colours across Ontario are peaking at various times. Slip away for a weekend of hiking, cycling or studio tours to witness Ontario’s vibrant foliage. These Ontario inns offer tradition and luxury for an ideal fall colour trip.
Millcroft Inn and Spa, Alton
If you want to get away for a fall colour trip, but don’t want to spend too much time on the way, consider the Millcroft Inn and Spa, which is just outside of Caledon, a 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto. Rooms are sumptuously decorated with Canadian antiques, have sitting areas and flat screen TVs and you’ll even receive turndown service at bedtime. Some rooms overlook the mill pond and Shaw’s Creek Falls. Headwaters Restaurant is a four-star restaurant serving locally-grown foods. Known for their spa, treatments include customized facials, stone massages, reflexology and Reiki.
Since the Millcroft Inn and Spa is tucked between the Caledon Hills and Credit River Valley, you’ll find many nearby artists’ studios and antique shops. For walking, hiking or taking magnificent photos, the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, which is about 10 minutes southeast of Alton, has sections of the Bruce Trail, as well as a gorge and Kettle Lake. The Inglewood Antique Market on Hwy 10 just south of Caledon Village is open every day. The Caledon Hills Studio Tour 2012 takes place on Sept. 22-23 and Sept. 29-30, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gananoque Inn and Spa
Located in the Thousand Islands Region, the Gananoque Inn and Spa has rooms overlooking the inn’s 500-foot private dock and St. Lawrence River surrounded by brilliant fall colour. Rooms are traditionally decorated in this inn, which has been in operation since 1896, and include room service, Wi-Fi. Many rooms have fireplaces, jacuzzis or walk-outs to the gardens. The spa offers treatments including Shiatsu Facial Massage, couples’ massages, body and facial treatments, pedicures and waxing.
Cyclists can enjoy 65 kilometres of bicycle trails along the Thousand Islands Parkway. Other local activities include visiting The Gardens at Landon’s Bay, popular themed community gardens. Jammin’ in the Islands features live free music throughout Gananoque venues from Fri. Oct. 12 to Sun., Oct. 14, 2012.
The Irwin Inn
Located on Stoney Lake near Lakefield in the Kawarthas, the Irwin Inn offers a range of accommodations for a relaxing fall weekend getaway including inn rooms; lakeside suites with fireplaces or woodburning stoves and private decks and hot tubs; and luxury lakeside cottages with private swimming pools. Fall activities at the inn include canoeing and kayaking, horseback riding, golf on the Irwin Inn’s 9-hole golf course, mountain biking and sunset cruises. Rates include breakfast and dinner and rooms have Wi-Fi. Take a fall colour scenic route along Stoney Lake by car or bicycle and stop at Petroglyphs Provincial Park in Woodview to see the largest number of First Nations rock carvings in Ontario.
