Muskoka Wharf

Photo courtesy of Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre

By Andrew Hind and Maria Da Silva

We sat on the patio leisurely sipping our wine, the glorious sun  – so close you feel as though you can reach out and touch it – warming our faces and painting the ripples upon the water a dazzling silver. We watched as loons paddled in the distance, as smoke billowed from the stack of a century-old steamship to halo above, and as gleaming boats full of tanned passengers dressed in t-shirts and shorts gently pulled up alongside the docks. A couple strolled hand-in-hand along the boardwalk ringing the bay, while a lone gentleman sat on a bench on the end of a dock, savoring the tranquility of the setting…

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Muskoka For the Win

Photo by Sarah Ryeland

Click here to watch the video and vote!

One resort’s shot at a million-dollar vacation

By Sarah Ryeland

How would you react if your company sent you on a million-dollar vacation to Queensland, Australia?

There’s only one catch: you’ll have to go with your colleagues.

But for employees of The Rosseau, a J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa in Minett, that’s the fun part…

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Campfire Perfection

Your guide to the perfect summer campfire

By Sarah Ryeland

What’s summer in Muskoka without a campfire? Everyone has their own traditions when it comes to this favourite family tradition, but it’s fun to switch things up a bit, too. So whether you’re camping, in your own backyard or visiting a friend, here are some handy campfire tips to help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

So gather some kindling, some friends and some bug spray and enjoy your campfire this summer…

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Art You Can Feel

Photo courtesty of Miranda Thomas

One Huntsville artist shows just how tactile textiles can be

By Sarah Ryeland

Miranda Thomas has been an artist for as long as she can remember. And for someone who’s only 26 years old, that adds up to a lifetime of creation.

“I’ve always been an artist,” she says. “For as long as I can remember I’ve been drawing, painting and creating things.”

But it wasn’t until fairly recently that she discovered her passion for textile arts…

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Going for a Spin in North Bay

Photo by Michael de Moree

By Laurel J. Campbell

Experience the feeling of yesteryear at the North Bay waterfront where carousel music combines with the chugging of a steam engine to transport you back to a simpler era. Children and adults alike delight in riding on the miniature train where a fantasy destination is as far away and exotic as your imagination can reach, and romance and excitement both seem possible astride the brilliantly coloured steed that spins you around the carousel and into a wonderful world of dreams…

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Ready, Set, Pick!

Photo by Tim Ryeland

Local berries are delicious, nutritious and a lot of fun to pick this summer

By Alison Brownlee

Berries are nature’s little hidden treasures.

Foraging for these tasty treats in Muskoka’s farm fields and wilderness can be fun for kids of all ages, and their parents, too, plus it gets everyone out enjoy all the natural wonder the region has to offer.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, there are several berries that do well in the province’s climate, including blackberry, blueberry, black currant, red currant, gooseberry, black raspberry, red raspberry and strawberry…

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An Idea That Keeps On Growing

Photo by Pamela Steel

By Tamara de la Vega

The joy of growing your own vegetables is spreading across Muskoka. So much so that private and business property owners are donating their land to organizations such as Poverty Reduction Of Muskoka Planning Team, the Huntsville Environment Group — and even schools are getting involved.

The idea behind the creation of such gardens, better known as community gardens, is that you can watch vegetables grow and share the fruits of your labour with others…

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Dave Keay: Man With a Conscience

Photo by Carli Whitwell

By Pamela Steel

More than a hundred people gathered to bid farewell to Dave Keay at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in May. It was a diverse group, made up of family members, neighbours and former tenants of the Empire Hotel.

It was the Empire Hotel that brought him to Huntsville, and just weeks after the last brick was taken down from the burned-out shell of the building he loved, Keay died suddenly of a heart attack…

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Castaways

Photo By Jonathan Ryeland

One family’s adventure from Muskoka to Georgian Bay and back again

By Sarah Ryeland

For families that have lived or played in Muskoka for many years, the simple pleasures of the region are exactly what make it so appealing. Unwinding and enjoying nature are what you need to escape the daily grind. And while your tried and true activities are fun, sometimes a little adventure helps you enjoy beautiful Muskoka that much more.

For me, living in Muskoka is an adventure unto itself. Born and raised in the GTA, I did spend quite a bit of time up in the Parry Sound-Muskoka region with my family. I’d like to think I’m a pretty adventurous girl – I have, after all, travelled the world and used my lifelong Muskoka experiences to do things like live in a tent for three months in the various landscapes of New Zealand.

But there are still some things I haven’t tried. And now that I’m living in Muskoka, I figured I might as well have an experience that takes my city-girl status down a notch…

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The Big 5-0

By Sarah Ryeland

After 50 years in business, Algonquin Outfitters might know a thing or two about what their customers want.

With 10 successful stores in Muskoka and Haliburton and no sign of slowing down, AO has worked hard to be a respected name in the community. Their dedication to rewarding customers and attention to the communities they serve just might be the secret of their success.

“When people celebrate a birthday, they’re usually the ones to get presents,” says Randy Mitson, marketing director for Algonquin Outfitters. “But for our 50th birthday, we’re the ones giving our customers gifts.”

And he’s not kidding. Coupon booklets, contests and more are part of the half-century celebrations the company has developed…

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