At a lake in Ontario, Canada

At Eagle Lake in Ontario

On a lake in Ontario: A great loon flies over our heads, calling loudly. Its hollow cry is fitting for this region, which is just beginning to see the first signs of Indian summer. The deciduous trees are sporting their first brightly colored leaves, their red or gold providing wonderful splashes of color against the otherwise vibrant green of the summer foliage. This is exactly what we expected to see in this environment. The bird's destination is the remote Eagle Lake, one of Canada's countless lakes, which in the Muskoka region are even more idyllic than in other – wilder – regions of this vast country. With a loud splash, it disturbs the peace of the lake, disturbing its still waters for a few minutes with its landing, briefly interrupting its previously perfect, mirror-smooth surface with a ripple of the waves. The commotion doesn't last long, though, and the lake lies before us once again as calm and tranquil as before.

Enjoy the silence and tranquility of a lake in Ontario, Canada

We are located about an hour and a half northeast of Toronto on Eagle Lake near Haliburton, Ontario. It would actually be a godforsaken region, were it not for the lakes lined with one vacation home after another. Cottages are what they're called here, these summer homes, and they're not just owned by the rich and famous – although there are places where highly paid ice hockey players, highly paid Hollywood stars, and wealthy owners of software companies and other successful start-ups prefer to settle. That's less the case at Eagle Lake, however. The lake is still too far on the edge of the Muskoka region for that. It attracts wealthy businesspeople, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and anyone who can afford to finance a second home in the country. In the summer, they retreat there to escape the city heat and relax for a few weeks in idyllic surroundings, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And the setting at Eagle Lake is perfect for that.

Here you can row out to the lake with your own canoe to get your dinner out of the water: maybe a fresh trout or another fish, of which there are many. You go into the woods, which are usually right on your doorstep to collect fresh blueberries or buy from the Aunt Emma shop in the next village. Or you go directly to the farmer and get some fresh eggs or just harvested vegetables. You can hardly live healthier. In addition, you can enjoy the silence of the lake, which is occasionally interrupted during the summer holidays by happy children laugh when the offspring spend his school-free summer weeks on the shores of the lake full of adventure and experiences.

Experience the idyll by the lake at Sir Sam's Inn on Eagle Lake

Even non-Canadians like us are attracted to this region magically. That's exactly how you imagine Canada: deep forests, dark lakes over which a deep blue sky arches, a canoe on the doorstep, and a calm lake that only stirs the little waves that land the landing of a water bird brings. For us Europeans, however, it is only rarely possible to fulfill this dream with a separate weekend cottage. Instead, there is the wonderfully located Sir Sam's Inn, which stretches along the shores of this hidden lake - with stunning lake and forest views that guests of the inn can enjoy from the grounds below the resort. Or take advantage of the hotel's pool or spa, which offers unobstructed views of this paradise.

We came to this hotel on our last press trip and reached the Inn after a long drive in the late afternoon, tired and drained from a six hour journey. We were all the more delighted when we discovered the idyll that was waiting for us here. The quiet at the lake, the pleasant ambience in the restaurant and in the lobby, the friendliness of the staff and our cozy room with fireplace and terrace with a view of Eagle Lake made up for the hours of the journey. And if we had had a little more time, we would have been pampered in the hotel's wellness area. Only one thing bothered us: that we had to drive on the next day. We swore, however, that we will come here one day on one private vacation trip – and stay for several days. Promised!

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

How to Arrive

Compare and book flights here* (Advertisement). Lufthansa, Air Canada and several other airlines fly to Toronto.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Muskoka Region * You can book through our partner booking.com. We stayed at Sir Sam's Inn Resort & Spa in Haliburton.

If you book via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

Source: Own on-site research, with the kind support of Tourism Ontario. We sincerely thank you for this. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own.

Text: © Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline