In an effort to recognize employee excellence in the regional tourism industry, Explorers’ Edge has launched the 1st Annual Big Applause Awards that will be given out at the company’s Regional Tourism Summit on June 22, 2022. In an industry that was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, the Big Applause Awards were created to honour tourism and hospitality workers from more than 800 businesses who continually put forth an incredible effort, despite the challenges faced, said James Murphy, executive director of Explorers’ Edge. “It’s been a hard couple of years, and what really kept our industry hanging Read more
Muskoka
Porter Airlines’ service to Muskoka, Ontario, returns just in time for your summer plans. Flights begin June 24, 2022, and conclude September 6, 2022. Service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Muskoka Airport will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Connecting flights are also available via Toronto from various Porter destinations. I had the pleasure of flying from Muskoka to Toronto a couple years ago and found it to be a great service; not only easy and convenient (beats the heck out of Highway 400) but beautiful. “We look forward to bringing our passengers back to Muskoka after Read more
To kick off the new year, Vrbo® has released its top drive-to destinations for 2022 based on vacation rental demand. Vrbo is the vacation rental site and app, part of the Expedia Group Brands, where families and travellers can book cottages, condos, waterfront properties and every space in between. With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, an increase in flight disruptions and cancellations, and changing international travel restrictions, families are again opting for domestic road trip destinations within a few hours’ drive from home. Vrbo’s top drive-to destinations from major city areas across Canada include [1]: From Toronto: Collingwood, Ontario Read more
This is an excerpt from my new book, “Ontario Escapes: 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now.” It’s available from Apple Books (and only for Apple devices) for just $4.99 Canadian. What a deal! Here’s the link for the book: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/ontario-escapes/id1523750857 Chapter 11: Gravenhurst and Muskoka WHAT: There’s a reason some folks call Muskoka Toronto’s playground. Located just two hours (maybe less given COVID-19 traffic, or lack of same) north of the city, you’ll find amazing lakes strewn with rocky islets and towering, deep green trees. It’s as pretty as a postcard, and easy to reach. WHERE: Gravenhurst, the Read more
I’m paddling gently through a shallow creek that runs off the south branch of the Muskoka River on a perfect, early summer’s day in Bracebridge. I hear the call of unfamiliar birds echoing through the trees as I skim along the surface of the creek in my brilliant orange kayak. Off to my left, an iridescent, small, blue and black dragonfly comes to rest on a brilliant yellow pond lily. A few feet away, I spot a small turtle sunning itself on a log on a 22 Celsius morning. My wife and I ease our kayaks back out into the Read more
