A winter weekend in Muskoka
- Aili Salminen
- Jan 12
- 5 min read
Weekend recap: Windermere, Port Carling | Muskoka Lakes
January 2-4, 2025
2.5 days, 2 nights
My hubby and I headed to Muskoka to kick off the New Year (and to recharge our batteries after many social holiday events).
We live only 2 hours from the Muskoka Lakes region, and surprisingly, the most time we have spent there is stopping for a snack in Rosseau on our way to another destination.
Two great things about visiting Muskoka in January (at least in our opinion):
Our accommodation was so much more affordable than a New Years event, or a summer weekend. Like, several hundred dollars a night more affordable.
It's very quiet. Towns in Muskoka (Port Carling, Milford Bay, Rosseau, Bala, etc.) are very seasonal, and we were often one of a few people on a trail, in a restaurant, or in general at our hotel.
That being said — if you are looking to shop, sample several bars and restaurants, and bustle around buzzing cottage country spots, then this is not the season for you.
Most cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and boutique shops are closed for the entire winter season. For us, that didn't matter too much. We enjoy a slower pace during our weekend trips, with fewer crowds, room to breathe, and no waiting in line.
The vibes: a quiet, winter, nature-focused 'retreat' getaway
The location: Windermere, Muskoka
OUTING DETAILS
THE LOGISTICS
Where: Windermere, Port Carling, Milford Bay | Muskoka
When: January 2-4th, 2025
How: drove our own vehicle and used it to get around Muskoka Lakes
THE STAY
THE ACTIVITIES
THE EATS
WEEKEND RECAP
DAY 1 - THURSDAY
On the road! The 2.5-hour drive passed quickly, with more and more snow accumulating the further south we drove.
Arrived at Windermere House at 3 pm, and was able to check in early.
We ate a very early dinner (like 4:30 pm) at the Windermere Pub. I got the perch tacos with fries, and Adrian the smash burger with Caesar salad.
Really good! Tacos had a lot of crunch, the fish was tasty, the chipotle mayo was spicy, and the fries were crispy and well-salted. The smash burger was delicious — really good beef patty, perfect ratio of toppings.
After digesting (napping), we headed down to the saunas! Note: the hotel provides fuzzy white robes and water bottles for your sauna-spa experience! Nice touch. Bring your own slides.
The sun had set, and the sky was pitch black, so the snow that was falling was illuminated by the lights on the grounds. A few rounds of sauna-cold air-hot tub later, and we were ready for bed.
DAY 2 - FRIDAY
Good morning from Muskoka! We slept in until 8:30 am — what a great sleep. I think we need a California king-sized bed in our home. Anyways! I enjoyed a Nespresso coffee from bed and caught the edge of the sunrise from our lakeview-window.
Dressed and hungry, we headed down to breakfast. Ok, I don't experience resort hotel stays often, so the idea of just being able to walk down to breakfast in your slippers is fabulous!! I will clarify that I did not wear pajamas.
Breakfast was buffet style, and included in our stay. Really good options! Mix of hot and cold options: fruit platter, yogurt parfaits, pastries, toast, cereal and granola, eggs, bacon and sausage, and hashbrowns. Tea, coffee (mid), infused water, and juice.
After breakfast, we got our winter gear on, and headed out for a winter hike!
Our pick was Huckleberry Lookout Trail. A short, loop trail, about a 15-minute drive from our stay.
Not too hard, with great views, and no one on the trail! Our favourite kind of hike. I had to use the All Trails map of the hike to guide us back on the right path a few times.
Post-hike we headed to the town of Port Carling. No one was there, HA. Just Adrian and I, puttering around the main street and walking the snow-covered docks. After our walk-about, we headed to PIE Wood Fired Oven Pizza for lunch.
Great choice for lunch! The pizza was really good — I got the Muskoka Pie with fior de latte, pepperoni, caramelized onions, and sauteed mushrooms (8.5/10) and Adrian got the Hedge Hog (9/10 but was v spicy for me).
Post-pizza, we headed back to Windermere!
Another digest-nap session, and we were ready for sauna round two.
I think we spent 2 hours going through the sauna-cold plunge cycle. Gosh, it felt so good to warm up, watch the sun and sky through the barrel sauna, and then shock our bodies in cold water. In a way, it feels like we got to 'spa' for free.
So rejuvenating!
Dinner was the pub again — this time around, it was a little disappointing. I got the fish and chips, and found the batter really heavy, and gummy? Like there was too much oil on the fish, and the batter never fully cooked. Chips were great though! Adrian got the chicken wings in gochujang flavour, and they were really good.
The pub is super convenient — it's one of the only places to grab food in Windermere and just a short walk down the stairs from our hotel room. Prices are a little steep in my opinion, but hey, we had some good dishes from there!
Waddled up to our room and spent the evening reading, reflecting 2024, and making plans, projects, and goals for 2025.
DAY 3 - SATURDAY
The next morning we woke up early, and missing Winnie (our precious golden retriever), we packed up and checked out.
And just like that, it was time to head off home!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again — we love being able to explore places in their low season. We aren't about big crowds, waiting in queues, or feeling like the place we are visiting is 90% tourists and 10% local inhabitants.
Definitely will be back to Muskoka in the future! Let me know your favourite spots and things to do!
Till next time!
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