Earlier this month, I got to spend three whole weeks with my boyfriend (from Toronto, but currently lives in Florida). This may not sound like a big deal, but to a long distance couple, it’s everything! When he told me he’d never been to Muskoka, I set out to find the perfect place for his first experience in this popular summer destination. It didn’t take me long to set my sights on Sherwood Inn - an authentic Muskoka resort in Port Carling on the edge of Lake Joseph.
Spacious, serene and only 2.5 hours outside of the city made Sherwood Inn an easy choice. They recently celebrated their 75th birthday so I knew we couldn’t go wrong with a well-recognized resort that had been serving both tourists and locals for so many years!
My friends at Honda let me borrow the 2014 Accord for the trip, so we cruised up to Muskoka in comfort and style! I actually had the Accord for about a week beforehand as well and it’s the perfect sedan for city and country driving. I love the reverse and blind spot camera for hectic city driving and parking situations, while the easy to use navigation, Bluetooth music streaming, cruise control and comfy seats make it perfect for those longer commutes. I was also SUPER impressed with the gas mileage on the Accord – we drove to Port Carling and back (approx. 600kms) without having to fill up once – we still had a quarter tank when we got home!
Upon arrival at Sherwood Inn (just two turns off the highway – so easy to find), we were greeted in the reception area by General Manager Esa and his lovely staff.
“This must be Pixel!” Did I mention that Sherwood Inn is dog-friendly? This is a HUGE selling feature for me since cottage-country vacations are so much fun with my canine companion! Not only was Pixel welcome to stay with us, but she was treated like gold – when we arrived in our suite, there were dog bowls, treats and a personalized card signed by the entire staff just for her!
She was clearly excited. As she sniffed around her new surroundings, James and I took in the well-appointed Boathouse Suite and the stunning views. The suite includes a master bedroom with a king size bed, flat-screen TV and ensuite bathroom as well as a large family room with a small kitchenette, table, desk, couch, gas fireplace and another TV.
We even had our own private dock!
Once we got settled in (and spoiled Pixel with some of her new treats), we made our way to the main building for some drinks on the sun-filled patio. The GM Esa joined us and Pixel came too! We sipped on local craft beers from Muskoka Brewery and soaked up a beautiful afternoon.
For those of you looking for a summer wedding destination – Sherwood Inn is the perfect spot for that gorgeous outdoor ceremony and indoor reception with expansive well landscaped grounds, stunning sunsets, absolutely delicious cuisine and rooms for all of your guests!
For our first evening, we ventured out for some dinner in Port Carling, but on our second night we were treated to a fabulous private dining experience in the resort’s wine cellar. My heart swelled with girly romantic feelings when I saw the candlelit table for two and the incredible wine selection all around us. We sipped on a fabulous 2011 Australian Shiraz as we enjoyed a five-course dinner including an amuse-bouche, soup, salad, trout and lamb main courses and my favourite crème brûlée for dessert. It was a lovely experience for us!
In addition to the beautiful surroundings, comfortable accommodations and scrumptious food, there are lots of great activities to enjoy at Sherwood Inn. I couldn’t wait to introduce Pixel to the lake for her first swim! She was a little shy at first, but as soon as we found a stick to throw we couldn’t keep her out of the water! She was so cute…
The beach at Sherwood Inn makes it easy to wade into the lake at your leisure after spending some time in their cozy beach chairs – of course you can always jump off the dock too!
Our second day was cloudy with some rain, but James woke up early to enjoy a round of golf at nearby Lake Joseph Club. It’s a private members-only club, so my golf loving guy was thrilled to play there. He said the greens were well-maintained, the course was diverse and the Muskoka atmosphere made for a smooth round despite the weather.
While James golfed, I relaxed with Pixel and then went to the AMBA Health & Beauty Spa on-site. Rainy days make perfect spa days don’t they? My lovely esthetician Amy treated me to a 60-minute relaxing full-body massage followed by the signature Guinot Hydradermie Facial.
I’ve tried a lot of facials since I started blogging and this one has to be in my top 5! It’s relaxing, deep-cleansing and super hydrating including ionization to maximize active ingredients and micro-circulation to stimulate oxygen and boost cell renewal. My skin was glowing afterwards!
Of course it wouldn’t be a trip to Muskoka without taking in the stunning sunsets and the one we enjoyed over Lake Joseph was absolutely breathtaking. We sat in Muskoka chairs on the point until the sun disappeared over the horizon and the mosquitos came out to play…then we ran like hell back to our suite and cuddled up to watch some movies on the couch.
I can’t rave enough about our two-night stay at Sherwood Inn. I wish were able to stay longer! Even though the location, accommodations, food and activities were all top notch, I was most impressed with the staff. Almost every person we encountered said hello, knew our names (Pixel too) and many had even checked out my blog! They took the time to care and that’s what makes this place charming. It’s no surprise that Sherwood Inn is going strong after 75 years!
BIG THANKS to Esa and the wonderful staff at Sherwood Inn for being such welcoming and gracious hosts. We can’t wait to visit again sometime soon.
Planning a visit to Muskoka? I highly recommend Sherwood Inn – mention Dainty Girl when you call to make reservations and enjoy 10% off!
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