Ontario's best country getaways

By Vivian Vassos

the millcroft inn & spa

Bye-bye, big city: Here are five Ontario retreats where country meets classy.

The Millcroft Inn & Spa

Above and Beyond: Originally a knitting mill built in 1881, this rural retreat has earned a whopping 19 consecutive AAA/CAA Four Diamond Awards.

Preferred Address: The natural haven of the Hills of Headwaters region makes you feel like you’re a million miles away.

Chef’s Table: Roberto Fracchioni (former executive chef at Inn on the Twenty) infuses his cuisine with the flavours of his traditional Italian family upbringing.

Book This Room: The Croft loft bedrooms come with wood-burning fireplaces, private patios and private two-person outdoor hot tubs.

Spa, Ah: The Millcroft Spa was the first in Canada to offer unique beer-based treatments.

Avery House

Above and Beyond: Built in 1874, this lovingly restored B&B offers small-town charm along with big-town concierge services (like securing those sought-after theatre tickets).

Preferred Address: It’s within walking distance of all four Stratford Festival theatres.

Chef’s Table: Co-owner Susan Mustard focuses on local farmers’ market fare and accommodates vegan, celiac and other special diets.

Book This Room: Says co-owner Judy Spence, “The Loft in the Carriage House is my favourite room for privacy, a large king bed and an ensuite bath and walk-in shower with spa-like multiple heads.”

Fun Fact: The inn was used as a set for a Chef School episode, airing on the Food Network this fall.

Eganridge Inn and Spa

Above and Beyond: The manor, Dunsford House, was built in 1838 and is considered one of the finest preserved examples of two-storey log architecture in existence. Plus, the CPGA golf course is one of the prettiest in the Kawartha Lakes region.

Preferred Address: It overlooks Sturgeon Lake on the Trent-Severn waterway “from which you can travel the world by boat,” says owner John Egan.

Chef’s Table: Swiss-trained Steve Moghini focuses on regional cuisine in the classic French tradition.

Book This Room: Dunsford House rooms have king- or double queen-size poster beds, vaulted ceilings and large, spacious bathrooms.

Spa, Ah: The Shea Butter Body Wrap relieves aching muscles and stimulates circulation.

Inn at Manitou

Above and Beyond: This intimate 35-room resort excels in personalized service. “We have 70 staff for 70 guests,” says the inn’s general manager Jordanna Wise Lipson.

Preferred Address: Take in the spectacular views of Lake Manitouwabing on Georgian Bay, immortalized in paintings by the Group of Seven.

Chef’s Table: European-trained Bernard Ibanez puts an emphasis on French tradition, mixed with Mediterranean, Californian and Asian cuisine.

Book This Room: Room 21, a lakeview room, has a step-down living room, a marble fireplace, an in-room Jacuzzi and sauna and a private deck.

Spa, Ah: Pick the AromaFructus Belladone Contouring Treatment with Exotic Flower for deep exfoliation and a body mask.

Oban Inn & Spa

Above and Beyond: Built in 1824 as a private residence by Captain Duncan Milloy of Oban, Scotland, this Niagara-on-the-Lake inn still boasts historically inspired English gardens.

Preferred Address: The house overlooks Canada’s oldest golf course and Lake Ontario and is a casual stroll away from the Shaw Café and Wine Bar. “Try the beer-battered fish and chips and a jug of sangria,” says inn owner Si Wai Lai.

Chef’s Table: Tony de Luca is at the forefront of regional Niagara cuisine, which focuses on fresh, locally grown-and-raised produce and livestock, with a nod to local wine pairings.

Book This Room: Room 305, with a private patio, overlooks the rose- and vine-covered gazebo and natural–stone water feature on the outdoor hot spring and infinity pool.

Spa, Ah: The OSpa Signature Alpha Collagen Facial stimulates collagen renewal in the skin.

(Vivian Vassos is a freelance lifestyle journalist who regularly contributes to such publications as the National Post and FASHION; she was formerly an editor at FLARE.)

Getting There

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