The Art of Getting Cozy at Ontario Resorts
Cozy has become something of a cultural obsession. We have hygge, cozy interiors, cozy meals, cozy sweaters and even entire corners of the internet devoted to the pleasures of staying home. After years of being encouraged to make every trip bigger, busier and more adventurous, there is a growing appeal in experiences that ask very little of us.
Ontario resorts have understood this instinct for years.
A fireplace, a cottage by the lake, a long dinner, a hot tub after a day outside or a stack of board games on the table can be enough to make a getaway feel like a genuine break from everyday life. And once the weather turns colder, those simple pleasures become even more appealing.
Fall and winter are the seasons when doing less can become the whole point of getting away.
Gather by firelight...
At Hockley Valley Resort, the transition into the colder months brings skiing and snowshoeing alongside the resort's spa, dining and comfortable accommodations. Some rooms have gas fireplaces, giving guests a warm place to settle in after a day in the countryside. And the resort's winter snow globe dining experience takes cozy to a new level.
Further north, Cedar Grove Lodge has been creating a distinctly Muskoka version of this experience for generations. Its 19 lakeside cottages on Peninsula Lake all feature wood-burning stone fireplaces, while winter guests can take advantage of activities including snowshoeing, skating, tobogganing and cross-country skiing, weather permitting.
At Bondi Cottage Resort, the cottages are spread across 600 acres on Lake of Bays, with fireplaces in many accommodations and winter trails available on the property. A cottage such as Cedars, with its propane fireplace and open-concept living space near the water, offers exactly the kind of setting that makes a chilly evening feel inviting.
The pleasure of staying in...
There is a tendency to think of a resort getaway in terms of what you will do once you arrive. The quieter seasons offer another possibility: enjoying where you are.
While some of Ontario's resorts close for the winter season, most remain open until mid-October so guests can take advantage of the coziness of fall in spectacular settings:
- At Port Cunnington Lodge, cottages and chalets are spread across 22 acres of Muskoka waterfront, with accommodations ranging from one-bedroom cottages to large group chalets. Some, such as the Chickadee cottage, are designed for couples, while others provide large living and dining spaces for families and friends to gather. A perfect place to enjoy the beauty of the changing leaves.
- At Rocky Crest Golf Resort, the cottage experience provides another version of the same idea. Cottages feature full kitchens, living rooms and fireplaces, including indoor/outdoor fireplaces in some accommodations. While the resort closes mid-October, villa rentals are available year round.
- At Lumina Resort, the Main Lodge provides another reason to linger indoors. Guests can play ping-pong, cards and darts, while the Knotty Pine Room includes kids' games, a toy room and an arcade room. The Living Room has a stone fireplace and space to sit and play cards or simply relax.
- Killarney Lodge offers a particularly good reminder that cozy season begins before the snow arrives: when crisp fall nights, private lakeside cabins and the original fireplace in its dining room create a classic Algonquin atmosphere. The lodge's guest lounge also has a fireplace and games, giving guests a comfortable place to settle in after exploring the park.
For resorts that are open year-round, guests can mix outdoor adventure in fall and winter, with cozy indoor spaces.
For a traditional lodge experience, Sherwood Inn sits on Lake Joseph and remains open year-round, with waterfront accommodations, dining and its on-site spa. Several of its rooms and cottages feature wood-burning fireplaces for that extra-cozy touch.
At Waring House in Prince Edward County, coziness can take a culinary turn. The historic country inn offers hands-on classes inspired by global culinary traditions, as well as seasonal dishes served in their dining spaces, with live music offered a few nights a week.
And then there is Springwood Cottage Resort, where playing games has become a central part of the experience. The resort's collection includes more than 1,300 board games, along with outdoor games and an arcade-style games room. It is an unusually good answer to the question of what to do when everyone has finished their coffee and nobody feels like going anywhere.
The cozy side of the forest...
Snow softens the landscape and muffles the sounds around you, while bare branches reveal details that are easy to miss in summer: animal tracks in the snow, birds moving through the trees and the occasional movement of wildlife in the distance. Unlike any other season, winter brings an intimacy to the outdoors.
The Algonquin Log Cabin offers award-winning winter adventures that combine cozy accommodation with snowshoeing, dog sledding, and backcountry skiing. Rest tired bones in the wood-fired sauna or in front of the fireplace. Limited to just 12 people, these winter experiences are for those looking for active adventure.
At Cobble Beach, winter brings a quieter resort experience on the shores of Georgian Bay. The resort highlights seasonal experiences centred on relaxation and rejuvenation, including spa treatments and indoor amenities, while its broader trail system provides another way to experience the property when the landscape changes.
And at Dimensions Retreats, the forested setting is central to the experience. Set on 40 acres along Maple Lake, the resort combines private cabins with opportunities to spend time outdoors, along with wellness services and chef-led culinary experiences that encourage guests to slow down and reconnect with their surroundings.
When warmth becomes part of the experience...
There is something about being cold that makes warmth feel like a luxury. A hot tub after a crisp fall hike, a sauna after snowshoeing or a warm outdoor pool after a day in the snow are pleasures made even better by a chill in the air.
At Ste. Anne's Spa, guests can move between hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms, saunas and an outdoor warming room, creating an entire day around slowing down and getting warm. The spa's outdoor sauna and warming room are designed for quiet relaxation in the natural setting.
At JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa, the year-round indoor-outdoor pool offers another way to enjoy the Muskoka landscape when the air turns cold. The resort also has HydroSpa Muskoka, along with dining, comfortable accommodations and access to the surrounding landscape of Lake Rosseau.
Living Water Resort & Spa in Collingwood takes a similarly easygoing approach. Its amenities include an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a courtyard fire pit and the Living Shore Spa, whose 5,000-square-foot facility includes an Aquapath experience alongside traditional spa treatments.
At Pillar and Post in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the 100 Fountain Spa adds another layer of comfort. Hotel guests have access to indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor hot tub, saunas and a year-round outdoor hot spring pool, as well as a fireplace lounge. Many of the hotel's guest rooms also feature fireplaces.
For couples, Couples Resort near Algonquin Park has built its 5-star hotel around this particular combination of warmth and privacy. Its packages include private outdoor hot tubs and real wood-burning fireplaces, while the resort's winter offerings make the surrounding wilderness part of the experience.
At Heather Lodge, the setting is similarly intimate. The adult-only lodge sits on Twelve Mile Lake and accommodates no more than 24 guests at a time. Its Lakeview Studios have wood-burning fireplaces, while winter packages include snowshoes and cross-country ski equipment.
There is room for togetherness, too...
Cozy escapes do not have to be quiet. For families and groups, some of the best moments come from having enough time and space to be together without rushing from one activity to the next.
At Friday Harbour, the resort's winter programming has included activities such as skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hockey and campfires. The combination of outdoor activity and places to gather gives families plenty of ways to make a day of it.
At Blue Water Acres, cottages can accommodate up to eight guests, with kitchens and fireplaces providing the basic ingredients for a relaxed group getaway.
In a season when we are often rushing between obligations, a few days spent somewhere comfortable can be a welcome reminder that time away does not have to be packed with plans to feel worthwhile. Sometimes it can be as simple as a quiet walk, a long meal, a game around the table or an afternoon with nowhere else to be. Perhaps that is why the appeal of cozy has lasted beyond the trend itself.
If that sounds like your kind of getaway, there are plenty of places across the province ready to welcome you into the season.
Explore Resorts of Ontario and find your next cozy escape.
Great Escapes Magazine is a publication of Resorts of Ontario, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for resorts, lodges and inns of Ontario's tourism industry.
Find out more about becoming a Resort Member.
For partnership opportunities, please email us!
Gifting made easy!
Resorts of Ontario gift certificates open the door to amazing experiences at nearly 100 resorts, boutique hotels, waterfront lodges and cottages across Ontario.