What's Your Resort Type?
No two resort vacations look exactly the same. Some people come for quiet days by the lake. Others want to stay active, explore nearby towns, or spend time together as a family.
Across the province, Resorts of Ontario represents nearly 100 member resorts, from classic cottage-country lodges to waterfront retreats and urban-focused escapes. What connects them is a long-standing tradition of welcoming guests and sharing the places their owners know best.
Each resort offers its own style of getaway — but they all reflect the same sense of hospitality rooted in Ontario’s landscapes.
The question is simply: what kind of resort stay suits you best?
The Classic Lake Lifer
For some travellers, the perfect getaway looks a lot like cottage life — a dock stretching into clear water, afternoons spent swimming or paddling, and evenings watching the sky change over the lake.
Resorts across Ontario's lake regions offer just that, with easy access to the water and plenty of places to slow down and enjoy it.
You’re a Lake Lifer if you:
- Head straight for the dock when you arrive
- Plan to swim, paddle, or fish every day
- Are happy spending an afternoon reading by the water
- Think sunset and a campfire are the perfect way to end the day
Where to go:
• Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph
• Couples Resort
• Killarney Lodge
• Bondi Beach
The Adventure Seeker
If you pack running shoes and a sense of curiosity, a resort stay can become a base for exploring the outdoors.
Many Ontario resorts are surrounded by forests, trails, and lakes that invite adventure. A day might include paddling, hiking or biking, and a swim to cool off at the end of it all.
You’re an Adventure Seeker if you:
- Look for trail maps and activity boards when you arrive
- Like trying new outdoor activities
- Prefer to stay active during the day
- Enjoy exploring beyond the resort grounds
Where to go:
• Shamrock Lodge
• Algonquin Log Cabin & Cottages
• Beachwood Resort
• Heather Lodge
The Culinary Explorer
For some travellers, great food is a key part of the experience.
Many Ontario resorts place a strong emphasis on dining, highlighting seasonal ingredients and regional flavours. A stay might include a relaxed breakfast overlooking the lake, a casual patio lunch, and a memorable dinner to end the day.
You’re a Culinary Explorer if you:
- Notice the dining options when choosing a resort
- Enjoy discovering local food and drink
- Like exploring nearby wineries, breweries, or markets
- Think a memorable meal is part of a great trip
Where to go:
• Hockley Valley Resort
• Millcroft Inn and Spa
• Pillar and Post
• The Waring House
The Family Memory Maker
For many families, a resort becomes a tradition — the place where summers are measured in swims, canoe rides, and evenings roasting marshmallows.
Resorts are well suited to multi-generational travel, with beaches, boats, and activities that keep everyone engaged.
You’re a Family Memory Maker if you:
- Travel with kids, grandparents, or a big group
- Look for beaches, canoes, and family-friendly activities
- Appreciate organized programs and recreation options
- Think the best vacations are the ones everyone enjoys together
Where to go:
• Blue Water Acres Resort
• Fern Resort
• Rocky Crest Golf Resort
• JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa
The Quiet Retreat Seeker
Not every trip needs a packed itinerary. Some travellers come to a resort simply to unplug.
These stays revolve around quiet mornings, walks in the woods, swims in the lake, and long, unhurried afternoons.
You’re a Quiet Retreat Seeker if you:
- Choose resorts known for peaceful surroundings
- Prefer reading or relaxing by the water
- Enjoy spa treatments or wellness activities
- Want to return home feeling rested
Where to go:
• Ste. Anne’s Spa
• Dimensions Retreats
• Friday Harbour Resort
• Living Waters Resort
Most travellers will recognize themselves in more than one of these styles. One trip might be about slowing down, another about adventure, and sometimes it’s simply about spending time with the people you love.
That’s the beauty of Ontario’s resorts — there’s always another way to experience the beauty of the province.
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.
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