TRAVEL

Room With A View - Inn At Manitou

It must be the quality of light that makes the view over Manitouwabing Lake, Ontario so enchanting. Or is it the way the light falls? Or the way the light filters through the trees edging part of the lake? One cannot really be sure. Luxury houses perch along the 50-mile shoreline, with diving boards extending over the dark emerald-blue waters. The luxurious Inn at Manitou claims its coveted spot on a corner of the lake. At its narrowest, the lake has trees arching overhead to almost touch one another. As spring segues into summer, jumping in for a swim lifts off the heat and startles with the coldness of the lake.

By the Shore of Manitouwabing

The Inn at Manitou sits by one of Ontario’s most breathtaking unspoiled lakes, Manitouwabing Lake. Pine trees dot the shores, clearing at some spots to reveal golf courses, houses and piers.

Service : Excellent service – personable and 
 sincere.

Room : Only 35 rooms on this premier 
 property, every one of them gorgeously 
 appointed. A skylight in the junior suite 
 shower gives a view of the stars at 
 night. Log fires to chase away the 
 spring chill add to the ambience.

Food : Simple passion and a good 
 dose of common sense are the 
 ingredients used here, which explains 
 the consistently high standards of 
 practically all the European dishes I 
 sampled. The baked salmon pie was 
 perfectly turned out with the fish just 
 short of fully cooked through and the 
 puff pastry thin and crispy. The freshest 
 asparagus, simply blanched, were full 
 of flavour as were the other garden 
 vegetables served. Every meal was a 
 pleasure (few hotel restaurants can 
 claim this, trust me).

Wish-List : The height of summer is when the
 flies buzz around most. If only one 
 could wish these insects away. Careful 
 when you go kayaking on the lake - 
 don’t gape at the scenery.

Location : 150 miles north of Toronto.

Overall : A superlative experience.

Inn at Manitou

Center Road McKellar, Ontario, Canada

POG 1CO

Jeffrey Lee