This may sound whiny, but the truth is – Toronto fashion week is exhausting. Attending shows on top of my daily 9-5 job is not all fun and games; there’s so much waiting around, running around, and standing around, without much time to sit down and have a proper meal, it’s no wonder I catch a cold each and every season. Well, this time, I planned ahead and organized a fun getaway to Muskoka with two of my blogger buds. Having heard amazing things about Deerhurst Resort, our goal was to pamper ourselves after a week of working non-stop, surrounded by nature and fresh air. And boy, did we get everything we expected and so much more! With stunning vistas straight out of a painting all around us, comfy 3-bedroom condo to kick off our heels in, delicious food, and magical massages – it was a weekend to remember.
Read on for a full review of our Deerhurst Resort trip – from rooms, to food, to spa treatments – everything you need to know to plan your own mini-getaway.
Rooms
With three fashion girls travelling together, separate bathrooms were non-negotiable, so when we checked into our 3-bedroom condo, we were pleased to see that each room came with a full separate bathroom – tub and all. Each room came equipped with its own TV as well. And while we were happy to have individual bathrooms, the condo could have easily fit up to 8 people. The beds were ridiculously comfortable, to the point where it became nearly impossible to get up in the morning…I could’ve lazed in bed all day!
Our condo also had a balcony with Muskoka chairs and a killer view, full kitchen (with a large fridge, stove, and a coffee machine), cozy living room complete with a comfy couch, fireplace, and a flat-screen TV. It was a perfect cottage alternative in Muskoka for those that like to have more amenities at their fingertips.
Food
Over the course of our stay, we got to visit 2 restaurants – the more casual Maple Pub & Patio, and the fancier Eclipse Dining Room, with stunning views of the resort. All meals we had were great, but our steak dinner and buffet brunch at Eclipse were the most memorable. After a long day of driving to Muskoka, and then getting pampered at the spa (tough life, I know!), we were ravenous, so we ordered a bottle of Prosecco and three steaks, celebrating the end of fashion week and our first proper dinner all week. We also indulged in a delicious Quebec cheese platter and cheesy bruschetta…can you see the pattern? I wanted to hug Deerhurst’s Executive Chef David Bakker, that’s how happy the food made me feel.
And it only got better – in the morning, we were treated to a never-ending buffet brunch, where we noshed on smoked trout, made-to-order omelettes, eggs benny, beef ribs, various pastries and the most delicious desserts (whatever you do, try the bread pudding!), and so much more. I lost count of the number of times I went back for more, but let’s just say I wasn’t hungry for the rest of the day.
Spa
Since our main goal was to relax and pamper ourselves, spa time was mandatory. Shizen Spa at Deerhurst had everything we needed – lockers, steam room, showers, and of course, MASSAGES! We loved our treatments so much, we went back again the next day. Both RMTs did a great job on my tense back muscles, and the paraffin wax treatment left my feet soft as a baby’s. After getting our steam on in the sauna, we went downstairs to cool off in the huge hotel pool.
Resort
Having never visited Muskoka in the fall, I finally got to see what the hype was all about. The weekend we were at Deerhurst, the trees around the resort were painted in rich fall colours – yellow, red, orange as far as the eye can see. And that’s on top of the manicured golf course, and a sandy beach with Muskoka chairs overlooking the Peninsula Lake. Despite the cooler temperatures, we enjoyed a lovely walk, taking a million photos of the foliage…none of them as good as the actual thing in front of us. I can only imagine how fun it must be to visit Deerhurst in the summer – with all the watersports and other fun activities at your fingertips.
After spending our weekend at Deerhurst Resort, the girls and I had a tough time heading back to Toronto…we all wanted to spend just a little more time in Muskoka.
More photos after the jump!
Photo Credits: #3 by Anita Clarke; #4 and #6 – by Kimberly Lyn; all photos property of Style Blog
