If, like any good Canadian, you like to commune with the great outdoors — but not the bugs, cold, damp and general discomfort that come with sleeping in a flimsy tent — you can get closer to nature while staying cosy at these Ontario destinations. From new glamping sites to your own little houseboat, these promise unique experiences along with spectacular views — no camping needed.
Envision a tent-meets-cabin-meets-yurt, and you’ll get a geodesic dome, a glamping structure that has been trending for a few summers now. Back Forty Glamping, a family-owned and -operated retreat, has added a fifth dome to their 25-acre property. The new, 450-square-foot structure sits in an open meadow overlooking a forest and is equipped with a private hot tub, full bathroom and decked-out kitchen. But cooking is optional; partnerships with a local restaurant and wine bar mean you can order wood-fired pizzas or a sustainably sourced salmon dinner directly to your dome. The retreat is also introducing new guest experiences this season, including private airplane tours of Georgian Bay, horseback riding on nearby trails, and an on-site sauna.
One of Fort Treehouse Co.’s hideaways, perched in the Haliburton Highlands.
Danielle Meredith Photography
The elevated experience: , Minden
If, as a kid, you ever dreamed of sleeping in a tree fort, this destination is made for you. Fort’s unique one-bedroom hideaway is perched in the mixed hardwood forests of the Haliburton Highlands, just south of Algonquin Provincial Park; a second triple-fort lodging in the trees is also set to open on the property soon. These tree houses, built literally off the beaten path, boast open-concept rooms, full kitchens, wood-fired hot tubs and a Nordic-inspired minimalist design. They also run on solar energy and come stocked with eco-friendly products.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Chalets at Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa allow views of wolves — former zoo residents — as they roam in their enclosure.
Bailey Whissel Marketing Agency
The wild encounter: , Timmins
Throw your glamping experience to the wolves at Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa, where a pack can safely roam right up to your cabin. Five chalets are located right on the edge of the creatures’ 10-acre enclosure, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for optimal viewing as the 11 wolves — former residents of a zoo — move freely. (The enclosure’s high fences ensure guests are safely separated.) Each cabin sleeps four and is equipped with the comforts of home — plus the nighttime sound of wolves howling at the moon. The new “Sleeping with the Wolves” experience launched this winter at the property, which already boasts a 100-acre wildlife park with bison, deer and elk.
Le Boat, which lets travellers steer their own houseboat vacations, recently launched on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
Le Boat
The nautical escape: , Trent-Severn Waterway
Take your family getaway out on the water this summer. Le Boat, a European company that lets travellers steer their own houseboat vacations, already runs a route on the Rideau Canal, and just launched along the Trent-Severn Waterway, which connects Lake Ontario with Georgian Bay. Travellers can choose from a range of boat models (with the largest sleeping up to 12 people), and the length of their trip (three to 10 nights). Before you set sail, the team will teach you how to captain the boat, brief you on your route and help you plan overnight moorings. (GPS does the navigating, and driving the boat is straightforward — no special licence or experience needed.)
At Haute Goat farm, glampers can now sleep in a converted alpaca shed.
Haute Goat
The taste of farm life: , near Port Hope
At Haute Goat farm, glampers can now book a stay in the repurposed alpaca shed, a recent addition to their overnight accommodations. The heated, cosy-for-two bunkie, located right in the alpaca paddock, is a unique opportunity to bunk down next to the furry herd. (Note, though, the alpaca sleepover is not recommended for kids under nine.) Guests are invited to wake up with the sun (or the rooster) and join in on the farm chores before sitting down to breakfast at the café. For other animal experiences, the 200-acre farm is also home to Nigerian dwarf goats, kunekune pigs, Icelandic horses and more.
Camp is an experience the lasts a lifetime that many kids don’t have access to.
With your support, the 91ԭ Star Fresh Air Fund provides opportunities for financially vulnerable children to ignite a lifelong love for adventure at camp. Above all, your kindness makes it happen.
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