Visiting the Cottages at Honey Harbour

July 26, 2011

With contributions by Janelle Watkins

Recently, I was treated to a lovely excursion to check out The Cottages at Honey Harbour which is a new Georgian Bay Four Season cottage resort located on the shores of Macey Bay on the north side of Muskoka.

The area is breathtaking encompassing 165 acres with an expansive beach waterfront and recently ranked at the top of the list of National Geographic’s top 10 best summer tourist destinations. There will be a total of 100 cottages when the project is complete nestled amongst pine trees and incorporating the natural rocky outcroppings around the units.

The day began with a limousine pick-up and we were whisked away to the property just 90 minutes north of Toronto. This area is the perfect escape for busy families or career people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life while still having all the luxuries of home.

After our drive we arrived at Honey Harbour and all of our colleagues gasped at the sight of the calm blue water and lush terrains. We exited the limo to the aroma of a wood burning fire, surrounded by blue waters and a warm breeze. The waterfront, as we quickly learn, is a cove within a cove, so the waters are always calm and peaceful. Add to that the lovely sandy beach is picture perfect, wonderful for swimming, sunbathing and daydreaming.

After admiring the external environment, we toured two of the completed cottages and gawked at the expert workmanship and care that went into creating them. Drift Interior Design is using 70% Canadian products to create the tasteful yet durable decor that outfits each unit. One of the most striking features is a lovely, spacious Muskoka Room which is dtandard in each unit. The cottages will range from 2 to 4 bedrooms, be completely furnished and have all amenities including tableware, coffee makers, fireplace, flat screen televisions, dishwasher and washer/dryer.

Upon completion, the resort will include an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a playground, a soccer field and access to the bay itself to enjoy boating or canoeing. It is not hard to imagine getting away from it all, no matter what the season, in this quiet, sublime backdrop.

After touring the property we were treated to an exquisite waterfront barbecue created by award-winning and entertaining chef Ted Reader. Using a Napoleon grill (which will also be included with every cottage unit), we sampled mouth-watering fare including plank grilled bacon wrapped boneless chicken thighs, bourbon barrel grill smoked beef tenderloin, and 8hr smoked St. Louis ribs as we sipped on fruity Cave Spring Reisling.

After our sumptuous and filling lunch, we learned about many of the natural wonders of the surrounding area with Naturalist Robin Tapley who will be on hand from time to time at the resort to lead various activities such as nature walks and star-gazing. We then went on a speedboat cruise to explore the bay. This area cannot be beat if you want to spend your summers on the water.

The boating complete, we were then treated to mini works of art in the form of cupcakes, supplied by The Sugar Garden Designer Sweets. My belly full of sugary goodness, I went to explore more of the grounds on foot. There will be many choices when it comes to cottage locations on the property, whether you want to be closer to the waterfront and activity of the beach, or if you want to be in a more secluded area with stunning views of the surrounding wetlands.

The people responsible for dreaming up this idyllic community were father-son duo, Don and Michael Fleming of Fleming Developments. Don was a founding partner in one of GTA’s major land developments with Michael working alongside him for many years. Sadly, Don passed away recently, but Michael keeps his memory and vision alive with his commitment to excellence for this project.

Michael is currently working closely with an environmentalist, going above and beyond to ensure that he creates not only a wonderful resort but also does his part at protecting the wildlife and ecosystem in the area.

The end of the day came too soon as I would have loved to spend the rest of the summer there. Before we got back in the limo home, we received a lovely gift bag of goodies from Ted Reader; I hope his accoutrements will make my next barbecue as successful as his.

The cottages range from the low $400′s to the $700′s so I better start saving now as I am sure this area will not be vacant for long.

For more information, you can visit the website at http://www.thecottagesathoneyharbour.com/ but the best way to really take it all in is to take a drive out and see it for yourself.