National Geographic names Muskoka “Best Trip of Summer 2011”

National Geographic names Muskoka “Best Trip of Summer 2011”

As if these weren’t ubiquitous already (Image: Matthew Ingram)
Here’s a feather in cottage country’s cap: National Geographic has put out its list of top summer getaways for the year, and Muskoka made the number one spot. While there is no doubt this will be great for tourism, we can’t help but feel bad for those urbanite weekend cottagers whose roads will now be choked with Wasaga-level highway traffic.

Spend the day paddleboarding on Muskoka Lake or exploring the Riverwalk and shops of Canada’s waterfall capital, Bracebridge. For an old-school family vacation, head north to Peninsula Lake’s Pow-Wow Point Lodge, a 91-year-old, all-inclusive resort featuring simple summer pleasures like campfires,canoeing, and volleyball. Plan an August visit to catch Algonquin Park’s educational Thursday evening wolf howls starring—weather-permitting—the reclusive, inhabitant, four-pawed chorus.

Note the mention of the all-inclusive resort. Ever since the McGuinty government slightly liberalized liquor rules in this province, it’s possible for resorts to offer “all-inclusive” packages that actually deserve the name (visitors can now drink as much as they want). We don’t know if Pow-Wow Point Lodge (which wins the “name that sounded authentic 91 years ago” award) is offering such packages, but is it irresponsible to speculate that looser liquor laws led to this triumph for Muskoka? It would be irresponsible not to.

10 Best Trips of Summer 2011 [National Geographic]