TRAVEL | Our much needed getaway to Viamede Resort

It's almost been 5 years since we started the blog and it's been a whirlwind adventure to say the least. As much as we love it, it can be tiring to work our 9-5 jobs and be out all night for events only to hit repeat the next day. We eagerly jumped on an opportunity to spend a weekend away at Viamede Resort to get some rest and relaxation. 

To be completely honest, we weren't really sure what to expect. We had been to friend's cottages before whether you had to bring everything to places like resorts in Blue Mountain where you have a condo. All we knew was that we were going to have a weekend getaway in Kawarthas - known for their ice cream obviously! 

We began our adventure on Friday after work and what was supposed to be a 2 hour drive ended up being a lot longer due to traffic on the DVP (aka Don Valley Parking Lot) We eventually got there pretty late at night.

It was an easy drive and not difficult to find at all. We finally made it to our cottage and immediately felt that nostalgic feeling of being at a friend's cottage. It was fully equipped with a kitchen, fridge, TV and what looked like newly renovated bathrooms. The bathrooms came with everything that a hotel would offer so you don't have to worry about bringing toiletries with you. 

Everyone knows the best part of waking up is the smell of bacon, eggs and sausages and we were so happy to know we were only steps away from the Viamede Dining Room which provides a full breakfast every morning. We also had a great view of the lake while sipping on a cup of coffee. 

The resort has an abundance of activities to do so you'll never have to worry that you'll run out of things to do. We are going on a camping/canoeing trip to Alberta soon and if anyone knows us, we are not avid canoers. We quickly jumped on the chance to take the canoes out for a practice run around Stoney Lake. It was so calming to be out in the water and visit the little islands that are in the middle. 

The best thing about the water activities at Viamede is that they are available for the guests to use at any time. That almost made it feel like I was at my own cottage as I did not have to worry about going to the reception and renting equipment. There were also kayaks that you could use. 

If you're not the water sport type of person, not to worry as there are tons of other activities you can enjoy such as hiking and volleyball, tennis and so many other sports. 

We started the hike but quickly had to retreat because we were not as equipped as we could been....definitely bring lots of mosquito repellent especially if you're going to be hiking for a long time! 

No trip is complete without lots and lots of food. We really enjoyed not having to think about food ahead of time and what to pack. Having said that we obviously weren't going to show up empty handed so we we made sure to pack our bags with lots and lots of snacks! 

Asides from having breakfast in the Viamede Dining Room, you can also have lunch at The Boathouse or enjoy an amazing meal at Mt. Julian. The one thing that really stood out about dining at the resort was their new tipping policy that was recently implemented. In April 2017, they officially went tip-free. It's almost hard to imagine something like this in Canada as we are very accustomed to paying the extra 15-20%. It's refreshing to go to a restaurant and only pay what you see and know that the service you'll be getting will be great. 

Now to get to the highlight of our weekend getaway - Mt. Julian. 

In a little house tucked away to the side of the resort is probably one of best meals we've had that was coupled with outstanding service and knowledge. 

We enjoyed a 7 course meal with wine pairing and this was probably the closest farm to table we have had in a long time. All the courses incorporated seasonal ingredients that was either from their farm or from farmers markets around the area. 

Every bite that we had was full of flavour and just the right amount not to make you too full. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the wine pairings and truly made the experience so enjoyable. 

Check out the photos below for a snapshot of the dishes that we enjoyed that evening! 

If you're the type of person that wants the cottage atmosphere but the convenience and luxury of a hotel then Viamede Resorts is the place for you! We had a wonderful weekend there and would go back in a heart beat.