Inns Magazine Issue 3 Vol. 20 Great Escapes Fall 2016 | Page 12

Discover Canada’s largest cottage –

By Mary Hughes

Relax at the Westwind Inn on the Lake

Westwind Inn on the Lake is located 90 minutes north east of Toronto, Ontario in the Kawartha Highlands and boasts everything good that you can imagine, green forests, fresh air, and the Kawartha Lake system. When you arrive at the Westwind Inn and step out of your car you’ll want to take a BIG deep breath as that air is about as fresh as you can get! Set amongst 60 acres with 1500 feet of shoreline the view is nothing less than breathtaking. There is plenty of room to sit lakeside whether it be in one of the many Adirondack chairs scattered about the property, or on a bench on the dock, the water and view is simply amazing. For all of us needing a getaway that is unpretentious this is your destination. Relaxed and casual is the theme here. The Jensen family built the inn in 1986 and to date is Canada’s largest cedar constructed Viceroy Home. Used as the main inn it accommodates rooms that are all comfortable and individually decorated. A separate building

constructed a few years’ later houses executive style suites and an indoor pool. All together there

are 35 accommodations. Guests are surrounded with nature and are back to basics engaging with each other here. You’ll love to canoe and take out a pedal boat for an afternoon venture on the lake. In addition there is swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools, guests can even reserve the indoor pool by the hour for a private swim. There is a small driving range, horseshoes and one of my favorites, fire pits to enjoy an evening bonfire! In winter there are snowshoeing trails, X-Country skiing. It is this casual laid back ‘do as much or little as you want’ atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home. The rooms are cottage cozy and are appointed with quilts on the beds and each has a fireplace and balcony.

You’ll have a chuckle as this self-styled lodge offers some throw backs including the TV’s which are so cool and are from the 1980’s.

They are said to all work perfectly as they are rarely turned on!

Cover Story