When people think about property value, they often focus on the obvious things: square footage, number of bedrooms, recent renovations, or waterfront footage. And while those factors certainly matter, they rarely tell the whole story.

In Muskoka, some of the most important contributors to value are quieter details. The kinds of things you don’t always notice in a listing photo, but absolutely feel when you visit a property in person.

Privacy and Setting

Two homes may sit on similar-sized lots, but feel entirely different depending on how they’re positioned. Mature trees, thoughtful landscaping, natural screening, and distance from neighbouring properties can significantly influence how private and peaceful a space feels.

That sense of retreat matters here.

Natural Light and Orientation

A bright interior, warm afternoon sun on the deck, or a kitchen that catches the morning light can shape the way a home lives day to day.

In cottage country, where people are often seeking connection to nature, sunlight and views tend to carry more weight than many realize.

Access and Ease of Use

Steep driveways, difficult stairs to the water, limited parking, or challenging winter access may not be deal-breakers for everyone, but they do affect desirability.

Properties that are easier to enjoy in every season often appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Outdoor Livability

In Muskoka, outdoor space is part of the lifestyle. Usable waterfront, level land for entertaining, room for children to play, a quiet dock area, or a comfortable place to sit at the end of the day all add meaningful value.

Not all outdoor space is equal simply because it exists.

Maintenance Realities

A beautiful property that requires constant upkeep may suit one buyer perfectly and discourage another. Shoreline conditions, lot slope, tree management, older infrastructure, and year-round maintenance needs all factor into how a property is perceived.

Sometimes convenience carries just as much value as charm.

The Bottom Line

The strongest properties often combine practical features with an intangible sense of ease. They feel comfortable, functional, and well suited to the way people actually want to live.

True value is found in both the measurable details and the lived experience.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Muskoka and would like a thoughtful perspective on what truly influences value, I’d be happy to help.

As the days begin to lengthen and we catch those first hints of a shift in the air, the conversation in Muskoka real estate naturally turns toward the spring. While the lakes may still be quiet, for homeowners considering a sale, this ‘in-between’ season is actually one of the most valuable windows of time in the calendar year.

The spring market in Muskoka is famously vibrant, but the most successful sales, those that feel seamless and yield the best results, usually begin long before the first leaf buds appear.

Taking a proactive approach in early March allows for a thoughtful, low-pressure preparation process. Here is why starting now is the best move for your property, and your peace of mind.

Capturing the ‘Full Picture’

One of the unique challenges of selling a Muskoka property is reflecting its year-round appeal. If you wait until the height of May to start your process, you miss a fleeting opportunity to capture the quiet, magical side of your home.

Starting now allows you to capture evidence of the winter wonderland before it’s gone. Showing potential buyers the sun setting over an icy lake or the way the snow sits on the pines doesn’t just show a house; it sells a lifestyle. These visuals are a powerful tool to prove your property’s value as a four-season retreat.

Beyond the aesthetics, this timing allows us to discuss your property’s ‘winter bones’ – heating efficiency, insulation, and year-round accessibility – which are high-priority items for today’s discerning buyers.

The Power of the ‘Early Bird’ To-Do List

The most common hurdle to a spring listing isn’t the market, it’s the to-do list. By starting the conversation now, we can identify the small updates that offer the highest return on investment.

• Interior Refinement: With more time spent indoors, late winter is the perfect time for decluttering and minor staging. Neutralizing spaces and clearing out seasonal gear makes a home feel larger and more inviting.
• The Paperwork Trail: Muskoka properties often involve unique variables like septic pump-out records, well water tests, and up-to-date surveys. Gathering these documents now prevents ‘closing friction’ later when things are moving much faster.
• Professional Planning: Booking your stager, photographer, and inspector in March ensures you aren’t competing for their time during the market rush.

Strategic Timing and Less Noise

When the spring market officially ‘pops,’ the volume of listings can be overwhelming for buyers. By preparing your home now, you have the option to hit the market as an early-spring listing.

Early buyers are often the most motivated, they are the ones who want to be settled in and enjoying their new dock by the Victoria Day long weekend. Positioning your home to meet that specific demand can lead to cleaner offers and a more straightforward negotiation process.

A Pressure-Free Conversation

The most important part of early-spring prep isn’t actually about the house, it’s about your goals. Selling a home or a family cottage is a significant transition. Starting the process in March gives us the space to have a real, unhurried conversation about your timeline, your expectations, and the current state of the Muskoka market.

Whether you are looking to downsize in Bracebridge, move closer to town in Huntsville, or transition away from a waterfront property, a little bit of foresight goes a long way.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to wait for the ice to break to start thinking about your next chapter. In fact, the quiet of the early spring transition is often the best time to find clarity and set yourself up for success.

If you’re wondering what your property might be worth in the current market, or if you just want to walk through an ‘early-spring checklist’ together, I’m always here to help you plan your next move with confidence.

Buying a home in Muskoka during the winter months looks very different from buying in the
peak summer season. Snow-covered landscapes, quieter roads, and a slower pace can change
how properties show – and how buyers experience the market.

For those wondering ‘Is winter a good time to buy a cottage in Muskoka?’, the answer often
depends on knowing what to look for and understanding how winter conditions affect access,
value, and day-to-day living.

Whether you’re considering a full-time home or a recreational property, winter can offer a
unique and surprisingly insightful way to evaluate Muskoka real estate.

Fewer Listings, More Focused Buyers

The winter real estate market in Muskoka typically sees fewer listings than the busy spring
and summer months. While that may seem limiting at first, it also means there is often less
competition among buyers.

Many people wait until warmer weather to begin their search, so those looking at properties in
winter tend to be serious, prepared, and intentional. This can lead to more thoughtful decision-
making, calmer negotiations, and less pressure overall.

For buyers who prefer a slower pace and clearer conversations, winter can be a refreshing time
to explore the market.

Winter Reveals Things You Don’t See in Summer

One advantage of buying a home in Muskoka in winter is that the season naturally reveals how
a property performs under real conditions.

Winter showings allow buyers to observe:
– How snow is cleared and managed
– Ease of access to the driveway and property
– Heating efficiency and overall warmth
– Natural light during shorter days
– How the home handles snow, ice and cold temperatures

Things like drafts, ice buildup, or access challenges are often easier to identify in winter than
they are during warmer months.

Waterfront and Rural Properties Require Extra Consideration

Many Muskoka homes are rural or waterfront properties, and winter adds additional factors
that buyers should carefully consider:

– Road maintenance and year-round access
– Proximity to town, shops, and services
– Septic and well systems
– Shoreline conditions and winter water access
– Whether a property is designed for seasonal or year-round use

Winter conditions can vary widely depending on location – whether you’re looking at
waterfront properties near Port Carling, rural homes outside Bracebridge and Port Sydney, or
residential neighbourhoods in Huntsville and Gravenhurst. Understanding how a property
functions in winter is especially important for buyers planning year-round use or a future
transition.

Winter Showings Can Be More Honest

During winter, homes are often shown as they are truly lived in. Furnaces are running, snow
removal is active, and daily use is on full display. This can give buyers a cleaner sense of what
living in the home will feel like beyond the summer months.

From an evaluation standpoint, winter can provide valuable insight into a home’s condition,
efficiency, and ongoing maintenance needs – details that may be less obvious during warmer
seasons.

Pricing and Timing Can Work in Your Favour

The Muskoka winter real estate market tends to move at a slower pace, which can sometimes
allow for more flexibility around pricing and closing times. Sellers who list during winter are
often motivated and realistic, and buyers who are prepared may benefit from calmer, more
straightforward negotiations.

That said, Muskoka is a diverse and nuanced market. Pricing is influenced by location, property
type, condition, and long-term usability, regardless of the season. Local knowledge and
experience remain essential at any time of the year.

Winter Is a Great Time to Plan Ahead

Even if you’re not planning to buy immediately, winter can be an ideal time to start the
conversation. It allows buyers to explore options, understand value, and prepare thoughtfully
for the spring market.

For many, winter provides the space to think clearly, ask questions, and plan with confidence –
without the urgency that often comes with peak season.

Final Thoughts

Buying property in Muskoka during the winter months isn’t for everyone, but for the right
buyer, it can be a strategic and informative time to make a move. With a clear understanding of
seasonal considerations and the right guidance, winter can offer a calm, focused approach to
finding the right property.

If you’re curious about winter buying or want to talk through your options, I’m always happy to
have a conversation.

CAROLYN IRELAND

The spring buying spurt in Canada’s real estate market has likely run its course but sellers continue to hold sway in many cities.

Robert Hogue, assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada, believes the slower pace of sales growth in recent weeks marks a shift in the Canadian housing market’s recovery.

National sales edged up 1.5 per cent in June from May, while Ontario diverged from the trend with a 1.3-per-cent dip in the same period.

Mr. Hogue points to the Bank of Canada’s resumption of its rate hike campaign and the unexpectedly solid price gains in some markets in the spring as two reasons for diminished buyers’ enthusiasm.

In June, new listings grew faster than sales for the second straight month in Canada, but much more supply is needed to bulk up historically low inventories, he adds.

“Buyers still face a scarcity of options in the majority of markets, tilting the scale in favour of sellers,” Mr. Hogue says in a note to clients.

For now, prices continue to appreciate at a rapid clip, Mr. Hogue says, pointing to the 2-per-cent jump in the aggregate composite MLS home price index in June from May. He expects that pace to moderate through the remainder of 2023 as higher interest rates trim the purchasing budget of many buyers.

Faisal Susiwala, broker at Re/Max Twin City, says buyers in the Ontario cities of Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge are hesitant.

“Right now people have retracted. They’re on the sidelines waiting to see what happens.”

In addition to the uncertainty surrounding rate hikes, the market typically becomes somnolent in July, he adds.

“These two weeks of July are virtually non-existent when it comes to sales.”

Even in a slow market, some sellers are continuing to receive multiple offers, but the ferocity of the bidding has calmed down since April and May.

Mr. Susiwala says sellers are disappointed when showings and sales slow to a trickle but he advises against signalling desperation by cutting the price after two weeks.

The area west of Toronto saw new listings increase in June from May, while sales remained at about the same level.

In Guelph, Ont., the action feels less chaotic as supply rises and days on market stretch out, says Aimee Puthon, real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Neumann Real Estate.

“It feels like people have taken their foot off the gas and they’re sitting in their Muskoka chairs.”

She is seeing more conditional offers, including some buyers making the deal conditional on the sale of their existing property.

Ms. Puthon is urging sellers to remain patient.

“When a property doesn’t sell in three days with five offers, people tend to freak out a bit,” she says. But Ms. Puthon reminds homeowners that midsummer is typically a quiet time.

She has heard from a few homeowners planning to list after Labour Day but she says it’s too soon to tell how the supply will compare with previous years.

“People who really had to sell or wanted to sell came on in the spring.”

Mr. Susiwala is seeing homeowners increasingly stretched by the higher rates and strongly advises people who are struggling to pay their mortgage to work with the lender before the sheriff arrives and locks are changed.

Lenders send many letters and try to work out a plan with homeowners before they force a sale, he notes, but borrowers need to face the problem head on.

“Ultimately they show up and you’re out.”

Mr. Susiwa has sold three properties under power of sale in the past four months.

“We’ve seen some really nasty things happening.”

The problem stems from the fact that homeowners who purchased in the spring of 2018 have been seeing their mortgages come up for renewal if they signed up for a five-year term, he explains.

Rates at the time were between 2.8 and 3.2 per cent, he says, but today those homeowners will be facing a rate of around 6.25 per cent.

The homeowners who paid down the mortgage each month are not likely to be in trouble, he says.

The crisis he sees today is among those homeowners who took out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in 2021, after their property value had soared, to pay for expensive items such as renovations, swimming pools and cars.

Mr. Susiwala is seeing distressed homeowners now that the interest rate on a HELOC is 7.5 per cent instead of the 1.25 to 1.5 per cent they were paying in 2021.

If they need to renew or refinance, they grapple with mortgage rates around 6 per cent today and may not be financially stable enough to pass the stress test at a rate 2-per-cent higher.

Mr. Susiwala expects to see more such cases and an increase in listings as a result.

“That is the sad reality of what we are going to face going into September.”

An added pressure is that people who have no choice but to sell are moving to the rental market and sending prices higher in that segment.

Mr. Susiwala urges homeowners to try to weather the storm if they can, including borrowing money from family members if possible.

“This is not a time to panic and sell at a loss,” he says.

From the Realtor.ca Team

After eight successive rate hikes, the Bank of Canada held its benchmark policy rate steady to 4.5% in March 2023. As a result, some Canadians may be ready to reassess their home buying plans, which may require some mortgage shopping.

Pre-qualification and pre-approval are common terms you’ll hear in the mortgage space. While both options can be a helpful first step toward securing a mortgage loan, there are some distinctions between mortgage pre-qualification and mortgage pre-approval that are critical for borrowers to note.

Mortgage pre-qualification

What is a mortgage pre-qualification?
Pre-qualification can be a preemptive step in the home buying process, and is meant to help borrowers get a feel for the loan amount they might be able to secure. It’s typically a brief process that involves going over the borrower’s financial situation.

“Pre-qualification is a very casual calculation. It’s usually verbal,” says Harpreet Singh, a REALTOR® with Avion Realty Inc. in Markham, Ontario, and former Financial Services Representative with CIBC. “There’s no application in the system, and even if I’m checking your documentation, no third party is checking it.”

Although the lender may perform what’s called a “soft credit inquiry,” Singh says pre-qualification “has no implication” on the borrower’s credit score.

Since it’s simply a rough estimate, pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee the borrower will be approved for the loan amount quoted down the line.

Mortgage pre-approval

What is a mortgage pre-approval?
Pre-approval is a much more formal and lengthy process. It requires a comprehensive review of income, debts, and assets. Unlike pre-qualification, it calls for a “hard credit inquiry,” so it can temporarily lower your credit score.

“It’s pretty much a full-fledged mortgage application,” says Singh. “You’re taking in all your documentation—your pay stubs, your savings account statements—into your bank and the bank will pre-approve you for a loan amount. The approval is usually good for three or four months.”

While pre-approval doesn’t necessarily guarantee a loan, it’s a more serious step in the mortgage process, and can help homeowners to close on a home faster once they’re ready to buy. Additionally, the pre-approval process can help borrowers to identify and resolve any issues with their credit.

“Let’s say you have a car loan and you have $5,000 owing on it, or you had a credit card from a long time ago that you never made the payment on. Even if it’s a very small payment, it could impact your mortgage application,” says Singh. “With pre-approval, you can rectify all those mistakes beforehand.”

In a REALTOR.ca Living Room blog article debunking common real estate myths, REALTOR® Kevin Appl, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, told us one of the biggest misconceptions around real estate is that it’s OK to home shop without pre-approval.

“Why would you house shop without knowing your budget?” he said. “I’ve seen this several times when a client starts to budget creep and winds up falling in love with a property that a lender ultimately can’t finance for them. It’s heartbreaking. Plus, from the perspective of a REALTOR®, we’re unable to fully serve the client since we have no idea of a shopping range, as well as how competitive that buyer will be in a multiple offer situation without financing.”

Pre-qualification vs Pre-approval: Which option is better?

Which option is right for you?
Generally speaking, Singh recommends his clients go the pre-approval route if they’re serious about their home buying plans. Getting pre-approved can give buyers a competitive advantage in a competitive housing market, and allow borrowers to lock in a more desirable loan amount in an uncertain rate environment.

That said, there are circumstances in which pre-qualification is the better option. For instance, if the borrower is simply sizing up their options, and isn’t planning to purchase for a number of months, or if they have concerns about their credit score.

“I’ll also move clients towards a pre-qualification phase if I think the application itself is very simple,” adds Singh.

In any case, whether you opt for pre-qualification or pre-approval, Singh recommends prospective home buyers work with an expert to assess which option—pre-qualification or pre-approval—is right for them. Beyond that, he cautions borrowers against holding information back when dealing with a mortgage agent.

“Buying a home is the biggest transaction of someone’s life, so it’s important to give as much information as you can to your mortgage agent,” he says. “In the end, your mortgage application is a story. The better you explain your story, the better off you’ll be.”

The article above is for information purposes and is not legal or financial advice or a substitute for legal counsel.

From the Royal Lepage Canada Blog

Home prices expected to hold steady through remainder of 2023, despite anticipated drop in activity following second consecutive increase to BoC’s overnight lending rate

Second quarter highlights:

National aggregate home price remained almost flat year-over-year in Q2 2023 (-0.7% over Q2 2022) and increased 4.0% quarter-over-quarter (second consecutive quarterly increase)
Aggregate price of a home in Canada in Q2 2023 sits just 5.6% below the peak reached in Q1 of last year
94% of regions in the report posted quarterly aggregate home price appreciation
National year-end forecast updated. Prices in Q4 2023 now expected to rise 8.5% over final quarter of 2022; essentially flat over the next six months
Chronic shortage of housing supply, due in part to sellers’ hesitancy to list, continues to put upward pressure on home prices
Royal LePage urges officials to quickly increase support for more development, including affordable, purpose-built rental buildings
TORONTO, July 13, 2023 –According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, the aggregate[1] price of a home in Canada decreased modestly by 0.7 per cent year-over-year to $809,200 in the second quarter of 2023, indicating that nationally, the real estate market is close to the point where it will have recovered fully from 2022’s post-pandemic market correction. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the aggregate price of a home in Canada rose 4.0 per cent in Q2. This was the second consecutive quarter to show positive growth following a rapid decline in prices over the last year as a result of the Bank of Canada’s aggressive interest rate hike campaign, which began in March of 2022.

“Almost all Canadian homeowners have seen the value of their properties appreciate handsomely over time. A few who purchased at the tail end of the pandemic-fueled real estate boom saw the value of their homes drop below purchase price during the subsequent market correction,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage. “We are close to that pivotal point where people who purchased at the peak would break even if they sold today.

“The Bank of Canada’s prolonged series of interest rate hikes has changed where and how people live. It has pushed some buyer hopefuls to choose less expensive housing types or neighbourhoods. Others have chosen to relocate to more affordable markets across their province or across the country. And, some buyers have been pushed to the sidelines indefinitely,” Soper continued. “Economic uncertainty has caused some potential sellers to reevaluate their plans as well. The worry that they will be unable to find the move-up home they need in today’s tight market is a major concern. Further, there are those who secured fixed-rate mortgages at generational lows of two per cent or even less, who are understandably reluctant to wade back into a market with substantially higher borrowing costs. Fewer sellers mean fewer listings, which adds further pressure to our chronic shortage of inventory. Access to affordable housing in Canada will continue to be a major social issue.”

The Royal LePage National House Price Composite is compiled from proprietary property data nationally and in 62 of the nation’s largest real estate markets. When broken out by housing type, the national median price of a single-family detached home declined 2.0 per cent year-over-year to $841,900, while the median price of a condominium remained essentially flat, decreasing by just 0.4 per cent year-over-year to $586,900. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the median price of a home in these property segments rose 4.1 and 2.7 per cent, respectively. Price data, which includes both resale and new build, is provided by Royal LePage’s sister company RPS Real Property Solutions, a leading Canadian real estate valuation company.

Additional interest rate hikes

After two consecutive rate holds in March and April, the Bank of Canada announced last month that it was raising interest rates by another 25 basis points, before announcing a further quarter-point increase on Wednesday. The central bank’s overnight lending rate now sits at 5.0 per cent.[2]

“Despite the central bank’s decision to start raising interest rates again, many buyers are still in the game. Demand remains strong, particularly among those who have secured a rate hold,” said Soper. “Buyers who are determined to make a purchase this year have accepted the reality of higher initial carrying costs, rationally surmising that rates are at or near peak and will become more affordable before long.”

Some buyers may have to adjust their expectations, widen their geographical search parameters or acquire a property that is smaller or more affordable in order to be successful.

Royal LePage’s 2023 Canadian First-time Homebuyer Survey found that 34 per cent of first-time buyers in Canada purchased a home in a more affordable region or neighbourhood than they had originally planned, and another 32 per cent purchased a smaller home, due to the impacts of current economic conditions, including the increased cost of living and lending rates.

“Contrary to some buyers who appear undeterred by the central bank’s decision to restart its rate increase campaign, many would-be sellers who do not have a critical need to move imminently have hit the pause button again, further exacerbating the inventory shortage,” added Soper.

With record-setting immigration targets in place for the next several years, and housing starts on the decline across the country,[3] due to labour shortages and higher construction and borrowing costs, pressure on home prices continues to build.

Nearing the break-even point

Approximately one third (32%) of regions in the report posted year-over-year aggregate price gains in the second quarter, and only four regions reported quarterly declines.

“At this time last year, the market correction was in full-swing, and home prices had been declining from peak for several months. A theme I heard often was, ‘Why buy today, when I may be able to buy the same home for less tomorrow?’ As some doomsday forecasters predicted economic collapse and sharply rising unemployment, the pull-back in demand was understandably extensive, causing home prices to drop right across the country,” said Soper. “Yet the housing correction was short-lived. Across Canada, a return to pre-pandemic levels of demand, and the continued lack of supply, has been applying upward pressure on prices once again.”

Just as the market correction unfolded at various times in different regions across the country, so too has the recovery. The aggregate price of a home in Canada remains 5.6 per cent below the peak reached in the first quarter of last year.

The aggregate price of a home in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada’s largest and second-most expensive real estate market, posted a slight increase year-over-year in the second quarter, however remains 7.0 per cent below the region’s peak recorded in Q1 of last year. Similarly, the aggregate price of a home in Greater Vancouver, the country’s most expensive market, remains 6.9 per cent below the region’s peak, also recorded in Q1 of 2022. In the Greater Montreal Area, where home prices reached their highest level a little later, in Q2 of 2022, the aggregate price of a home sits just 2.4 per cent below the peak. Of the country’s three largest urban centres, the GMA experienced the shortest correction period. In the prairie provinces, prices also reached their peak in the second quarter of 2022, while some parts of Atlantic Canada reached their peak in Q2 and others in Q3 of last year.

Rental markets heating up

The increased cost of borrowing is also having a significant impact on rental markets across the country. Faced with higher carrying costs, landlords are passing those expenses on to their tenants by raising rent prices. In addition, would-be buyers who were unable to qualify for lending or who have been priced out of the resale market are moving to, or remaining in, the rental market, which is adding additional pressure on an already low supply of available rental units. According to Statistics Canada’s latest Consumer Price Index, rent in May was up 5.7% over the same period last year.[4]

“In some cities, paying rent has become as expensive as making a monthly mortgage payment. The difference for many young people is the ability to acquire a down payment – whether through savings or with the financial assistance of parents or relatives,” said Soper. “It is essential that our governments increase support for the development of affordable, purpose-built rental buildings, especially in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, where it is becoming increasingly unaffordable for young people to establish themselves without financial help.”

Forecast

Royal LePage is forecasting that the aggregate price of a home in Canada will increase 8.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to the same quarter last year. The previous forecast has been revised upward to reflect strong activity and price appreciation in the first half of the year.

“The Bank of Canada remains determined to bring inflation down to its target of less than three per cent. This has proven to be especially challenging at a time when the job market is so strong and Canadians continue to spend, partly due to a build-up of savings during the pandemic,” noted Soper.

“The Canadian real estate market has been in a steady state of recovery since the start of the year. While these additional interest rate hikes, and those potentially to come, will likely put a damper on activity and sales volumes, demand for housing remains very strong. We expect the rate of appreciation to moderate through the second half of 2023, causing home prices to level off or increase marginally.”

On a quarter-over-quarter basis, Royal LePage expects the national aggregate home price to remain essentially flat over the next six months, with only modest quarterly increases.

There are three types of roads in Muskoka: through roads, get-to roads, and, for drivers, really cool roads.

Through roads (Highway 11, Highway 169) are four lanes, free flowing, and boring. They cut hard swaths through rock and wood. They move loads of cars. They transport Muskokans from points A to B. And, while necessary, they’re also uninspiring.

Get-to roads (Highway 118, Highway 117) are the two-laners used to reach our homes and cottages. They lay more interesting tracks—past lakes and swamps, wood, rock, the occasional dwelling—and their hillsides in fall are peppered with coloured maples: red, yellow, rusty brown, and orange.

Muskoka’s really cool roads are those few people use, or are even aware of. They ripple by unknown lakes, rumble through vast outcroppings of rock, roll over hills and past ghost towns long since forgotten. These roads are for drivers. These roads are worthy of an autumn afternoon in an enviable car with a killer sound system.

There are many, many cool roads in Muskoka. These three suggestions surround Lake of Bays, travelling from Bracebridge to Baysville, to Dorset, Dwight, and Huntsville.

1. On the outskirts of Bracebridge, head north on Cedar Lane—a cool road. It starts out broad and bland. But once past Macaulay Public School, it narrows and gets interesting. With its sweeping bends and the occasional hard corner, this tight two-laner segues swiftly into Highway 117. Yes, the fun is over too quickly. Soon you’ll find yourself on a get-to road that leads direct to Lake of Bays.
2. Past Bayville, head northeast on 117. For drivers, this section of get-to road is uninspiring until you reach a real classic, Old Highway 117—another cool road. Watch carefully for the left turn off new 117 to the old portion—the signs will also point the way to Norway Point. Soon after the turn, take a side trip on Glenmount Road, which leads to the Point, so called because of the collection of Norway pines on its shore. There’s a whitewashed church close by, hidden in a grove of old trees and surrounded by some of the lake’s oldest cottages. The lakeside church, built in 1944, replaces the original built in 1908 by the ministers of the day. That building collapsed under the weight of the snow. As Mary Lynn Findlay says in her book Lures and Legends of Lake of Bays, “the ministers were better preachers than they were builders.”

Doubling back on Glenmount Road to Old Highway 117, hang a left and steer for the mainland docks of Bigwin Island. For drivers, this section is classic old-cottage-road fare. It’s a sleepy little track that follows the contours of the land—the road bends to nature rather than nature being blasted away to make way for the road. There are gentle elevation changes, pretty views of the lake, and a glimpses of cottage life on Lake of Bays. It’s short but sweet, delivering you back to new 117 in about 15 minutes.

3. South Portage Road from Dwight Beach Road to North Portage is a series of twists and turns through tunnels of trees. These swoops and dips are a tempting lead-in to the thrills that lie ahead on North Portage. As you approach North Portage you’ll pass by a public beach and boat launch area. Turn right onto North Portage and you immediately climb a hill and start to twist and turn through heavily wooded tracts of land. The turns come quickly, and must be respected as traffic can be steady on this section of cool road. Some corners require firm braking and lots of steering input, but they’re well signed and include suggested speeds. About one-third of the way along North Portage is the white-washed Portage Inn. Don’t gawk, as the road takes a sharp left and begins to parallel the south shore of Peninsula Lake. This roller-coaster ride is wonderful fun, if a little rough. The road surface has suffered from the freeze-thaw cycle, and some sections have weathered more poorly than others. As you twist and turn along North Portage you’ll come to one final sharp right-hand corner and you pop out onto Canal Road, and from there you’ll head on to Huntsville.

March and April are the yummiest of maple syrup months in Muskoka. There are more than 30 producers situated within Cottage Country—from mom+pop farms and shops to huge makers that ship their liquid gold worldwide—all hard at work in springtime. And while many local sugarbushes may be closed to visitors during this pandemic, it’s still business as usual in the forest. Almost nothing stops a maple tree’s sap from running, not even Covid. Muskoka’s maple syrup yield in 2021 is expected to be a good one.

There are many reasons why maple syrup is so yummy.

*Sweetness. *Richness. *Naturalness. *Friendliness to the environment.

Without much thought, most of us snap a bottle off the grocery store shelf when we’re thinking Sunday brunch with pancakes. But true connoisseurs know that not all maple syrups are made equal. Like wine, there’s a hierarchy. It pays to pay attention.

Colour

First, there’s colour. In fact, there are four colours: Light, Medium, Dark & Very Dark. Each has a taste and a use. Here’s the breakdown:

Light: Pale golden brown syrup is treasured for its delicate flavour. Think: Topping for pancakes, yogurt or ice cream.

Medium: Slightly darker in colour, this rich, sticky liquid is still fabulous for pancakes and ice cream. In fact, some people prefer it. But its sweetness and richness in flavour are also ideal enhancers for side dishes and desserts, including smoothies and salad dressings.

Dark: Chock full of fragrant maple flavour, dark syrups are magical in cooking. Recipes best suited include stews, chilis, and baked treats such as pies and muffins.

Very Dark: Robust flavours make these syrups the line-backers of cooking. They anchor any maple-rich recipe, including glazes and sauces.

Ingredients

And then there are the ingredients. Scratch that… the ingredient. There’s only one ingredient in 100% Canadian maple syrup. Can you guess what that is? Answer: Maple sap, pure and simple. The product is truly organic. It takes 40 litres of sap to produce just one litre of maple syrup. Maybe that’s why they call it liquid gold. Getting it from the tree to our tummies is a major endeavour.

Yet, while there’s only one ingredient, there are many nutrients in maple syrup. According to maplefromcanada.ca: “One 60 ml (1/4 cup) serving of Maple Syrup contains 72% of the daily nutritional requirement of manganese, 27% of riboflavin, 17% of copper, and 6% of calcium.”

Uses

There are at least 101 uses for maple syrup. They range widely and it’d be a lot of work to list each one of them. But here are a few, including some that might surprise you:

Maple Sugar: Granulated sugar sometimes moulded into the shape of a maple leaf and eaten as candy. Some people swear by it as a sweetener for tea or coffee.

Maple Taffy: Boil it up and pour it in a line on clean snow, then quickly roll up with a popsicle stick. Sugar shacks are specialists at passing these lollies out to kids at Spring Break. Seriously, there’s nothing better.

Maple Butter: There’s actually no butter in maple butter. It’s really just a different form of maple syrup. Cooked in a certain way to make it thick and creamy—ideal as a toast topper.

Maple Wine: Yep, they make wine out of pretty much anything these days, including maple syrup. Érablière du Cap’s L’Avrillon is one of them.

Maple Beer: And where there’s a wine there’s a beer. Coming quickly to mind: Sawdust City’s Maple Butter Tart Ale and the Spring Maple Belgian Blonde by Lake of Bays Brewery.

Happiness

To sum it all up, we turn back to maplefromcanada.ca to remind us why March and April are the yummiest of maple syrup months in Muskoka: because it makes us happy: “Family outings to the sugar shack, that first maple taffy on the snow, Mom’s maple syrup pie, the comfort of maple butter on toast on a winter morning… Happiness is Maple!”

Muskoka is known well for its artists—painters, sculptors, potters—appearing at the annual Summer Show in Bracebridge and displaying their works at studios scattered across cottage country. Lesser known but equally vital are Muskoka’s authors. There’s a growing group of them, many belonging to the Muskoka Authors Association (MAA), which fosters and supports its members through monthly meetings and how-to seminars hosted by some of Canada’s most accomplished writers. This month I’d like to introduce you to three of those MAA authors: Paul Feist, Wendy Truscott, and David Bruce Patterson. All three published new books in late 2020. 

Paul Feist: Broken Anchor

You may recognize author Paul Feist as a humorist, writer, and actor. Feist has appeared on stage in multiple theatre and television productions. His weekly humour columns in The Muskoka Sun captured oddball cottage and country living stories from 1993 to 2007. Feist has now turned his talents to writing fiction in the style of Terry Fallis and Stephen Leacock. His latest effort is a novel titled Broken Anchor, a 1950s adventure/romance tracing a year-in-the-life of a cocky kid named Dan Dawson as he toiled on a Great Lakes tanker. And while the there’s plenty of ‘inside reveal’ of life on a gritty ship carrying cargo for the British American Oil Company—brothels and backstreet bars included—at the book’s core is a light-hearted story of friendship, family, and love. It’s the coming-of-age efforts of a boisterous kid trying to do right by his mother, girlfriend(s), and closest ship mate. Broken Anchor is available for sale ($20) in Bracebridge at Majestic Hair Design, Martins Framing Centre, and Worth Repeating, or by contacting Paul directly at feistpaul@hotmail.com. 

Wendy B. Truscott: MacGregor’s Curse

Wendy Truscott is a prolific author and artist living in the Baysville area. MacGregor’s Curse is her second novel in a series of books for young adults (YA), a series that began with Haunted Journey. Both are set in old Muskoka—general stores, dirt roads, horse-drawn buggies—and both books are journeys back in time to the early days of places we love and recognize in Muskoka. Overwhelmed by grief for his dead mother, young Jamie MacGregor of MacGregor’s Curse commits an act of revenge he immediately regrets. Lacking purpose, confidence, and friends, Jamie falls under the spell of a dangerous blackmailer. As others work behind the scenes to help him find his way again, Jamie’s life begins to turn around, but the blackmailer remains determined to bring him down, and falling for a lively girl brings complications. Events come to a head with a spectacular and dangerous theft. During a rescue attempt, Jamie must prove to others he can be trusted. Truscott’s books ($20) are available via her website: wendytruscott.com.

David Bruce Patterson: Square Wheels

Author and poet David Bruce Patterson is an avid contributor to Bracebridge life, serving his church, political campaigns, Friends of the Library, and the Muskoka Authors’ Association with verve and dedication. In Square Wheels, his first full-length novel, the author takes us back to Toronto in the Roaring 1920s, a world filled with dance halls, silent-movie cinemas, and jazz music. This is not a fast read, but rather a long, slow, insightful dip into a Toronto lost in time. Fashion, food, transportation, even vacation-friendly Muskoka in the 1920s are revealed through the trials and tribulations of the Conor family. Add a Toronto streetcar disaster that throws the family, their friends, and all of the city into peril and you’ve got a saga that’ll stay with you long after you’ve turned the last pages. Square Wheels ($25) can be purchased by contacting David at david.patterson@alumni.utoronto.ca. Copies can also be purchased at the Heron’s Nest Gallery.