Seeing Colours: Five Fabulous Fall Getaways

If you live in Southern Ontario, fall is basically showing off just for you. The air turns crisp (but not yet freeze-your-nose-off cold), the trees are bursting with colour, and every latte is spiced within an inch of its life. Want to get away for a weekend to soak it all in? Whether you’re travelling with kids, your partner, a group of friends, or hitting the road solo, there’s a destination with your name on it!

Here are five fall getaway options, each with its own vibe.

Family Fun

If you’ve got kids, you know vacation really means “same chaos, different location.” However, family-friendly resorts like Fern Resort on Lake Couchiching and Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake make relaxation doable for everyone. Both spots offer activities for all ages: campfires, archery, spa services, and plenty of space for little legs to run wild while you sneak in a hot tub soak. Elmhirst’s even has a working farm on-site, while Fern Resort is known for its all-inclusive family programming.

Glamping

Not into huddling in a flimsy nylon tent and fighting raccoons for your trail mix? Enter glamping. At Camp Adelaide in Muskoka, you’ll get wilderness views from your “dome sweet home”. Birchwood Luxury Camping in Haliburton offers sturdy yet stylish canvas tents with firepits and fairy lights straight out of a Pinterest pic. And if you want to go full “eco-chic influencer,” book Glen Oro Farm near Orillia where you can stargaze, enjoy a cedar barrel sauna, or take a scenic trail ride. Glamping has the perks of camping, but without the sore back and soggy sleeping bag.

Luxury Resorts

For those who think “roughing it” means forgetting your charger, Southern Ontario has no shortage of swoon-worthy stays. Ste. Anne’s Spa “is giving Downton Abbey vibes,” as the kids say, with its sprawling gardens and spa treatments galore. Langdon Hall near Cambridge offers pickle ball, yoga, wine tastings, and decadent dining in a countryside estate. And for breathtaking lake views, check out Stone Cove, Tobermory’s luxury adults only Bed & Breakfast.

Kitsch & Romance

Looking for something a little more… unique? Consider Casino Rama Resort where you can gamble, catch a concert, and enjoy a buffet all under one roof. If your idea of romance is more offbeat, The Arlington Hotel has the character and charm you’d expect from a hotel that’s older than Canada. Every room is themed, from Edgar Allan Poe to Monty Python. Or, for a retro feel and an Aperol spritz, head to The June Motel in Sauble Beach, Prince Edward County, or Beaver Valley. Be sure to watch the June Motel makeover show on Netflix before your visit.

The Big Smoke

Sometimes the best getaway is right under our noses. Toronto in fall dazzles with a sparkling skyline and endless things to do. Stay at the Broadview Hotel with its rooftop patio overlooking the Don Valley, or go big at the Ritz-Carlton (yes, the sheets are as smooth as you’d imagine). Spend your days browsing Queen West boutiques, grabbing dumplings in Chinatown, or wandering Kensington Market. Hop the ferry to the Toronto Islands for a quiet fall stroll, then catch a Mirvish show or a concert at Massey Hall. Whether you’re kid-free or bringing the family, the T-dot always delivers.