On Family Day weekend, my family and I visited Viamede Resort, nestled amid 165 acres of woods on the north shore of Stoney Lake near Peterborough. We lodged in a rustic cottage right by the (frozen) lake – what a beautiful view of the frozen landscape!

This beautiful resort features over 50 rooms and private rental cottages. Each room is unique – some deluxe rooms have fireplaces while cottages have 1 to 3 bedrooms. All the cottages are being renovated this year as well.

Viamede is open year round with activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and skating on the lake in the winter and kayaking, hiking, canoeing, water skiing and tubing during the summer. I’m not a snow bunny but since having kids, I’ve learned to embrace winter and enjoy the activities winter has to offer.

 

On the first day of our visit, the outdoor lake rink wasn’t frozen enough so we couldn’t skate. Instead, we all threw on some snowshoes and went snowshoeing through the various trails throughout the resort. We spotted a few deer in the woods!

We also lunched at the Boathouse Pub which is right on Stoney lake, a popular spot where local sledders come in to unwind, eat and enjoy a beer by the fire. Even a small airplane flew in to have lunch!

 

The Inn at Mount Julian, which will reopen this spring,  is Viamede’s highly accredited fine dining restaurant all complemented by the Viamede farm with free range ducks, pigs, turkeys and a vegetable garden! Locally-organically grown? You know the food is going to be amazing.

We enjoyed an amazing buffet dinner on Saturday night in the Dining Room – the “fancy” dinner, the kids called it.  Oh the food, the food!  Executive Chef, Ken Van Mackelbergh, is a culinary master. Buffet items like chicken with a tomato orange sauce, cheese tortellini and prime rib – mouthwatering! I think we will drive to Viamede just for Chef Ken’s dinners!

 

We retreated back to our large three-bedroom cottage, lit a roaring fire and snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie. On Sunday, the weather was much colder which meant we could skate! The resort staff brought out some hockey sticks and started an outdoor fire for guests too. We popped into the Boathouse for some hot chocolate afterwards.

I loved the activities the resort had planned for the kids on Sunday – they had a scavenger hunt around the grounds. In the afternoon, the kids made their own pizzas with the Chef and then watched a movie while hubby and I had dinner in the Dining Room. It was just bliss to enjoy a three-course gourmet meal alone, knowing that friendly staff were keeping the kids entertained.

Viamede is also known for its history; the origins of the main resort aren’t known but Viamede Hotel did exist back in 1873. The Mount Julian property was built between 1865 to 1875, with buildings being added and demolished over the years. The oldest two buildings, currently the Spa and the Inn at Mount Julian, still remain. Viamede was rebuilt in 1907 after a fire. With all its history, guests of the resort have been coming back for generations!

Whether you’re in search of a couples romantic getaway, a conference or wedding venue, or an Ontario weekend escape with lots of fun, food and activity, Viamede is a fabulous year-round travel destination! My kids loved it and want to go back in the summer!

 

 

We were invited to visit Viamede on Family Day Weekend and thrilled we had such a lovely time.