This all-season Ontario destination is the local escape you’ve been looking for

I am a firm believer that you don’t need to get on a plane to feel like you’ve taken a proper vacation. Staycations are in right now, and I recently discovered the ultimate spot to take one in Ontario. Friday Harbour, nestled along Lake Simcoe in Innisfil, has everything you need for a weekend away, and there’s good reason its slogan is “every day feels like Friday.”

Recently, I visited Friday Harbour myself, and after a couple of perfect days, I can wholeheartedly tell you it was one of the best local experiences I’ve ever had.

Starting out with the accommodations. I stayed at one of the Lake Simcoe Stays units at Friday Harbour – any of which are a perfect size for a group. The units come with a kitchen, large washrooms, spacious bedrooms, and are located right along the resort, so you can get to the water, shops, and restaurants in minutes.

Speaking of the shops and restaurants, be sure to carve out some time to check them out. The resort’s Promenade is lined with spots like Josephee Boutique and Feather + Stone, where you can pick out something new for yourself, as well as convenient stops like Starbucks, LCBO, and FH Fine Food, a grocery store.

As for restaurants, there are lots of options like Dirty Oar and Fishbone Kitchen + Wine Bar, but we opted for something a little different and checked out The Nest Clubhouse.

The Nest Clubhouse is just up the road, but getting there is easy, as there’s a shuttle service that will take you from the resort to the clubhouse in just minutes. Inside is basically an arcade for adults featuring pool, darts, Golden Tee, WrestleMania, Pac-Man, foosball, Doc & Pies Arcade Factory classics, and a poker/card table.

We took advantage of the golf simulator downstairs, had some delicious drinks, and ordered food at the bar while we played.

Another must-do is brunch at the Lake Club. Mind you, you can dine there for lunch and dinner as well, but something about the way the sun was shining in this restaurant during the day made it all the more beautiful. The Lake Club is a massive space, with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying the water and the resort while you dine. We tried the eggs Benedict and the smoked salmon toast, and let me tell you — 10 out of 10.

The best part about Friday Harbour is that they really mean it when they say they’re an all-season location, and go above and beyond to make sure there is plenty to do any time of year.

Currently, the resort is gearing up to start Skate Escape for the winter.

Launching Jan. 16 and running through March 22, this initiative is turning the resort’s Piazza into a stunning outdoor skating spot with “twinkling canopy lights, warming lounges, and après-skate bites.”

Other winter activities you can take advantage of include fat biking, snowshoeing, and kicksledding (just to name a few).

I truly hope I’ve sold you on this fabulous place. Outside of the fact that everything was stunning, fun, and easy to access, it was the people who went the extra mile. Everyone we encountered was so kind and informative, truly making the experience all the more special.

Start planning that weekend getaway, you won’t regret it!

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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