Ontario Luxury Escape

A scant two hours from Toronto in the town of McKellar, The Inn at Manitou offers a balance of Old World charisma and modern spa indulgences. Located on 50 acres beside the peaceful shores of Lake Manitouwabing, the resort boasts a staff of 70, who oversee a maximum of 60 guests—ensuring a high level of personal attention. The inn’s prize-winning cellar has garnered the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2000, and wine tastings are held lakeside under the direction of Sommelier Eric Denis. Chef Bernard Ibanez oversees the kitchen, supplementing his classic French menu with regional and Canadian-sourced ingredients that showcase Mediterranean, Californian, and Asian flavors. A variety of spa and vegetarian dishes are also available. Before you relax with a fabulous meal and a glass of your favorite wine, head for the 2,500-square-foot spa, where European-trained therapists from countries including England, Argentina, Thailand, Bali, and France will pamper you with a wide selection of facials, massages, and body therapies. Surrounded by pine forest wilderness, this Relais & Chateaux Association member property has been managed for 34 years by founder and owner Sheila Wise and her daughter, Jordanna Lipson. In addition to spa escapes, the inn’s special themed getaways include a Wine Makers’ Weekend (Sept. 20–23), Artist Workshop Weekend with Canadian artist Deeter Hastenteufel (Oct. 5–8), Cooking Class at The Inn with Chef Bernard Ibanez (Sept. 14–16 and Oct. 12–14), Two Night Yoga Retreat with daily yoga and meditation (Sept. 2 –23), and tennis clinics throughout the season with international tennis professionals, including New Zealander Mark Carruthers. For more information call (800) 571-8818 or visit www.manitou-online.com

—D.B.

September/October 2007