Dog Friendly Lake Resorts Near Me – Viamede Resort is a pet-friendly family resort located in beautiful Stony Lake, Ontario (or Stony Lake – depending on who you ask!). While we haven’t explored many of Kawartha’s resorts, we enjoyed our last stay at Viamede so much that it’s on our list to return to this summer.
Here’s the same photo of our kids from our visit to ViaMed Resort in Stony Lake, Ontario two summers ago…they’re so much younger!
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The history of Viamede is as follows: the first building was built somewhere around 1885, although a land survey shows that there was a “hotel” that opened in 1873. In 1907, a new resort was built when the old one burned down. Modern guest houses. Amenities like electric light and running water. The resort has seen a lot of improvements since changing hands in 2010, but the past is lingering.
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We work our way through all the great family resorts in Ontario and Wayamede is still one of our favorites.
If you’re looking for a resort near Toronto, Stony Lake (also known as Stony Lake) is a quick destination in the northeast GTA. From our home in Clarington, it only takes an hour and 15 minutes to drive to Wayamede Resort (which is, IMO, one of the best resorts on the Kawartha Lakes).
And if you’re heading to the area, you won’t be part of the chaotic weekend traffic heading up Hwy. 400 for country cottages in the Muskokas or other resorts in southwestern Ontario.
Free breakfast doesn’t always mean good breakfast, but we look forward to Viamede’s breakfast buffet every day.
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While the Viamede Resort is not one of the most all-inclusive resorts we’ve visited in Ontario, there are many savings because the nightly cost does not include breakfast. But, yes, you read that right – whether you rent a private villa or stay in a main hotel-style lodge, breakfast is included in your stay.
Viamede is one of Kawartha’s most attractive resorts – offering many amenities to help reduce the cost of your vacation.
All activities and facilities of the resort are free for guests. From an 18-hole golf course to bike rentals and snowshoeing in the winter, that’s just the start of Viamede’s all-inclusive style.
You don’t need to register to borrow stand-up paddleboards, docks, “icebergs” for climbing, and kayaks and canoes…first come, first served. ViaMed’s 165 hectares have 9 kilometers of paths cut through the forest to explore, a large outdoor pool and an indoor pool (there are actually indoor/outdoor options as well as steam rooms and saunas) and a well-equipped gym. medium
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Every day, I took boat trips with my kids to Stony Lake – looking for large flocks of geese with at least a dozen goslings. (You can get so close to the kayaks!) We love exploring the great houses in Kawarthas, dreaming of winning the lottery to buy our own. But mostly just talk. Because with the silence of the lake – save for the occasional reflective loon – and without all the usual distractions that come between us every day, that paddle trip gives me at least an hour of uninterrupted time to be with my kids. in one.
Speaking of boats, we loved our boatride with Ben. Stay tuned because when he’s available, Ben (Owner and GM) will take guests on a boat tour of Stony Lake aboard his beloved Boston Whaler. We spent at least an hour learning more about the resort, the pool, and the many guests who continue to return to Viamede Resort every year across North America.
Viamede’s private beach, with a playground nearby, is small but strong. It has clean sand and offers a shallow entrance to Stony Lake
There is also a tennis court and basketball net … but if you want to play tennis and basketball, I suggest you bring your own equipment because the facilities in the area have better days.
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Our kids’ favorite thing to do at Viamede Resort is visit the working farm. There are chickens, ducks and quail – many eggs are used in Viamede restaurants! – and Turkey. There are also pigs (and OMG, I love chicks); Last year the pigs were huge and escaped the pen when we came to see them, but this year they are only 6 weeks old and don’t know what else to do but snort and play in the mud.
The farm at Viamede is a great way to open up a conversation with your kids about where their food comes from, as many of the animals raised there are eventually used as food in some way. You can also go for oregano and lettuce, edible flowers, tomatoes and other beautiful things that grow in the garden around the resort – almost all of which are used to feed the guests.
And although we don’t go to church, I know the beauty of a white church. Wayamede Church is the flagship of ADORBZ.
Viamede Resort Church… I don’t know what it’s used for today, but it’s really beautiful.
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Oh, and don’t forget to check out the weekly events calendar for more free stuff at Viamede (think ice cream socials, wine tastings, pool volleyball and more).
Finally, free kids camp! Yeppers – you can send your kids to day camp for three hours each day if you both want some time apart. We were only at the Viamede resort for 2.5 days, so we didn’t try it, but it’s a good option for longer stays or for kids who play a lot in the kids club.
What we did try though was free pizza and movie night for the kids. This allowed us to try the adults-only tasting menu at the Mount Julien restaurant (more below). One night, you sign up at the front desk and it’s open to the first 10 or 12 kids. They have a pizza party, hang out, paint, play games and watch a movie from 5-9pm.
Maybe not the most exciting scene, but since we’ve never been fly-on-the-wall on pizza and movie night, it’s as good as it gets.
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I’m starting with the Mount Julien restaurant because, secondly, it destroyed us. It’s an adults-only menu and tasting, so you’ll want older kids to hang out in your room or camp out for pizza and a movie. Please do! It will be a meal I will never forget.
Built in 1874, the Inn at Mount Julian has long been known for local cuisine, done well. Today, the menu can change – within the same night – depending on what the ingredients are. If you like local food, homemade and prepared, your tasting menu has three options:
We have studied 7 subjects in last two years. This year, we did the full nine. And – wow – Mount Julien did not disappoint these two foodies! The new chef stays true to Mount Julien’s roots and combines craftsmanship with creative flavor combinations. (I mean, I didn’t know some flowers smelled so good…)
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The matches are excellent, and many of them are unexpectedly perfect. I don’t like Ontario red wine, but the selection from Prince Edward County complements the meal. There’s a beer or two and some hard liquor too – not your usual pairing, which is a welcome surprise.
Viamede Resort: Pet Friendly Resort Stoney Lake, Ontario
Breakfast is served here every morning. It’s a buffet and includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, yogurt, kid-friendly cereal and other breakfast items. Considering it’s free, it’s pretty cool. Our favorite morning activity is making a cafe latte and relaxing while the kids run off to play basketball, ping pong or soccer in the corner of the room.
Overlooking Viamede’s Grand Harbour, overlooking Stony Lake, the Boathouse is our lunch stop. Although not all the food is as delicious as it was a few years ago, there are still some excellent dishes and cocktails here.
Let me start with an honorable mention of homemade ice tea. With hints of lemon and rosemary, it’s not too sweet and tastes more “tea” than Canadian iced tea – and that’s special enough for me to order two in a row.
You must try the poutine here – fried onions, cheese curds, sprinkled with rich cheese and chunks of beef, it’s so good. Chicken Caesar salad, fish and chips, all kids
