Ontario has so many wonderful places to visit especially in the Simcoe County and Muskoka regions. Simcoe Muskoka offers an abundance of outdoor recreational activities, experiences, and attractions as well as natural beauty and a relaxing lifestyle that make it the best place to plan your next staycation. It’s an exclusive lifestyle here that you won’t find anywhere else and once you get a taste you will want to come back again or you’ll want to trade in the city lifestyle.
You can discover many hidden gems throughout the region from things to do, places to eat, and things to see which can lead to making planning a staycation hard. What are some things that you should consider and how should you plan your vacation? Follow our guide below for a successful staycation in Simcoe Muskoka.
Decide the Length of the Trip
How many vacation days do you get? If you have a week or more to use, we suggest considering a multi-destination trip. There are so many great places in Simcoe Muskoka you can’t possibly fit it all in, in just a week but at least you will get to experience much more of the region by doing a multi-destination trip. If you’re limited on time pick just one location and experience it in a way you haven’t before. Get out of your comfort zone and try new things.
Set Your Budget
Consider your travel costs for gas to travel to your destination and if you will need to take any Ubers or taxis while you’re there. How much are you willing to spend is the biggest question to ask because that will depend on what kind of accommodations you search for and what attractions you see. Those are just a couple of questions to ask yourself to set out your budget for travel, accommodations, and leisure activities.
Plan a Theme
Is your vacation for family fun, a girl’s trip, or a romantic getaway? Deciding on a theme will help you plan what kind of activities you will be doing on your vacation and the location that you choose.
Booking Your Accommodations
If you’re planning a longer stay in one location, looking at an apartment or Air BnB is a great option because you can usually get deals for longer stays and it will come equipped with a kitchen so you can prepare food there to save on expenses. If you’re considering a multi-destination or short trip, booking at a hotel or small resort is the way to go. They make it easy for checking in and out and will have everything you need. It’s also a good idea to consider the location of your accommodations. Is it centrally located to attractions, things to do, and places to eat? Having your accommodations located near the core helps save on travel costs to and from attractions.
Research What You Want to Do
Once you’ve planned out the length of your trip and where you will be staying, now you can plan what attractions and experiences you would like to do. This is a great time to look at local tourism sites like Discover Muskoka, Experience Simcoe County, and Tourism Barrie. All these websites will have guides for the different towns throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka with places to see based on family fun, girl’s trips, and romantic getaways. Here you will also find some guided tours of towns that showcase the history of the town, architecture, and popular local attractions as well as food guides for the foodies out there. Some attractions and experiences require booking in advance, make sure you plan ahead.
Check Geotags on Social Media
Social Media is a great way to find hidden gems in the Simcoe Muskoka region because residents will tag their posts and stories with geotags. You can search by location and find great walking trails with beautiful lookouts and waterfalls, small businesses, and great attractions that only the locals know about.
Go On Your Staycation
Now that the planning is complete now it’s time to go on your vacation! Remember to embrace the true “North Life” and take in all the beauty surrounding you.
The Simcoe Muskoka region truly is an exclusive lifestyle and experience. You get the best of both worlds being surrounded by a balanced mixture of urban and rural settings. Once you experience it you will want to come back for more or want to trade in the busy city lifestyle for a more balanced lifestyle of work and play, and there’s no better place to do that than in Simcoe Muskoka.
For more information on relocation, real estate, and lifestyle in Simcoe Muskoka visit our website at yournorthlife.ca and social media channels @yournorthlife on Instagram and Facebook.