Welcome to Huntsville – one of Ontario’s most beloved tourist destinations this community is a vibrant, vast and wondrous playground that attracts visitors from every corner of the world to enjoy the serenity and warmth of a small community nestled amongst the lakes and trees overflowing from nearby iconic Algonquin Provincial Park.
Experience unique events such as international triathlons, cycling tours, marathons (with musicians en route!), winter carnivals, parades, a bathtub derby (yes, bathtubs with motors!) and many more events to fill out your visit. Some of the many festivals that make this location a must visit includes Midnight Madness Street Dance and Summer Sidewalk Sale with music, food and shops, Macaroni Festival where you can try delicious samples of cheesy mac n’ cheese from local restaurants, or grab your closest girlfriends for a weekend to remember filled with entertainment, shopping and pampering with the Girlfriends Getaway Weekend! There will definitely never be a dull moment when visiting Huntsville!
Take your time and take a troll to the many pristine beaches, meandering trails and unique attractions starting with Lion’s Lookout or venture off the beaten path to take in some incredible local art by visiting artists’ studios. Don’t miss visiting Muskoka Heritage Place, this is the greatest historical attraction in the region and will give you a lot of information and knowledge about the history of the area. If you are planning a visit make sure to put aside plenty of time as you will undoubtedly become fully immersed in the lives and customs of those who lived here in the early days and hitch a ride on The Portage Flyer Train. This rail route was once the world’s smallest commercial railroad, it’s better you plan a full-day trip to see all of these hidden gems of Muskoka.
The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery is an extraordinary public exhibit which features mural reproductions of masterpiece paintings by Canada’s renowned artists. Mesmerized and inspired by the stunning landscapes of Algonquin Park and the Canadian wilderness, famed Canadian artists Tom Thomson and his successors, the Group of Seven went into the wilds, carrying canvas and paints, to discover and reveal their own ideals for Canadian art.
Visit one of the nearby Provincial Parks! Algonquin Provincial Park has over 1,300 campsites in 11 different campgrounds, activities include fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and day hiking. Be sure to stop by the Algonquin Visitor Centre includes a video theatre, a gift shop, a panoramic outdoor viewing deck, and an art gallery. Algonquin is home to a Natural Heritage Education program, the most popular aspect of the program are the weekly wolf howls where park staff attempt to locate a wolf pack on Wednesday evening and, if successful, they announce a public wolf howl the next day.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Arrowhead Provincial Park has man-made skating trail winds through the forest with more winter activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Visiting in the Summer? No problem there are plenty of opportunities for hiking with over 15 km of hiking trails; including a trail leading to a waterfall, as well as canoeing, and biking. Be sure to explore the remains of old homesteads from the 1870’s to learn more about the history or this famous region!
Did you know?
- Most of the 1995 film It Takes Two, starring Kirstie Alley, Steve Guttenberg and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, was filmed at Camp Mini-Yo-We, which is located within the city’s boundaries.
- Algonquin Provincial Park is Canada’s oldest provincial park!
