Time after time Muskoka, Ontario has been named as one of the best places to vacation in Canada.

Affectionately known as Canada’s “cottage country”, this quaint charming lakes region is the go-to destination for Torontonians looking to escape the city. National Geographic magazine calls it an “unplugged natural playground full of countless waterfalls and lakes”.

Luckily for you, FlipKey has plenty of Muskoka District vacation rentals where you can enjoy the wonders of this region.

About Muskoka

Just two hours’ drive north of Toronto on Highways 400 and 11, the Muskoka District of central Ontario seems like a world away from Canada’s largest city. Bordered by the imposing granite peaks of the Algonquin Provincial Park in the east, and the Georgian Bay Islands National Park to the west, the area is made of 17 historic towns and villages.

During the summer, the area comes alive with tourists as thousands of families descend on the Muskoka to vacation at one of the many picturesque lakes, making memories that last a lifetime.

With swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing all on the agenda, Muskoka is the place where children learn to swim, catch their first fish and manage to stand up on the water skis for the first time!

Couples also love Muskoka for its romantic charm and firefly-filled nights, where a million stars twinkle to the sound of a jumping fish breaking the surface of a mirror-like lake.

What to do

Essentially, Muskoka is all about getting back to nature and is geared around tourism and the great outdoors. Hike on of the many trails, like the one to Lions Lookout for a view of Huntsville Lake and the surrounding forest.

Rent a canoe or kayak from one of the many outfitters and explore this water wonderland the way the first trappers did back before the roads arrived.

Learn everything there is about the production of maple syrup with a visit to the Sugarbush Hill maple farm in Huntsville.

With several microbreweries in the region, getting a cold beer is not a problem. Check out the Muskoka Brewery where they have been brewing craft beers for over 20 years.

Visit Muskoka in the fall and take a cruise aboard an antique steamship belonging to the Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company, the colors of the leaves are a spectacle beyond belief.

Top Travel tips

Muskoka lakes are not just for the rich. If you want to rent a boat, there are plenty of free public ramps where you can take to the water.

Be sure to visit in the fall for the changing of the leaves or during the winter. Just don't forget your cross-country skis and ice skates!

Enjoy the idyllic surroundings all day by preparing picnics for while you're out on your adventures.

Muskoka is home to some of the best golf courses, with 8 of the 100 best courses in Canada all carved into the rugged granite terrain. Try it!

Summer, winter, spring or fall, there’s never a bad time to visit and with dozens of Muskoka vacation rentals available on FlipKey, finding a place to stay is a breeze.