5 Must Visit Places in Muskoka for Families
Great family vacations shape fond memories that last a lifetime. Building an unforgettable family trip isn’t always easy. That’s why we put together this list of must-visit places for the family to visit during your stay in Muskoka. From visiting Santa’s cottage to walking atop a forest’s canopy, touring a turn-of-the-century village to enjoying handcrafted chocolate specialties, there’s something everyone in the family will enjoy.
Santa’s Village
Nestled within the bends of the Muskoka River in Bracebridge lies Santa’s summer home. A holiday-themed amusement park with a petting zoo, splash pad, rides, and visits with Kris Kringle providing a guaranteed afternoon of family fun. Ride their exciting roller coasters, captain pirate paddle boats, cool off at the splash pad, take a ride on Santa’s Summer Sleigh boat on Muskoka River and more. The perfect stop to break up the drive to or from Deerhurst Resort!
| Distance from Deerhurst Resort | 40 minute drive |
| Length of Stay | 3-5 hours |
| Website | www.santasvillage.ca |
Heritage Place
Bring the past to life and experience what it was like to live in Muskoka at the turn of the century. Disconnect from modern life while touring the pioneer village complete with costumed narrators in period dress who lead guests through a variety of pioneer activities. Climb aboard the Portage Flyer, an open-air train, to learn what transportation was like and swing by the old General Store for an icy treat. Blacksmith, sawmill, First Nations components, creative interactive activities, farm animals and more await at Muskoka Heritage Place!
| Distance from Deerhurst Resort | 12 minute drive |
| Length of Stay | 1-3 hours |
| Website | www.muskokaheritageplace.org |
Treetop Trekking
Unleash your inner Tarzan while flying through the forest canopy at this huge treetop adventure park. Zip, climb, swing, and stride through Muskoka’s woodland using ropes, bridges, zip lines, climbing nets, and swings. Fun for any agility or experience level. Adventure at your own pace while becoming one with Mother Nature from a whole different angle.
Activities for ages 9 and up.
| Distance from Deerhurst Resort | (At Deerhurst!) 5 minute drive from the main Pavillion |
| Length of Stay | 1.5-2 hours |
| Website | treetoptrekking.com |
Muskoka Discovery Centre’s KidZone
Get out and stretch your legs on your trip up to Deerhurst! Head on down to the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst and visit the KidZone. The KidZone provides hands-on activities and programming the laugh, learn, explore and discover. Using a “play to learn and learn to play” philosophy, this space creates a multi-sensory, active and family-friendly environment to stimulate children’s natural curiosity and creativity. This unique environment offers fun learning opportunities for every age. A great way to spend a rainy afternoon!
| Distance from Deerhurst Resort | 45 minute drive |
| Length of Stay | 1-2 hours |
| Website | www.realmuskoka.com |
The Nutty Chocolatier
A tour of family-friendly stops in Muskoka isn’t complete without hand-crafted truffles and chocolate specialties from The Nutty Chocolatier. Located on the main street of Huntsville, this Victorian-style shop offers a tantalizing assortment of imported and domestic candies, sugar-free chocolates, and treats for all occasions. Make sure you try their homemade fudge during your visit!
| Distance from Deerhurst Resort | 10 minute drive |
| Length of Stay | 30 minutes |
| Website | www.thenuttychocolatier.com |
Ready to start planning your summer getaway to Muskoka? Deerhurst Resort is your home base for everything summer and everything Muskoka. From the Splash Zone to the NEW Cable Park, boating, wakeboarding, two golf courses, Treetop Trekking, ATV tours with Yamaha, yoga, campfires…the list goes on and on. Book the ‘This IS Summer’ offer and enjoy tons of complimentary activities included in your stay. Learn more and book here.
Posted July 2018