This Lake Simcoe Stay is a City Dweller’s Dream

Recently, my sister and I—who live together in downtown Toronto but operate on opposite schedules—realized how out of touch we had become from each other’s lives. Both 20-somethings with always-packed agendas, it wasn’t until we boarded the GO Train to Innisfil for a one-night stay at Friday Harbour Resort that we understood how badly a reset was needed.

If you live in the city, you’ve likely heard about Friday Harbour. The 600-acre resort that sits on the shores of Lake Simcoe is not only a year-round vacation spot, but also part of the Canadian style scene, with its Fashion Collective hosting an annual outdoor runway to spotlight up-and-coming talent. Perhaps the biggest draw for fast-moving metropolitans like myself is that, at Friday Harbour, you get a taste of small-town slowness (walkable marina; sprawling nature reserve) without sacrificing the everyday luxuries of city life (proximity to good restaurants and window shopping).

Something about Toronto’s sticky summer heat can inspire a recalibration. When humidity hits, it’s easy to start dreaming about a cooling escape—a place to submerge in a body of water and forest bathe. In an hour and forty-five minutes—after a morning GO Train and a quick Uber ride—my sister and I had been transported from a grey concrete jungle to the relaxed world of water-front living and were ready to reconnect.

Whether you’re staying for a week or just going down for the day, below is the ultimate Friday Harbour Resort itinerary for those in need of a change of pace.

Bike the nature trails

There’s nothing like biking under trees so tall they form a canopy overhead. If you’re craving the meditative effect of lush greenery, Friday Harbour’s Nature Reserve is a must-visit. The trail is vast—spanning seven kilometres—and depending on which route you take, can either be a 30-minute walk or an hours-long escapade.

We rented bikes from the resort and circled through various paths, riding beside swamps so green they looked like matcha and over winding wooden bridges fenced by foliage. Pro tip: Regardless what path you choose, do not skip the sunscreen or the bug spray. At one point, we got mildly lost, but navigating with nothing but a paper map to guide us (so vintage!) turned out to be just the bonding exercise we needed.

Swim—at the pool or in the lake

Whether your idea of “swimming” is poolside drink service or a chilly freshwater dip from the dock, Friday Harbour has water access for every level of comfort. My sister and I did both, and were shocked by the amount of sheer space we had to swim. While Toronto’s beaches are often crowded and overstimulating, the Lake Simcoe shores are serene, peaceful and fitting for a true escape.

Dine with a view

From Mediterranean cuisine at Fishbone Restaurant to fresh Italian pastries at Zaza, there is no shortage of eateries at Friday Harbour, each within eye-line of the waterfront. Over warm olives and buttery focaccia, my sister and I swapped relationship advice and career revelations on the marina-facing patio at Lake Club Restaurant, just as the sun was setting.

Take the time to slow down

Friday Harbour is an all-season destination, with programming tailored for each phase of Canadian weather. Summer has golfing, live music and stand-up paddle-boarding, while winter brings ice skating, snowshoeing, and, yes, even golfing (the indoor kind). During our stay, we window shopped on the paved Promenade. We went for walks so long we lost track of time. We took pictures at sunset and read our books without reaching for our phones.

As my sister and I got ready for bed at the end of our day, we found ourselves full of newly-formed inside jokes and giggling like little kids—the way we used to when we would sneak out of our rooms well past bedtime to play. After 24 hours of life in slower gear, we came away with a little more patience for each other and a renewed readiness to take on city life. It’s amazing what a little lakefront mindset can do.