J. W. ROSSEAU MUSKOKA RESORT AND SPA

This past year I discovered a Marriott resort and spa located in Minett, Ontario nestled in the Muskoka area. It became one of my favourite spots to go to on many weekends. Sometimes I would drive the almost two hours just to sit under an umbrella overlooking Lake Rosseau while I enjoyed an afternoon meal at Cottages, their restaurant.  Located at 1050 Paignton House Road, Minett, Ontario, the resort sits very high up with multi levels that go all the way down to the lake.

I did find it much busier in the summer than winter, but for me the best time of year to see this place at its finest is the fall when the hotel lights up with colours of burnt orange and ruby reds. It's as if someone dropped a beautiful piece of property right in the middle of untouched, natural beauty. For me it doesn't get any better. Just beautiful, calming, and the most relaxing place I have been in a long time.

For anyone interested, the link below does it more justice.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yqajw-jw-marriott-the-rosseau-muskoka-resort-and-spa/

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another year has gone by. I got kind of lazy with my posts as the year went by - life is busy sometimes. But, hopefully I can get back into the groove and help give information to those of you who love to travel and like to be informed. I just finished putting away the last of the Christmas reminders for another year. I almost contemplated leaving a tree lit with no decorations in one corner of my rec room. I kind of like it all light up at night - I just thought people would think I was a bit "odd". So, it too went into the box.

I took another trip over to Boston again between Christmas and New Years. I find it so much calmer there than the mad mayhem of Boxing Day here in Canada. We went through Montreal this time, which I thought would be a bit better (and it was and I have to say I loved their airport). They cancelled the flights the day before we left and they cancelled the flights the day after we left. Whewww. We actually made it this time, not without any delays but with fewer than my norm. As seems to be the case with me (and I don't have any idea why...but I truly love Boston and can't imagine it has anything to do with me), no sooner did we get there, and they were calling for a HUGE storm with a lot of snow. In the end only two inches covered the city and most of it melted in the warm weather.

We hit my usual haunts - Fanieul Hall, Quincy Market, Haymarket, Harvard Square and made sure to stop at Mike's Pastry. Once again I indulged in my favourite dessert - cannoli. I will repeat this again and again - These are the BEST!!! And this from an Italian who has had them in Rome, Venice, Paris, Toronto, Montreal, New York, California and at some of the other pastry shops in Boston. I can't even make these as good as they are there. My friend had the Amaretto one that she said was wonderful. This time I came prepared with packaging to transport some of these goodies back to Canada so we could have them for New Years Day. As well, I carefully packed pizzelles which along with the cannolis made the trip all in one piece. So if you want to get a bit of American history and stop and relax for a bit, don't forget to make a stop at Mike's Pasty on Hanover Street in the North End.