On the drive from Toronto Pearson International Airport to the Deerhurst Resort near Muskoka, Ontario, I understood quickly why people affectionately refer to the area as “cottage country”. We must have passed by hundreds of lakes with cottages scattered around the shores. I could definitely see the appeal and it made me all the more excited for my visit to The Deerhurst Resort, located directly on Peninsula Lake. My partner, Garrett, and I were about to spend the next 48 hours in lake country and we couldn’t wait.
There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario which makes up approximately 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply. With plans to explore some of Muskoka and travel on some bumpy backroads, we were delighted to be driving the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Neither of us had experience driving an electric or hybrid vehicle so we were excited to see what it was all about!
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Deerhurst Resort: The Perfect Getaway in Muskoka, Ontario
Garrett and I quickly realized that you could easily spend a whole week or longer at The Deerhurst Resort. Conveniently located just over two hours from the Toronto airport, the resort has SO MANY amenities. We stayed at the Lakeside Lodge and our room had a balcony with an amazing view of Peninsula Lake. After we checked into our room and settled in, we walked down to Compass Grill and Lounge in the main lobby for some cocktails and a bite to eat. The patio was the perfect place to relax after a long day of travelling.
We had a reservation arranged at the resort’s night time Treetop Trekking and although we were still tired from our travel day, it turned out to be quite an invigorating experience. As someone who definitely wouldn’t consider herself an ‘adrenaline junkie’ this experience was very much out of my comfort zone. We were geared up with harnesses and head lamps and given a quick safety talk before hitting the treetops. The course had a variety of levels and we started on the easiest. I managed to complete the easy and medium level course but I was covered in sweat after the medium. To finish out the evening we both did the zip line course, which was my favourite. All in all, the evening was a memorable one, but boy were we ready for bed afterwards.
Related: Interested in more outdoor adventure travel? Check out our post about viewing the northern lights in Churchill, Manitoba.
Exploring Muskoka in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The next morning, we ate breakfast at the resort before gearing up to head out in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for the day. With plans to hit some windy and bumpy back roads, we were interested to see how the SUV would manage. Right off the bat, we loved the look and interior of the vehicle. Operating the EV functions was super user friendly. We also noticed the vehicle was extremely quiet while running which made driving around all the more peaceful.
Our first adventure was to test the capabilities of the Mitsubishi Outlander on Muskoka, Ontario’s muddy backroads. We learned quickly that just like in Alberta, Ontario has some rather rough backroads that lead to some nice secluded views. We began our trek and I was immediately impressed with the vehicle. The road was bumpy and muddy with huge potholes and the SUV managed just fine. Before we knew it, we were at our first stop, a gorgeous lakeside coffee shop, aka making coffee out of the back of the Mitsubishi Outlander in the wilderness. A feature of this vehicle that I absolutely loved was that you can hook up a full on Nespresso, Keurig, or whatever coffee machine you prefer, to the outlet in the trunk and make your coffees on the go. We enjoyed this feature how it’s intended, in the backcountry with stunning Ontario views.
After we finished our coffee break, we continued on the trail, next up we were hitting some windy but paved roads. Garrett definitely enjoyed speeding up for this part of the drive. The vehicle handled each curve and hill with ease and once again we were impressed. I even said to Garrett, “maybe we should be getting an Outlander for our next vehicle”. We loved that the vehicle is geared towards outdoorsy people with many of its features but can also be used for every day life, the versatility is definitely something we look for in a vehicle.
The Deerhurst Resorts Other Amenities
For the reminder of our time in Muskoka, Ontario, we got to enjoy our beautiful resort. The weather was absolutely gorgeous so we took advantage of the free paddle boards and headed out on the lake for the afternoon. It was a peaceful way to spend the afternoon. There are many other amenities at the Deerhurst Resort, we were able to participate in some activities but not all of them. Other activities include both indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor rock climbing wall, escape rooms, an arcade, a golf simulator, a full service spa, paintball, disc golf, pickleball, and so much more.
On our final day we lucked out and scored a tee time at the 9-hole Lakeside golf course. It was the perfect way to spend our last day. This is the smaller course on the resort, and as a below average golfer, I was happy it was a little easier than the 18-hole Deerhurst Highlands course. All in all, our time spent in Huntsville was absolutely fantastic. Deerhurst Resort provided the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, offering plenty of activities to keep us entertained while also allowing us to unwind in the beautiful surroundings of Muskoka, Ontario. From heart-pounding treetop trekking to peaceful paddle boarding on Peninsula Lake, the variety of experiences made our 48 hours memorable and fulfilling.
As we headed out, both Garrett and I agreed we could have easily stayed longer to explore more of the resort and surrounding area. We left with full hearts, incredible memories, and even a newfound love for hybrid vehicles after our adventure with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Our time spent exploring Muskoka, Ontario only solidified its reputation as one of Ontario’s most scenic regions.
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