Sparkling blue waters, a frenzy of foliage, and the unfamiliar sound of days past (before iPhones and iPads and iEverythings) — you may remember it. It’s called “quiet.” This is what you’ll find in the neck of the woods I ventured to last weekend. Algonquin Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada, established in 1893. Its unspoiled beauty and massive square footage (it’s 1/4 the size of Belgium, yes, the country) make it a tourist destination for nature lovers worldwide. In my embracing of all things Canadiana, when invited to indulge in this verdant vacation, I was on board (paddleboard and otherwise). While you can camp or portage from lake to lake, you can also shack up with the fortunate few who have leases on the land and have built cottages there. The Budmans and Greens, founders of the iconic Canadian brand, Roots, welcomed us to celebrate my friend Markus’ birthday in this lakeside bliss. And as I’ve been told time and time again, even the word “bliss” doesn’t do it justice. You can’t seem to mention Algonquin to Canadians without hearing a sigh of complete happiness, laced with memories of diving into the crystal water and lazing around late night campfires telling tales of Tom Thompson. This is not Muskoka with its fancy cottages and Hamptons-esque charm, nor is it the Georgian Bay, with its jet skis, tubing, and requisite social scene. Algonquin is straight out of the camp you see in The Parent Trap (the original, not the Lohan version). And while the mosquitos devoured me, and the rain trickled down on my last day of exploration, it didn’t dissolve the fairy dust from this magical experience of pure Canadian bliss…
Beautiful brunches, teepee sleeps, lounging by the water with docktails (ahem, a cocktail by the dock…love!) and lapping at the quiet lake via paddle board are all part of the daily ritual. As the sun shifts, toast to friendship, canoe through the calm waters, and then eat copious amounts of cheese. Oh wait…that’s not Algonquin specific – that’s just me.
Spend your days lost in thought, taking in the beauty of this endless landscape. Jump in the lake, indulge in a dinner with beautiful wine and food courtesy of the loveliest hosts, find a moment of solace from the fray, and then laugh all night by campfire with the most cherished friends.
While most Algonquin trips are true blue camping, and my experience was a bit less roughing it and bit more Troop Beverly Hills, the happy medium is that Algonquin, itself, is the core of pure Canadiana wonder. Moose roam, deer frolic, and the land is so unspoiled and refreshing that you breathe it all in just a little bit deeper. Here are some great finds for your next (fancy pants or rugged) camping trip. Get your camp on!
