It was another COVID summer... hot and fun. Both Mike and I have been vaccinated since June as well as most of the adults around us. So, differently from last year, we started slowly socializing and exploring the best of Ontario: it's lakes and parks. Although we spent a lot of time at the farm, hosting families of friends all summer - enjoying our newly built guest house and swimming pond - we visited different places as well.
JOHNSON'S BEACH - BARRIE
Before the swimming pond was ready, we were dying to cool off in the water and Barrie is the closest beach around. Johnson's Beach is a very friendly option, about 15 minutes from the farm. Although we could see Barrie from the beach, this beach feels very isolated. The girls loved it.
VICTORIA HARBOUR, GEORGIAN BAY
We are lucky too to have family so close to us now. Mike's family has properties about 45 minutes away, on Georgian Bay.
This beach is called the Giant's Tomb and it's perfect for families with boats.
We brought some food for the picnic and we all enjoyed a hot summer day.
LAGUNA , BRECHIN
Our friends Tania and David invited us for a day adventure in Brechin, on Lake Simcoe, Close to Orilia.
https://www.orillialakecountry.ca/visitor-information/
This is the community of Laguna, with cottages, trails, small stores and lots of boats. It reminds me of the communities in Florida, with lots of entertainment options and life around the water.
HALIBURTON, ONTARIO
Every summer we get to visit our lovely friends who moved from Toronto to Halifax, at their beautiful cottage in the Haliburton area. This time I went alone with the girls this and the three days out felt like a mini vacation for us.
FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haliburton_County
Haliburton is a county of Ontario, Canada, known as a tourist and cottage area in Central Ontario for its scenery and for its resident artists. Minden Hills is the county seat. Haliburton County and the village of Haliburton are named after Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, statesman, and the first chairman of the Canadian Land and Emigration Company.
The county borders Algonquin Provincial Park on the north.
Twins.
The sunsets are absolutely gorgeous.
So colourful and peaceful.
This time we got to hang out at this beautiful cottage about 15 minutes from their property.
Waking up to this calm water was one of my favourite parts of the day.
Seeing the kids playing freely, out in nature, electronic free, is priceless.
STINSON LAKE, HAMER BAY
Later in the summer we also got invited by awesome friends to this beautiful cottage on Stinson Lake, Hamer Bay.
Stinson Lake is a very small lake right beside the big and prestigious Lake Joseph. There are two properties here. One was empty and one was rented by our friends and hosts. We had the whole lake to ourselves.
No, the leaves are not changing.
This is the sunset on top of the trees.
Cool effect, isn't it?
