If you’re not big on hotels, and don’t have a cottage, but you’re looking for a little weekend getaway, a bed and breakfast might be your best bet. And though Ontario is home to an abundance of B&Bs, we’ve rounded up a shortlist of the most inviting accommodations across the province.
Wild Swan Bed and Breakfast Inn – Minden, Haliburton Highlands
Each of the four rooms in this Victorian brick house has an ensuite with a Jacuzzi tub for two, and provides plushy cashmere robes for each guest. Combine that with free room service, and you might never leave your room—except then you’d miss the garden views from the expansive verandah.
Fern Hollow Bed and Breakfast – Lion’s Head, Bruce Peninsula
A tiny log cabin gem on the shores of Lake Huron between Wiarton and Tobermory, Fern Hollow is equipped with two generous rooms. Both boast glorious sunset views over the water from each room’s private patio. In fact, even if you don’t stay in your room, you’ll still be able to see the water, as both face west across the lake.
Queen’s Inn – Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island
Housed in one of the original three hotels that served Gore Bay in the late nineteenth century, Queen’s Inn is a charming cross between a country inn and a bed and breakfast. Each of the period-decorated rooms is named for one of the members of the royal family, both current and past. Verandahs that stretch the length of the first and second floor offer great views of the harbour and surrounding countryside.
Bannock Burn Bed and Breakfast – Clinton, Lake Huron
An elegant stone home surrounded by pastoral fields and gardens, Bannock Burn offers a gracious European hospitality— simple, friendly, and immaculately detail-oriented. A short drive from the scenic little town of Goderich and a host of lovely beaches, Bannock Burn is the ideal base for exploring the eastern shores of Lake Huron.
Caversham House – Stratford
Caversham House is walking distance to Stratford’s theatres and bustling downtown, but it’s also a good starting point for trips a little further afield, like exploring Old Order Mennonite communities around Kitchener, antiquing in nearby Shakespeare, and hiking through the Elora Gorge.
Blaincroft B&B – Gravenhurst, Muskoka
Blaincroft is perfect for summer or winter visiting—it’s walking distance to Gravenhurst’s historic ferry, the Segwun (as well as The Bakery, home of possibly the best chelsea buns in Ontario), and each bed is piled high with luxurious duvets. Whether you’re hiking, fishing, skiing or just cuddled up in front of the fire, Blaincroft is definitely an all-season charmer.
Tranquil Woods Victorian Inn – Huntsville, Muskoka
The name says it all—Tranquil Woods is surrounded by trees. Tall, leafy, whispering trees. Well, and an extensive perennial garden. And meandering paths. And a stone patio, complete with wooden Muskoka chairs. Come to think of it, there’s a lot more to Tranquil Woods than just the trees.
Beacon Shore Bed and Breakfast – Midland, Georgian Bay
The Beacon is named after the 1901 lighthouse that makes its home on this Midland B&B’s expansive lakefront grounds, which include a private swimming dock and plenty of spots just to sit and watch the water. Halfway between Midland and Penetanguishene, Beacon Shore is also a relatively easy drive to Collingwood and the hills for skiing and hiking around Horseshoe Valley.
Clyde Hall B&B – Lanark
Clyde Hall is a B&B in the tradition of boutique hotels—luxurious, elegant, and sophisticated. Complete with a pool and hot tub, Clyde Hall also overlooks the third fairway of the Timber Run Golf Course, and boasts plenty of nooks and crannies to curl up with a book and while away the day.
Osler House – Dundas
Although Hamilton isn’t the first place that springs to mind when considering a relaxing getaway, Dundas, just to the west of the Steel City, is a lovely nineteenth-century village that boasts a charming main street as well as access to multiple waterfalls and hiking trails, many with spectacular views over the Niagara Escarpment. Osler House itself is awash in luxury, with its three bedrooms decorated in period antiques or faithful reproductions.
