Looking for thoughtful ways to celebrate someone special in your life? Especially if you’ve got friends or family who’ve expressed the urge to declutter, it might be time to consider an experiential rather than material gift. Kawarthas Northumberland has an array of unique destinations that aren’t far from urban centres yet feel like country retreats. Whether you’re looking for artistic, sporty, or food-focused options, here are some suggestions for experiential gifts to spoil your loved ones with in 2019.
Discover Your Inner Artisan:
Workshops
The heart of all things Canadian, multi-cultural, and artisanal, the Canadian Canoe Museum (closed September 5, 2022-summer 2023 while the facility is relocated) is home to the biggest collection of canoes and kayaks in the world, some of them several hundred years old. The museum has also grown to become a hub of artisans. These talented craftspeople not only volunteer their skills to help curate the museum’s remarkable collections, but also offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime workshops. In these workshops, anyone can learn traditional skills, from paddle-carving to beading, from leatherwork to the art of pyrography. (What’s “pyrography”? Think painting but instead of a paintbrush and paint you use tools that precisely burn the surface of the wood.) These workshops are popular and book up early, so plan your trip in advance and book now. There are more workshop ideas at the links here. Be sure to check out the experiences along the Kawartha Lakes Arts & Heritage Trail, especially the unique workshops at the Gamiing Nature Centre, including traditional greenwood carving.
Hands-On Experiences
Resort & Inn Packages
This area has several resorts and inns that offer winter packages. In the colder months guests can enjoy great winter trails (via snowshoe or cross-country ski) followed by luxuries like a wood burning fireplace and whirlpool bath in their cozy cottages. In the summer and fall seasons resorts offer dockside relaxation and a range of outdoor activities like boating, some of Ontario’s best multi-species fishing, and paddling. Elmhirst’s Resort, for example, is a family-owned and operated resort on the shores of Rice Lake. Elmhirst’s is committed to local food, so their Hearthside Dining Room serves seasonal fare raised on the property, including their own delectable Black Angus beef. The well-stocked wine cellar complements it perfectly. If you’re looking to book a unique gift, check out Elmhirst’s specialty packages. For instance, the spring Wine, Women and Canvas event combines painting workshops, wine tasting, and spa treatments into a weekend of deep relaxation.
Resorts, Cottages & Inns
Ice Fishing at Golden Beach Resort
Another excellent Rice Lake option is Golden Beach Resort. Situated along the aptly named Rice Lake Scenic Route, Golden Beach is a prime destination for ice fishing. Guests can rent a hut and fish for perch, crappie, and other in-season species. Gear is provided and licenses arranged ahead of time, so if you’re purchasing this as a gift all your guests need to worry about is retiring to their lakeside condo to warm up afterwards. Skating, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are available on-site or nearby as well, all an easy drive from the city.
Ice Fishing Experiences
Cross-Country Skiing at Kawartha Nordic Ski Club
Kawartha Nordic Ski Club was founded in 1976, and it now draws hundreds of cross-country skiers annually. With 46 km of ski trails and 9 km of snowshoe trails, it has offerings for all tastes and abilities. The extensive network allows for skate skiing, groomed classic, backcountry, and even night skiing options, so there’s a chance to try something new even for someone who’s been at this for awhile. If you’ve got a budding skier on your gift list, a lesson might be a thoughtful way to enhance their experience. Private, semi-private and group options are available for either classic or skate styles. At just 40 minutes north of Peterborough or two hours from Toronto, this is one of the best ways to get a serious outdoor experience without traveling deep into the bush.
Try the Burleigh Bundle
Arts & Entertainment at the Capitol Theatre
The Cameco Capitol Arts Centre in Port Hope looks great even before you make it inside, and the 380-seat theatre will seriously impress any history buff. Built in 1930, many classic Art Deco flourishes remain — check out the theatre’s History Page for details on the vintage “atmospheric theatre” techniques used to simulate outdoor spaces. These days the Capitol is home to diverse professional live theatre shows and concerts. Visit the Capitol website for the latest details on programming. If you’re looking to really treat your guests, note that the Capitol partners with local businesses, and ticket purchases may entitle the bearer to discounts on a pre- or post-show dinner. To make this trip an overnight, consider the Waddell or the Carlyle, both historic properties with luxurious rooms within walking distance of the theatre.
Port Hope Links
Book A Houseboat Vacation
This is a gift worth waiting for! There are several rental houseboat options that make for an extremely memorable gift, but if you want your first pick of luxury boats and popular summer weekends, you’ll have to book soon. Cruising the Trent-Severn Waterway gives you a captivating combination of human engineering and natural beauty. The waterway passes through 44 locks on the way to linking Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, but only about 60 km of its 386 km total length are man-made channels. Originally proposed as a military route, commercial interests eventually took over the project and required nearly a century to complete it, by which time road and rail had become a more efficient means of handling freight. That was good news for recreational boaters, who now have the run of the waterway. Bobcaygeon is the perfect place to pick it up, and a houseboat is one of the most luxurious way to follow its unhurried course.
