If asked about one of the most interesting experiences when visiting European or American countries, I would not hesitate to say that it is visiting ancient villages, suburbs, or even going into the forest to understand the local culture and admire the beauty of nature.
Winter in the woods of Muskoka
The forest is located near the ancient village of Rosseau.
After arriving in Canada, my husband and I chose to go to a small forest in Muskoka - a town in Ontario province, about 2 hours drive from Toronto. Canadian winter lasts until March, most cities are covered in white snow, many areas can reach -30 or -40 degrees, very cold. Because we arrived in Muskoka around February, it was still cold around -5 to -10 degrees, but in return, the white snow made Muskoka as beautiful as a fairyland with many frozen lakes in winter, occasionally there are very beautiful houses and villas by the lake. We booked a house near the ancient village of Rosseau - where there are many beautiful wooden houses like in cartoons.
The house seen from the outside
In my experience, I always book a house on Airbnb because it has the latest reviews from renters. You can also check the popularity of the house as well as the reputation of the owner. The house I booked is located in a large estate and is a very old place with the architecture and interior almost kept the same from the day it was built. The price of renting a house in winter is cheaper than in summer, ranging from 100 - 200 USD/night.
The interior of the house is very vintage and has been kept almost the same since the day it was built.
Romantic view from the house overlooking a snowy landscape
Welcome the dawn in the forest
Welcoming the dawn of the early morning in the forest is a truly enjoyable experience. When the snow falls white on the tall pine trees, the quiet space is sometimes only disturbed by the sound of the horse farm around the house. At this time, my husband is busy making hot tea and playing some Jazz Piano music to brighten up the warm, romantic space.
Lovely little corners in the house
Morning in the forest is suitable for sipping a cup of hot tea
We wandered around the house, visited the horse stables, burned wood to keep warm, read books, listened to music, cooked, and thought about coming spring when we would return to the forest to enjoy the quiet, peaceful, and happy atmosphere like this.
go find traditional local breakfast
Since I knew I had to drive a long way to get to the grocery store, I brought some food items like meat, vegetables, fruits, bread, and wine from Toronto in case it gets too cold or there are no amenities nearby. However, for those who like to explore the surrounding activities, you can bring some equipment to experience ice fishing or skiing like the locals.
The next day we drove around the old village of Rosseau and found many restaurants where we could have breakfast, an old grocery store that was open and the owners were mostly old men and women.
The restaurant where we had breakfast
The traditional Canadian breakfast we had at a local restaurant included: poached eggs with asparagus and hollandaise sauce, beefsteak with fried eggs and crispy toast, both served with fried potatoes.
Traditional Canadian breakfast at a local restaurant
Traditional Canadian breakfast at a local restaurant
We went to buy some food for lunch and dinner, the store had lots of fresh food shipped in from the city, and didn't forget to buy some firewood from a Grocery store that has been around since 1874.
A local grocery store in the village has been open since 1874.
In the evening we had wood-fired chicken, pan-fried scallops wrapped in bacon, fruit and hot tea. We listened to Michael Buble and huddled around the warm fireplace.
In this quiet space, I think a lot about the Canadian tourism and resort culture. Traveling is sometimes not only to experience new lands, but also to spend more time with the people around. Therefore, even though living in the forest and not having many amenities around, many families still decide to buy a house here so that they can have a place to gather with their family on weekends or holidays.
Goodbye Muskoka, looking forward to spring… back to the woods!
MORE INFORMATION:
Author Bui Thu Thao is a culinary expert and food blogger, who brings the concept of Finedining and the spirit of home cooking closer to Vietnamese people through the blog Art Kitchen Studio. Art Kitchen Studio is not only an online culinary blog but also regularly organizes offline activities connecting international and domestic chefs, food & lifestyle bloggers, and the culinary community together through professional recipes and culinary exchange events.
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