The sun will soon rise on another season in Ontario’s premier summertime sanctuary, Muskoka. Those sun-drenched days are so close, we can almost smell the pine, barbecue, and pristine lake water.
This season, Muskoka-goers have new ways to access – and indulge in – this picture-perfect slice of the province.
Getting There: Air Canada’s Luxury Landline
Last month, Air Canada gave Muskoka something to talk about when it announced a new luxury motorcoach service from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Terminal 1. Beginning June 15, Air Canada and partners The Landline Company will operate 26 new daily departures to and from Pearson across six Ontario communities, including Muskoka.
There will be two round trips offered daily to the Muskoka Airport (YQA) in Gravenhurst, departing at 5:00 a.m. (arriving at Pearson at 6:45 a.m.) and at 3:15 p.m (arriving at Pearson at 5:30pm), with return trips arriving back in Gravenhurst in the late morning and early evening.
Designed exclusively for Air Canada (and partners) travellers, these coaches take it a step above the existing public Ontario Northland buses with their non-stop round trips. The sleek, Air Canada-branded motorcoaches offer premium features like wide leather seating, free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and full accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility.
A trip on these coaches means the same perks as air-only itineraries, like boarding pass and bag tag printing at their regional airport, disruption protection, and Aeroplan point earning opportunities. In the event of coach or flight delays, Air Canada says customers travelling on Landline will receive similar protections as those travelling on air-only itineraries.
“Expanding Landline service to Muskoka Airport is an exciting step forward for the region,” said Maciej Habrych, Chief Executive Officer of Muskoka Airport Inc. “It provides residents and businesses with a convenient way to access Toronto Pearson and destinations around the world, while also making it easier for visitors to travel directly to Muskoka. Strengthening these connections helps support our local economy and reinforces the airport’s role as a key transportation hub for the region.”
For locals, it marks a meaningful shift. The region’s travellers can now begin and end their further-pasture journeys in Muskoka, rather than sitting behind the wheel to and from Toronto before catching a flight. "Having the new Air Canada Motor Coach Service definitely gives people another option when travelling,” says Muskoka resident Stefan Ottenbrite. “People can get a ride or park at the Muskoka Airport and get a nice relaxing ride to Pearson. Basically, instead of booking a flight from YYZ (Toronto) you would book it from YQA (Muskoka), then when returning catch the motorcoach Pearson and return to Muskoka."
As an incentive to use the new service, travellers will benefit from free parking at Muskoka Airport until December 31, 2026. Travellers can also contact Air Canada’s customer service before April 30 to add the shuttle bus to an existing Air Canada flight at no extra cost. Muskoka resident Catherine Cooper took advantage of this, adding the luxury coach to the equation for an Air Canada flight in February – a time when Highway 400’s driving conditions can be unpredictable due to weather – and says the add-on was a simple process.
"We fly a couple of times a year," says Cooper. "We are usually away four-five weeks over the winter. The only way to get to Pearson was to drive and use Park n Fly. It gets expensive. With the new coach service, we can park our car at Muskoka airport or get a ride there for a longer time away. It is a game changer for us."
As for Muskoka’s summertime cottagers, whether the private plane and black-car SUV set will opt for a luxury coach remains to be seen. The coach option may benefit travellers who have rented a cottage or are staying at one of the region’s lakefront resorts; however, transportation is still needed to and from the Mukoka Airport. Perhaps it makes the most sense for cottage guests with hosts waiting to pick them up.
In the meantime, the Ontario Northlander passenger train, which has been dormant for over a decade, is finally entering its Revenue Service Demonstration Phase this week (April 2026). The Province says a trip from Toronto to Gravenhurst will cost $66.97, 10% higher than the Ontario Northland bus services. The train is set to hit the tracks later this year.
New Heights in Dining: Skybar at Muskoka Bay Resort
It’s long been the case that Muskoka isn’t exactly a rustic cottage country region, rather a global luxury destination where celebs like Cindy Crawford and Goldie Hawn go to disappear behind perfect pines, and where the multi-million dollar “cottages” often have a full-time staff.
Naturally, the local dining scene increasingly reflects this.
The latest example is Skybar, the soon-to-open rooftop restaurant, bar, and lounge at the recently transformed Muskoka Bay Resort – a space designed to elevate both the view, and the wining-and-dining experience. Situated on the roof of the resort's new modern hotel wing, Skybar effectively surpasses the 300-foot elevation of the neighbouring Cliffside Restaurant, making it the highest perch for a cocktail in the region. Essentially, it’s an upscale urban rooftop vibe transported to Muskoka’s natural beauty. According to Muskoka Bay, the anticipated spot is set to open this summer.
Perched above the resort’s pristine golf course and carved Canadian Shield landscape, at Skybar, cocktails come with a side of sweeping vistas of forest canopy, granite outcrops, and endless sky. Golden hour is the prime time to experience the space, when it’s basked in a sun-drenched glow, making for one of the most visually striking dining (and photo) backdrops in the region.
So far, few details are available, other than the fact that it will open summer 2026 (according to its website). Renderings of the chic space, however, show ample greenery, an open square-shaped bar, elevated sun lounges, and a couple of small pools. We can expect Muskoka-level expertly crafted cocktails and gourmet bites.
Right now, the local buzz for the spot is somewhat subdued, says Ottenbrite, who has his finger on the pulse as the CEO of Muskoka 411, the region’s leading digital media outlet. But it shouldn’t take long for it to become a see-and-be-seen spot, once it starts to make its rounds on social media. “I would say all the resorts are competing for every dollar, some are adding discounts or concerts or new things to attract people and groups,” says Ottenbrite. “Muskoka Bay doing this would allow for a nice experience with friends, family, colleagues for a luxury experience: Golf, dine, swim, and bar. I have dined there a few times so I am looking forward to the new bar.”
The last buzz-worthy restaurants to open in Muskoka include The Pearl Muskoka in Bala, which brought a trendy market-style vibe in 2023, and the newly renovated Crossroads in Rosseau, which remains a local gold standard for lakeside fine dining. Last cottage season, celebrity chef Mark McEwan shook up Muskoka’s dining scene when he teamed up with Great Gulf Group to elevate the dining program at Taboo Muskoka resort.
Huntsville’s Future Nordic Spa
Taking a page from Collingwood’s book in the Nordic Spa department, Huntsville will become home to a recently-announced 50,000 square foot, indoor-outdoor Nordic spa. Set to occupy real estate directly off Highway 11 and Highway 141 in Utterson, Akuam Spa (known as Muskoka Nordik Spa earlier in its inception) has moved through the Community Planning Permit Process (CPP) with the Town of Huntsville.
The 19+ wellness destination is designed around the traditional hydrotherapy cycle of hot, cold, rest, and repeat, and will offer a nature-focused retreat featuring saunas, steam rooms, registered massage therapy, and curated dining.
On the spa's site, founders David and Sarah Thatcher say they’re driven by a mission to blend wellness with the unique spirit of Muskoka. "We are thrilled to be able to offer this calibre of wellness tourism to the Muskoka community," says David Thatcher. "Our commitment to this area drives our desire to create a global destination which will feature a meticulously designed circuit of heat, cold, and rest, offering a holistic approach to health set against the iconic backdrop of Muskoka’s natural beauty.”
In other words, wellness comes with a view. “We believe the benefits of hydrotherapy are a perfect match for the natural serenity of Muskoka, and we are proud to create a space where both locals and visitors can find holistic health year-round,” says Thatcher.
An investment in year-round wellness in Muskoka makes sense. The region now sees over 3.2 million visitors annually, and naturally, most of them experience Muskoka in the warmer months. A high-end wellness hub could serve as a regional draw well past the first snowfall.
Of course, the classic dock-and-lake Muskoka experience is always waiting.
But now, you can also arrive from overseas without ever touching a steering wheel, sip cocktails at the region’s new highest bar, and – in the future – spend a day cycling between the sauna and the cold plunge.
