If this summer has you dreaming of cooler mornings and lake breezes, now’s the time to start planning next summer’s escape and Lake Muskoka should top the list.
Why Muskoka? Known as the “Hamptons of the North,” Muskoka has long been a summer retreat for those trading city heat for pine-lined shores and clear water for more than 125 years. The Canadian region centers on the “Big 3” lakes — Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph, all connected by boat and dotted with lakeside towns like Gravenhurst, Bala and Port Carling. Each of the towns feature a unique identity with its own shops, markets and waterfront dining.
Here days are unhurried. Think: swimming off a dock, boating between towns, hiking the surrounding forest or reading lakeside. Evenings mean bonfires, stargazing and quiet that’s hard to find in other locations. Getting there is easy, too. Muskoka is just under two hours from Toronto, with a regional airport nearby.
Picture a cottage on Lake Muskoka’s west shore with a rocky waterfront alongside a sandy beach, a patio with Muskoka chairs and boating access to all three Big Lakes and just minutes from Gravenhurst and Bala. From lakefront retreats to hillside escapes, with hiking, golf, craft breweries, spas and more, Muskoka offers activities and leisure to suit all travelers looking to soak up a little of Canada’s wilderness.
Ready to plan next summer’s escape? Let’s talk about your perfect Muskoka getaway.
Three luxury hotel brands are reimagining travel by water for people who love the idea of waking up at sea, but never desired the traditional cruise experience.
Designed to feel like a private residence, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection trades crowded decks for open space and quiet corners. Suites open straight onto the salt air and coffee al fresco is available with a front-row seat to the sunrise. Spend the afternoon at the sea-level Marina platform or linger at a café in port. Either way, the focus stays on the sea, the service and cruising on your own terms. Destinations include the Caribbean, the South Pacific and a Nordic collection spanning Finland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Four Seasons Yachts offers a new category of travel by sea, pairing personalized exploration with the brand’s storied hospitality, amenities and attention to detail. The ship features 95 residential-style suites and accommodates up to 222 guests, with more than 100 connecting itinerary options available. Destinations include the Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles, the British Virgin Islands, the Dalmatian Coast and the French Riviera.
Inaugural sailings of Aman at Sea launch for the 2027 season with four additional voyages spanning Caribbean island hideaways, the restorative Atlantic Passage and the Mediterranean. Amangati — Sanskrit for “peaceful motion” — welcomes just 94 guests across 47 suites, each with a private terrace. The Marina connects seamlessly to the sea. Dining follows the seasons and the Aman Spa, the largest in luxury yachting, tops it off with a two-story wellness floor featuring a Japanese serenity garden and ocean-facing treatment rooms. Destinations include the Italian Riviera and Sicily, the French Riviera, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Greek Islands, the Dalmatian Coast, the Dutch Caribbean and the Leeward and Windward Islands.
Ready to experience a reimagined, luxury cruise for yourself? Let’s talk!
My Honest Take: NYC Hotels, Tested and ReviewedMy oldest child has lived in New York City for four years, and every visit I try a new property. Over the years I’ve covered Manhattan from Downtown to the Upper East Side. I rarely stay anywhere twice because I love exploring new neighborhoods and whatever’s newest on the scene.
People always ask me which hotels I love most in New York. Here’s my honest take, by neighborhood:
Whether you’re after Downtown energy or Upper East Side elegance, NYC has a hotel personality for every kind of traveler. Truly half the fun is figuring out which one matches yours.
I have hotel partners across NYC and my booking tool makes it EASY to make arrangements for your next trip and get early check-in, late check-out and all my perks.
What I Focus On To Create Memorable JourneysLuxury travel is defined through how it feels, not how much you do. I have a few tried and true guidelines to maximize your jaunts and make the most of any time you have to travel.
Build in “nothing time”
The most overlooked luxury in travel is allowing space in the schedule.
Luxury travel isn’t about how many places you visit. It’s about how well you stay. The right hotel changes everything, especially in major cities like Paris, Rome, London and Kyoto where location shapes your entire experience of the destination.
You won’t remember how many cities you visited. You will remember:
This is how I design travel:
Intentional. Unhurried. Unforgettable.
