By Hollie Grace James
You don’t have to travel far to escape the hustle and bustle of city life—a rustic getaway awaits you an hour and 15 minutes west of downtown Ottawa. Get going early in the day, grab a coffee and enjoy the drive to Calabogie Peaks Resort.
Once you’ve arrived, settle in and throw on your swimsuit for a pre-dinner soak in the outdoor hot tub. Then get ready for a seasonal, farm-to-table meal that’s worth the drive all on its own—and get a good night’s rest if you want to hike up to Eagles’ Nest lookout the next day. You can opt for the full four- to five-hour hike to the top (there and back) or you can drive up to a parking lot nearer to the lookout and meander along a half-hour route. Either way, you’ll enjoy one of the most breathtaking views in the entire province—so don’t forget to bring your camera!
The resort
At the heart of this four-season retreat, nestled against a glorious natural backdrop, is a boutique hotel of 25 rooms, condo-style suites, a full-service restaurant and café-style bar, an indoor pool and outdoor hot tub, and many other facilities. The rooms are pretty standard, although you have a choice between King, Queen, Deluxe and Studio. I suppose it’s more about the location—in the wintertime, you literally put your skis on at the front door and make your way over to the chairlift, and in the warmer months you are surrounded by spectacular scenery.
The restaurant
Canthooks Restaurant is a certified member of Feast ON, a non-profit dedicated to fostering food tourism. We sampled a special three-course menu prepared by the resort’s chef, Mark Jones. Having spent time chopping and grilling at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and at Delta and Marriott hotels, Jones constructs delectable dishes, and he sources ingredients from local producers and purveyors. He has even expanded the Calabogie Peaks beehive!
The hearty meal began with a plate of smoked King Cole duck on a bed of fresh local greens, along with savoury goat cheese croutons and pickled blueberries, with a honey vinaigrette (made with honey from those in-house bees).
This was followed by a sharing board with a melange of root vegetables (think fresh fennel and heirloom carrots), venison tenderloin in a glaze of espresso and cocoa (with a chocolate demi for drizzling), and a third plate piled high with white bean, lentil and pork belly cassoulet. We finished off with a to-die-for dessert of wildflower honey and lavender crème brulée topped with chocolate pearls.
The hike
The hike up Manitou Mountain is a bit rocky with a moderate incline. You can look forward to a bit of a scramble through the picturesque forest on your way up.
Named for the sacred history and special meaning of the eagle to Indigenous people, Eagles’ Nest lookout is the ultimate reward for your hard trek. Soaring eagles are able to see clearly in all directions. Thus, it is regarded as a bird of great wisdom and vision, and a visit to its nest is meant to be inspirational. Don’t get to close to the edge, though—those magical views are due to a 120-metre drop!
If you go
Find out everything you need to know and book your stay at Calabogie Peaks Resort here. For more information on the region, check out the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association.
The mountain is opening for the season on Saturday, December 8, 2018.
Disclosure: Hollie travelled as a guest of the Calabogie Peaks Resort.
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