Trends changed, and the local tourism economy dipped with the emergence of private cabins, all-inclusive sun vacations and cruise holidays. Then came 9/11, the Great Recession, online home rentals, the pandemic, a U.S. trade war, and… whatever comes next. While there aren’t nearly as many traditional resorts as there used to be, those that remain have adapted, evolved and diversified, with a value proposition as alluring as ever: escape with the family, create meaningful memories, relax, get the kids off the screen, and enjoy the outdoor beauty of central Canada.

Along with my teenage daughter, I’ve set out to explore four unique properties, representing a small sample of the 90-plus members of Resorts of Ontario, a not-for-profit association that promotes resorts, lodges, cottage resorts, and country inns across the province. It’s a diverse range of properties, and for those chasing a taste of the good life, Hockley Valley Resort is a great place to start.

Taking the quick free shuttle from the resort to the winery, I taste their chardonnay, pinot noir, gamay noir and meritage over a delectable mista board, with a gorgeous sunset view of the vineyards. We can all toast the efforts of the Adamo team’s vision, hard work, and execution.

My daughter and I take a fun golf lesson with the resort’s resident golf pro, and pamper ourselves in the lovely spa. Dinner in The Cabin is at a counter with a view over the open kitchen, where we chat with enthusiastic executive chef Sunil Nandal about his impressive herb and vegetable garden. Taking a cue from the Italian roots of the Adamos, the menu is Italian, and it’s delizioso.

As one wedding party leaves and another arrives, we visit the recreation centre for an introductory lesson in electric-assist mountain biking. Riding up the ski hill and flying down the single-track is thrilling, and we race off for a pizza-making demonstration in the garden. The living is good at Hockley Valley Resort, especially for couples and groups, but my daughter is craving kids her own age, and I know just where to find them.

Neither luxurious, slick, nor corporate, Fern feels like the purest surviving example of a traditional lakeside Ontario resort. With rising costs for maintenance, labour, taxes, and food, this is not without its challenges.

“Sometimes guests get a bit of sticker shock when they find us online,” Scott Collens, Fern’s general manager, tells me. “But when you factor in all the stuff that’s included…your meals, the entertainment, and the friendships you make, we know guests find it’s worth every penny.”

Fern is modernizing where and when it can, like renovating rooms and the old-school theatre, and introducing robot servers to the delight of the kids. With so much going on across approximately 81 hectares and 105 guest units of various shapes and sizes, my daughter doesn’t ask for a screen once. She bounces from one activity to the next, and thanks to Fern’s encouraging dock team, water-skis for the first time in a matter of minutes. As she descends into the perpetually grumpy and unimpressed state of teenage-hood, the look of joy on her face is the balm this battered parent needs.

Like Fern Resort, Bayview also attracts generations of repeat guests who often book the same week in the same accommodation, reconnecting with the same returning families and friends. Unlike Fern, Bayview offers stays with or without a meal package, and the resort has clearly benefitted from increased investment in upgrades and renovations. Fortunately, Bayview has maintained its personality and the core offering of a contained social family-friendly ecosystem built around water and other recreational activities.

We check into a newly updated corner unit and head down to the sandy beach, where my daughter’s eyes light up at the inflatable water playground. Kids cast makeshift wooden rods for small Sunfish off the dock, splash around, kayak with a parent, swim in the adjacent pool, or bike around the property. Bayview offers hotel rooms and standalone rental cottages of various sizes, appealing to a variety of family and friend configurations. We meet families, grandparents with grandkids, large groups, and solo parents like myself. 

It’s a familiar, wholesome and endearing cycle, forever tied to sunshine and starlight at the lake. On our final evening, my daughter connects with a 13-year-old girl from Toronto, and the two disappear to the games room while I catch up on some work. Hours later, she bounds in elated with her new friendship. It makes me wonder why people shifted away from the social spirit of a resort towards private cottages. Admittedly, not everyone enjoys social dynamics, but for kids, a holiday’s success depends a lot on who they spend it with. For petulant teenagers, I sometimes get the impression parents need not apply.

Summer is often fully booked with returning families, but when the kids go back to school, resorts shift into a different, quieter gear. Stanton tells me the atmosphere at Bayview is totally different. In come the older guests, the couples, weddings, and increasingly corporate retreats.

“Hybrid or remote work is an opportunity for us, because we’re the perfect location for companies to bring everyone together. We can accommodate them, feed them, entertain them and make it easy,” says Jason.

To survive in today’s environment, resorts are also branching out into wellness, workshops, and themed weeks to attract like-minded guests. 

With challenging resort economics, the outside investment model appears to be becoming increasingly common. It’s no accident Bayview was also sold to Sunray, which now has more than 70 properties in its hospitality portfolio. Besides funding extensive renovations, Bayview has also significantly improved its dining options. Our fourth and final resort takes that idea, along with sustainability, to the next level.