Romantic Getaways in Ontario

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From luxury lodges to rustic retreats, you can find some terrific romantic getaways in Ontario for couples. What’s better than a weekend break (or longer if you can swing it) to enjoy each other’s company away from the stresses of home?

To help you with your trip planning, here are some of the most romantic places in Ontario.

The Best Romantic Getaways in Ontario

After 13 years together, my husband Mark and I have done a lot of weekend trips in Ontario. Why? Because it’s fun. And it’s good for us. A quick break is a chance to relax and renew.

Ontario has rock and pine surrounded lakes. It has practically enchanted forests, cozy resorts, year-round outdoor activities and cosmopolitan urban centres. In other words, it has a lot of places to escape to.

Why a Couples Vacation Can Boost Your Relationship

Exploring new destinations with your partner means you’re sharing adventures. This promotes bonding. And revisiting old favourites reminds you of those adventures and this brings you together all over again.

Of course it also reminds you of all the fights you had on your various local trips, like the time your husband dumped you in the wine town of Jordan and went back to the city for some urgent (insert eye rolling here) reason.

But never mind. It’s just another shared story that will never die … especially as I published a travel article about it in the Toronto Star. Payback, honey! Kisses!

Where are the Best Places for Couples in Ontario?

From romantic resorts in the USA and couples’ getaways in Wisconsin to dreamy cruises down the Danube, a couples’ trip makes great memories.

And if you live in Canada, you can easily do one closer to home. Ontario has some fantastic romantic spots, perfect for a weekend away.

The Most Famous Romantic Destination in Canada

Niagara Falls – the Honeymoon Capital of the World

A perennial favourite destination for lovers – even old married ones – is the spectacular yet absurdly touristy destination of Niagara Falls. An international favourite, it’s one of the most famous places to visit in Canada.

Often called the honeymoon capital of the world, there’s no question Niagara Falls is over developed (Clifton Hill, eeeek!), but the Falls are the Falls and they are a wonder of nature.

The good news is that you can tailor your Niagara Falls trip to suit your idea of romance. If you want excitement, hit the casinos. Or escape the crowds at nature spots like the Niagara Glen, and aim for a hotel with a view of the Falls such as the Marriott Fallsview Resort.

Why is Niagara Falls known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World? It’s been called that ever since Jerome Bonaparte (Napoleon’s younger brother) travelled here with his new wife, Elizabeth, in 1804. PS: She left him.

Food and Wine Weekends

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Not far from Niagara Falls is its sophisticated sister, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visit local wineries and stay in a spa hotel like the loveable and old-fashioned Prince of Wales Hotel or the more modern Pillar & Post Inn & Spa. Maybe a couples massage?

Prince Edward County

A millennial hot spot is Prince Edward County, where Sandbanks Provincial Park makes a great day trip destination, from girls weekend getaways to bonding escapes with your partner.

A host of wineries are ready to welcome you, and the very on-trend Drake Devonshire Hotel in Wellington offers perks like free bikes and a private beach area.

Stratford

Of course Stratford sits on the banks of the Avon River – how Shakespeare can you get? No wonder Stratford is known for the Stratford Festival, a showcase of top theatre productions that runs from April to October each year.

Stratford’s other claim to fame is that Justin Bieber grew up here and has been spotted around town with his main squeeze, Hailey. (Mind you, he was also known to head here with former flame Selena Gomez, but love takes many paths.)

Create your own Ontario romantic weekend in Stratford with a stay at the luxurious Bruce Hotel; a meal at the French-styled Bijou Restaurant that features farm-to-table cuisine; and opt for a hike along the scenic Avon River.

Cottage Country Vacations for Two

Muskoka

It’s hard to beat swanky Muskoka for a lakeside holiday. Try the elegant Marriott Rosseau Resort & Spa on Lake Joseph if you want to rub shoulders with big-bucks cottage-owning celebrities (and when I say cottage I mean mega mansions).

Make it a true couples weekend by spending time in their extensive updated spa.

Another Ontario romantic getaway in Muskoka is Deerhurst, a sprawling resort on Peninsula Lake with lots of year-round amenities.

Just a note, Deerhurst attracts a lot of families, but it’s large enough to find your own cozy comfort zone. Because of the resort’s large size, it often has availability when other Muskoka resorts are full.

The Kawarthas

The Kawarthas is a more affordable destination than Muskoka and an increasingly popular option for a cottage country couples’ trip.

Northeast of Toronto, this is a laid back outdoor destination where boating is big and you can swim, kayak and hike to your heart’s content.

Wondering where to stay in the Kawarthas? At Viamede Resort the cabins are rustic and the vibe is a bit off the wall, but the food is organic and gourmet.

Rice Lake and the Trent Severn Waterway are two popular attractions, where you’ll find plenty of spots to focus on togetherness.

Romantic Ontario Resorts

Langdon Hall

Just 90 minutes from Toronto, the white-pillared Langdon Hall Country House & Spa has heritage architecture dating back to 1898 and is one of the best Ontario resorts for couples.

Langdon Hall was built as the summer home for Eugene Langdon Wilks, a wealthy New Yorker whose mother was an Astor. He had to build it because a grand home in New York and a chateau in the Loire Valley wasn’t enough.

Surrounded by lush forest near Cambridge, this luxury Ontario resort is one of only 14 Relais & Châteaux properties in Canada. It has a well-deserved reputation as a culinary hot spot, and is definitely high on the romance scale.

Hockley Valley Resort

For an upscale modern resort with fabulous nearby hiking trails, not to mention ski runs in the winter, consider Hockley Valley Resort, one of the nearest getaways for couples from Toronto.

Combine it with a trip to nearby Adamo Estate Winery for a wine tasting and small plate gourmet bites.

Couples Resort Algonquin

What could be more appropriate for an Ontario couples retreat than a lodge named the Couples Resort? Sitting at the edge of Galeairy Lake in the rugged wilderness region of Algonquin Park, the Couples Resort Algonquin has a 5-star rating and is designed with couples in mind.

While I haven’t personally been to this adults only resort in Ontario, it’s high on my list of romantic weekend escapes. Hopefully it’s on my husband’s, too, for the next time my birthday rolls around and he starts thinking about romantic cottages with private hot tubs in Ontario.

Sir Sams Couples Retreat Ontario

Sir Sams Inn & Spa is another property tailored to couples and they have various romantic getaway packages.

This luxury adults only resort has a lakeside location on Eagle Lake in Haliburton, and accommodations come complete with wood-burning fireplaces and spa tubs.

One of the big draws of this Ontario couples resort is the spa with its extensive water circuit – ideal for lounging after a day enjoying the outdoors.

Best Outdoor Ontario Romantic Getaways

Blue Mountain

For years, Blue Mountain Resort on Southern Georgian Bay was my top choice for a romantic weekend in Ontario. Then one summer Mark and I came up and I wouldn’t leave and now we own a place here.

So if you ask me what the best romantic getaway for couples in Ontario is, you can pretty much guess my answer.

What makes Blue Mountain so special? It’s an Ontario destination for outdoor lovers. There are hiking trails, cycling trails, beaches and boating. (We bought kayaks.)

It’s also a top winter vacation spot and is the largest ski resort in Ontario.

Blue Mountain Resort itself is fun and festive, like a little alpine village with restaurants, shops, chalet-style hotels, and year-round activities and entertainment.

There are loads of things to do in Blue Mountains, from hiking the Bruce Trail to strolling the oh-so-cute main streets of nearby Collingwood and Thornbury.

Where’s a romantic place to stay? Blue Mountain’s Westin Trillium Hotel. Why? It has great amenities like a lovely outdoor pool and hot tub area, as well as the fanciest restaurant at the Village, the Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill.

Thornbury

If you’re looking for something a little more hip in the same region of Southern Georgian Bay, the retro cool Penny’s Motel in Thornbury is the newest addition to the romantic Ontario getaway scene.

Mark and I stayed here back when it was a ramshackle fleabag motel, but it’s undergone a complete renaissance since then, and has joined the we’re-so-cool-so-follow-our-account-on-Instagram type of nouveau chic destination.

For a fun thing to do in the evening, drop by their fireside pit and patio for an après hours drink.

Another romantic way to while away some time together near Blue Mountain? Head to the steamy pools at Scandinave Spa.

Cruise the Rideau Canal on Le Boat

Talk about getting away from it all. A self-drive Ontario boating vacation on the Rideau Canal means you’ll have all the togetherness you’ve been craving, and a chance to check out a few off-the-path Ontario port towns.

Le Boat, a charter company better known in Europe, rents out cruisers – sort of halfway between a yacht and a houseboat – from their base in Smith Falls. We did a two-couple trip and, once the learning curve of driving and navigating was over, found the dreamy days and evenings irresistible.

Affordable Getaways for Couples

Parry Sound

You don’t need to spend tons of cash to enjoy a sunset and some serious hand holding on a weekend away. There are plenty of budget couples’ vacations you can do.

One of my and my husband’s first weekend trips was north of Toronto up in Parry Sound, where we walked along Georgian Bay and stayed at the basic Comfort Inn. And hey, you can always visit the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame.

Awenda Provincial Park

Another idea for cheap getaways for couples in Ontario, and one that Mark and I both love, is a weekend – or even a day trip – to Awenda Provincial Park.

Tip: Head to one of the farthest beaches to escape the crowds. You might want to use your bikes to get there from the parking lot.

You won’t find luxury hotels in the area. Mark and I usually grab a cheap room (hello, Shamrock Motel) in Penetanguishene but you can also camp. We also find it a romantic couples day trip from Toronto.

Urban Escapes

Weekend in Toronto for Two

For romantic hotels in Toronto, it’s hard to beat a trip or staycation at a glam 5-star like the Shangri-La Hotel – especially if you want to add in some relaxing spa time. Or is a Gen Y boutique hotspot like the Bisha more your style?

W

For the newest of the new, check out one of the oldest luxury hotels in Toronto. Yes, you read that right. What’s old is new. The revamped Park Hyatt Toronto has reopened after a megabucks renovation that has put it back in the spotlight. Their rooftop bar is a romantic Toronto classic.

With its world-class restaurants, sports events, cultural activities and diverse neighbourhoods to walk hand-in-hand through, you won’t run out of romantic Toronto things to do.

Togetherness in Ottawa

Take a cruise on the Rideau Canal (or skate on it in the winter), eat your way through ByWard Market, visit Parliament Hill, and spend a night at the fairytale Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa.

If city breaks are your style, Canada’s capital is one of the most romantic getaways in Ontario.

Smaller Cities for Unique Romantic Getaways Ontario

Toronto and Ontario have a cosmopolitan appeal, but don’t overlook smaller centres. Cities like London, Ontario and Hamilton, with their burgeoning chef-driven restaurant culture and abundant green space, have been stealing some couples getaway thunder too.

Ontario Escapes Summary

Whether you want blissful nature, tranquil spa time, or in-the-moment events and cuisine, when it comes to romantic getaways Ontario has it all. Here’s a quick recap of the best places in Ontario for couples.

15 Top Romantic Hotels in Ontario

• Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Resort
• Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Drake Devonshire Hotel in Prince Edward County
• Bruce Hotel in Stratford
• JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa on Lake Joseph
• Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake in Muskoka
• Viamede Resort in the Kawarthas
• Langdon Hall in Cambridge
• Hockley Valley Resort in Mono
• Couples Resort at Algonquin Park
• Sir Sam’s Inn & Spa in the Haliburton Highlands
• The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain
• Penny’s Motel in Thornbury
• Shangri-La Toronto
• Park Hyatt Toronto