INN AT MANITOU
By Anne Dimon
It’s lunch time when I arrive for a two-day visit at the Inn at Manitou. The elegant and gracious resort graces the rocky shores of Lake Manitouwabing on Muskoka’s northernmost border, but the luncheon scene that greets me is strictly South of France. Rod iron tables, draped in bright Provençal prints, are set out on a patio in the shade of a massive basswood. A sommelier – direct from Burgundy - is recommending wines to pair with dishes that reflect a sophisticated international fare. Service staff is mostly French but you can also pick up an Italian or Asian accent.
The resort – yes it is simultaneously resort and inn - embodies what Relais & Chateau calls the philosophy of “art d’etre” - where guests enter “a unique universe of well-being”
Certainly the physical beauty of its lakeside location, the elegant French/Asian décor, the outdoor fitness activities, the spa, the food and the level of service all help create this pervading sense of wellbeing. But two things that really define the resort are its warm, welcoming personality and the personable, professional international staff. Combined, the two create an art-of-hospitality that practically bounces off rich, sunflower-coloured walls that are the backdrop for fine furnishings, antiques and works-of-art lovingly collected from around the world. Walk in and, instantly, this is a place that makes you feel good.
Between meals guests spend time on the tennis courts, lounge by the outdoor swimming pool, walk the wooded trails, cycle into town, canoe or kayak the pristine lake or enjoy a round on the 18-hole Ridge at Manitou a luxury, private club.
Each morning begins with a guided walk followed by yoga on the dock, then off to the various activities. For me – it’s an Oxygen Facial. Lovingly appointed in keeping with the rest of the inn, the spa offers 11 treatment rooms – a generous size for a property with just 34 guest rooms.
At the hands of Kittiya, a therapist trained at the renowned Chiva Som in Thailand, the facial is everything a good spa treatment should be - nurturing, pampering, relaxing and results oriented. It includes pure oxygen being sprayed from a tank onto the face then sealed in with a serum. It’s said to be detoxifying, stimulating and, because the oxygen enters the blood stream, an energy boost for the entire body. I can certainly vouch for the energy boost which serves me well on the golf course. Afterwards, there’s Afternoon Tea served in the very elegant Asian-inspired Tea Room.
When I arrive for dinner about 7:30, I’m surprised to find both Shiela Wise (who launched the business with her late husband, Ben Wise, 35 years ago) and Jordanna Wise Lipson, who co-manages the resort with her mother, both in the reception area greeting guests as they might in their own home. At least one of them is usually here breakfast, lunch and dinner and often, they are also the ones picking up the phones to take room reservations. The personal touch they bring to the inn and their attention to detail is impressive and sometimes surprising. For instance, they keep a stock of pashmina in various colours on-hand should a guest feel a little chilly when dining on the terrace. Whether inside or out, service is impeccable and dinner time is an elegant affair with fine china, starched table linens, serving staff in white jackets and a prevailing attitude that lends energy to the place.
Guests feel good about being here partly because the staff members feel good about working here. This IS a “unique universe of well-being.”
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Open May to October, Inn at Manitou rates start at $295 CAD per person, per night and include breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea daily, plus many activities.
For more info: www.manitou-online.com