Our drive to Collingwood was smooth sailing for a Friday evening. The sky was clear blue and the fall colours spectacular. The temperature is typical for fall, cool and fresh.
We checked in to the
Beild House Country Inn and Spa for a 2 night stay. Our room is charming and spacious and the king size bed is very comfy. This evening we walked 5 minutes down Third St. to the
Huron Club for dinner. My deluxe burger was amazing, topped with onion rings, old cheddar and a slice of pickle. Yummy! The dining room and bar area are hopping tonight with a middle aged crowd that come to socialize and enjoy the live music. A nice way to spend a Friday evening.
Saturday morning, we're up early and the first downstairs to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a delicous blueberry crumble cake. Next, into the dining room for a home cooked breakfast. They have a very extensive breakfast menu with so much to choose from. I decided on the chef's omelet with fresh mushrooms and 3 types of cheese. Fabulous!. Time for a walk after that hearty breakfast. The air is fresh, the sky partly cloudy and downtown Collingwood is still quiet at this time of the day.
Our first activity of the day is a 1 hour relaxation massage with Cindy, a registered massage therapist with a nack for smoothing out all of the kinks and making your body succumb to total relaxation. Next ,Lee-Ann works her magic and gives me a delighteful 1 hour pedicure. A great way to start a Saturday morning.
This afternoon we took a scenic drive along the shore line of Georgian Bay. Then headed west along Grey Road 40 into the hills overlooking Georgian Bay and stopped for a wine tasting at
Georgian Hills Vineyard. We usually associate Ontario wines with Niagara but I'm happy to share this little treasure with you, located a short drive from Collingwood.
Wine expert Vanessa McKean shares her passion with our intimate group as she guides us through a wine and food tasting. We taste fresh crisp whites, smooth silky reds and delicate dessert wines paired with creamy goat cheese, sharp cheddar, slices of sweet apple and strawberries dipped in a warm chocolate sauce. A lovely treat for a Saturday afternoon.
It's harvest time at the winery and most of the vines have been trimmed with the exception of a few select rows saved for harvesting the frozen grapes for the dessert wines. The grapes are very sweet, a delicacy.
The vineyard is surrounded with corn fields still waiting to be harvested and in the back ground the colourful trees adorn the horizon.
We continue our scenic drive through the countryside to the
Ravenna Country Market for a light lunch. This little gem was recommended by Vanessa and let me tell you, this is truly a hidden treasure. The dilapidated country store was purchased 3 years ago by Roy Genoe and his wife Monica Wolf. They lovingly restored the historical building which is one of the oldest general stores in the area. Roy's brother, a well renowned chef of 30 years creates daily specials to be enjoyed in the quaint dining area. He has brought his worldly recipes from Europe and luxury dining creations from well known restaurants in Orangeville to this charming store. I enjoyed a fabulous split pea and bacon soup which was a compelete meal in itself and worth the drive to Ravenna. One of my favourite past times is visiting bakery's in small towns in search of the best butter tarts and I'm happy to say that today I found my new # 1. The butter tarts were absolutely divine.
After our delightful stop for lunch we continued our leisurely drive through the countryside, down the winding mountain road back into Collingwood. Our comfy room is warm and inviting. We opened a nice bottle of red wine, turned on the gas fireplace and sat back to relax and reminisce about our wonderful day. This evening we'll enjoy a fabulous meal in the spacious dining room of the Beild House. The chef has been busy preparing a 6 course dinner for all of the guests. The table is elegantly set and awaiting our arrival.
Upon returning to the room we had a pleasant surprise. Our king sized bed was covered in rose petals and there was a plate of creatively prepared chocolate covered strawberries and decadent truffles. The chef and staff at the Beild house are to be commended for their exquisite dining and exceptional service.
