Port Carling and Lake Rosseau – Welcome to a Perfect Muskoka Retreat
Sitting between Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka Port Carling is somewhat of a gateway to the Upper Muskokas. The Rosseau lake is, after all, where every millionaire vacations and Canadian luminaries (dead or alive!) such as the hockey god Steve Yzerman, the comedic actor Martin Short, the media mogul Ted Rogers, legendary actress Goldie Hawn have cottages while former US president, Woodrow Wilson holidayed on Lake Rosseau. Here is a quick look at this slice of the Muskokas!
*** (Not) Fun Fact: Conservative Politician William Eli Sanford drowned in Lake Rosseau ***
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Port Carling
The region was settled by the Ojibway in the 1850’s, but they eventually moved to Parry Sound. In 1869, a post office was established at Port Carling, thus the town was born. and locks were completed between the two lakes in 1871, leading to an economic boom. Suddenly the town is at the forefront of both the lumber and tourism industries. During the 20th century, the city developed as a steam ship port.
When walking though port Carling today, one can visit many cute shops and art galleries on the main street, including those boutique shops at the Muskoka Emporium on the main street.
The side of the emporium is painted with a mural of a Muskoka steamship. It is at the base of this where you will find Port Carling’s steamship port.
As previously mentioned the town controls a channel linking both Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka.
On this boating canal you will find the Muskoka Lakes Museum in a log cabin, a regional history museum.
Lake Rosseau
Just north from Port Carling, one the shores of Lake Rosseau, you will find a variety of large resorts an cottages. The best known of which include illustrious named such as the Windermere House and Marriott Rosseau, as well as older resorts such as the Cleaveland House.
The Cleaveland House may not be as fashionable as it once was but the building and its lands are just as remarkable was they once were. Here one can spend time kayaking from the private docks onto lake Rosseau.
Just up the road you will find the modern Marriott Roseau, a popular retreat on the same lake.
In my opinion the most impressive of these in the Windermere, located on the opposite side of the lake. The Victorian structure dates from 1870. Although it has burned down in the 1990’s the property is once again a tourist attraction.
