ONTARIO, CANADA
Elmhirst Resort’s seaplane, available for hire.
PHOTOGRAPHS: ONTARIO TOURISM MARKETING PARTNERSHIP CORPORATION
From First Nations peoples and fur traders to PM Justin Trudeau, Canada has always been a nation of canoeists, and there are few better places to see what all the fuss is about than Ontario. Swathed in forest and traced by nearly half a million rivers and lakes, it has more scenic spots for aquatic adventures than you can shake a paddle at – many just a hop, skip and jump away from big cities. Two hours from Toronto, Elmhirst Resort’s cottages fringe the shores of Rice Lake in the Kawarthas, whose meaning, ‘land of shining waters’, rings beautifully true, especially at sunrise. Here, boating newbies can take canoe and kayak classes on the vast lake, set out in a historic ‘voyageur’ canoe, or enjoy a different angle with a seaplane ride over island-studded lakes and forests. For a further adrenaline rush, head – via the Canadian Canoe Museum, whose epic collection spans dugout canoes and Amazonian craft – to the Madawaska Kanu Centre. The country’s oldest whitewater kayak and canoe school, it was founded by world champions, but trips here are as easy as they are exhilarating. Supported by guides, students learn the basics and set out on the Madawaska River as it tumbles through pine and hardwood forests. In between lessons, there’s plenty of time to hike trails, devour home cooking and kip in woodland cabins.