Summer Family Vacations

Family vacations at the Irwin Inn; Ontario, Canada… is what summer is all about.
Summertime at the Irwin Inn and the focus is on the family. Families have been spending their summer resort holidays at the Irwin Inn for 3 generations. They come back because the WHOLE FAMILY has a great time.

Our supervised children’s program is geared to different age groups so kids of all ages get to experience memorable summer adventures. You never hear “I’m bored” but rather “can we come back next year?” Families can take advantage of a supervised children's program, during the summer months and on our Stoney Lake waterfront everyone enjoys the many resort activities - fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and sunset cruises. Water sports are run by qualified instructors and are guaranteed to exhaust everyone. Our evening programs are designed to entertain every family member.

"Your pride, displayed largely by your attention to detail, doesn't go unnoticed. We've always been impressed by your quality meals and by your staff's obvious desire to please.

Adults get to act like kids at the resort and forget their day-to-day responsibilities. Sumptuous meals magically appear without you having to prepare anything. Our staff tends to your room daily just the way you like it. You can canoe, kayak, take a cruise and discover some of the 1100 islands that dot Stony Lake or just lay back on the beach with a good book. Take a drive around the area, go shopping or visit a museum and know that your children are safe and happy.

To begin your vacation, browse the season selection of summer, fall, winter, Spring. See the many seasonal facilities and related activities, seasonal getaways and packages The Irwin Inn offers. After, select rooms & rates that are available at the Irwin Inn, a resort with a family tradition of caring hospitality in Ontario, Canada.

The Irwin Inn is an ideal waterfront resort and a perfect summer family vacation resort destination. Amenities include: a 9-hole golf course, full English riding stable & equestrian centre for horseback riding lessons and trail rides, tennis, outdoor pool, sandy beach, and countless fun and interesting activities. Accommodations range from traditional, cozy rooms in the Inn to luxurious lakeside cottages and waterfront suites with private swimming pools or hot tubs.

"Every once in a while you come across a place where the service is extraordinary, the food is delicious, and the staff are warm & welcoming. Once you find this place you want to return again and again."

Summer Family Vacations
Families can take advantage of a supervised program during the summer months and n our waterfront everyone enjoys fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, swimming, canoeing, sunset cruises, and Island picnics. Parents find The Irwin Inn an ideal setting to rest and rejuvenate, be active with the kids while participating in many recreation and social activities. Sightseeing, unique shopping, historical and cultural tours add more opportunities for an exciting getaway.

Adults can act like kids again, forgetting day–to-day stress of the normal working day. Do as much or as little as you wish. You can canoe, take a drive, visit an art gallery, knowing your children are happy and in a safe environment

Summer Family Fishing Vacations in the Kawarthas
Family Fishing vacations abound at the Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake in Ontario, Canada. The Kawartha Lakes, of which Stoney Lake is a member, is ranked in the top ten fishing destinations in Canada. Originally it was the trophy fishing that brought visitors to the Irwin Inn. Although the 40+ lb. Lake Trout are gone, Stoney Lake still has an abundance of fish to catch on your fishing getaway. Pickerel, bass, and muskie, are found in Stoney Lake. We are happy to share our knowledge on how and where to catch fish. In fact, one of the best places to catch trophy muskie is in front of the Irwin Inn.

For younger members of your family, the young fishermen, endless hours can be spent fishing from the dock where pan fish abound. Few things are as exciting to a 4-year old as feeling a tug on the fishing rod for the first time. Combining great family fishing with comfortable accommodations and excellent meals makes the Irwin Inn the perfect resort for a family fishing vacation in Ontario Canada.

Summer Family Golf Vacations in the Kawarthas
The Irwin Inn is ideal for family golf vacations in Ontario, Canada. In the 1950s we constructed a 9-hole par-3 golf course facility at the Irwin Inn that is free of charge for guests of all ages. It provides a perfect introduction to a family golf experience and convenient on-site practice facility for the seasoned golfer.

A special featured benefit of staying at The Irwin Inn is the opportunity to play golf at the world class private Wildfire Golf Club, just 5 minutes away Check with the Irwin Inn for fees, availability and reservations.

From par-3 to world class, you'll find an area golf course that challenges your game and delights the eye. Combining comfortable accommodation fine country family dining make The Irwin Inn, the ideal family resort, for the perfect family golf vacation in Ontario, Canada.

"We have been to all-inclusive vacations in Dominican Republic and a 5-star hotel in Miami, still never have we received a level of customer service like we did at your resort.

Summer Family Horseback Riding
The Irwin Inn specializes in riding experiences for beginners to the very highest level of riding instruction. Delightful trail rides on our own Milestone Farm are available most months of the year. Although we offer lessons for riders at all levels, lessons for novice riders provide an ideal situation for experiencing the sport without the pressure of commitment and cost of structured programs. We offer English Riding instruction, specializing in dressage. Jaimey & Tina Irwin of Stoney Lake Equestrian are grand prix dressage riders and are available by reservation for specialized instruction. (Must be 10 yrs of age or older for trail ride. Pony ride in outdoor ring can be arranged for young children)

Summer Family Dining
We make every meal at the Irwin Inn an occasion to celebrate. Our lakeside dining room with a panoramic view of Stoney Lake is a fitting venue for memorable meals with family and friends. Our menu is carefully prepared to bring you a variety of the best of fresh country inn fare, together with the service and excellence you expect from a fine dining establishment. A full wine list, accommodating staff and the spectacular Stoney Lake view, set the stage for a fine dining experience.

The Irwin Inn operates on a Modified American Plan, which provides for breakfast and dinner daily. Lunch can be purchased as a picnic lunch year round, and a la carte in the summer. Summer evening dining has 2 sittings; an early one for families with young children and the later usually reserved for adults.

Irwin Island fish fry & Picnic takes place at noon on Thursdays in July and August. All of the guests who wish to go are boated to Irwin Island where we have a beach, dock, fire pit and barbeque. A great picnic for all and for a memorable summer outing

"We had an amazing time. The facilities were awesome _ very clean and had everything we could want: fireplace, lighting, whirlpool. I cannot say enough about the chef _ absolutely fabulous."

Summer Family Seniors Getaway
Seniors can take advantage of our waterfront activities including fishing; swimming, canoeing and peaceful sunset cruises. Couples find the Irwin Inn an ideal setting to relax and rejuvenate. Roam our 200 acres on beautiful nature trails, visit our horses, walk country lanes, play a game of golf. A quiet paddle in some of Stoney Lake’s back channels might reward you with a view of an osprey or eagle. A short drive away will take you to some of the area’s specialty attractions including Petroglyph Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum. Seniors receive 10% discount off published rates, use of recreational facilities, gourmet 5 course dinners and full country breakfasts

Couples find the Irwin Inn an ideal lakeside resort setting to rest and rejuvenate, or be active, participating in many recreation and social activities, sightseeing, shopping, historical and cultural tours involving museums, art galleries and theatre venues, for a dynamic resort experience.

Summer Family Group Getaway: From girl’s weekends, men’s fishing weekends, learning to kayak, golfing, riding clinics, family reunions, artists creative clinics, canoeing, scenic cruise and island cook-outs, to intimate wedding getaways, we can customize an event for your group. All two night packages include complete country breakfast, 5-course dinner, and use of seasonal recreational facilities.

Summer Family Canoeing & Kayaking
Stoney Lake beckons to the outdoor enthusiast to play in nature! A hauntingly beautiful lake, with rugged shore, and sparkling water dotted with 1100 islands, waits to be explored in timeless fashion. The canoe and kayak evoke the area’s tradition of paddling. Awaken your senses in the heart of nature. Dip your paddle. Listen to the cry of the loons. At the end of the day you’ll experience a personal renewal only nature can bring

Summer Family Attractions in the Heart of the Kawarthas
The Irwin Inn is in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes district, an area famous for its dramatic and varied landscape. About 40 minutes north of Peterborough, the largest city in the region, the Inn enjoys a wonderfully scenic location on Stoney Lake and its 1100 islands. A short drive to the north brings you to Petroglyph Provincial Park, which has the largest known concentration of aboriginal rock carvings in Canada. Carved into the rock face hundreds of years ago, the 900 petroglyphs depict turtles, snakes, birds, humans and other images. You can hike on the trails meandering through surrounding forests, wetlands and rocky ridges or visit The Learning Place interpretive centre.

Curve Lake First Nation has one of the finest galleries of Native art in the country with knowledgeable staff to help you discover the Ojibwa history of the area. The pretty town of Lakefield has numerous points of interest and shops, and make sure you watch boats locking through on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Peterborough, a city of about 75,000 has the amenities you would expect of a city of this size - restaurants, cinemas, a zoo, parks and theatres, however, the Canadian Canoe Museum, The Trent Severn Waterway, the Lift locks are attractions that should be on your 'must see' list. South of the Irwin Inn is Lang Pioneer Village which is a living exhibition showing what pioneer life was like in the area. Near the town of Millbrook is 4th Line Theatre, a nationally recognized theatre company that specializes in plays about the area. Plays are held outside to give a realistic and unique theatre experience. Westben Theatre at the Barn, features concerts in a unique venue. See more in Area Attractions!

Summer for Families & Summer Family Vacations
There are many reasons why families for 3 generations have been returning to the Inn each summer. For younger family members our recreation program keeps them engaged in activities that become lifetime memories. Our sandy beach, playground, attentive staff and 200 acres guarantee a holiday they'll want to repeat each summer. For adults it's an opportunity to really rest and get away from all the routines that constitute your daily life. You don't have to worry about making meals, cutting the grass or commuting to work. As a family you have immediate opportunities to have fun together and take advantage of our many resort facilities and activities. Explore the lake in a kayak, fish from the dock, Golf on our 'kid friendly' course or toast marshmallows over a fire on the beach. Start a great family tradition and come to the Irwin Inn this summer. Check out our special summer family package, summer golf getaway package, seniors getaway package, couples romantic getaway package, bed and breakfast getaway, all on our Packages page.

To begin your vacation, browse the season selection of summer. See the many seasonal summer facilities and related summer activities, summer getaways and summer package that The Irwin Inn offers. After, select rooms & rates that are available at the Irwin Inn resort in Ontario, Canada.

The Irwin Inn, A Family Tradition for over 60 Years The Irwin Inn can look back on a history of Kawartha resort hospitality that spans 3 generations and over sixty years.

Ross and Norma Irwin stumbled into being innkeepers by accident. Asked to accommodate overflow guests from a neighbouring resort in 1947, they found the experience so enjoyable that, the following years, after an addition to their cottage, they began welcoming guests. Ross brought his talent as cook to the business, and many of his recipes are used to this day. He was also a compulsive builder, and, over the next 20 years, the resort expanded in every direction. By 1955 Ross and Norma could accommodate 30 guests and, with a dining room expansion in 1960, more than 75 could vacation at the Inn. The golf course was built in 1965.

By 1981, Dennis and Patti Irwin had taken over the Inn and embarked on a program of expansion and consolidation. They completed the acquisition of all the privately owned cottages near the Inn begun by Ross and Norma. Concentrating on the lakefront, they renovated existing cottages or built new ones to suit the more discerning tourists of the 80s and 90s. As well, they felt that groups or organizations would benefit from the Inn's unique site and consequently built a meeting room and upgraded facilities to attract these clients. The building program culminated in 2000 with the construction of a complex of lakeside spa suites. Sympathetic architecture and a prime waterfront location have made these suites the most sought after accommodation at the Inn.

Dennis and Patti have 3 sons all now working in some aspect of the business.

Jaimey and Tina Irwin operate Stoney Lake Equestrian. They specialize in training, showing, breeding, and selling of the finest dressage horses. Their clients are international and often stay at the Inn while observing the training of their horses.

Rob and Andrew Irwin have inherited a love of building and play in important part in keeping, what is now a complex operation, working.

The Irwins have always shared a respect for the environment of which they are stewards. Using deep lake cooling (long before the City of Toronto made it fashionable), they are able to supplement both their heating and cooling requirements.

Although the reasons people visit the Irwin Inn have changed over the years, some things have remained constant - the eternal beauty of Stoney Lake, the dedication of the Irwins to providing a truly memorable lakeside resort experience, and, finally, the belief that the things we cherish depend upon our will to preserve them.

Summer
There are many reasons why families for 3 generations have been returning to the Inn each summer. For younger family members our recreation program keeps them engaged in activities that become lifetime memories. Our sandy beach, playground, attentive staff and 200 acres guarantee a holiday they'll want to repeat each summer. For adults it's an opportunity to really rest and get away from all the routines that constitute your daily life. You don't have to worry about making meals, cutting the grass or commuting to work. As a family you have immediate opportunities to have fun together and take advantage of our many resort facilities and activities. Explore the lake in a kayak, fish from the dock, Golf on our 'kid friendly' course or toast marshmallows over a fire on the beach. Start a great family tradition and come to the Irwin Inn this summer. Check out our special summer family package, summer golf getaway package, seniors getaway package, couples romantic getaway package, bed and breakfast getaway, all on our Packages page.

Resort Facilities and Activities

Resort Facilities

Massage Therapy (RMT)

Horseback Riding Facilities

Motor Boat Rentals

Seasonal Activities

Summer

Fall

Spring

Winter

Facilities and Activities Descriptions

Please also view our activities pages to view more details and photos regarding specific activities

Golfing
The Irwin Inn is ideal for family golf vacations in Ontario, Canada. In the 1950s we developed a par-3 golf course that is free for all guests. It provides a perfect introduction to a family golf experience and convenient on-site practice facility for the seasoned golfer. A special benefit of staying at The Irwin Inn is the opportunity to play on the world class private Wildfire Golf Club, 5 minutes away.

Horseback Riding
The Irwin Inn specializes in riding experiences for beginners to the very highest level of riding instruction. Delightful trail rides on our own Milestone Farm are available most months of the year. Although we offer lessons for riders at all levels, lessons for novice riders provide an ideal situation for experiencing the sport without the pressure of commitment and cost of structured programs.

Kayaking and Canoeing
Stoney Lake is famous for its 1100 islands and Precambrian rock shores. You can find many areas inhabited only by residents native to Stoney Lake for thousands of years. Loons call in the evening blue herons own the “still” of morning. Canoeing and kayaking on Stoney has been inspiring naturalists since the Ojibwa natives made birch bark canoes to travel and explore it’s shining waters.

Water Activities

Swimming in Stoney lake’s clear and clean water is a tonic for the soul for young and old alike. Skimming across the top on skis, boards or a tube is as exciting to do, as it is fun to watch. Sunset cruises are a perfect way to end a perfect day and our cruise to our own island for a family fish fry and barbeque is a vacation highlight! Our small outdoor pool is the perfect place to swim on a windy day. Most water activities are included at the Irwin Inn.

Fishing
Fishing vacations abound at the Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake in Ontario, Canada. The Kawartha Lakes, of which Stoney Lake is a member, is ranked in the top ten fishing destinations in Canada. For families on vacation with young fishing enthusiasts, endless hours can be spent fishing from the dock where pan fish abound. Few things are as exciting to a 4-year old as feeling a tug on the fishing rod for the first time.

Kids’ program
From the last week of June to Labour Day weekend, the Irwin Inn has an amazingly comprehensive recreation program. Our experienced counselors keep younger children busy and happy through scheduled activities during the day, and one activity in the evening. Scavenger hunts, arts & crafts, tubing, face painting, talent shows, bingo, hay and pony rides, campfires, nature crafts, visits to area attractions, and our featured weekly “fish fry” picnic on Irwin Island combine to make vacation memories for our younger guests.

Youth and Adult Programs
For young adults, parents, grandparents, and the young at heart, we offer more activities such as: movie nights, campfires, tubing, wakeboarding, parasailing, golf tournaments, corn roasts, sunset cruises, canoe and kayak trips, games night, as well as cultural, shopping, and fun trips to area attractions. Our recreation programs are one of the reasons that families come back to the Inn year after year. Often as families depart the parents are already getting pressure to book next year's vacation as soon as possible. We take great pride in providing exceptional summer experiences for youth and adults because, we believe, that's what summer is all about.

Sightseeing/Shopping
The Kawartha Lakes area offers countless opportunities for shopping, and sightseeing, From the latest in fashion, footwear, sporting gear, to farmers markets, fine art, crafts, and gorgeous hand crafted gifts, the entire Peterborough and Kawartha area has it all! Numerous interesting sights can be seen along the way. Planned shopping trips will make for an exciting off site excursion.

Arts & Culture
Peterborough and the entire surrounding area, has developed into a thriving arts and culture destination. In this land of shining water, art galleries, museums, historic sites, live theatre, unique outdoor theatre, concerts, and festivals abound, demonstrating the rich cultural mosaic of the Kawartha Lakes region. Plan your own itinerary, or come along on one of our scheduled outings for a sample of Kawartha culture