| January 29, 2006 | | | | |
| | | | Lynda, the owner, explained that their |
| Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Bed and | | | | country market sells a whole range of locally |
| Breakfasting at Nicholyn Farms - A Wonderful | | | | grown meats, such as pork, chicken, beef, |
| Weekend Treat | | | | lamb, turkey, rabbit, goat, cornish hens and |
| | | | even more exotic locally produced varieties |
| Driving up to the Nicholyn Farms Bed and | | | | such as elk, emu and buffalo. During the |
| Breakfast you get welcomed by the hearty and | | | | growing season they feature fresh certified |
| healthy aroma of 2,200 organically raised | | | | organic produce from local vegetable and |
| pigs. This bed and breakfast was our | | | | fruit growers, and their popular organic pork |
| destination for our quick winter getaway and | | | | products are shipped to people as far away as |
| as soon as we drove up the driveway we | | | | Ottawa. |
| realized we had picked a great place. | | | | |
| | | | At just an hour's drive from Toronto, |
| Bed and breakfasts are one of my favourite | | | | Nicholyn Farms was the perfect getaway for |
| ways of travelling since every B&B is unique | | | | us. It is located in a beautifully restored |
| and usually offers a very personal experience | | | | farmhouse whose original portion dates back |
| that includes a nice interaction with the B&B | | | | to 1872. The Van Casteren family completely |
| host and the other guests, much different | | | | renovated the farmstead in 1996 and won the |
| from the rather anonymous character of the | | | | top prize for "Most Improved Farmstead in |
| average motel or hotel chain. Wherever I | | | | Simcoe County". |
| travel, I find that every B&B owner has a | | | | |
| unique story to tell, and Nicholyn Farms B&B | | | | Lynda mentioned that her B&B has hosted |
| was another example. | | | | guests from all over the world from as far |
| | | | away as the Netherlands, England, the United |
| My husband and I must have travelled to more | | | | States, Japan, Australia, Chile and Peru. |
| than 20 B&Bs over the last few years as a | | | | Many of their European guests stay for 5 days |
| home base for an enjoyable weekend getaway. | | | | or more since their location is halfway |
| We have stayed in many family-run bed and | | | | between two major Ontario attractions: |
| breakfasts all throughout Ontario and almost | | | | Algonquin Park and Niagara Falls, with |
| always had a really positive experience. | | | | Toronto easily accessible for day trips. |
| | | | |
| Bed and breakfasting in Canada in somewhat | | | | Our room was the cozy "Forest Room" which was |
| different from the United States since | | | | located on the second storey and featured 4 |
| Canadian B&Bs are usually smaller, have fewer | | | | beds, perfect for us 3 overnight vacationers. |
| guest rooms and there is more direct | | | | The space under the roof overlooking the |
| interaction with the owner/ host. Many | | | | farmland was such a welcome quiet sanctuary |
| Canadian bed and breakfasts have between one | | | | from the hustle and bustle of the big city. |
| and three guest bedrooms with most of the | | | | Nicholyn Farms features two other guest |
| owners living in the same house. As a result, | | | | bedrooms and all the bedrooms have their own |
| bed and breakfasting in Canada is a more | | | | private bathrooms. |
| intimate experience, it is truly like staying | | | | |
| in someone's house. The United States, on the | | | | This morning we sat down to a wonderful |
| other hand, features more "bed and breakfast | | | | homemade breakfast, that started off with a |
| inns", many of which are quite upscale and | | | | beautiful assortment of fresh fruit, |
| located in renovated mansions with a much | | | | including strawberries, blueberries, |
| larger number of guest rooms, almost along | | | | blackberries, green and blue grapes, |
| the lines of country boutique hotels. | | | | pineapple, and melons. The Van Casteren's buy |
| | | | their fruit at a special fruit market and the |
| There are a couple of really helpful websites | | | | flavour of the fruit is indeed much stronger |
| out there for bed and breakfast travel in | | | | and sweeter than the fruit found commonly in |
| Ontario and Canada: | | | | supermarkets. Lynda and her trusted assistant |
| | | | Joyce called all of us guests to come out and |
| - which provides bed and breakfast listings | | | | have a look at a flock of about 20 wild |
| throughout all of Canada, and | | | | turkeys that were pecking away on the field |
| | | | behind the bed and breakfast. |
| - the Ontario Farm and Country Accommodations | | | | |
| Association which lists active farm | | | | After our wildlife encounter, we continued |
| operations that provide accommodation to | | | | with a tasty breakfast of scrambled eggs, |
| travellers. | | | | organic pork sausages, toast, homemade |
| | | | pancakes, country preserves and muffins. |
| After I had completed my research on these | | | | Portions are not measured and as a result we |
| websites and contacted a number of B&B hosts | | | | had several helpings of each dish. We had a |
| about availability, we selected the Nicholyn | | | | nice relaxing and very filling breakfast |
| Farms Bed and Breakfast, just about an hour | | | | before we set off on our next adventure for |
| and a bit north of Toronto, for our late | | | | today: snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley. |
| January getaway. | | | | |
| | | | Staying at a bed and breakfast usually makes |
| We checked in at the Nicholyn Farms Country | | | | for a beautiful getaway since you get to |
| Market, where Nicholyn Farms sells products | | | | relax in the tranquility of a country home |
| made from their own pigs which are raised | | | | and most B&Bs offer a delicous, filling |
| organically in a bio-secure environment, | | | | home-cooked meal that will keep you nourished |
| without growth hormones or antibiotics. At | | | | for many hours, allowing you to take full |
| this market, they also sell produce and meat | | | | advantage of the activities for the day. It's |
| products from other local farmers north of | | | | a fabulous way to travel. |
| Toronto. | | | | |