ROAMISTAS KERRI, ROB & E-DOG EXPLORE PORT SEVERN

"Because all Roads Lead to Roam......"TM

The average Canadian person takes about four overnight trips per year, and spends 13 nights in a hotel. Although there are no published statistics, it’s probably significantly less for the average Canadian pooch. Ethan the greyhound is a bit of an outlier. Our best guess is that last year, he spent over 75 nights as a hotel guest—at this point, he should probably be enrolled in at least several loyalty programs. One thing is clear, it’s getting easier to travel with your well-behaved dog, particularly in Ontario.

About a decade ago, sites like Bringfido.com, and Petswelcome.com started sprouting up to service the burgeoning trend of traveling with your dog. Prior to that, it had been hit and miss—if you were a regular guest at the Plaza, they’d probably accommodate Fifi, your toy poodle, but beyond that, you and your hound were largely on your own. No longer. Happily, no less than 43 Resorts of Ontario members have some ability to accommodate dogs.  Recently, we enjoyed an overnight visit to Rawley Resort, Spa & Marina in Port Severn with E-dog.

Ethan is a bit of a minor celebrity, he’s a retired racer who recently took part in a downtown Toronto photo shoot for a magazine—he made the cover. In full disclosure, I’m the Editor-in-Chief of said magazine, but to avoid the obvious conflict, I left the cover decision up to the staff, I swear. He remains, however, quiet, polite and not at all diva-like. Still, Rawley’s treated him like royalty with the staff greeting him with lots of pets, and most importantly, with treats in the room.

The resort, which sits in a sheltered inlet on the Trent-Severn Waterway, not far from Six Mile Lake Provincial Park, and Georgian Bay Islands National Park, has expansive grounds for walking with your dog. There aren’t any dog waste stations with bags, so you’ll need to bring your own, but there are plenty of sealed trash cans around the property. It’s not usually my practice to leave my dog in the room alone, but the patio at Rawley’s doesn’t accommodate pets, our Terrace room, however, was within sight, and earshot of where we ate. Ethan didn’t make a peep. Before dinner, there were extensive hiking trails nearby to explore, like the famous Schoolhouse Trail, just five minutes away by car. The surroundings of Historic Lock 45 are also beautiful and worth seeing. The lock itself is the last link between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. 

Rawley’s made the 2024 U.S. News and World Report list of the best resorts in Canada, so not surprisingly, it checks nearly every box for two-legged visitors. Lighthouse45 Restaurant offers a reasonably-priced, fine-dining experience with entrees in the $30-$45 range. We tried the sea bass with risotto and the beef tenderloin with pureed butternut squash. Both were well-prepared and nicely presented entrees.

The Spa at Rawley’s is a full-service holistic spa that offers massages, and an outdoor hot tub and red cedar barrel sauna. An elegant, English-style high tea in the Lighthouse45 Lounge is a particularly nice way to enjoy a post-spa indulgence. There’s also an outdoor pool that was heated to a comfortable 27 Celsius/82 Fahrenheit during our visit.

The rooms in the main building at Rawley’s aren’t pet-friendly, but the cottages and the terrace rooms are, so you’ll want to plan in advance and reserve one of these if you’re traveling with your dog. Our terrace room was comfortable, and would accommodate a family with several children—there were two separate bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed and one with a pair of doubles. There was a nice sitting area with a fridge, a sink, a microwave, a coffee maker, and the welcome addition of a hot-water pot for tea. The sofa could accommodate another kid in a pinch. The windows are screened, and they open if you want the full, rural Ontario experience of waking up to the sounds of loons, songbirds and bullfrogs. Rawley's is located about 150 kilometres north of the Greater Toronto Area. Rooms range from about $480 to $625 Canadian per night in season.

Your Roamistas are:

Kerri King is the Executive Director of Resorts of Ontario, and a seasoned traveler who has been to every continent except for Australia and Antarctica.

Rob Sass is the Editor-in-Chief of Porsche Panorama, the official publication of the Porsche Club of America. It takes him to race tracks and great driving roads all over the planet. He's also been a New York Times contributor since 2006.