Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/500391
24 G O I N G P L A C E S | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 CLAUDINE GERVAIS Kenora, Ontario Dropping anchor in Lake of the Woods by Claudine Gervais WEEKENDER Winnipeg MANITOBA ONTARIO Brandon Lake Winnipeg KENORA Our daughter will be off to university in the United States in a few short weeks, and we're looking to reconnect and recharge ahead of the stormy seas of travel, student apartment shopping, Ikea furniture assembling and what's sure to be a teary goodbye. McDove's Two, which plies the mighty Lake of the Woods and its 105,000 kilometres of shoreline, is one of ve vessels operated by Kenora-based Houseboat Adventures. Jeff and Lorelie Gordon own the family-run business and, with three sons at university, know what it's like to see children y the nest. THE ESCAPE Only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Winnipeg, Kenora is a well-known destination for Manitobans – with many holding onto the Ontario town as if it's their own. Indeed, Kenora is like a neighbour with a backyard pool and a fridge full of beer. And what better place to get to know our neighbour than at the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre, our rst stop after arriving in town this morning. Inside this stunning glass-and-wood structure, in-the-know clerks tip us off to the area's many assets. We discover that a rock-climbing lesson is a great way to make the most of the Canadian Shield landscape. And that paranormal encounters are possible at Mather Walls House, a Queen Anne-style home featured on the TV series Creepy Canada and now home to the Lake of the Woods Historical Society. THE HIDEAWAY On board the McDove's, we're off in search of a secluded spot along the shoreline. We choose to have a staff member pilot for us, rather than taking the wheel on our own (which guests can do as long as they meet "Proof of Competency" guidelines for operating a watercraft). It's no small feat to be at the helm of a We're climbing aboard McDove's Two at the Main Street dock in Kenora, Ontario. My husband, Jeff, and I will spend the next couple of nights aboard the 44-foot houseboat. The McDove's name conjures birds – symbols of love and peace – a good omen, I think, for two almost empty-nesters about to spend more uninterrupted time in each other's company than we have in the previous 18 years. (from top) The McDove's Two on Lake of the Woods; the intimate Bijou Steakhouse; breakfast on board. Taking a roadtrip this summer? Save the mileage and rent a vehicle from Hertz. CAA Manitoba members save up to 20%.