{"id":1478,"date":"2025-07-10T14:00:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=1478"},"modified":"2025-07-10T14:57:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T14:57:18","slug":"where-do-the-rich-flock-to-in-the-summer-in-toronto-its-lake-muskoka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/10\/where-do-the-rich-flock-to-in-the-summer-in-toronto-its-lake-muskoka\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Do The Rich Flock To In The Summer? In Toronto, It\u2019s Lake Muskoka"},"content":{"rendered":"

Private chefs, gaggles of nearly identical pastel-clad women, unnervingly manicured lawns, glittering palatial estates \u2014 the hallmarks of the rich and famous are as predictable, and as invariable, as their migration pattern once summer hits. In New York, it\u2019s the Hamptons. In Toronto, it\u2019s Lake Muskoka \u2014 the idyllic lakeshore region, a two-hour drive north of the city, that inspired Mariposa, the setting of Canadian author Lily Chu\u2019s newest romance audiobook Rich Girl Summer<\/a><\/em>, exclusively available on Audible<\/a>, which follows Valerie Peng who poses as a wealthy client\u2019s long-lost daughter to uncover a family secret, and finds herself entangled in a complicated romance with Nico, the client\u2019s right-hand man.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s mystery, there\u2019s tension, there\u2019s intrigue \u2014 and best of all, there\u2019s a fascinating, almost anthropological glimpse into the way the one-percenters summer, or in Canada-speak, the way they cottage<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans tend to call them cabins or lake houses, but in Canada, we call these summer homes cottages, and Muskoka is quintessential cottage country \u2014 it\u2019s beautiful, it\u2019s peaceful, it\u2019s a nice escape from the city,\u201d says Chu, who wants to be clear that not all<\/em> cottages are inhabited by the wealthy \u2014 there\u2019s a spectrum that ranges from homes without electricity or plumbing, to mansions on a lake. \u201cThere\u2019s a huge difference in how people cottage, and there\u2019s a mix of people there: You have the people who work in the towns and then there are those who are coming up for the weekend and staying in multimillion-dollar homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chu, like her Rich Girl Summer<\/a><\/em> protagonist Valerie, is not a cottage person. So the way in which she describes Mariposa (or the people, or the vibe) in the audiobook is not at all dissimilar to her experience at Lake Muskoka in real life. \u201cI wrote it for people like me, who are coming into these new environments \u2014 Valerie is kind of like my stand-in. In my perspective, there is a very country club-ish look and vibe, and it\u2019s very status-conscious,\u201d says Chu, who remembers stopping by boutiques selling $200 jeans, or a home furnishing store with a $3,000 flamingo lamp, or a store solely dedicated to tennis gear. \u201cIs this a reflection of every rich person who goes to Muskoka? No. Does it reflect reality all the time? Probably not. But is it fun? Yes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Regardless of status, class, or cottage family lineage, one thing remains the same: the shared, collective experience of Lake Muskoka bliss. \u201cMy first memory was of the very cold, clean lake water smell. And bugs. And the intense darkness,\u201d Chu says. \u201cBut every cottage I\u2019ve been to, no matter the spot, I\u2019ve always had the sense of isolation, relaxation, and disconnection. There\u2019s canoeing, there\u2019s kayaking, there\u2019s nature. You can sit in a hammock and listen to an audiobook with a gin and tonic. You can sit and look at the water and watch a loon go by. It\u2019s a really beautiful area; it\u2019s just so calming and lovely \u2014 there\u2019s a reason everyone goes there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Convinced yet? For your next getaway, consider venturing to Lake Muskoka, which Chu has roadmapped, with hidden gems, super-local stops, and unforgettable sights.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Webers Burgers<\/a>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

A traditional (and nostalgic) snack stop along Highway 11, Webers has been serving charcoal-grilled burgers since the 1960s. Take your milkshake and fries to the grassy areas, or eat in a railcar. On the wrong side of the highway? Cross via the pedestrian bridge.<\/p>\n

Mariposa Market\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n

Pass through Orillia, a city in Ontario, and hit up Mariposa Market, a must-visit grocery store that just so happens to also be featured in Rich Girl Summer<\/a><\/em>, for some huge doughnuts, butter tarts (a classic Canadian pastry that\u2019s akin to a sugar pie), and lovely jams for a host gift. Stroll down the quaint main street to enjoy your treats on the shores of Lake Couchiching.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bala and Bala Falls<\/a><\/h2>\n

Take a trip to the charming town of Bala and visit the picturesque Bala Falls \u2014 the perfect place for a picnic. Lucy Maud Montgomery fans can visit Bala\u2019s Museum<\/a>, celebrating the author\u2019s visit to the town, before hiking along one of the many scenic trails along the water and over the Canadian Shield \u2014 a large exposed expanse of continental crust. The town is also famous for its cranberries.<\/p>\n

Rousseau General Store\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n

Need some groceries? Rousseau General Store has been serving cottagers since 1874. Get everything you need for dinner, and an ice cream cone for the road.<\/p>\n

Muskoka Steamships\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n

Steamships have been cruising the lakes here since 1866, and you too can join the tradition and tour Lake Muskoka in style. Steam along the rocky shores and admire the homes and boathouses of Millionaires Row hidden among the trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n

Want a change from making s\u2019mores over a nightly bonfire? Visit Torrance Barrens, the world\u2019s first dark sky reserve, to stargaze and marvel at the Milky Way. During the day you can go hiking or biking as well.<\/p>\n

DashDividers_1_500x100<\/title><\/div>\n<p>Our recommendation: For the ultimate, immersive experience, take a day-trip from Toronto, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/pd\/Rich-Girl-Summer-Audiobook\/B0F6R29JP7?source_code=DGBPP30DTRIAL540070225004E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"listen to Rich Girl Summer on Audible (opens in a new tab)\">listen to <\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/pd\/Rich-Girl-Summer-Audiobook\/B0F6R29JP7?source_code=DGBPP30DTRIAL540070225004E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"listen to Rich Girl Summer on Audible (opens in a new tab)\">Rich Girl Summer<\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/pd\/Rich-Girl-Summer-Audiobook\/B0F6R29JP7?source_code=DGBPP30DTRIAL540070225004E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"listen to Rich Girl Summer on Audible (opens in a new tab)\"> on Audible<\/a> on the drive over, and follow Chu\u2019s Lake Muskoka itinerary. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Private chefs, gaggles of nearly identical pastel-clad women, unnervingly manicured lawns, glittering palatial estates \u2014 the hallmarks of the rich and famous are as predictable, and as invariable, as their migration pattern once summer hits. In New York, it\u2019s the Hamptons. In Toronto, it\u2019s Lake Muskoka \u2014 the idyllic lakeshore region, a two-hour drive north…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1478"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1478"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1478\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1479,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1478\/revisions\/1479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}