Thursday, May 5, 2011

Adventures In Huntsville

This is a trip to Huntsville planned for the summer of 2016. I (Chinchin) will be 19 at this time. Going with me are Shivani (20, female), Goksu (19, male), Karolina (19, female) and David Bannerman (20, male). We will be going to Huntsville, Ontario. This blog will have information on the trip such as background on Huntsville, the itinerary, accommodations and more.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Maps

Click Images to Enlarge

Huntsville's Location












Map of Activities

Thursday, May 5, 2005

Huntsville

Huntsville is a small town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario.

Physical Features
Huntsville lies within the Canadian Shield landform region. The landscape is made up of hills. There are many lakes in the area, along with many forests. Muskoka is home to many of Ontario's national and provincial parks, including Algonquin Park.

The Canadian Shield was formed in the Precambrian Era. Mountains formed there 570 to 1500 million years ago. They have eroded significantly since then and now the land consists of rounded hill of rock that were originally mountains. The land is also quite flat compared to other places in Canada.

Huntsville is part of the wet-climate soil region, which means that its soils are fertile but quite prone to leaching.

It is part of the mixed forest vegetation region. The mix of deciduous and coniferous trees can be seen within any of the many forests in and surrounding Huntsville.

It is also part of the Boreal Shield ecozone. The vegetation here includes black spruce, white spruce, Jack pine, balsam fir, yellow birch, sugar pale and black ash. Human activities include forestry, mining, tourism, recreation and trapping.

Climate


A climagraph for Huntsville, Ontario
The temperature range in Huntsville is 29.6 degrees Celsius. This indicates that Huntsville has a continental climate. The distribution of precipitation is fairly equal, but the town receives a few more millimeters of precipitation in the winter, which indicates a maritime climate. The total annual precipitation in Huntsville is 1031.9mm, which indicates a maritime climate. The temperature however, goes below zero and therefore one can conclude that Huntsville is not on the west coast. The average annual temperature is 5.5 degrees Celsius, which indicates an area in the Great Lakes - St Lawrence Lowlands or the East Coast.

Huntsville actually has a continental climate and though it is not in the Great Lakes - St Lawrence Lowlands region, it is closest to this region. The reason why Huntsville gets so much precipitation is because it is surrounded by many lakes. The water from the lakes turn into turn into vapor and form clouds, creating more precipitation. Huntsville is in the Southeastern climate region. The winters are long and cold while the summers are short.

Population


A population pyramid for Huntsville, Ontario. The red symbolizes young dependents, the yellow shows the working class and the blue shows the older dependents.

Being a small town, Huntsville has a population of 18 280 people, which accounts for 0.15% of Ontario's total population of 12 160 282 people. The population density is 26 people per square kilometer, which is almost double Ontario's population density of 13.4 people per square kilometer. There are an average of 2.5 people per household.

It is very homogeneous with non-immigrants making up 90% of the population. The total amount of immigrants in Huntsville comes out at 1 515 people. The total visible minority population is only 260. The biggest visible minorities include Chinese (90 people), Black (80 people), Latin American (35 people) and West Asian (20 people). There are 335 Aboriginals living in Huntsville.

The working class makes up 2/3 of the population while 1/3 of the population is part of the dependency load. The largest age group is the 45-49 group, while the smallest is the 85+ group. The smallest age group in the working class is the 25-29 group. There are only 20 more of them than there are of 0-4 year olds.

There are many more elderly females than elderly males. This is likely because females have a higher average lifespan. Other than that, the genders are spread out quite equally.

Economy

There is a total labour force of 9880 people. There is an unemployment rate of 4.8%, 2.5 percentage points smaller than that of Ontario's (6.4%). Unemployment is not much of an issue here. The top 5 employers are sales and service occupations, trades, transport and equipment operators & related occupations, business, finance & administration occupations, management occupations, and occupations unique to processing, manufacturing & utilities.

The main natural resources in this area are water, due to the vast amount of lakes, and forestry, due to the large amount of forests.

History of Huntsville

Huntsville was first settled in 1869 by Captain George Hunt, hence the town's name. He built a small agricultural centre there. A year later a post office was built. A water route and a railway built in the next few years encouraged the development of the town. Huntsville was an important industrial area in the late 19th century. Today its biggest income comes from tourism.

Friday, May 28, 2004

Travel & Accommodation

Accommodation

We will be staying in 3 different places.

Deerhurst Resort:

Deerhurst Resort is a resort in Huntsville. It hosts many different facilities such two golf courses, a spa, various dining options, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness room, tennis courts and squash courts. It is also in extremely close proximity to Peninsula Lake, where one can take advantage of the resort's canoes, windsurfers, kayaks, paddleboards, waterskiis, fishing gear, and Splash Zone with a Splash Pass ($20 per person).

We will be staying in a two bedroom condo. The condos contain a master bedroom with a king size bed, a guest bedroom with 2 queen size beds and a living room containing a sofa bed and a full kitchen. It costs $514 per night.

Cost:
Splash Pash - $20 x 5 people = $100
Condo - $514 x 2 nights = $1028
Total Cost = $1128

Canisbay Lake Campgrounds:

The Canisbay Lake Campgrounds are located beside Canisbay Lake in the Algonquin Provincial Park. They are non electric campgrounds but contain a facility with flush toilets, laundry and showers.

We will be staying on a 10x10 campsite with two tents that we will bring with us. It costs $40.50 per night. A vehicle permit comes with this accommodation.

Cost:
Campsite - $40.50 x 1 night = $40.50
Interior Camping Permit - $11.75 x 5 people = $58.75
Total cost = $99.25

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Huntsville

This Holiday Inn hotel is located in Huntsville. It includes an outdoor pool and provides free wi-fi. It provides a continental breakfast.

We will be staying in 2 rooms with 2 queen beds in each. Each room costs $104 per night.

Cost:
Room - $104 x 2 rooms = $208
Additional person cost = $10
Total cost = $218

Transportation

There are no airports in Huntsville. We will be using a car as our method of transportation.

Huntsville can be accessed by Highway 60 and Highway 11.

We will get there from Ottawa via the 417 and then Highway 60. The total driving distance is 332km and without stops, the drive would take approximately 5 hours.

We will have to pay for gas. To drive there and to all of our planned destinations, we will need approximately two full tanks of gas. With our current average gas price of 130 cents per litre, it would cost us approximately $130 for the entire trip.

Friday, April 23, 1999

The Itinerary

Day 1:

10:30am - Depart for Huntsville
11:30am - Rest stop in Renfrew, Ontario (Tim Hortons)
1:45pm - Rest stop in Whitney, Ontario. Eat lunch at Algonquin Lunch Bar & Service Station
4:00pm - Arrive at Deerhurst Resort. Check in, get settled.
4:30pm-5:30pm - Take waterskiing lesson
5:30pm-8:00pm - Various activities at Peninsula Lake
8:00pm-9:30pm - Dinner at Maple (Deerhurst Resort)
9:30pm - Return to suites

Day 2:

8:00am - Get up, have breakfast, get ready
9:30am - Play Paintball at Deerhurst Resort
12:30pm - Eat lunch at The Butcher's Daughters
1:30pm - Explore Muskoka Heritage Place
4:00pm - Walk along Main St
5:00pm - Go to the Spa at Deerhurst
7:00pm - Eat at Eclipse (Deerhurst Resort)
9:00pm - Relax in suites
10:00pm - Dancing at The Cottage Waterfront Grill
2:00am - Return to Deerhurst Resort

Day 3:

9:30am - Get up, have breakfast
11:00am - Check out
11:00am- - Buy food for camping
11:30am - Drive to Canisbay Lake Campground (Algonquin Park)
12:30pm - Set up tents, get settled
1:00pm - Drive to Centennial Ridges Trail
1:30pm - Hike Centennial Ridges Trail
7:30pm - Drive back to campground
8:00pm - Eat dinner
8:30pm - Hang out on campsite

Day 4:

9:30am - Get up, have breakfast
10:30am - Whitewater canoeing at Oxtongue River
12:30pm - Go back to campground, eat lunch
1:00pm - Swimming at Canisbay Lake
2:30pm - Fishing at Canisbay Lake
4:00pm - Hike the Lookout Trail
5:00pm - Hike the Two Rivers Trail
7:00pm - Return to campground, eat dinner, pack up.
8:00pm - Drive to Huntsville, Ontario
9:00pm - Check into Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Huntsville
10:00pm - Drive to Bracebridge, Ontario
11:00pm - Night Climb at Eaglecrest Aerial Park
2:00am - Drive to Huntsville, Ontario
2:45am - Return to hotel

Day 5:

9:30am - Wake up, eat breakfast
11:00am - Check out
11:30am - Watch a show at Algonquin Theatre
12:30pm - Eat lunch at Louis II's Restaurant & Tavern
1:30pm - Visit The Nutty Chocolatier
2:00pm - Drive back to Ottawa, Ontario
5:45pm - Rest stop in Renfrew (Tim Hortons)
7:00pm - Arrive in Ottawa

Thursday, May 28, 1970

Activities

We will be doing many different activities on our trip.

Day 1:

Waterskiing Lesson

We will be waterskiing just like this man
We will be taking a waterskiing lesson at Peninsula Lake. Waterskiing is an exciting sport where a person, standing on waterskis, is pulled along by a boat. Deerhurst Resort is located right beside the lake, and therefore we don't need transportation there. An hour long adult lesson costs $38 each. The waterskis and other equipment are provided. As there are five of us, the total cost will be $190.

Various Activities at Peninsula Lake

A view of Peninsula Lake and Deerhurst Resort in the background
Deerhurst Resort provides different equipment for water activities. Access to the equipment costs $20 per person. You also get access to their Splash Zone. Different activities that one can do on Peninsula Lake are canoeing, kayaking, rowboating, windsurfing, swimming and fishing. As there are five of us, the total cost will be $100.

Day 2:

Paintball

A collage of images showing a paintball game at Deerhurst Resort
We will be playing paintball in the woods surrounding Deerhurst Resort. The prices are $35 per person and include 50 paintballs, a camouflage jacket, a paintball gun, goggles and gloves. One game takes 3 hours. We will not require transportation as this takes place at the resort. As there are five of us, the total cost will be $175.

Muskoka Heritage Place

The train & steam museum at Muskoka Heritage Place
Our cultural activity will be a visit to the Muskoka Heritage Place. The Heritage Place includes a museum about Muskoka, a pioneer village and a Train & Steam Museum. A full site pass costs $15.50. For five people, it would cost $77.50. It is located around 7km away from our resort and so we will be driving there. It is open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

The Muskoka Museum talks about the history of Muskoka including the First Nations people who've lived there, the settlement of Muskoka and Huntsville, its development, different industries and tourism. Through the museum we will be able to learn about Muskoka's culture and history.

The Pioneer Village replicates a community in Muskoka circa 1880 - 1910. It includes different houses, a schoolhouse, a general store, a church and a train station. There are various hands-on activities one can participate in such as candle dipping, blacksmithing and pioneer baking.

The Train & Steam Museum is a re-creation of a 1920's train station. It focuses on the history of locomotives and railways in Muskoka.

Main Street

One of the shops along Main St
The Main Street in Huntsville boasts many different kinds of shops and businesses. The shops sell things like clothing, local art, souvenirs, food and more.

Spa

A spa at Deerhurst Resort
We will be going to the Spa at Deerhurst. A relaxing 75 minute massage costs $150. The price for 5 people would be $750.

Dancing

The exterior of The Cottage Waterfront Grill
The Cottage Waterfront Grill provides a DJ on Saturday nights. He plays from 10pm to 2am. It is located in the center of Huntsville, just an 8 minute drive away from Deerhurst Resort.

Day 3:

Hiking

A picture of the view taken from the second ridge on the trail.
We will be hiking the Centennial Ridges Trail in the Algonquin Provincial Park. It is a 10km loop going through two high ridges. It should offer some great views. The trail itself is very difficult and dangerous. It contains many open cliffs and requires a lot of climbing. The start of the trail is a 20 minute drive from our campground.

Day 4:

Whitewater Canoeing

Oxtongue River in the fall
We will be whitewater canoeing on the Oxtongue River at Smoke Lake. We will rent a canoe and equipment from The Portage Store located right across from the lake. A standard canoe costs $36. It is a 15 minute drive from our campground.

Swimming

Canisbay Lake in the fall
We will be swimming at Canisbay Lake, right beside our campground. We will bring our own bathing suits and towels.

Fishing

Canisbay Lake
We will be fishing at Canisbay Lake. We will bring our own fishing gear.

Hiking

A view from Lookout Trail
We will be doing some more hiking. First, we will hike the Lookout Trail at Algonquin Park. It is a fairly steep and rugged 1.9 km trail offering great views of Algonquin. We will then hike the Two Rivers Trail which leads to a pine-clad cliff. The trail is a 2.1km loop and is a fairly easy trail. Both of these trails are within 20 minutes from our campground when driving.

Night Climb (Zip Lining)

Eaglecrest Aerial Park during the day
We will be zip lining at night at the Eaglecrest Aerial Park in Bracebridge. Bracebridge is a half an hour drive from Huntsville. The Night Climb costs $89 each, and therefore will cost $445 for 5 people. The entire course should take about 3 hours to complete. Equipment is provided.

Day 5:

Algonquin Theatre

The stage at Algonquin Theatre
Algonquin Theatre is the local theatre in Huntsville. The shows that go on there are mostly by local performers and many of them come from Huntsville High School or the Huntsville School of Ballet. Different shows include orchestra concerts, musical and dance showcases. We will hope to see an interesting show. Tickets should cost around $15 per person - $75 for five people. It is a 7 minute drive from the Holiday Inn we will be staying at.

The Nutty Chocolatier

The exterior of The Nutty Chocolatier
The Nutty Chocolatier is a famous chocolate and candy store located on Main Street in Huntsville. It will take no time to walk there after lunch. While the sweets can be a bit pricy, they are of great quality.

Friday, May 1, 1970

Cost of Trip

Accommodation:
Deerhurst Resort = $1128
Canisbay Lake Campgrounds = $99.25
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Huntsville = $218
Total = $1445.25

Activities & Attractions:
Waterskiing = $190
Peninsula Lake Activites = $100
Paintball = $175
Muskoka Heritage Place = $77.50
Spa = $750
Whitewater Canoeing = $36
Zip Lining = $445
Algonquin Theatre = $75
Total = $1848.50

Dining:
Tim Hortons = $5 per person = $25
Algonquin Lunch Bar & Service Station = $10 per person = $50
Maple = $25 per person = $125
The Butcher's Daughters = $15 per person = $75
Eclipse = $40 per person = $200
Louis II's Restaurant & Tavern = $15 per person = $75
Camping food/breakfast/etc. = $150
Total = $700

Transportation:
Gas = $130
Total = $130

Souvenirs:
$50 per person = $250

Total Cost = $4373.75

Total Cost per person = ~$874.75

Wednesday, February 25, 1970