My Muskoka Story – Jess Fraser

My Muskoka Story – Jess Fraser

Hello! My name is Jess, I am an avid line dancer, aspiring artist, nature lover and adventure seeker. I was born in the busy city but raised up north, so it’s safe to say my roots have grown deep within Muskoka!

Where are some of your favourite places to visit in Muskoka?

Our gorgeous provincial parks have always been my favourite places to visit in Muskoka. I love visiting the small towns as well but there is no better place than when I’m out discovering what the surrounding landscapes have to offer.

Canadian Woman standing in front of Banff mountains and lake wearing a black MBW quarter-zip sweater and white jeans

“There are many things to do while outdoors, but what really makes me happy, relaxed and truly feel grounded is when I’m out camping, kayaking and hiking. There’s something therapeutic about breathing in fresh northern air and getting lost in nature.”

Canadian man and woman sitting on a dock wearing Muskoka Bear Wear posing with their dog
Canadian Couple sitting on rock in front of a waterfall wearing a Muskoka Bear Wear quarter zip sweaters

You like to travel a lot – where is the furthest place you’ve been in your Muskoka Bear Wear?

I’ve taken Bear Wear with me from the great Canadian Rockies to the vast Everglades of Florida. I once even wore my classic black quarter-zip while taking a photo with the one and only, Johnny Cash, in Nashville Tennessee. I want to be comfortable when I travel, that’s why Bear Wear always travels with me.

Canadian woman sitting on a rock wearing jeans and a red quarter zip sweater from Muskoka Bear wear. She is sitting in front of a lake with trees and mountain in the background
Canadian girl wearing a heather grey quarter zip Muskoka Bear Wear sweater listening to something with headphones

What’s on your adventure bucket list?

My future adventure bucket list would include the exploration of Iceland, Italy and Australia. A closer destination that I hope to cross off the list sooner would be Yellowstone National Park. I would love to wake up early in the morning, throw on my favourite Muskoka Bear Wear sweater and venture out on a tour to witness a pack of wolves run across the plains of Lumar Valley.

Selfie of a Canadian woman wearing a red quarter zip sweater from Muskoka Bear Wear
Muskoka Staycation Ideas

Muskoka Staycation Ideas

We know it can be difficult having to remain at home as Spring begins to roll in. The days are getting longer, that sunshine a little warmer and the call of Muskoka is getting louder and louder. But it’s okay, we have some great tips on how to bring Muskoka TO YOU and how you can enjoy some Muskoka-themed Staycation activities right at home!

S’Mores by the FireWhat You’ll Need: Graham Crackers; Marshmallows; Chocolate Bar (Hersey works great!); a Laptop or Tablet with internet connection; somewhere to cozy up.

Few things can replace the actual feeling of sitting around a fire with friends and family to roast marshmallows under the night sky, but this is definitely the next best thing. Set up your tablet or laptop somewhere that you can gather around to see it. Pull up YouTube and search for one of the many great several-hour-long campfire videos (here’s one). Set up some blankets, and pillows. Now, run back to the kitchen and get those s’mores ready (quick how-to here). Return to your cozy set-up, dish out the s’mores and enjoy your S’Mores by the Fire!

StargazingWhat You’ll Need: A backyard, or somewhere that you can relax outside while still practicing your social distancing; a clear dark night; added bonus: binoculars or a telescope.

While you may not have the dark sky required to see the entire Milky Way band of stars due to nearby ambient light, you should still be able to make out some of the more prominent night sky objects on a clear night even in the city. For starters, about 90 minutes after sunset, you should see the planet Venus in the west. It will appear as one of the brightest objects in the sky (next to the moon!). Without the help of binoculars or a telescope, you should be able to find the stars Sirius, Vega and Betelgeuse. Orion is often an easy constellation to spot as well as the ‘Pleiades’ cluster.

Bundle up nice and warm and lay under the stars for hours. You may notice the International Space Station passing by, or several other satellites that you never noticed before. You might just be surprised at what all you see when you take the time to look!

Home Spa TreatmentWhat You’ll Need: Your preferred home spa essentials (might include: face mask, home pedicure kit, hair mask, nail polish, bath bomb).

Sometimes the trip to the cottage is about unplugging and getting in some good self-care. And while you may not be able to connect with your favourite Muskoka spa right now, there are likely some local options you can find in the Yellow Pages who can help arrange curb-side pick-up for some home spa supplies. If not, your local Pharmacy or Grocery Store should have some essentials as well. The key here is to focus on things that make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Rock a face mask while you give yourself a pedicure. Do up your nails. Treat yourself, you deserve it!

When you’re all finished, cozy up with a book or maybe play a board game with those you’re sharing your quarantine with.

Hang in there friends! We hope you enjoyed these Muskoka Staycation Ideas. Do you have any of your own? We’d love to hear about them!

Remember… #StayHome #StayHealthy and #StayCozy