We were recently invited by the owners of Bell Falls Family Campground and RoyalTea on King for a relaxing getaway. It was truly a fantastic experience with top-tier hospitality, and we can’t wait to tell you about our experience in the Heart of Georgian Bay.
Bell Falls Family Campground
First off, the location of the campground is terrific and makes for a great home base to explore the Heart of Georgian Bay. It is just a 12 minute drive from downtown Midland and 10 minutes from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre and Martyrs’ Shrine. It is located just off the municipal cycling trails so you can access the campground by bike. And to top it off, the beautiful Sturgeon River runs parallel to the campground, for swimming and fishing opportunities.
The family-oriented and friendly atmosphere of the campground was apparent when we arrived and were immediately greeted by one of the park owners, Wes. Amenities like the swimming pool and park will keep kids busy during the day and quiet hour curfews will allow them to sleep at night. Plus, the park welcomes dogs and even provides waste stations around the park with waste bags and compost bins.
This park offers seasonal, transient and wilderness campsites, as well as glamping opportunities and fully stocked RV rentals, for those who are less outdoorsy.
The Accommodations
During our visit, we stayed in the Glamping Pod, a gorgeous wood structure complete with a queen-sized bed, chairs and lamps. The pod is accompanied by a bug-treated outdoor dining area with a propane grill, a small propane stove top and a fire pit. Everything you need is provided – wood for a bonfire, propane for the grill, a lighter to get things started, and lawn chairs so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery.
This hideaway is ideal for a private glamping experience. The sounds of nature can be heard from the pod with waterfalls just steps away. Make sure to pack your bathing suit and take advantage of this excellent photo opportunity.
This site has no electricity, which is perfect for an unplugged getaway.
The Atmosphere
Having a campfire with the sound of a waterfall in the background was a relaxing experience. The crackling of the wood combined with the tumbling water is the perfect soothing sound to put you right to sleep, so you can leave the white noise sound machine at home! Don’t make any early morning plans, as you will be surprised how much later you will sleep in these perfectly cozy conditions.
Waking up was bittersweet. We felt so refreshed after a great night’s sleep but sadly realized that it was time to pack up and head out.
Luckily, we had a great afternoon to look forward to, at RoyalTea on King.
RoyalTea on King
RoyalTea on King, located in the downtown Midland, is an excellent place for a girls’ day, mommy-daughter date, celebration or a any relaxing afternoon out. The shop’s name is truly fitting as you will really be treated like royalty here.
At first glance, you will find that this downtown shop has a great selection of teas and British products like wool blankets and clothing, Celtic jewelry, and food items. But through to the back of the building you will find an adorable tea room, serving up British tea experiences.
Roberta, the owner, has a thorough knowledge of the teas she provides, along with everything that she serves. Included in our experience was a 3-tier presentation of finger sandwiches, scones and sweets – all home made.
The Tea
What made this experience so special was the amount of detail put into the presentation and service. The china was so beautiful and the teapots even matched the type of tea that we chose!
During your experience, we were offered a selection of Pluck teas, a loose leaf tea company based out of Toronto. With six teas to choose from, they have an ample amount of options.
We tried two types of tea: the Canoe Lake blend, a black tea, and Apple Crumble, an herbal tea. The Canoe Lake Blend was reminiscent of our time at Bell Falls family campground. It smelt like a campfire and had wonderful flavour that make you want to sit in the woods. The Apple Crumble tea was sweet and had vibrant colour. Even if you are not a tea person, there are so many options; there is something for you.
The Food
To accompany the tea, we were served a tower of traditional high tea finger foods. Not only was the tea amazing, but the food was as well.
On the bottom layer were three varieties of finger sandwiches and quiche. The quiche had been freshly baked that morning in-house and was delicious.
On the middle tier were scones accompanied by homemade clotted cream and jam. One biscuit was plain, and the other was a Georgian Bay biscuit, an in-house specialty. Luckily, you can also buy these scones in the shop, to bring home with you.
The top tier had a variety of sweets. Our favourite was the mousse. It was so good and we savoured every bite.
Overall, we loved our experience with Bell Falls Family Campground and RoyalTea on King. We definitely recommend them for a relaxing getaway in the Heart of Georgian Bay. The hospitality in both places is like no other, and you really get to know the owners and their amazing goals.
A big thanks to Wes and Roberta, owners of both properties, for hosting us and giving us such a great experience!
