When you envision a celebrity holiday hotspot, the Canadian lakes are probably not what comes to mind. You’re more likely to conjure up mental images of Italian palazzos, yachts on the Côte d’Azur or second homes in Malibu. But it turns out that Lake Como’s got competition, because Lake Muskoka is where it’s at right now. Or at least, that’s the Beckhams’ sentiment — shared by a host of their famous friends.
For the past few days, David, Victoria and co. have been merrily posting from the Ontarian township, sharing videos of their family water skiing, wakesurfing and barefoot skiing (a kind of water sport where you hang from a boat and try to walk on water). They also appear to have made friends with fellow celebrity Austin Butler, who was spotted alongside David and Cruz Beckham helping to lift a fallen tree from a blocked road in the area. Quite the meet cute.
The newfound friendship makes more sense than you’d expect, given that Muskoka is a long-time favourite holiday destination of supermodel Cindy Crawford, the mother of Kaia Gerber, who is dating Austin Butler. "You’re the real you up here,” Crawford once told Vogue of Muskoka. “You never have your game face on, your party face. When you’re getting dragged behind a boat on an inner tube, it’s hard to have much of a facade.”
It’s also an area beloved by Justin and Hayley Bieber, Tom Hanks, Simu Liu, Mark Wahlberg and Goldie Hawn for its secluded natural beauty, outdoor pursuits and extravagant, sprawling lake houses. It happens, as well, to be the setting for Meet Me at the Lake, the Canadian novel by Carley Fortune that Harry and Meghan are reportedly planning to turn into a film with Netflix.
So how exactly does one holiday like the Beckhams? Here’s the lowdown on the Muskoka Lakes, aka the ‘Hamptons of the North’.
Where to stay
Many celebrities who regularly visit the Muskokan Lakes own a property on Lake Joseph, known in the area as ‘Billionaire’s Row’ because of its appeal to celebrities and the wealthy elite. Properties range from an achievable £2.8 million for a cottage to $28 million for a full “estate,” comprising nine bedrooms, a private jetty and “cathedral ceilings” in the principal residence.
Lake Joseph is one of the three major Muskoka lakes (the others are Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka) and the properties that line its shores are typically bigger, with more space for boats and water sport equipment, as well as an increased level of privacy.
However, Lake Muskoka itself appears to be the Beckhams first choice, and it’s no less pricey. One estate on the Boyd Bay area of the lake was recently put up for sale for a whopping £15.4 million. The estate, which sprawls across 8.36 acres, features two lake houses, two boathouses, seven bedrooms and enough space for seven boats - lest anyone feel left out.
For a more accessible stay, there’s a wealth of appealing Airbnbs that offer a slice of luxury. One expansive, glass-panelled cottage near Lake Muskoka with a hot tub and firepit is available from £243 a night in September, or £205 a night if you’re willing to stay later in the year. Or there’s a fully-equipped lakeside dome with stunning views, on account of it being transparent, available from £115 a night in September.
As for hotels, most look like they’re straight out of Groundhog Day, so you may be better off with a rental.
Where to eat
When you’re done windsurfing or drinking wine on a boat, head for food in Port Carling, known as “the hub of the lakes”. There isn’t much in the way of fine dining, though the Sherwood Inn comes highly recommended.
It’s likely that Posh and Becks employ a private chef during their visits, especially considering that cookery-loving Brooklyn has been absent from their most recent family holiday. The couple used to employ Canadian chef Chris Irving to cook for them, back in the 2010s, though it’s unknown if he still occupies this role.
Gravenhurst, at the bottom of Lake Muskoka, offers for more dining options. Enjoy fresh, lake-caught fish at Dock of the Bay and Canadian classic comfort food at the local café, Well Fed. If you want high-end dining, your best bet is Tall Trees, a restaurant in Huntsville (a 30 minute drive from Muskoka), which offers refined seafood dishes, such as lemon tarragon cream mussels or confit duck leg with a Canadian blueberry gastrique, which can be paired with local wines.
A celebrity food recommendation for Lake Muskoka comes from Goldie Hawn, who recommended Canadian chain Tim Horton’s - basically like a Canadian Wendy’s - for its coffee. Thanks, Goldie.
What to do
As Cindy Crawford made clear, the Muskoka lakes are for doing — not for chilling. This is the place to try out every water sport under the sun, no matter whether you’re good at it or not. The Beckhams’ Instagram stories have shown David successfully trying his hand at wakesurfing, where a rider mounts a surfboard attached to the back of a speedboat, and Victoria deftly navigating the world of waterskiing (much the same, but with skis instead of a surfboard).
18-year-old Cruz, Beckham’s youngest son, was not as much of a natural when he attempted the difficult sport of barefoot skiing, taking some pretty hard hits from the water before he was knocked under the surface. David Beckham posted a video of the incident, captioning it “This has to hurt,” with a slew of laughing emojis, before pointing out that Cruz incorrectly followed the barefoot skiing instructions.
The Muskoka area was initially popular with fishermen, with Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka proving great fishing spots, ripe with trophy-sized lake trout, walleye and northern pike, according to local fishing enthusiasts. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is also a popular lake activity, as well as luxury boat cruises with wine tasting and charcuterie boards laid on.
All in all, it’s the holiday for you if you’re a thrill-seeker with a love of the outdoors. We didn’t peg Posh Spice for the type, but she seems to be having the time of her life. Sporty Spice, she’s coming to take your title!
