A Weekend Hideaway in Norfolk County
Red or white? Dry or sweet?”
This is how you’re greeted when you arrive at Hide-A-Way Hills in Norfolk County, Ontario…and I have to admit, I immediately knew I was among my people.
Settle in for a relaxing, romantic weekend getaway, surrounded by nature. This weekend is all about slowing down from the bustle of “real” life and reconnecting. And, of course, leaving a little room for adventure.
Logistics
Norfolk County is located in southern Ontario on the banks of Lake Erie.
Driving Times:
From Toronto – 2 hours
From Niagara – 2 hours
From Detroit – 3 hours
Where to Stay
This weekend is based entirely on your stay at Hide-A-Way Hills, where the hideaway is a getaway in itself.
One of my favorite things about this stay is the privacy. You won’t find the address on their website (or here!) because, as a “hideaway” suggests, it’s meant to remain a secret. It’s also meant to provide romance, so you’ll have to leave the kids and the dog at home for this one. Only two adults are permitted on the property at a time.
The cabin is tucked away on the back of the owner’s property, surrounded by trees and greenery. You have a small living room with TV, mini-fridge, and cooking essentials. The bathroom has running water and a Separett toilet. But the star of the show is the bedroom.
This space is particularly breathtaking at night. The backlit trees were all found on the property. The king size bed is bedecked with 100% pure Mulberry Silk sheets and luxurious French Linen. You’ll easily fall asleep in comfort, listening to the nighttime sounds of the surrounding forest.
Completing your sanctuary, you’ll find a custom made outdoor shower, a fire pit for cooking (including a secret recipe and everything you’ll need for the BEST s’mores), a screened in dining area, and a sitting area overlooking the ravine at the back of the property.
FRIDAY
On your way to the property, grab any food you’ll need during your stay. Cooking is done entirely over the campfire and you’ll have a grate to use, as well. No outside cooking sources are allowed, but you will be provided with cast iron cookware to use over the fire. This is luxury camping at it’s finest!
During your drive in Norfolk County, you’ll notice many stands selling local produce and treats. Stop by a few on your way in to both support local farmers and get delicious, fresh food! Come prepared with cash for any stand that doesn’t accept credit cards. There is also a Sobeys grocery store about a 15 minute drive from the hideaway for any other items you might need.
Check-in to Hide-A-Way Hills anytime between 3-6pm. Meet with Cheryl and Ray at the front of the property, happily accept your welcome bottle of local wine, and follow them back to your secret hideaway where you’ll find a basket full of more local goodies!
The proprietors will show you all around the property, explaining how everything works and rules for your stay (nothing difficult, don’t worry! Just things like: don’t drink red wine while lounging on those pure silk sheets.)
Tonight is a slow night. Settle in, light the fire, and enjoy your bottle of wine with dinner. If you’re not as adept at lighting campfires, don’t worry. Ray is happy to help!
As the sun goes down, enjoy the sounds of the forest’s nocturnal creatures waking up. And don’t skip the s’mores!
SATURDAY
Wake up whenever you’d like, after the most comfortable sleep. Trust me, it’s tough to get out bed here! Eventually though, you’re going to want breakfast. The hideaway comes stocked with fresh coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Since I enjoy cooking over a campfire, one of the first things we did this morning was start a fire to cook breakfast. We decided breakfast pie sounded like a delightful idea, and warmed those up over the fire as well! (These were also provided in our gift basket.)
Grab your beverage of choice, and enjoy your seat overlooking the ravine. If you’re up early enough, you might catch the deer that roam through there. (Spoiler: we were not up early enough.)
When you’re ready to venture out, grab the bikes located at the entrance of your hideaway, ready for your use. You can also take some time visiting the variety of animals Ray keeps on the property. You’ll find deer, rabbits, and pheasants…and those birds are something else! I had no idea such beautiful creatures existed, and we spent quite a bit of time admiring them and chatting with Ray about each type.
If you’re into mountain biking, head to Turkey Point Provincial Park, where you’ll find a whole system of trails. Just pay attention to the difficulty level. I got the green of the “Okay to Bike Here” on the sign confused with the difficulty level…and we found ourselves on an advanced trail, thinking we were on a beginner trail! Neither my husband nor I have been on a bike in about 5 years, and we’ve never mountain biked, so this was…an adventure…to say the least! Luckily, we came out relatively unscathed. But we definitely know what we’re looking for in the future!
After biking in the park, head to Normandale for some lunch and/or ice cream at the Normandale Century Inn & Restaurant.*
If you’re up for a swim, bike over to Normandale Pier. There’s a small beach and easy access for a Lake Erie swim. After all your mountain biking, cooling off in a lake probably sounds pretty nice right about now!
*The Restaurant is currently closed due to COVID. Ice cream from the general store is still available. Check their website for up to date information.
Once you’re finished up with all that activity for the day (oops, I did say this was a relaxing getaway, didn’t I?), head back to your hideaway. Light another fire, enjoy another dinner, eat some more s’mores, and – if you’re like us – crack open some of that local beer you picked up on your way in!
SUNDAY
Check-out isn’t until noon, so you’ve got plenty of time to wake up, eat a light breakfast, and enjoy one more outdoor shower before you head out.
Once you’ve packed up, head over to Burning Kiln Winery to check out their tasting room and vineyard. This winery quickly became one of my favorites in all of Ontario. The grapes are planted in former tobacco fields and the names of their wine are inspired by the former tobacco farm. Some grapes are also dried in repurposed tobacco kilns, giving those wines a whole new depth of flavor.
The winery has a large variety, so it’s easy to spend an hour or two here, trying wines and chatting with the staff. Additionally, on the weekends, you can grab some food on their attached outdoor patio from Canned Heat. It’s a perfect way to spend your last hours in Norfolk County.
And THAT is how you relax and rejuvenate, but also still get in some time for exploring… because this IS a site for wanderers, after all 😉
If you want to book your own private getaway in Norfolk County, book your stay at Hide-A-Way Hills through their website. Stays start at $575 CAD per night. After you’ve booked, you’ll receive all the information for your stay…including how exactly to get there! Because the secret is all part of the fun…
