Rest And Rejuvenation In Southwestern Ontario
With a beautiful country setting, a renowned kitchen and a luxe in-house spa, I was pretty confident that my 2-night getaway to Elm Hurst Inn & Spa was going to be amazing.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
As soon as I left behind the Friday afternoon traffic of the busy Highway 401, I felt my stress melt away. The inn is conveniently located just off the highway in Ingersoll (approximately 30 min from London and less than two hours from Toronto), but the well-treed driveway to the building is just long enough to give a sense of getting away from it all. Once on the property, there is nothing to do but rest, recharge and rejuvenate.
A Beautiful Country Setting:
The first thing you need to know about Elm Hurst Inn is that it is nestled on 33 very scenic acres of rolling countryside. As someone who lives and works in the city, this setting offered an immediate sense of calmness and relaxation. There are numerous trails for walking and I took advantage of a few hours of blissful peace and quiet in nature.
Well-Appointed Interiors:
Elm Hurst Inn has 46 spacious guest rooms and three elegant suites. My room had a luxurious king-sized bed and a lovely view of the countryside. Some of the rooms come with two queen-sized beds instead. Upgrades are available to rooms with a Jacuzzi or a fireplace — an extra that is perfect if you are coming for a romantic weekend away.
The rest of the inn is delightful to explore. I enjoyed learning about the history of this property. The main mansion — a gorgeous example of Gothic Revival style — was built as a private family home for the Harris family in 1872. It remained in the family for a century before it was sold in the mid 1970s and eventually turned into the inn that it is today. An addition was built in 1988 to accommodate the 49-room inn. Many of the original structures remain on the property — the original apple shed, for example, is now a vaulted buffet room and the 19th-century carriage house serves as a venue for events.
Gourmet Cuisine:
For me, one of the most important parts of a getaway is the food. And on this front, Elm Hurst Inn went above and beyond my expectations. The kitchen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner (as well as a special Sunday brunch). While the menus change with the availability of seasonal fare, you can be sure to find something with cheese on the menu — we are in Oxford County after all, the Dairy Capital of Canada! Read about my other Oxford County culinary adventures here –I highly recommend a visit if you’re a foodie!
The included gourmet breakfast was a treat each morning. Everything was delicious and cooked exactly to my specific tastes.
Spa-ctacular Pampering:
The Elm Hurst Spa is a calm oasis. I was lucky enough to have been booked into a 60-minute balancing facial. From the moment I put on my plush robe to the time I left, I was treated like a VIP. Treatments here include everything from body wraps and treatments such as Reiki to facials, manicures and massages.
Book your own relaxing retreat!
If you’re looking for a place in Southwestern Ontario where you can get away from it all, I can’t recommend Elm Hurst Inn & Spa highly enough. The level of service was amazing! Please reach out to me at aurelie@landsby.ca to plan your custom getaway or check out one of our experiences in Ontario’s Southwest.
