Killarney is well known for its camping but it can also be your destination without having to rough it. Just a little southwest of the provincial park is the town of Killarney. Here you can stay on the north shore of Georgian Bay in very comfortable accommodations. You get all the landscape that the campers, hikers, and the Group of Seven got but with dinner service and a heated pool.

I stayed at the Killarney Mountain Lodge at the mouth of a channel to the bay. It’s a great place to get away for a weekend short-notice trip. You won’t have to deal with camp planning, work, or basic living issues. Being able to hike or canoe out from my plush accommodations was one of the best amenities I’ve ever had in a hotel. Just walk out of your room onto a nearby trail, or hop in a canoe (free to lodge guests) and paddle the lakes and bays. What a great way to travel on a photo excursion!

I covered just a tiny portion of the natural beauty here by water so I’ll definitely be returning. On foot, I captured the town of Killarney, and a good deal on the hiking trails. A short drive up the road to Killarney Provincial Park will get you to the campgrounds and onto the trails made famous by A.J. Casson, A.Y. Jackson, and friends. It’s all about the landscape and hiking it so I brought just my 16-35mm and 24-70mm lenses. I didn’t think I'd need a long lens. Knowing I’d be surrounded by water I also brought my circular polarizer. If you’ve ever seen the Group of Seven’s work, you’ll recognize the swaying white pines and outcrops of the Canadian Shield. Not surprisingly, I noticed a woman at an easel on a cliff admiring these very things as she put paint to canvas. I knew I should've brought that long lens!