Country escape: Ste. Anne's Spa

Curried green lentil soup with coconut drizzle. Pan-seared tandoori turkey tenderloin. Lime and chili marinated tofu. Sound good? While you'd expect these dishes to be on the menu of a famed restaurant in New York or Toronto, the whimsical-sounding concoctions are actually just a sampling of the delicious low-cal creations served up by Chef Christopher Ennew at Ste. Anne's Spa. Set in the rolling Northumberland hills in Southern Ontario, just 90 minutes east of Toronto, the 20-year-old spa owned and run by the Corcoran family is the delightful setting for the ultimate country getaway.

History, luxury and the spectacular outdoors combine to create the perfect spa experi­ence. An integral part of the spa's magic (in addition to the food, of course) is the Main Inn. Built in 1857, the original man­sion has been slowly added to—always with the help of talented masons and locally quarried materials—and now sets the standard for comfort­able spa decor. Locally known as the Grafton Castle, the building houses a multitude of comfort­ably appointed guest rooms. From cozy down-filled duvets to whirlpool tubs to fireplaces, the guest rooms are decorated in traditional country style with an eye to quality.

Guests can choose to stay in the Main Inn or can rent their own country guest house. The nostalgic farmhouses, all purchased over the years as
they became available, range from the historic Farmhouse and Gables, a quarter-kilometre hike from the Main Inn, to the Haldimand, a reno­vated school­house 500 metres away. Guest houses rent daily or weekly and are the perfect escape for privacy seekers.

The day begins at Ste. Anne's with a glass of cucumber or lemon-infused water, and then a home-cooked breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and granola. Overlooking the rambling Grafton hills, with the waters of Lake Ontario in the distance, the sunlit dining room is a quiet respite from city life. Following breakfast, guests are invited downstairs to the charming treatment rooms.