Fell in love with Muskoka while watching Amazon Prime’s Sterling Point? Good news: the lakes, towns, marinas and cottage-country lifestyle you see throughout the series are very real.
The Prime Video series was filmed in Ontario, Canada, with Muskoka playing a starring role. Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph are all featured, along with recognizable Muskoka locations including Mortimer’s Point Marina and Port Carling.
Here’s how to plan your own Sterling Point-inspired getaway.
First, Where is Muskoka?
Muskoka is Ontario’s famous cottage country, located approximately two hours north of Toronto by car. The region is home to more than 1,600 lakes and communities, including Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Port Carling, Bala, Baysville, Dorset and Georgian Bay.
If you’re coming from the U.S. or overseas, Toronto is the easiest gateway, and getting from Toronto to Muskoka is easier than you might think.
Getting to Muskoka from Toronto
Drive: Renting a car is one of the easiest ways to explore Muskoka. From Toronto, plan for approximately two hours to reach southern Muskoka, with additional driving time depending on where you’re staying.
Fly: Want the full Sterling Point arrival? Cottage Air offers private floatplane charters from Toronto to Muskoka. Flights can take you from downtown Toronto to Muskoka Airport — or even directly to a dock — in under 45 minutes.
Air Canada Landline: Visitors flying with Air Canada can now book Muskoka Airport (YQA) as part of their itinerary. Air Canada’s Landline service connects Toronto Pearson with Muskoka Airport by premium motorcoach twice daily, with the Muskoka connection included when booked as part of an eligible Air Canada itinerary.
Bus: Ontario Northland offers year-round service between Toronto and Muskoka, with stops in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville. FlixBus also offers seasonal service from Toronto Union Station and Toronto Pearson to Muskoka.
Stay and Live the Cottage-Country Life
You don’t need to own an island to experience Muskoka.
There are 100+ places to stay throughout the region, ranging from waterfront cottage resorts and traditional lodges to full-service resorts, hotels, motels, boutique properties and cottage rentals.
For the full Sterling Point feeling, look for a waterfront stay where you can start your morning on the dock, swim in the lake and watch the sunset from a Muskoka chair.
Explore 100+ places to stay in Muskoka
Visit the Muskoka You Saw in Sterling Point
Mortimer’s Point Marina
One of the most recognizable locations from the series is Mortimer’s Point Marina on Lake Muskoka, between Port Carling and Bala. The marina and its distinctive bridge appear prominently in the series.
Please note that while Mortimer’s is a working marina that visitors can stop at, the bridge featured in the show is not accessible to the public to stand on. But you can stop by for an ice cream or a Pilates class.
Explore Port Carling
Fans will also recognize shots of downtown Port Carling. Located where Lake Muskoka meets Lake Rosseau, Port Carling makes an ideal stop on a Sterling Point road trip.
Walk downtown, browse the shops, grab lunch or coffee and watch the boats pass through the locks.
For a café stop, try York & Mason in the heart of Port Carling, or travel a little further to Jack & Stella in Bala for a dockside coffee.
Visit Rosseau
You hear Rosseau mentioned throughout Sterling Point, and yes, it’s real.
The small village sits at the top of Lake Rosseau and is a great addition to a Muskoka road trip. Wander the village, visit its shops and get out on the lake to understand why Lake Rosseau, Lake Joseph and Lake Muskoka are such a huge part of life here.
Get on the Water
This one is essential.
Boats aren’t just transportation in Sterling Point — they’re part of the Muskoka lifestyle. Renting a boat, canoe, or kayak gives you an entirely different view of the region’s islands, historic cottages, granite shorelines and endless lake scenery.
Local rental options include Muskoka Marinas, Muskoka Boat Rentals, Summer Water Sports, Walker’s Point Marina and more. If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, sightseeing cruises are another easy way to experience Muskoka from the water.
Explore boating and cruises in Muskoka
Find Your Muskoka Café
Coffee, bakeries and casual stops are part of a proper cottage-country day.
Muskoka has independent cafés and bakeries throughout Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Bala, Port Carling and the surrounding communities. Make a morning of it: grab a coffee and something baked, browse the shops and then head for the lake.
Go Thrift Shopping
Yes, you can recreate the thrift-shopping side of Sterling Point, too.
Muskoka’s towns are filled with independent shops, vintage finds, antique stores and second-hand treasures. Don’t miss Daughter’s of Indie in Downtown Bracebridge.
Spend a Night at The Kee to Bala
If you’re looking for the real-life version of a Muskoka summer night out, put The KEE to Bala on your list.
The legendary waterfront concert venue has been a Muskoka summer tradition since 1942 and has hosted generations of performers, from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington to Rush and Blue Rodeo.
Catch a summer concert, explore downtown Bala and see another side of Muskoka after the sun goes down.
Plan Your Own Sterling Point Getaway
You won’t find Sterling Point on a map. But you can find the lakes, boating, small towns, cottage resorts, docks and summer traditions that inspired it.
Come for a weekend or stay for a week. Rent a cottage, book a resort, get out on the water, explore Port Carling and Rosseau, catch a concert at The Kee and see the Muskoka that made its way onto screens around the world.
Come see the magic of Muskoka.
