NOTE: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means, simply, that I may get commissions from some of my recommendations. That being said, my opinions are fully my own.

The Town of Killarney, Ontario and Killarney Provincial Park

While I do want to take the time to elaborate on why I chose to stay at the Sportsman's Inn in particular and, by proxy, what makes it unique, I'd be remiss not to talk a bit about the town itself, and surrounding area.

Let's cut to the chase - it's the scenery you can find in places like Killarney, Ontario that make me proud to be a Canadian. When I'd been living in Istanbul, Turkey for three years already, and I was feeling a touch homesick, these were the sorts of images of Canada that I conjured up. I keep coming back to this notion in my posts about Canada, but it really took me leaving the country for an extended period to take notice of how special this province and country really is.

Killarney, Ontario was founded way back in the 1820's by a fur trader and his wife. It essentially served as a picturesque trading post, fishing village, and vacationing spot for the summer months. The big change came in 1962 when Killarney, Ontario was connected to Highway 69 via Highway 637. All of a sudden, people had access via a backroad to the shores of Killarney and, of course, that always comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Around the same time that the new highway was put in, the region around the town of Killarney was designated as a provincial park (and rightfully so, I might add). Many Canadians attribute the Group of Seven, and in particular famed painter A.Y. Jackson for petitioning to have the region designated as protected land, and ultimately thwarting the intentions of greedy loggers.

The views around Killarney, Ontario and Killarney Provincial Park were made famous from the paintings of the Group of Seven, and thankfully the area maintains its quiet, removed ambience.

I have only had the opportunity to explore Killarney Provincial Park in the winter, but I do know for a fact that it's a popular destination for camping and hiking in the summer months. I didn't personally take this photo, but I do have the rights to share it with you, so you have an idea of what the region looks like in early autumn.