Somewhere Inn Calabogie | A reimagined motel in Ottawa Valley

Somewhere Inn, Calabogie
5254 Calabogie Road, Calabogie, Ontario

Nestled in the trees of the Ottawa Valley, Somewhere Inn Calabogie is a beautifully scenic reimagined roadside motel that looks out across a lake, and it’s ideal for a relaxing weekend away, with cabin chic rooms that feel like home away from home.

The inn offers a fresh, modern design, with Canadian made art and furniture, alongside fireplaces in the rooms, and everything you need to have a quiet escape to nature, or to enjoy unique wines from Canada and around the world.

I loved the inn, and Calabogie; it’s the perfect all-season road trip destination, with lots of snow in the winter, a huge lake to enjoy in the summer, and a number of places for hiking, biking, and more, any time of year. The town has a ski hill, a number of restaurants, it’s close to Ottawa for day trips, and it’s so scenic and refreshing.

Cozy rooms and relaxing spaces

Two Queens room at Somewhere Inn Calabogie

The rooms are simple and modern, with either two queen beds, a king size bed, or you can book a suite with five beds for larger families. There are 11 rooms available, and they all include Wi-Fi, a small fridge, a gas fireplace, and a cozy all-around feel.

In my Two Queens room, I loved the couch by the fireplace. It was such a cozy spot to curl up after a hike and relax. With sunshine streaming in through the window, and a coffee by the fire, it felt like the best quiet moment I’ve had in a while.

One of the other highlights is what you won’t find in any of the rooms: TVs, radios, and alarm clocks. There’s something to be said for escaping somewhere without a TV, and going a little bit offline. That’s one of the many reasons the Somewhere Inn is a great place to book a romantic getaway, or an escape to find a little peace and quiet from all the noise of our usual daily lives.

Rooms also have menus with the snacks and drinks you can order, or pick up in the Lobby Wine bar. Check-ins are through an online service that you’ll also use to open and lock your door, and you can also find the online menu to order a bottle of wine or beer to your room there.

For breakfast the hotel also offers a simple option that you can have delivered to your room, including overnight oats with fruit, pastry, and juice. And they have small plates of cheese, charcuterie, or a panini sandwich.

The Lobby Wine Bar, lounge, and chilling out

The Somewhere Inn is a small property, with only a few rooms, and it’s very relaxed and laid back, and there are lots of spots to sit and take a break.

The front lawn is a scenic space with a few seats, picnic tables, and a fire pit where they have a fire every night. It almost feels like a cottage sitting under the lights that are strung between the trees, and when I was there in winter, the glow of the lights on the snow was extra cozy by the fire.

If you need a drink or have a question, the Lobby Wine Bar has wine, snacks, and merch, plus local products for sale, and it’s open into the evenings. The team also answers questions or requests by text, so you can get answers from your room, or by the fire, and find out about anything you need.

At the end of the inn there’s also a lounge space with a couch, a table, and a few chairs so you can sit down and enjoy a game of cards or plan out your day.

Calabogie, restaurants, and what to do in the area

Calabogie is a small community, but it has a lot to offer. Along the lake you’ll find a few restaurants, a store that sells groceries with an LCBO, there’s a brewery, the Oh-El-La cafe, and a ski hill.

I drove into town from Toronto, and while there was no snow anywhere south of the area, Calabogie had quite a bit of fresh snow, and it felt like a proper winter destination. I’ve heard that it’s a beautiful place though any time of year.

For restaurants, the Redneck Bistro was excellent, with a nice range of food options, beer on tap, wine, cocktails, they have music some nights of the week, and it was a lively spot. Next door you’ll find Calabogie Brewing Co., with a light menu, and delicious brews. Their Bogie American IPA and K&P ale were two favourites I highly recommend trying.

And if you’re a skier, Calabogie Peaks is one of Ontario’s biggest hills, with 24 runs. Outside of winter activities, they also have a golf course, hiking, a beach, cycling, and a restaurant.

Close to the ski hill, Manitou Mountain offers a 9 km trail highlighted by Eagle’s Nest Lookout where you can get a dramatic view over the small lake below. There’s a paid parking lot at the trail head, and it’s a beautiful forest to walk through. It’s moderately difficult, mainly because of the incline in places and in winter the snow and ice, but the view is worth it, and for the lookout, it’s only about a 40 minute hike in.

There’s a lot more to see and do in the area, and if you’re looking for more to do, Ottawa is about an hour drive away, so it’s worth taking a day trip in to see the Byward Market, Parliament Hill, and the National Gallery of Canada.

Somewhere Inn has a lot of suggestions for things to do in and around Calabogie.

How to get there and resources

Somewhere Inn Calabogie is a 4.5 hour drive from Toronto, an hour from Ottawa, and 3.5 hours from Montreal. I recommend staying for two or three nights to enjoy the area, giving you enough time to explore and relax. It’s also a perfect stop on a longer road trip to explore some of Ontario‘s scenic gems, including Algonquin Provincial Park, the Kawarthas, Prince Edward County, and the Kingston area.

From Toronto you can easily stop in Peterborough, if you’re driving along highway 7; Quite West or Belleville along the 401; or Kingston on route from Montreal.

Book your stay at the Somewhere Inn Calabogie on their website or Booking.com.
Find out about their new boutique hotel, Somewhere Inn Collingwood opening later this year.
Discover things to do in the Ottawa Valley.
Read about the history of Calabogie from the Township of Greater Madawaska.

For more on my trip to Calabogie and the Somewhere Inn, watch the video below.