Shaftesbury Inn in Little Current, Canada

Shaftesbury Inn Boutique Hotel in Little Current on Manitoulin Island, Ontario (Canada).

There were many closer accommodations to the Wikwemikong Cultural Festival Pow Wow (camping, motels, etc.) but I chose to stay in Little Current, ON, just under an hour’s drive to the pow wow site. It proved to be one of my better travel choices.

Shaftesbury Inn Boutique Hotel on the northern side of Manitoulin Island is run by Ossie, one of the most delightful hosts I’ve had (counting many B&Bs all over the country). Her 9-room inn is comfortable and unpretentious, like her.

She upgraded me to the honeymoon suite (officially known as Strawberry Island) because it was available. Nice. I sure didn’t mind the king sized bed, living room Jacuzzi, couch, desk and dining room table. The two windows at each end of the room didn’t hurt for a fresh breeze and natural light, either. Thanks Ossie!

Shaftesbury Inn Boutique Hotel Strawberry Island room in Little Current, ON (Canada).

Spending the August long weekend here was also a good idea because the town is hoppin’. Although I missed all the daytime activities (I had a pow wow to attend!), they had a slow-pitch tournament, teen dance with Much Music, farmer’s market, kid’s hot wheels racing, water sports stunt show, cardboard boat race, beach volleyball and a parade, to name a few events.

I did catch the fireworks display, though, which was fantastic. I think all of the locals showed up for the shindig. Much Music had a DJ there pumping out tunes for the younger crowd, with a video screen playing videos on the side of a truck; everyone else was lining the waterfront, waiting for the fireworks to begin.

The show was great, with a spectacular finale. The people of Little Current cheered loudly for each of the flashy lights and hooted when the last sparkle glimmered in the sky. One gal who was standing beside me turned to her boyfriend and said excitedly, “That was a whole 15 minutes!”

Much Music Party at the Little Current Fireworks on Manitoulin Island, ON (Canada).

What I Liked:

• Little Current is a cute, small town with a nice waterfront harbour to walk along.
• Probably the neatest thing about the town is their 1913 swing bridge. Every hour on the hour cars have to wait their turn as the bridge swivels perpendicularly to let boats through.
• The Shaftesbury Inn Boutique Hotel was fantastic. When I knew I was going to Manitoulin Island, I wasn’t sure what the accommodations would be like, but Ossie has travelled extensively and knows how to make her guests happy. Her family also owns the Rockgarden Terrace Resort, in the middle of the island, which has a brand new spa.
• On my way back to the airport, I stopped in for lunch at Golden Dragon Restaurant (322 Highway 6, 705-869-4477) in Espanola. Sitting down for a five-minute span, I counted 15 new customers come in, apparently, having their weekly stab at the buffet (lunch $8.95, dinner $11.95). This gem on the main highway has delicious food, cheap prices and ultra polite service.

Tags: August long weekend, Boutique Hotel, canada, Espanola, Golden Dragon Restaurant, little current, Manitoulin Island, ON, shaftesbury inn, swing bridge, Wikwemikong Cultural Festival Pow Wow