Normaway Inn and Cabins

Description:

• Down a drive lined with Scotch pines, the Normaway is a throwback. It was built in 1928 and has been run by the same family since the 1940s; while it might have once been the sort of place you would run into gentlemen anglers dressed in tweed, it's neither a fishing resort nor a truly luxury getaway today. Instead, it appeals to families and honeymooners interested in fresh air, the sounds of crickets, the strain of pipes, and nothing more. Nine of the rooms on the 200-hectare (494-acre) property are situated in the main lodge; the first-floor rooms, which are larger and have corner windows for better ventilation, are probably best here. The cottages, with hardwood floors and spare interiors, are spread around the property but an easy walk to the main lodge. The oldest of these cottages were built in the 1940s and are a bit smaller and rougher around the edges; eight newer cottages have Jacuzzis, all but two have wood stoves, and some have two bedrooms. The dining room, decorated in a simple country farmhouse style, is known for its salmon and lamb, which is raised specially for the inn about 16km (10 miles) away. (No, those sheep wandering the property are not destined for your dinner plate.) The Normaway's strong suit is its laid-back evening entertainment, with events ranging from films to live performances -- Acadian music, storytelling, local fiddling, and the like. A weekly square dance, held in the inn's barn, attracts hundreds of locals and tourists alike; there's a small fee to attend.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010