Celebrate the New Year by exploring luxury in Ontario

Little Inn of BayfieldFirst New Year's resolution: get up close and personal with some fine inns of Ontario. Second New Year's resolution: book a weekend at The Little Inn of Bayfield.

Perched on the shores of Lake Huron - half a day's drive from Michigan - Bayfield is a quaint village that seems frozen in a homespun Norman Rockwell image.

But the Little Inn at the heart of this village is Little Inn of Bayfieldanything but tired and old. It's a CAA, 4-diamond luxury inn that hasn't lost its country flavor.

Sam Grundy, innkeeper, greets as many of his guests as he can - his family has been in the inn business for generations. He often takes groups out for an afternoon of cross-country skiing or biking, depending on the season. "We rely on the quiet beauty of this undeveloped region to entice people to visit," Grundy says.

Little Inn of BayfieldAnd if you're not the outdoorsy type, Chef Kai Bein will keep you busy with an interesting assortment of cooking classes.

The Sapphire Spa is my favorite place though. It's managed by former massage therapist to the Canadian rowing team at the Sydney Olympics, Julia Dundass. I loved the two-hour chocolate body scrub, wrap and massage that left my partner and me feeling like soggy noodles.

If you want to combine your bliss with some healthy stretching and meditation, indulge in the Body & Soul Package. You'll still have time for a cooking class or a walk along the shore.

The one drawback of the spa is its location - across the street from the hotel. Stepping outside when the weather's nice isn't a problem. But in the dead of a Canadian winter, it can be bone chilling after a spa appointment.

Passport to The Little Inn

• 28 rooms
• Year built: 1832 (renovated 2006)
• Dining - Formal dining room for all meals as well as room service
• Some rooms have fireplace, whirlpool tub and/or verandah
• Sapphire Spa across the street
• Close by: wine and dine events, main street shopping, cycling and golf
• Room Rates
• o Standard Minimum: $195CAD
• o Suite Maximum: $400US

The Little Inn of Bayfield