Love golf? Love skiing? Love your dog? You can combine all three at Ontario’s Hockley Valley Resort, though not at the same time of year, clearly. And fall might be the best time to go with the dog.
However, I don’t golf, and I don’t ski. But I do love spending a weekend with my dog in a comfortable contemporary suite. In this case, our room overlooked the first hole on the Hockley Valley golf course, beside a pond containing casually floating ducks. My bird-dog spaniel’s ears perked at the sight of waterfowl, but she didn’t move while we were relaxing on a balcony wide enough for two chairs.
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Dog-friendly Hockley Valley
Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, Ontario (about a 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto) is one of those destination resorts where you go just to be there and – the best part – you can bring the dog along. Hockley is big, but not too big – 108 rooms in total. A select number of the Studio Rooms on the first floor are designated dog friendly. Dogs are an extra $50 per stay and that includes pet dishes in the room and a dog bed (affiliate link).
Studio Rooms feature a king bed with a towering red velvet headboard and matching drapes, a seating area with plush swivel chairs, a desk, Nespresso machine, robes, mini-fridge (useful for dog food), and walk-in shower. Only Studio Rooms are available for canine guests. Note that I stayed at Hockley Valley Resort with my dog for a reduced media rate. Off season, especially after golf season and before it snows, and weekdays are the best times to find the best rates.
The dog rooms – or Studio Rooms – are on the same floor as the main lobby and front desk, but somehow the balcony is two levels above the golf course. Why? The building is constructed along the edge of a mountain. In the winter, it’s the ski hill, which means the hotel is very close to the lifts.
For your dog, the room location means you can exit out the front door of the lobby and find grass quickly, and you get to have a view from the balcony, with a railing both high and low enough to keep the dog contained. Just to be safe, though, I kept her leashed as we sat out listening to the birds, and another dog on a neighbouring balcony.
The Great Outdoors
Ok, the spacious room with sitting area and desk was my favourite part of the resort, but that’s not all we did because if you come to Hockley Valley Resort, a member of Resorts Ontario, you’ll be spending time outside – in both summer and winter.
And outside is great for the dog.
Hockley has two outdoor patio areas – one adjacent to the bar that serves grilled sandwiches and another part of the main dining room area where breakfast (included in the stay) is served. That means I had both dinner and breakfast with the dog, on each patio both within view of the pool.
Trails and Agility Equipment
Also, the Bruce Trail runs along (and partially through) the Hockley Valley property. The on-leash trail is clearly marked for a long hike away from the property. Or you can stay on site and practice some agility – if your pup is an agility fan.
Guests can borrow agility equipment – jumps, a tunnel, and small pylons (affiliate link) – from the golf course clubhouse free of charge. Just set up a small course in one of the fields or at the base of the ski hill. Agility equipment isn’t a perk I’ve encountered before at a dog-friendly resort, so that’s kind of fun. However, there is no fenced area for dogs at Hockley. Staff suggested using the field area by the parking lot – I do not. No ‘dog area’ should be located near a parking lot, road, or cars in general.
Did my dog jump? A little. She essentially humoured me through a simple course before deciding that whatever was hiding in the tall grass was considerably more interesting. Apparently, there are a lot of moles in the area, so frantically scavenging for rodents through the tall edge grass was her preferred activity.
Adamo Estate Winery
Adamo Estate Winery is minutes away from the resort by car, or an easy dog walk if you aren’t too tired yet. In fact, some Hockley Valley guests get to the winery via golf cart. And, of course, Adamo is dog friendly. You can walk the winery with your dog – my dog loves wineries because there are often birds – and then have lunch or dinner on the outdoor back patio. Yes, with your pup.
As the name suggests, the winery was founded by the Adamo family but was acquired by the Sunray Group in 2019. Considering the climate, it’s an unusual location for vineyards. However, this winery practices cool-climate viticulture, which means its vines boast hearty grape varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gamay Noir. So, white wine rules here.
The back patio faces the vineyard, offering a quiet reprieve from anything else around. The large open high-ceilinged winery has a funky boutique-inside-a-retrofitted barn vibe. The winery also hosts small special events, weddings, and the general public – you don’t have to be a guest of Hockley Valley to stop by the winery for a bottle, dinner, or short tour.
And if you are still not tired, or have another day, note that nearby are Mono Cliffs Provincial Park and the Avalon Lavender Farm that’s dog-friendly (check out our adventures here).
If you go …
Hockley Valley Resort, 793522 3rd Line EHS, Mono, Ontario. Pet fee: $50 per stay.
Adamo Estates Winery, 793366 3rd Line EHS, Mono, Ontario.
Resort Highlights:
- The Spa Facility is 8000 square feet (743 square metres) in size including treatment rooms and dry sauna
- Seasonal heated outdoor pool and year-round indoor pool
- Fitness Centre
- A two-acre organic garden and outdoor stone pizza oven
- Ski and snowboard hills including 16 ski runs and chairlift
- 18-hole golf course designed by Thomas McBroom
- Hiking and mountain biking trails, a bocce ball court, volleyball court, and winter ice skating
- Nearby: Adamo Estate Winery, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, and Avalon Lavender Farm
Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!
