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North Bay roadside traveller’s motels

August 8, 2010 by Glenn 4 Comments

neon vacancy sign

I’ve always been intrigued by the roadside traveller’s motel. Perhaps I’ve seen too many bad movies, or read one-too-many trashy novels, but I always wonder about the secrets that must dwell within these places.

What clandestine affairs and nefarious dealings have passed behind those thin walls and under that blinking neon “Vacancy” sign? What lonely tragedies and end-of-the-road downfalls have played out beside the colour TV and the rattling air conditioner?

motel sign

Star MotelSince the early days of the automobile, over-active imaginations like mine notwithstanding, the roadside motel, motor inn, highway hotel, cabin camp or cottage court has been a staple for travellers seeking a middle ground between expensive hotels and the rough and tumble of camping in a tent. Auto camping is still very popular in places where there is a large, seasonal holiday population, and where business is still conducted face-to-face away from the office. North Bay, the gateway to northern Ontario is such a place.

Lincoln MotelThis is Canadian Shield country, geographically the strategic center of Ontario, where Highway 11 and the TransCanada Highway meet. That makes it a major crossroad in Ontario. It’s the middle ground between the north and south, the south terminus for the Ontario Northland Railway, and a place where people meet and business deals are struck. The city is also a big destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially fishermen who come to Lake Nipissing, often referred to as the sixth Great Lake. Nipissing covers over 800 square kilometres and is relatively shallow, so the fishing is excellent, especially in winter. Ice fishermen come every year from all over North America to fish for trophy-sized Pickerel (Walleye), Aurora trout and Brook trout.

Bonny-Vu Motel This area was used in the early fur trading days of Canada. It was enroute from Montreal, up the Ottawa River and into Georgian Bay, which is a part of Lake Huron, via the French River. Lake Nipissing also lies about 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Algonquin Provincial Park, so there are lots of travellers in the area.

Sunset Inn Dolphin Motel Albay Court

Lake Nipissing from the beach at North Bay

Downtown North Bay Ontario streetscape

Main Street North Bay Ontario

Filed Under: Canadian Places Tagged With: Lake Nipissing, motel, North Bay

Comments

  1. PM says

    October 15, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    These are all great places to stay in North Bay.
    Many of these motels have very clean affordable rooms
    and are easily accessible off Lakeshore Drive.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Motel Not Fancy - Canadian Roadstories says:
    June 9, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    […] Luck fellow traveller. A good motel is hard to find. Here are a few in North Bay, Ontario. Let me know what you find out […]

    Reply
  2. Women's Curling Championship in North Bay, Ontario says:
    April 4, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    […] small city could not pull off this marquee curling championship – but by the end of the bonspiel North Bay got rave reviews for their logistical skills and small-town charm. Over seventy thousand fans […]

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  3. Cabot Seafood Chowder recipe says:
    April 19, 2021 at 8:19 pm

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