New Year Cottage Rentals Still Available

by Admin on December 18, 2009

winter_cottage  If you’ve been thinking about spending a snowy New Year in Cottage Country, there’s still some availability for groups of up to 8 people.  Check our Festive Rental list and make plans for a winter getaway!  Most or our remaining cottages accept pets so there’s no concern about Fido either.  We even have a chalet at Hidden Valley so you can include skiing in your itinerary

{ 0 comments }

Preparing For Your Winter Vacation Rental

by Admin on December 10, 2009

footprints-in-snow As the weather we are currently experiencing shows, winter is inevitable and I look forward to it with anticipation of lots of outdoor activity, Tim Horton’s hot chocolate, and the smell of woodsmoke in the air. In cottage country, we prepare for it, expect it to be tough at times, and respect mother nature for the curve balls she occasionally throws. For visitors to the country, particularly those renting a cottage for the first time, it can be surprising how different conditions are, just an hour or so north of the city, particularly at this time of year.

Following these tips can help make your winter cottage rental a trip to remember – for all the right reasons:

Use winter tires. All season tires are OK in places, but many cottage roads are hilly, narrow and winding. You will need all the traction you can get and winter tires are the way to go. If a rental listing recommends 4WD, don’t book the cottage unless you have the appropriate vehicle.

Keep an emergency pack in the car. Preparing for the worst is always good advice. Some cottage country roads are pretty remote, even if they are ploughed. Our cottage is 4km down a road that is ploughed by the township, however it’s the only winterized cottage. If you broke down or slid off the road, it may be days before someone found you. Environment Canada has a list of what you should have in your emergency car kit.

Tell people where you are going and when you expect to be there. This is one of those pieces of advice we give our kids, but often ignore as adults, but it’s worth the extra minute or two before you leave on a trip to cottage country to let family or friends know your plans. Give them the contact phone numbers you have on your cottage rental information sheet, the address and phone number of the cottage you have rented, and your planned time of arrival. Phone home and let people know you have arrived safely, or if you are going to be significantly delayed.

Plan your trip thoroughly and give yourself lots of time to get there. Snow squalls are frequent in the traditional snow belt areas, and its not unusual to leave the city in brilliant sunshine and find blizzard conditions just an hour or so north. Make sure you have a good map with you, and know where you are going. Check the Weather Network for severe weather updates – you can get these downloaded to your cell phone.

Fill up with fuel before you get off the highway so you arrive with as full a tank as you can have. If there is an extensive power outage due to a winter storm, you may have difficulty in finding a gas station that has power to run the pumps.

Trust the owner of your vacation home. If the owner calls you to say there is a problem accessing the cottage due to snow conditions, trust him and do not travel. These people know their cottage areas and won’t get you to curtail your trip unless there is good reason. If you do attempt the trip after being advised not to, you are taking a real risk.

Winter in cottage country can be a magical experience if you spend some time getting prepared for the conditions you may encounter.

{ 0 comments }

Running in Cottage Country

October 30, 2009

There was a neat article on the Fodor’s blog about running on vacation and it got me thinking about how great it is to exercise in cottage country in the fall and winter.
I love to run, and my favourite route is the 4km road that leads down to my cottage on the Crowe River. [...]

Read the full article →

Bruce Peninsula Availability

July 22, 2009

I asked our Account Manager for the Bruce Peninsula to tell me about some great cottages that have availability for the summer.  Glenn is our expert on the area as he has rented out his own cottage – Willow Bank – for many years. Here’s what he said:
“It appears that summer has finally arrived [...]

Read the full article →

Last Minute Availability for 25 July – 1 August

July 18, 2009

There’s some cottage gems available for the last week of July. Just check our July availability calendar to see what we have open. Here’s some ideas:
A weekend rental at Chandos Hill Top. Finding a weekend rental in the summer is almost impossible, but we have a great cottage sleeping up to 8 on Chandos [...]

Read the full article →

Twin Birches – new listing on Chandos Lake

June 13, 2009

The owner of this cottage is just finishing up renovations and new photos will be uploaded soon, but it will look lovely. I particularly liked the painted wood floors which are in keeping with the history of the cottage which has been in the family for over 45 years. Chandos is a gorgeous lake [...]

Read the full article →

New Cottage Listing on Lake Vernon

February 18, 2009

Spruce Hollow is a spacious property on one of the finest lakes in Muskoka. With accommodation for two families and plenty of waterfront and lawned gardens for relaxing and playing, young and old alike with love the space and surroundings.  We particularly liked Huntsville being so close (just 20 minutes) for shopping, eating out, [...]

Read the full article →

What To Expect When Booking Your Vacation Rental

February 5, 2009

If you decided to take a trip by air, or wanted to book a package holiday, how long would you expect the airline or resort to ‘hold’ a space for you? Probably no time at all –unless you had put down a deposit. The reason for this is that once a hold is placed on [...]

Read the full article →

Moonlight , Stars and A Hot Tub!

January 21, 2009

There is something entirely magical about sitting in a bubbling hot tub under a star filled sky with a balmy outdoor temperature of -15c.  If you’ve never experienced this, it’s just one of those things you need to put on your 100-things-to-do before next year list!  And with a cottage country vacation rental, you [...]

Read the full article →

Experience a Cottage Country Winter Fest

January 15, 2009

Here’s a few winter festivals to warm up some ideas for a winter break in this cold, cold weather.  How about watching world class dog sledding at the Marmora Sno-fest from January 30th – February 1st.  Stay at Osprey Cottage on nearby Crowe River or Mapleview which is around 40 minutes to the east.
The [...]

Read the full article →