It’s not a secret that Ontario has over 200,000 lakes, but did you know there are thousands of miles of rivers too? Taking a Fall break with a cottage rental on a designated canoe route is one of the best ways of enjoying the cottage experience and dipping a paddle at the same time. The Haliburton Highlands is home to the Burnt and Irondale Rivers and rental cottages along these waterways will normally come equipped with a canoe or kayaks, if you don’t have your own.
For the more adventurous, try sea kayaking in the Bruce Peninsula. Thorncrest Outfitters have stores in various locations, and offer a range of options from fully outfitted rentals, to guided trips.
Kawartha Kayaking is located on Stoney Lake, just under 2 hours from Toronto. The day trip package offers a short lesson on kayak handling. If you read my post on getting in and out of a kayak, you’ll understand I wouldn’t miss this part! A tour of part of Stoney Lake follows, with a meander around a cluster of islands. Stoney Lake has hundreds of little islands, some with tiny cottages balanced precariously on them, so it’s really neat tour. This is followed by a BBQ lunch, then a tour of more islands -this time stopping for a stretch and a swim – for the hardy souls in the group!
The price for this great day trip is $85 and you’ll have to pay a $5 parking charge.
Canoeing in Algonquin Park is a wonderful experience and various day trips are offered by Algonquin Outfitters. There is something for everyone with self-guided trips from $18 per person, guided outings at around $50 per person, and voyageur canoe experiences for the whole family.
Rent a cozy cottage and have an active short break this fall.
