In the past, once Christmas and New Year were over, there were all those weeks of winter before March Break and the chance to get out into the country and enjoy the last of the great snow. Well, this year we have the new lOntario Family Day long weekend to enjoy on the weekend of the 15th – 18th February.
What a great opportunity to rent a cottage, spend some time in the snow and get the family out of the city. We’ve got a range of cottages available for the long weekend, many with wood burning stoves and some with hot tubs.Here’s some ideas:
Murphy’s Retreat has an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and private toboggan run
Guests who stayed here at New Year absolutely loved it. The kids got to swim non-stop and when they weren’t in the pool they were up and down the toboggan run. One of the aspects that made the stay so enjoyable was having so much space for the two families to spread out and chill out. At just over an hour from Ottawa this is a terrific choice for anyone wanting to visit the nations capital and enjoy Winterlude.
Twin Lakes Cottage – is close to many cross country ski trails at Arrowhead Provincial Park
My sister used to own this lovely cottage so I have stayed there many times. It is a real treat in winter, not only do the hot tub and wood stove make it a great destination, but the proximity of so many winter activities from snow tubing at Rock Ridge Park to downhill skiing at Hidden Valley give the choice of so many things to do.
Robin’s Point is a great cottage near to Mount St Louis Moonstone and Hardwood Hills for skiing. The access to two ski hills and lots of cross country trails make this is a popular choice for winter rentals. Of course the added bonus is that it’s only an hour and a half from the city. The cottage itself is welcoming, warm and very comfortable. Just what you need after a long day on the slopes or trails.
Osprey Cottage is another with a hot tub and is just a great place for chilling out. Hidden away 4 kilometres down a cottage road, this cottage is the perfect peaceful venue. It’s rare to see anyone else as there are only one or two winterised cottages down this lane so bring your cross country skis and snow shoes to enjoy the tranquility. And since this is another wonderful property with a hot tub and wood stove, warming up at the end of the day is easy too.
Cherry Hollow is in the heart of snowmobile country
We are often asked about skating on the lakes and have to tell people that unless the cottage owner has worked at creating a skating area it is unlikely as the frozen ice will be covered with a substantial amount of snow. Well, the owners of Cherry Hollow have that sought after skating rink, and will be keeping it open as much as they can this winter. Bear in mind that after a heavy snowfall, it takes some time to get the rink area cleared again. And that is only one of the many attractions of this spectacular cottage. As one of last summer’s renters said, “You have to see this place to believe it. The photos on the web site just don’t prepare you for the shock of opening the door and realising you have rented paradise!”
For more cottages to rent for the Ontario Family Day weekend, check our February availability calendar and I’ll be posting more tomorrow.
Technorati Tags: family day weekend,cottage rental,winter getaway
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Heather,
I think it is just great that you profile specific cottages. It makes renters’ lives so much easier when they are trying to decide on a property.
I’ve often wished there was a rating system for rentals similar to hotels. That way you had a better idea what you are getting into. Online photos only tell half the story.
Great article.
Cheers,
Julie
I’m really in favour of a rating system too. I hear so many horror stories of renters arriving to the cottage that was so wonderfully described in the listing, only to find it bears little relation to it. Different furniture, misrepresented waterfront, and features that were listed, not being there….it all adds up to a pretty miserable experience.
The difficulty is with every property being so unique. It makes assessing for a rating very subjective. How could you rate rocky waterfront with deep water for diving, against a sandy beach with a shallow walkout, as each could be equally attractive depending on the individual needs of the rental clients? A better way could be to have owners agreeing to an independent review and assessment by an unbiased third party. Cottages managed by agencies already receive this independent review, but it would have to be a voluntary submission by owners renting privately.
It’s an interesting concept and I’d like to know how many owners would subscribe to something like this.