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
Archive for: Winter Cottage Rental
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.
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 could bring this much closer as we’ve got availability in cottages with hot tubs right now.
Twin Lakes is close to Huntsville so you could add cross country skiing at Arrowhead Provincial Park, and downhill at Hidden Valley to your weekend activities. This great cottage will sleep up to 8 people.
Guests who have experienced the delights of Cherry Hollow just keep coming back! It’s a fabulous cottage that accommodates up to 10 people, has its own skating rink, and of course the tub which sits on a deck above the lake for fantastic moonlight views.
Mountain House is at the foot of the Blue, near Collingwood, and is just a walk to the slopes. Enjoy the spacious house, the proximity to skiing and the opportunity to just kick back and relax. Oh…and did I mention there’s six bedrooms?
The hot tub at Osprey Cottage overlooks the gently flowing Crowe River and since it’s the only winterised cottage on the road, there’s unlikely to be any neighbours around, so you can enjoy the privacy. There’s a warming wood stove too.
Call us if you have any questions on these great properties for winter fun under the stars.
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 Kearney Dog Sled races are on the following weekend 6th, 7th & 8th February. Come out for a weekend of fun and see the Jamaica Dog Sled Team! Take a break in Antler’s Rest or Twin Lakes or Skyhills House on Lake Vernon.
If you’d prefer to get involved and experience dog sledding rather than just watching, then book an intro, half day or full day tour with Haliburton Forest Dog Sled team. Stay in Emilie’s Zos for comfortable cottage accommodation near to the forest.
There’s plenty of ideas for winter fun on our winter activities page. Check it out and book today.
Valentine’s Day falls on the February long weekend so what better time to take a romantic break away with your loved one, and enjoy cottage country at its winter best.
You can be as active or passive as you want, either just snuggling up in front of the warmth of a wood burning stove, or get out and enjoy the snow in a dozen different ways.
Try snow shoeing or cross country skiing; take a moonlit walk across a frozen lake; rent a snowmobile; go ice skating, or even try your hand at winter geocaching.
In our winter-ready cottages you’ll find warmth and comfort inside and idyllic surroundings outside. Get away from the city and enjoy the romance of winter in the country. Take a look at our February availability and choose your Valentine’s location.
Photo by NMCIL ortiz domney on Flickr
I’m a country girl. The sort that considers more than 3 cars in a line up at the Havelock intersection, to be rush hour. I’m not bothered that we don’t have gourmet restaurants and we just have one Tim Horton’s in town (which only opened last year), nor do I care that I have a 40 minute drive to get to the nearest big box store. Why don’t I care? Because we have benefits in cottage country. Big benefits! And at this time of year, the biggest one is CLEAN SNOW!
I look out my window each morning to a winter wonderland, where the only impressions made on the white stuff were by the deer that wandered through the yard in the night. But today I’m going out to make some bigger impressions. And I’ll be wearing a pair of snow shoes.
Carl Heilmann is a snowshoe enthusiast who lives in the Adirondacks. Here’s his wonderfully evocative description of a day out snowshoeing:
The day was full of wonderment. The air was brisk and invigorating and the sky was an almost electric blue color. The low slanting rays of the winter sun sharply outlined each twig on the trees and silhouetted the snow dusted branches over the shadows of the mountains.
If you have never done this, you’re missing out on one of winter’s greatest activities, and as Carl Heilman says, "If you can walk, you can snowshoe".
The owners of one of our favourite cottages, Cherry Hollow, have made sure that anyone who wants to give this a try, has the opportunity. There’s several pairs of snowshoes in different sizes available for their guests’ use. Strap them on and take a walk on the lake or into the surrounding woodland. Or, if you prefer marked trails, Arrowhead Provincial Park is close by.
If you want to head out to the Kawartha region, stop off at Wild Rock Outfitters in Peterborough and rent your snowshoes for the weekend. Carry on to Osprey Cottage to the east and you can spend hours enjoying fabulous winter scenery, coming back to the cottage at the end of the day to a great soak in the hot tub.
Tucked Away Bay is north of Peterborough and is close to both Silent Lake Provincial Park and the Kawartha Nordic trails, where you can snow shoe and cross country ski. Your quick stop at Wild Rock on the way will ensure the whole family has snow shoes or cross country skis to help you enjoy a fantastic winter break.
Come on…..get out and enjoy the clean snow. We’ve got lots of it!
The snow is thick and deep in cottage country and it’s time for for some fun in the white stuff so how about renting a cottage and coming north to enjoy. Huntsville is a great place for all things snow related. Downhill skiing at Hidden Valley; cross country skiing at Arrowhead and my favourite….snow tubing at Rock Ridge.
Check our Muskoka cottage section for a great vacation rental for a short break in winter.
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
There is something about relaxing in a hot tub – at any time of day! My favourite is just as the sun is going down on a clear day. I love the way the colours light up the water on the far side of the lake and that feeling of inevitability as the sunset is replaced by darkness. It is so calming.
Whenever I go on vacation I seek out a cottage rental with a hot tub. We might not use it every day but it is a ‘nice to have’ feature on my criteria list that will often sway my decision on which one to choose. In winter it becomes more of a primary criteria as the ritual dash from cosy cottage to steaming tub, across a frozen deck, is a memory that doesn’t fade too quickly!
When looking for a cottage with a hot tub, be aware there are different types and some listings can be a little over-enthusiastic in describing how many people the tub will accommodate (at the same time). I have a ‘6-person’ tub and you need to be very friendly with your fellow bathers once the count gets beyond four!
A ‘Soft Tub’ has vinyl sides, is round and generally you will be sitting on the ground once in the tub, although some newer models have minimal seating. Hard sided models have moulded seating and usually offer several different lounging and sitting combinations. Features include different types of jet, waterfall options and bubble makers.
Before you use the tub in your cottage, make sure everyone in your group reads the instructions carefully. Hot tubs require a balance of chemicals to keep the water sparkling and clear, and residual laundry detergents in bathing suits, body lotions and deodorants can result in the water becoming cloudy. Taking a shower before you get in will assist in keeping that balance through your stay.
Take a look at these cottages where you can enjoy a hot tub on your winter cottage break:
Cherry Hollow is a magnificent cottage sleeping 10. The tub is a 2/3 person model on a deck overlooking the lake. It’s nicely private so great for a romantic soak!
The hot tub at Osprey Cottage (image above) has a waterfall feature in a 4/6 person cedar sided model. This has gorgeous views over the
Crooked Pine is a beautiful property south of Parry Sound. The soft tub here is perfect for relaxing after some cross country skiing or snow shoeing.
Murphy’s Retreat is a little different in that it’s huge tub sits alongside the equally large indoor swimming pool. With a toboggan run just outside the pool doors, the tub is ideal for warming up chilled bodies after a few hours playing in the snow.
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All these cottages have a wood burning stove or open fireplace for warming up after the frozen dash back from the tub!
Still looking for a Christmas or New Year cottage rental? Here’s a selection of properties available from CottageLINK Rental Management:
Cherry Hollow – an outstanding five bedroom property with hot tub and sauna and two wood burning stoves. Sleeping 10 people, this is an excellent location for an extended family to enjoy a festive break.
Murphy’s Retreat – this amazing find has a 40ft indoor swimming pool, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. At just over an hour from Ottawa and forty five minutes from Montreal, this great cottage will suit you folks from Eastern Ontario.
Twin Lakes – just north of Huntsville, this easily accessed cottage has a hot tub for soothing aching muscles after a day out on the slopes at Hidden Valley, or on the tubing runs at Rock Ridge. With three bedroom and two bathrooms, there’s plenty of accommodation for your family group.
Check out more winter break locations and book your festive holiday now.
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