I love my job!  From the time spring arrives to mid-summer, I spend most of  my time travelling the length and breadth of Ontario viewing new cottages to offer for rent.   It’s exciting to find one that we know will become a firm favourite with our guests, and the aptly named Hastings Hideaway on Steenburg Lake, south of Bancroft is one of those.

With four bedrooms and two bathrooms; a living and a family room and a delightful sun room, this is a great location for two families vacationing together.  The established perennial gardens, and great swimming from the shoreline and off the dock makes this a super choice for parents and children alike.  It has just been listed at $2200 per week and has availability for July and August.  Call us on   1 866 323 6698 for more details.

A sandy beach is one of the top criteria for guests wanting a cottage vacation rental and properties with them are in great demand.  If you are willing to scour the rental listing sites you may be in luck and find a week for this summer, or you can check these out.  All have summer availability.

Wasaga Beach

Wasaga Classic is a new listing right on Wasaga Beach (East) that features 4 bedrooms, Cable TV, fabulous sunsets and a private pathway to the beach.  If you’ve always imagined spending days on the beach and just walking home for a barbecue, watching an amazing sunset and sitting around the campfire at the end of a busy day in the sun and sand, this is it.  Great value at $1375 per week.

One of my all-time favourite spots is Twin Lakes (Muskoka).    The unique aspect of this cottage is that it has a beach on a lake at the front of the cottage and another lake at the back with deep water for diving and jumping.  Facing east and west, there’s a beach for morning coffee, and a dock for sunset watching.  And a perfect cottage….and a hot tub…..and dogs are welcomed….and satellite TV!!  Sleeps 9 at $2200 per week.

Woodland Beach is a delightful spot a few kilometres from Wasaga.  Woodgreen Lane is set in a leafy, shaded location just a 200 metre walk from the beach so makes the perfect place to spend a summer week.  Enjoy long days on the beach and evenings relaxing on the deck or around the firepit.  Sleeping 8 people in five bedrooms, two families can share the cost and make the $1275 per week rental rate a very economical choice.

The Sharicton on Whitestone Lake near Parry Sound has a beautiful sandy beach area, lots of lawn space for ball games, and is available for a couple of weeks in August.  Sleeps up to 8 at $1700

Oak Manor, near Pembroke would make a super choice for rental guests from Ottawa.  It’s still available for this week and two weeks at the end of August.  A newly built, custom cottage, this is highly recommended for those wanting great accommodation with beachfront, swimming and fishing.

Check our availability calendars for more options and give us a call on 866 323 6698 for more information.

Stoney Lake is one of the most popular lakes in the Kawarthas for a variety of waterborne activities.  Avid fishermen will be rewarded by good opportunities to take home some supper; kids will enjoy tubing and swimming and busy workers will love the chance to relax on a dock and enjoy the sunshine.

Just listed are two cottages on Julia’s Creek, which is a little known waterway off the main lake where tranquility and peace are the order of the day. No screaming skidoos or motor boats spoil the charm and ambience of this backwater and an afternoon spent on the dock with a good book may be as active as you’ll want to be.  The creek is not the best for swimming and this is reflected in the rental rates for these two charming cottages, which should leave you enough to rent a boat from Peel Marine to dock at your waterfront.  Then you can take off into the lake and swim wherever you wish.

Creekside is a two bedroom cottage with delightful gardens, a deck   overlooking the creek with great views, and comfortable accommodation for up to 6 people.  It has a good sized kitchen with a dining area, and a bathroom with Jacuzzi tub.  If that isn’t all, there’s a hot tub too!  At a great rate of $975 per week, you are getting a lot for a little.

Julia’s Creek Cottage is a year round 3 bedroom home and is really well equipped.  We loved the sunroom as a great place to take morning coffee or aperitifs; the great kitchen with breakfast bar, and the good-sized family room with large screen TV (satellite of course).  There’s internet access here too. It’s $1300 per week for this fully loaded property that will sleep 6.

Call us on 1 866 323 6698 and ask to speak to Heather who has viewed both of these lovely cottages.

We’ve just listed this great cottage on Whitestone Lake with a terrific sandy beach.  I was there a few weeks ago on a beautiful sunny day, and wish I could have stayed for a week.  The best bits are the lawn and beach; big deck with plenty of seating; the sun room which has a TV and games system, and the big bedrooms.  In fact there’s nothing not to like about this cottage! At only 20 minutes to Parry Sound, there’s all the facilities of town within easy reach, and a couple of great restaurants in Dunchurch if you don’t want to travel too far.

So, if you want good fishing, great swimming in a quiet bay, and a superb  location, we recommend The Sharicton to you!  It will sleep up to 8 people in 3 bedrooms + a den and has a full bathroom and powder room.  All for $1700 per week.

  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

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 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. At this time of year it’s the most tranquil and peaceful route you could imagine. The only sounds might be a woodpecker tapping away at a tree, or a chipmunk rustling in the leaves. Coming around a corner to see a group of deer grazing by the roadside is one of those idyllic moments that are hard to forget. On a cool day there’s little that beats a good run finished of with a soak in the hot tub listening to the flow of the river over the nearby rapids. The few hills just add to the variety and interest of the run – not too difficult but enough to make it a great workout.

If you are a runner and want to get away from running in town; having to slow for crossing a road or maneuvering around pedestrians, why not give yourself a break and enjoy some great cottage country routes. Osprey Cottage is available for short breaks and so are many others in our cottage collection. Just give us a call and let us help you arrange it for you.

Photo of Shoe Tree on Highway 62, Ontario by 1ncognito

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 on the spectacular Bruce  Peninsula this week. The sky is clear, the sun is shining, the temperature is rising and there are cooling breezes blowing on shore from the crystal blue waters of Georgian Bay. We still have some weeks available this summer at two cottages located on the Georgian Bay shoreline.”

The Morning Mystification cottage is located on Dyers Bay just north of Lions Head. Bayside Retreat is located on Mallory Beach just north of Wiarton. Both these cottages have delightful waterfront and some availability remaining in August.

“Life can not get any better if you are spending time at either of these two cottages this summer.”

For availability in all our cottages check our calendars here

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 Lake in the north Kawartha region.  There’s a choice of decks for lazing and viewing the lake down below, and for the swimmers in the group, a dive-off dock. $490 + booking fee for Friday 24 July – Sunday 26 July.

Green Acres on the Bruce Peninsula is a delightful cottage with great price tag for a premium week.  For $950 + booking fee you get a lovely open plan property that accommodates up to 6 people. It’s a short walk to a great beach and you can bring your pet

too.

So, it’s last minute and you’re trying to accommodate your large family or even two smaller families. Don’t despair….Birchview is just right for you! Not too far from the city and an upscale cottage with all the comforts of home.  Normally renting in the $3000+ range, we are able to offer this delightful home on Lake Simcoe at $2500 +booking fee, for the week of July 25 – August 1.  Don’t delay on this one – book now.

Another beauty, Spruce Hollow on Lake Vernon, is now available for the last week of July.  With 5 bedrooms, gorgeous waterfront and its own boat launch, there is no excuse for not getting out of the city to experience this Muskoka gem.  Close to Huntsville for shopping, yet with wonderful privacy, this is a fabulous location for that last minute vacation.  $3200 + booking fee gives accommodation for up to 10 people.

These are just a few of our available cottages for that week – check the website for more.

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 and the water here is clean and clear and great for swimming.

Best features of Twin Birches: The screened sunroom, cosy dining room and lots of lawned gardens for play. The cottage sleeps 6 and rents for $1280 per week in high season. It’s open for booking now.