Author: Cottage Life

Airbnb rolling out ‘anti-party’ technology in Canada and U.S.

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 23 August 2022

Photo by Shutterstock/Daniel Krason

Airbnb has introduced new technology designed to prevent parties at vacation and cottage rentals in Canada and the U.S.

According to the San Francisco-based booking company, its “anti-party technology” is a more robust version of its under-25 system, launched in North America in 2020. The new technology analyzes guests’ profiles and booking information, determining whether the individual poses a high-risk reservation. Some of the factors the system uses to assess include reviews of the guest, length of time the guest has been on Airbnb, length of the trip, distance to the listing, and whether the booking is happening on a weekend or weekday.

“The primary objective is attempting to reduce the ability of bad actors to throw unauthorized parties which negatively impact our hosts, neighbours, and the communities we serve,” Airbnb said in a statement.

In August 2020, Airbnb temporarily banned all parties from its rentals. The ban came in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With bars and clubs closed, people were instead renting homes to throw parties. “This was concerning to us due to both the disruptive nature of unauthorized parties and the risk of such gatherings spreading the virus,” Airbnb said in a statement.

Since implementing the temporary ban, Airbnb said it’s seen a 44 per cent year-over-year drop in the rate of party reports. In June 2022, the company made the party ban permanent. The ban caps properties at 16 people, except in the case of rentals that can comfortably house over 16, such as castles in Europe or vineyards in the U.S.

Yet even with the ban, Airbnb has still struggled to police parties. In 2021, 6,600 users were suspended from Airbnb for attempting to violate the company’s party ban. In April, at an Airbnb party organized at a Pittsburgh rental, a shooter killed two teens and injured several others. Last October, Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais, a municipality in Quebec, temporarily banned Airbnb rentals after a party attracted 500 people.

Airbnb, however, is optimistic about its new technology, which has been piloted in Australia since October 2021. “We have seen a 35 per cent drop in incidents of unauthorized parties in the areas of Australia where this pilot has been in effect. We are now ending the pilot phase in Australia and codifying this product nationwide. We are hoping for similar success as we begin testing this in the U.S. and Canada,” the company said.

Airbnb added that guests who are blocked from booking an entire home by the “anti-party technology” may still be able to book other types of rentals, such as a private room in someone’s home or a hotel.

“We anticipate that this new system will help prevent more bad actors on our platform while having less of a blunt impact on guests who are not trying to throw a party,” Airbnb said.

If there is an Airbnb rental hosting an inappropriate party near you, you can report it to the company’s Neighborhood Support Line.

Tags Airbnb, Airbnb parties, cottage rental, technology

Cottage Life

Waterfront cottage rentals in Canada that guests loved

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 22 August 2022

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Looking for a summer vacation spot that offers welcoming accommodations and unparalleled views? Look no further. For this rental roundup, we scoured VRBO’s list of top-rated, waterfront cottage rentals located in Canada’s most picturesque locations. The guest reviews speak for themselves.

“Everything you could think of is available to you here. The weekend cottage of your dreams,” wrote Pema R. in her review of the Halfmoon Bay rental.

“This is a very cozy place to relax and enjoy nature. They thought of everything that you may need for a getaway, even for your dogs,” wrote Emily B. of the Qualicum Beach rental.

“Can’t recommend this place enough,” Celine D. wrote about the Swansea Point rental.

From private beaches to secret coves, each of these cottage rentals offers exciting features waiting to be explored.

Check out other amazing cottage rentals across Canada on our rental hub powered by VRBO. Click here to explore.

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

Photo by VRBO/Jennifer Wood

Enchanted Woods

This year-round, oceanfront cottage rental is tucked away in a tidal fjord known as Secret Cove. It offers a great vantage point for both bird and marine wildlife watching. Plus, the rental backs onto Crown land, providing privacy and access to an extensive local trail network.

Location: Halfmoon Bay, B.C.

Price: Averages $229 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

Oceanfront property
Internet included
Laundry on site
Two outdoor fire pits
Outdoor shower
Kayaks and a paddleboard available for use
Pets welcome

Click here to book

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Photo by VRBO/Christina & Jay

Stones Throw

Surrounded by old-growth forest, this cottage rental is located on Vancouver Island, and is a short trip to the waters of the Strait of Georgia. Feel free to bring your canine companion. The property features a fenced-in yard for dogs to run off-leash.

Location: Qualicum Beach, B.C.

Price: Averages $188 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

Internet included
Rental doesn’t include a stove
Barbecue available for use
Pets welcome
Renters must be at least 20 years old

Click here to book

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Carl & Beverly

Douglas Family Cottage

Perched on the shore of Lake Erie, this cottage rental has a private beach and expansive land for outdoor games. If you’re looking for excursions, Point Pelee National Park—famed for its bird and Monarch butterfly migrations—is around the corner, Pelee Island is a ferry ride away, and the city of Detroit is a short drive.

Location: Wheatley, Ont.

Price: Averages $208 per night

Sleeps: 11

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

Beachfront property
Internet included
Barbecue available for use
Pets welcome
Renters must be at least 21 years of age

Click here to book

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

Photo by VRBO/The Cobblestone Creek Team

Cobblestone Cottage

A charming cottage rental nestled in the mountain forests of the Columbia Valley, this cobblestone cottage is a great escape from city life. It’s also a five-minute drive from the area’s Radium Hot Springs. If you’re looking for a relaxing soak, your reservation comes with four free passes.

Location: Edgewater, B.C.

Price: Averages $233 per night

Sleeps: 9

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

Internet included
Laundry on site
Playground for kids
Renters must be at least 25 years old

Click here to book

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Quinn Salt

Swansea Point Cottage

Located on Mara Lake in British Columbia, this cottage rental offers a pristine, private beach surrounded by mountains. Lounge on the dock, soak in the hot tub or head out onto the water for some fishing, boating, and swimming.

Location: Swansea Point, B.C.

Price: Averages $379 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

Beachfront property
Internet included
Laundry on site
Outdoor hot tub
Kayak available for use
Pets welcome
Barbecue available for use
Renters must be at least 30 years old

Click here to book

Tags cottage rentals, Edgewater cottage rentals, Halfmoon Bay cottage rentals, Lake Erie cottage rentals, Qualicum Beach cottage rentals, real estate, Swansea Point cottage rentals, VRBO, VRBOrental, VRBOrentals

Cottage Life

Muskoka Lakes looks to strengthen Dark Sky bylaw

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 22 August 2022

Photo by Shutterstock/Pozdeyev Vitaly

The Township of Muskoka Lakes is updating its Dark Sky bylaw in an effort to strengthen it and is asking the public to provide input.

According to the municipality, its current Dark Sky bylaw, which was enacted in 2014, has posed enforcement challenges and confusion among residents.

“As far as the old bylaw is concerned, there are a lot of sections that are more aptly worded…like a policy statement, rather than an actual bylaw statement,” says Rob Kennedy, Muskoka Lakes’ chief municipal law enforcement officer.

That’s why one of the proposed changes to the bylaw is stronger language. “If you look at the new bylaw, you see a lot of ‘no person shall’ in the sections. The whole ‘no person shall’ creates that prohibition,” Kennedy says. Whereas in the current version of the bylaw, the wording leans more toward recommendations and preferences.

“We can’t enforce something that says recommended or preferred,” Kennedy adds.

The municipality introduced the bylaw as a way of protecting and preserving the area’s environment, especially over Torrance Barrens Reserve, a conservation area at the southern end of Muskoka Lakes.

“Some animals only come out at night, and they feed at night. If people have a whole bunch of lights out shining, then it screws up their vision,” Kennedy says.

Lack of light pollution also ensures a star-filled sky for residents.

Under the current bylaw, any resident within the township installing outdoor lighting must use shielded, full-cut-off fixtures. These are fixtures with a cover over the top that causes the light to point downwards. These types of fixtures are mandatory regardless of whether the outdoor lighting is installed on a cottage, garage, boathouse, bunky, or even private walkway.

Searchlights, strobe lights, and lit-up advertising signs are also major no-nos in the community. Property owners have until January 1, 2024, to transition all outdoor lighting to these types of fixtures. Indoor lighting is exempt.

Residents are still allowed to decorate their properties with non-cut-off lights for holidays, such as Christmas. But under the updated bylaw, these lights, along with all exterior architectural lighting, will have to be shut off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

If the new bylaw is passed, the maximum fine for disobeying the Dark Sky bylaw could be as high as $50,000. Though it’s unlikely bylaw officers would distribute a fine that high, Kennedy says.

“We enforce the Dark Sky bylaw mainly on complaint unless we see something egregious while dealing with something else,” he says. “Typically when we find the contravention we will send a notice to the owner giving them a time frame to change their fixtures to be compliant with the bylaw and if they fail to do that then charges could be laid.”

The fine for failing to comply would more likely range between $300 to $500. To Kennedy’s knowledge, very few people have been charged under the Dark Sky bylaw since its introduction.

To provide input on the proposed Dark Sky bylaw draft, visit www.engagemuskokalakes.ca. The public has until October 30 to provide feedback.

Tags bylaw, Dark Sky Bylaw, environment, municipality, Muskoka Lakes Township

Cottage Life

Pfizer and Valneva could soon have a vaccine for Lyme disease

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 22 August 2022

Photo by Erik Karits/Shutterstock

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Valneva are collaborating to create a vaccine designed to protect against tick-borne Lyme disease. The two companies are entering a late-stage clinical trial where they plan to test the vaccine on 6,000 participants.

“With increasing global rates of Lyme disease, providing a new option for people to help protect themselves from the disease is more important than ever,” said Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer’s head of vaccine research and development, in a statement.

Lyme disease: Interview with a biologist

The companies plan to test the vaccine, known as VLA15, in 50 sites where Lyme disease is “highly endemic”, including Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the U.S. Ages of participants will range from five years old and up.

Participants in the trial will receive three doses of either the vaccine or a placebo, plus one booster consisting of a vaccine or placebo.

“Data from the Phase 2 studies continue to demonstrate strong immunogenicity in adults as well as in children, with acceptable safety and tolerability profiles in both study populations,” Pfizer said.

The vaccine works by blocking a protein, known as OspA, in the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. By blocking OspA, the bacterium is unable to leave the tick and infect humans.

Pfizer and Valneva entered into their collaboration in April 2020. If the clinical trials prove successful, Pfizer said it believes it could seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to release the vaccine in the U.S. and Europe by 2025. Considering the FDA’s close partnership with Health Canada, it’s likely the vaccine would be approved in Canada the same year.

This wouldn’t be the first time the FDA has approved a Lyme disease vaccine. In 1998, GlaxoSmithKline released LYMErix, which reduced new infections in vaccinated adults by nearly 80 per cent. But the drug was pulled after three years due to low sales.

Since the 2000s, the number of people affected by Lyme disease has grown. In 2009, Health Canada reported 144 cases of Lyme disease. Case numbers have progressively gotten higher, peaking at 2,851 in 2021. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 476,000 Americans are infected with Lyme disease each year.

Lyme disease is spread through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, typically found in areas with high grass or brush. The ticks attach themselves as people pass by, usually migrating to hard-to-see areas, such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. The tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours for the disease to transfer.

Three simple habits that will help keep you safe from Lyme disease

Signs of infection include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. If caught early, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. But if the disease isn’t treated, it could result in facial palsy, arthritis, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and heart palpitations known as Lyme carditis.

A number of Canadian celebrities have spoken publicly about their battles with Lyme disease, including singers Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne.

“Lyme disease continues to spread, representing a high unmet medical need that impacts the lives of many in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Juan Carlos Jaramillo, Valneva’s chief medical officer, in a statement. “We look forward to further investigating the VLA15 candidate in Phase 3, which will take us a step closer to potentially bringing this vaccine to both adults and children who would benefit from it.”

Tags black-legged ticks, lyme carditis, Lyme disease, nature, Pfizer, vacciné, Valneva

Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: Cape Breton Island

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 22 August 2022

Photo by Vadim.Petrov/Shutterstock

In 1955, Cape Breton Island was connected to North America via the Canso Causeway; a strong island identity prevails, expressed as quasi-nationalistic pride and warm hospitality. Sydney residents maintain a tradition of “going to the bungalow” in summer, but cottage life across Cape Breton now includes many out-of-province owners.

There are famously beautiful beaches at Inverness on the west side and at Ingonish on the east, near the entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. But many small, secluded beaches are scattered along the coast. There are affordable places on freshwater lakes, but most Cape Breton cottagers want the saltwater experience. For a little of both, try the brackish waters of Bras d’Or Lake. It’s a boater’s paradise with protected coastline and access to open ocean for adventurous sailors. Places with deep-water mooring are pricey, but this inland sea is served by marinas in communities such as St. Peter’s, Baddeck, and Ben Eoin.

Ceilidhs, traditional Gaelic social gatherings, are held regularly in many communities, often featuring world-class fiddlers. And if you cottage into October you’ll enjoy spectacular fall foliage as well as an extensive lineup of international and local musicians at the Celtic Colours International Festival.

Tags Cape Breton, Cape Breton Island, cottage, Nova Scotia, real estate, VRBO

Cottage Life

35th anniversary celebration: Times we basically predicted the future

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 19 August 2022

Photo by Ellen Tofflemire

It was rent to be
In our March 2000 issue, we published a story by David Cameron called “Internet Biz Offers New Lease on Life.” This picture of Mike and Jean Campbell using a desktop computer on their deck may be dated, but they were on the cutting edge of a soon-to-be cottage trend: renting out cottages online.

Photo courtesy Mike Campbell

The couple owned a property on Warner Bay on the Bruce Peninsula, not far from the place where Mike’s family had owned a cottage for 30 years.

But it was the 18 years that Mike spent as Bruce County’s senior planner, followed by a stint as the area’s 911 coordinator, where he became familiar with the many bays and hamlets of the region, not to mention the potential of the peninsula’s often dormant cottages.

In 1995, Mike and Jean did a mail-out (yes, through the mail) and found that 17 cottages in the area were interested in renting. They set up a “Web site” for Bruce Peninsula/Huron Shores Cottage Rentals, including an early take on a rating system that judged a property’s privacy with a score out of five. The site was so successful that, after three years, Mike left his planning job to run the venture full-time. Soon after, the couple listed their 100th cottage. The Campbells were able to work from home for most of the year, but in the summer, they would move their fax, scanner, two computers, and two kids to the cottage for July and August. Though that sounds pretty great, summer is obviously a busy time for cottage rentals. “One of us has to stay in the office,” said Jean at the time, “while the other goes for a swim.”

Twenty-two years later, even we’re in on the cottage rental game—we have a hub on our website. Man, you can’t help but wonder if Mike and Jean had the foresight to buy shares in Amazon too?

Ducking out of the office
“The Electronic Cottage,” was a famous catchphrase coined by American futurist Alvin Toffler 10 years before we published a story by Yvonne Cox in 1989 about working remotely from the cottage (“Taking Care of Business,” Aug ’89). Can you believe? According to Toffler, this revolution would be made possible by “word processors, computers, facsimile machines, and teleconferencing equipment.” Well, considering that’s a prediction from more than 30 years go, it’s pretty spot on.

Photo by Ellen Tofflemire

But even he couldn’t predict the effect that a global pandemic would have on accelerating the trend of remote working. Cox goes on to say, “Futuristic predictions aside, most urbanites still do not grab a home-brewed coffee, close the den door, and fire up the computer for another day’s business.” We beg to differ.

Extending the weekend isn’t a pandemic innovation either: “With his cellular phone,” Cox writes, “[Then-CEO of Rogers Broadcasting] Jim Sward gets the jump on Friday evening traffic and occasionally postpones his trip back until Monday morning.” And these early-adopters were already starting to grapple with conflating the cottage and the office. ” ’Why?’ ask incredulous cottagers for whom the vacation home, however humble or grand, symbolizes an escape from profit margins, demanding bosses, nagging clients, and the shrill summons of the telephone.”

The technology, however rudimentary, presented an opportunity that we’re still taking advantage of today: without the convenience of such time-saving tools, Jim Sward said he would be hard-pressed to get away at all. Now, surely there was a 1990 article about unplugging we could read? No? I guess we’re still trying to figure that out.

Back to the future
You might not think of cottagers as living in the future, but as we’ve highlighted many times, you’ve always been innovative.

a man holding a remote control helicopter

Photo by John Scully

Ahead of its time

In 1993, Gary Scott Breithaupt was trolling the skies above Georgian Bay with a camera he attached to his model helicopter. Gary basically invented drones, apparently.
(Nov/Dec ’93)

a man in a bucket hat and a life jacket sits in the solar powered wooden boat that he built

Photo by Renton Patterson

Ahead of its time

Tired of paddling to his water-access cottage, Renton Patterson built his own electric boat. It topped out at a blistering 9 km/h. But hey, no wake.
(May ’96)

Photo by Brian Becker

Ahead of its time

In 1991, David Thompson had the bright idea to create solar-powered buoys for better hazard visibility at night on Kawagama Lake, Ont.
(Mar ’91)

a man sits with a large desktop compute that shows the digital logbook he designed for his cottage

Photo by Greg Long

Ahead of its time

Echo Lake, Ont., cottager Greg Long was doing VR before it was cool. He created an interactive, digital version of his family cottage logbook in 1995. (Nov/Dec ’95)

Tags 35th anniversary, ahead of its time, future, technology

Cottage Life

Frogmore stew: easy summer entertaining at its best

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 18 August 2022

Photo by Liam Mogan

You readers sure love this recipe! We’ve heard so many comments about this easy summer entertaining feast since we published it in our Summer 2015 issue—not only how delicious it is, but how fun it is to eat. We agree: it’s the epitome of relaxed, crowd-pleasing entertaining. Are you making it this weekend? You really should.

Just ignore the name. Really. No frogs are harmed in its making, and it’s not a stew. (Who wants that in summer?) Rather, it’s a feed-a-crowd Happy Meal for all ages that doesn’t—not kidding here—require plates or cutlery. I first tried it in South Carolina’s Low Country (it’s also called “Low-Country Boil”)—a big pot of sausage, corn, shell-on shrimp, chicken, potatoes, and clams was upended onto a newspaper-covered table. We dug in, dipping the bits in melted butter. Afterwards, our hosts just rolled up the newspaper. Cleanup done. In theory, you could cook Frogmore Stew in a stockpot on the stove, turning the cottage into a steam bath. Much better to do it authentically—outdoors. No need for precision with the ingredients either. More kids? Add chicken. Mussels or clams in the market? Use them, and go lighter on the shrimp. (Or not.) Just don’t forget the paper towels. This is fine food—but it ain’t fine dining.

Frogmore Stew

Ann Vanderhoof

No ratings yet

Print Recipe

Course Main Course

Cuisine casual, Cottage, outdoor

Servings people (or more)

Ingredients

For the pot

1-2 bottles beer optional
½-1 cup shrimp-and-crab-boil seasoning such as Old Bay or Zatarain’s (adjust amount for more eaters. To feed eight, you’ll need about ½ cup of seasoning. For larger groups, add up to another ½ cup of seasoning.)

For each person

¼ lb smoked kielbasa or other smoked sausage cut in chunks (125 g)
1 skinless chicken drumstick or thigh
3-4 small new potatoes
1 ear of corn husked and cut in thirds
½ lb shell-on large shrimp 21–25 count (250 g)
6-8 clams or mussels optional; if including, reduce quantity of shrimp as desired
Melted butter for dipping

Instructions

Pour enough water and beer (if you’re using it) into a turkey-fryer pot to reach the bottom of the strainer basket. Cover and bring to a boil.
Layer ingredients in the basket in the following order, sprinkling each layer liberally with seasoning and steaming (with cover on) for the specified time before adding the next layer:

• kielbasa, 3–5 minutes

• chicken and potatoes, 12–15 minutes

• corn, 3–5 minutes

• shrimp, 2 minutes

• clams or mussels (if using), 5 minutes (If not including optional shellfish, cook shrimp for 4–6 minutes.)
When shrimp are just opaque and clams or mussels are open, remove strainer basket, allow to drain briefly, and tip contents onto a table covered with several layers of butcher paper or newspaper. Serve with melted butter.

Keyword corn, fan favourite, feed a crowd, frogmore stew, low-country boil, seafood

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published in the Summer 2015 issue of Cottage Life.

Tags casual, corn, easy, frogmore stew, low-country boil, recipe, seafood

Cottage Life

This is the only way to eat corn on the cob

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 18 August 2022

Photo by Vankad/Shutterstock

Boiled or grilled, on the cob or off, summer corn is delicious. But it’s going to be extra delicious smothered in butter, calories be damned.

You’d think that actually getting the butter on the corn would be a straightforward process, but it’s amazing the number of ways this can be done. I know people who start their summer meals with a slice of heavily buttered baguette on their side plates, on which they roll their cobs before eating the bread itself. Another family I know makes “butter presents”—small cubes of butter individually bundled in cheesecloth which they rub on the kernels. It’s beyond impressive that they take the time to do this, but, frankly, both are a bit too fussy for us, a family with a firm belief in an extended pre-dinner cocktail hour. Of course, if it’s ease of execution you’re after, you can simply slide a slice of butter over the cob with a knife, but good luck keeping it from slipping off.

In my books, the most effective way to get all that yellow goodness slathered between the kernels is the Kelly family free-for-all: put a pound of butter on a large, sturdy plate, and roll the cobs directly in it. There are usually upwards of 12 eager eaters jostling for position around our cottage table, and all are keen to get to their cobs while they are still hot. But being first isn’t always best. The block is still flat and hasn’t reached its trademark cradle shape, a stage of perfection attained only after six or seven cobs have tilled a golden furrow. It’s at this point that each kernel nearly butters itself.

Some will point out this method’s not very polite, certainly by our city dining standards. And, I admit, the butter does begin to look unappetizing, particularly when the husker hasn’t been diligent about removing all those silky corn hairs. But what about eating corn on the cob is polite or pretty? Regardless of whether you go at it back and forth, typewriter style, or follow a circular pattern, you’re going to end up with a good portion of it either plastered to your cheek, dribbling off your chin, or stuck in your teeth. You don’t eat it to look good; you eat it because it tastes good.

Being a large group, my family can unwrap a package of butter early in the weekend, and by Sunday it’s very nearly gone. Next weekend we’ll start a new block. In-season corn deserves nothing less. We have the rest of the year to be tasteful with our condiments.

Tags barbecue, corn on the cob, feast, Summer

Cottage Life

Pack up your pooch and rent one of these pet-friendly cottages in Ontario

Post author By Cottage Life
Post date 17 August 2022

Photo by VRBO/Carl Clift

Heading north with a pet can be complicated, especially if you’re renting a cottage. In an attempt to keep cleaning fees down, many rentals don’t allow pets. As a result, you can get stuck looking for a sitter or a kennel that can take your precious pooch for the weekend. We’ve found rentals that will allow your furry family member to come with you and share in the cottage memories.

Looking for a cottage rental that fits the needs of your family? Visit our rental hub powered by VRBO to get started.

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

Photo by VRBO/Nan

South Beach Cottage

This two-bedroom, wood cottage is only a block from the sandy shores of Grand Bend. Take fido for an evening stroll along the beach before relaxing in the hot tub.

“Super clean and a well-priced cottage. Lots of space and the hot tub was a fantastic touch,” wrote Annie W. in her review.

Location: Grand Bend, Ont.

Price: Averages $175 per night

Sleeps: 5

Bedrooms: 2

Notes:

1.5 kilometres from Grand Bend’s main beach
Internet included
Outdoor fire pit
Hot tub
Outdoor shower
Pets welcome