Author: Cottage Life

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Cottage Life

The art of dining outdoors at the cottage

We love nothing more than gathering with friends on the deck to enjoy a meal surrounded by the sights and sounds of the cottage—until the flies discover our dish of green beans and a paper plate blows into the lake. Without the right gear and guidance, outdoor dining can be a hassle, so we’ve compiled our favourite tips, inspired by 35 years of embracing the outdoors, for making every meal memorable.

Elevate the experience with the right tools

Respecting nature is a core value of every cottager. So there’s something unsettling about using cheap, disposable cutlery and dishes on the deck, around the fire, or when you’re camping. We’re not suggesting you lug your silverware drawer to the beach, but with Hydro Flask’s Outdoor Kitchen line, which features durable materials like stainless steel and dishwasher-safe powder coating, you can embrace both practicality and style without feeling icky about loading up a landfill.

Grill more than meat

A sizzling steak is a cottage classic, but your grill is capable of so much more. Grillable veggies like cauliflower, corn and asparagus make for tasty in-season alternatives, while fruits like pineapples and peaches get guests excited—especially if they follow a plant-based diet. And for unmistakable umami flavour, there’s no topping a grilled portobello mushroom. Complement the meal with grilled corn on the cob, and you can’t go wrong.

A plan for all seasons

Unless you’re dining outdoors in a Canadian winter, something local is bound to be in season. In Ontario cottage country, asparagus, fresh green beans, field cucumbers, and rhubarb all ripen in early summer, while strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, and tomatoes are ready by July. Hit up a farmer’s market during your trek to the lake, because the cottage is the perfect place to embrace all of that freshness.

Keep it simple until dinner

The cottage is all about taking it easy, so we have a surefire recipe for reducing meal stress: breakfast and lunch should be simple, solo, and grab-and-go. That way, both early risers and fans of sleeping in can eat on their own terms, and guests can plan their own daytime adventures without being tethered to the kitchen for lunch. Dinner, on the other hand, should bring everyone together to share (and help prepare) a big meal that lets them wind down and savour each other’s company.

Comfort extends the fun

We love rustic decor, but that doesn’t mean roughing it when it comes to outdoor seating arrangements. By simply adding weatherproof cushions to your outdoor seating—and ensuring there’s enough comfortable seating for everyone, you’ll be much more likely to extend a great meal into a memorable evening on the deck.

Don’t let wind get in the way

A bit of wind is a blessing during mosquito season—even a breeze of 16 km/h can thwart their flight—but no one wants to fish rogue serviettes out of the lake after dinner. If your deck doesn’t offer much shelter from the wind, be sure to opt for heavier cloth napkins and dishes made from a heavier, more durable material that’s outdoor friendly. Hydro Flask’s 10 inch plate, made with pro-grade stainless steel and TouchShield double-wall insulation, is guaranteed to steal the show without getting taken by the wind.

Throw shade at the sun

A sunny day at the cottage feels like a luxury—until your salad starts wilting in the glaring heat. To make your deck more comfortable for outdoor dining, a bit of shade goes a long way, whether it’s a cantilever umbrella (go with the heaviest-possible base to contend with off-the-lake winds), a retractable awning, or a vine-woven pergola. Whatever you choose, a bit of shade can turn your outdoor dining space into your favourite “room” at the cottage.

Stations bring guests together

If your outdoor dining table is on the smaller side, you might be tempted to hoard drinks and desserts inside your cottage and bring them out as needed. But when you’re entertaining more than a few guests, setting up “stations” like a bar area or a lemonade stand on your deck lets them help out by serving themselves. A simple washtub or cooler with ice (salted to stay extra cold) is all it takes, and you’ll likely find that setting up a drinks station encourages more mingling. And in case you need a portable drink station, Hydro Flask’s soft coolers are perfect for filling with ice and hauling to the dock, the beach, or wherever else the party takes you.

Don’t bug out

Mosquitos and blackflies can ruin the vibe of any outdoor meal, but soaking yourself in smelly repellant isn’t ideal when you’re eating. Whether you opt for candles, torches, or a cartridge-based system, spatial repellant is a great way to keep the bugs at bay. And be sure to invest in mesh food covers to keep flies from landing where they shouldn’t. Even better, Hydro Flask’s Outdoor Kitchen serving bowls and tumblers have press-in lids that make them both off limits to bugs and easy to stack.

Give the stars a little help

Those patio lanterns might have been the stars in our sky two decades ago, but outdoor lighting has come a long way since then. Strands of LED string lights (strung loosely for a casual vibe) give your deck an inviting glow, while fairy lights in Mason jars can be placed anywhere for extra ambiance. If you’re feeling fancy, a rustic outdoor chandelier or battery-powered candles are perfect for setting the mood on a special occasion.

Want to elevate your outdoor dining experiences this cottage season? Discover your favourite new outdoor dining set at MEC or wherever you shop for your outdoor gear! 

Let’s make good changes for good reasons. Visit https://www.hydroflask.com/refill-for-good for more information.

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Cottage Life

How BC cows are helping fight wildfires

Photo by Cameron Watson/ Shutterstock

They look like regular cattle munching grass. But for a few weeks in late May and early June, 30 cows and their calves are doubling as wildfire control specialists. They’re grazing 45 hectares of public land near the edge of Kelowna—and protecting the BC city, one bite at a time.

The herd is “feeding on the spring grass, and ideally knocking down the fine fuel hazard at the same time,” says the city’s urban forestry supervisor, Andrew Hunsberger. The goal is to shield a southeastern neighbourhood from wildfires like the one that killed two people and burned 151 homes and businesses last summer near Lytton, BC.

“It’s similar to when you keep mowing your lawn. The grass stays green instead of maturing and going dormant,” says Amanda Miller, a BC range ecologist studying the province’s “targeted grazing” program. During three or four few weeks of grazing cows remove about 30 per cent of the grassy fuel in these grassland and open forest areas—making fires far less intense if they ignite.

The province launched the “targeted grazing” pilot project in 2019 with a $500,000 contribution to the project’s organizer, the BC Cattlemen’s Association. Since then ranchers have grazed areas near Cranbrook, Peachland, and Summerland, and the program expanded to Kelowna this year. To concentrate cows in key areas, the association has installed fencing, water troughs, and self-closing spring-loaded gates so that people can enter the zone to use trails.

Because cows cover rough terrain and work for food, Hunsberger says grazing makes a good fit with other fire control measures, including forest thinning, prescribed fire, and landscaping around homes and cottages. “If this goes well, we’re hoping we can expand the program,“ he adds. “After the big fire season last year, the idea of finding innovative ways to reduce the fire threat seems to appeal to people.”

How to keep your cottage safe from wildfires 

New Canadian app detects and tracks forest fires in real time

 

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Cottage Life

You can book an advanced parking permit for these 33 Ontario provincial parks

Photo by Sarah Tee/Shutterstock

On May 16, Ontario Parks added 16 new provincial parks to its advance daily vehicle permit program, bringing the total number of provincial parks enrolled in the program up to 33.

Ontario Parks initially launched the program on June 7, 2021,  to prevent long line-ups into the parks during popular and busy times. Visitors can book their daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance of their visit, ensuring they aren’t turned away upon arrival due to capacity limits, or have to wait in long line-ups to purchase a permit at the park.

Ontario Parks first rolled the program out in 17 the most popular provincial parks, including Algonquin, Sandbanks, and Presqu’ile. The government agency says the program proved popular, with 80 per cent of last year’s visitors voicing their approval. As a result, the program has been expanded.

You can purchase an advanced permit on Ontario Parks’ reservation site. Once you’ve purchased the permit, it guarantees you access to the park on the day you’ve selected. Starting at 7 a.m., you can purchase the advanced permit up to five days before you intend to visit.

Once you’ve purchased the permit, you’ll receive a confirmation email detailing the check-in instructions for the park. In most cases, you’ll have to show your confirmation at the entrance gate and leave a printed version of the permit on your vehicle’s dashboard.

If you’ve already purchased a seasonal or annual daily vehicle permit, which gives you unlimited access to provincial parks during a specific time period, Ontario Parks recommends that you still reserve an advanced daily vehicle permit so that you have guaranteed access to the park. This won’t cost you any extra. All you have to do is enter your seasonal or annual daily vehicle permit’s serial number in the reservation.

At a provincial park not registered in the program, you’ll still have to purchase your daily vehicle permit at the entrance gate. It is still possible to buy a daily vehicle permit at the entrance gate of a provincial park enrolled in the advance daily vehicle permit program, but Ontario Parks advises against it.

According to Ontario Parks, if you show up without an advanced reservation—even if you’re the first visitor to arrive in the morning—there’s no guarantee you’ll get access to the park as priority entrance goes to advance daily vehicle permit holders.

Whether you purchase the daily vehicle permit in advance or not, the price remains the same, ranging from $12.25 to $21, depending on the park. Alternatively, you can purchase an annual day-use permit for $99 or a summer day-use permit (valid from April 1 to November 30) for $75.

If you are planning a provincial park day trip, here are the 33 parks enrolled in the advance daily vehicle permit program:

  • Algonquin
  • Arrowhead
  • Bass Lake
  • Batchawana Bay
  • Blue Lake
  • Bonnechere
  • Craigleith
  • Darlington
  • Driftwood
  • Forks of the Credit
  • Kakabeka Falls
  • Kap-Kig-Iwan
  • Kettle Lakes
  • Lake Superior
  • Long Point
  • Mara
  • McRae Point
  • Mono Cliffs
  • North Beach
  • Pancake Bay
  • Pinery
  • Point Farms
  • Presqu’ile
  • Rainbow Falls
  • Rushing River
  • Samuel de Champlain
  • Sandbanks
  • Selkirk
  • Sibbald Point
  • Six Mile Lake
  • Turkey Point
  • Voyageur
  • Windy Lake

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Cottage Life

How to craft a cottage rental listing that makes families fall in love with your cottage

Looking to rent out your cottage or cabin for extra income? By listing your property on Vrbo Canada, you can connect with millions of travelers from around the world, and reach those great guests that will appreciate and value your property. 

To help your vacation rental stand out on the site, and to attract families and groups looking to make the most of their “together” time, you’ll want to craft a thoughtful listing that highlights the main features of your cottage and showcases its unique qualities. Renters may be searching for specific locations, dates,  and amenities, but the contents of your listing are the key to catching their attention and inspiring bookings. To help you get started, here are four tips for creating a successful rental listing for your cottage.

Craft an inspiring headline

The headline or title of your listing is likely the first thing prospective guests will see while scrolling through search results. You want to be creative but also descriptive—avoid generic and vague titles, and try to home in on the key features of your property in a single sentence if possible. 

Ideally, you want to have a memorable headline that describes the property type and location. And if possible, include terms from Vrbo’s most popular search filters: cabin, cottage, pets allowed, house, hot tub, and oceanfront. Consider the appeal of a generic title like “Two Bedroom Deluxe Cabin” versus something more creative like “Beautiful Retreat by Lake Muskoka” or “Oceanfront Luxury Cottage by Eagle Reach.”

Be specific and detailed

The main description of your cottage is where you can convey key information to prospective renters about your cottage, and the types of travelers that it would be best suited for. You want to highlight any standout features of the property, mention any house rules, and authentically describe the amenities that would be most attractive to families looking for an idyllic or exciting getaway. For example, is your cottage close to a popular provincial or national park? Or are there many children’s games or water toys available to renters? This is where you could talk about the amazing sunset views, how there’s great fishing, and any other activities that groups can enjoy together. 

Share great photos

It’s fine to take listing photos on a smartphone if you don’t have a digital camera, as long as they follow Vrbo’s general photo guidelines. But well-lit, nicely cropped images from a good angle are crucial—they can bring your listing descriptions to life. Tidy up and declutter before taking any shots, and consider waiting for a sunny day if your rooms don’t get a lot of light. 

The main or featured photo in your listing should showcase the most appealing view of your cottage, whether that’s the beautiful exterior or the spacious living room where families can gather and play board games and watch movies on rainy days. The rest of the photos can be more informational, showing prospective renters how each bedroom is set up, what the dock and waterfront look like (if applicable), and the top amenities of the cottage, whether it’s a hot tub with a view or a sandy beach that’s child-friendly.

Check all the right boxes 

Amenities and location tags are important tools for promoting your rental. Location tags like “beachfront,” “beach view,” or even “Muskoka” can be helpful for renters since the exact address of your cottage won’t be provided until after booking. 

When putting together your listing, you want to check off any applicable amenities, providing additional details where relevant—for example, is it a wood-burning or an electric fireplace? Remember that some amenities may be must-haves for travelers, and your cottage won’t appear in their search results if your listing omits those features. 

Looking to make memories with your family at a cottage this season? Find a rental that’s perfect for you with the help of Vrbo.

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Cottage Life

Check out this reader’s low-cost DIY smoker

Illustration by Jarett Sitter

Murray Shaw has tried expensive smokers at his cottage on Lac Heney, Que., but he keeps coming back to the one that cost almost nothing. “A jerry-rigged thing,” he says, describing the pit smoker he built more than a decade ago. First, he dug the pit—about 30 inches wide, 40 inches long, and 15 inches deep—in well-drained, gravelly soil. Then he surrounded the hole with concrete blocks, stacked two courses high, and covered it with a lid of aluminum flashing. 

At one end of the pit, there’s a simple hearth for charcoal; the meat goes at the other end, suspended in a cage of rebar, baling wire, and radiator clamps. “You never want the meat directly over the heat,” Murray says. A trough of bent flashing below channels meat drippings to a basin. “Otherwise, you’d have a mess at the bottom. Maybe even a flash fire right under the meat.”

Although smoking in the pit takes up to 10 hours, once the charcoal is smouldering, the hearth only needs an hourly top-up with fresh briquettes and some apple twigs soaked in water (trimmings from trees at home). Other essentials include two thermometers—one for the meat, one for the pit—some beer, and usually a few friends to hang out. “They help with the beer,” Murray explains.

It’s been a few years since he and his wife, Aileen, have been able to host a crowd at the lake. In 2013, they smoked three pork shoulders to feed 24 guests. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy-themed party celebrated the couple’s anniversary. How many years were they marking? “Forty-two, of course,” says Murray. “The meaning of life, the universe, and everything.”

This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue of  Cottage Life magazine.

This smoker has all the bells and whistles 

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Cottage Life

Let’s talk livewells: what should you do with them?

Photo by crbellette/Shutterstock.com

Many aluminum fishing boats have livewells (for holding live bait or caught fish) that get water from the lake via pumps and hoses and through-hull fittings. It’s important to inspect this rigging because through-hull fittings exit the boat beneath the water line; a hose failure or a cracked pump housing will pour water straight into the bilge for that sinking feeling.

If your boat is getting long in the tooth, you should strongly consider replacing these hoses.

What should I do if I don’t use my livewell?

Another option, for cottagers who don’t use their livewells, is to detach the connections entirely. An easy fix, one that doesn’t involve epoxy or aluminum welding, is to remove the old hose from the through-hull connection, which will reveal a barbed plastic fitting inside the boat. Slip a short length of new hose over the barbed fitting, and secure it with two stainless steel hose clamps. Then seal off the other end with a plastic plumbing plug and two more clamps.

If you have two same-sized through-hull fittings, connect them with one piece of hose, double clamped at each end. Water will flow in and out of the hose, but not into your boat. Bonus: these fixes are easily reversible if you sell the boat or decide you need functioning livewells again.

This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue of  Cottage Life magazine.

Check out how it feels to go fishing at dawn. 

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Cottage Life

How to check your deck for rot

Photo by ronstik/Shutterstock.com

Is rot setting in on your deck boards? Replacing the lumber you walk on is usually an easy repair. You can even upgrade wood to low-maintenance composite lumber if you’re tired of refinishing your deck. But a new deck surface won’t last long unless you check and repair the substructure at the same time.

Remove a few old boards from the edge of the deck to be sure that the existing substructure will be safe and reliable if you reuse it. If you used deck screws, you may be able to unscrew them, but chances are debris and corrosion will frustrate your efforts. Instead, use a reciprocating saw with a hacksaw blade to slice through screws or nails at the joint line between deck boards and the underlying frame. It’s a lot easier than smashing and bashing, and it will leave you with decent scrap lumber you can use for those odd projects around the cottage. 

How does the underlying wood frame look?

Poke the joists with a screwdriver to test for strength, especially along their top edges. Is the wood firm or punky? With the floor frame partially open and visible, are there any other areas of rot? Don’t trust your eyes, but poke here and there to make sure all is solid. Sometimes thoroughly rotten wood can look surprisingly good superficially—until your screwdriver sinks in. The ends of joists, beams, and posts are most likely to develop rot because water wicks into end grain in these parts more than other places. Also, pay particular attention to any parts of the deck frame with large areas of moisture-trapping wood-to-wood contact. 

Small, isolated areas of rot no larger than a toonie are usually okay, but when rot sets in, it’s typically over a large enough area that you’ll need to replace some frame parts. Luckily, once the deck boards are removed, it’s not difficult to install some new joists. Now the deck is ready for new boards on top.

This article was originally published in the May 2022 issue of  Cottage Life magazine.

How to prevent rot and adjust joists. 

Don’t have a deck to repair? Get some inspiration for your next build. 

Featured Video 

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Cottage Life

Wild Profile: Meet the cecropia moth

By Cathy Keifer/Shutterstock

As May heats up, the huge, dramatic-looking cecropia moth—Canada’s largest moth—appears on the scene. It emerges from its massive cocoon in late spring or early summer. Cecropias stick around only long enough to find a mate and breed, leaving behind hundreds of leaf-munching offspring.

How big is the cecropia moth?

This moth is part of the giant silk moth family; they get their name from the huge, elaborate cocoons that they spin. Big cocoons produce big moths: cecropias have a wingspan up to 18 cm—that’s about the size of a plate. (A monarch butterfly’s wingspan, for comparison, is only 9 or 10 cm.) The moths are nocturnal, and have only vestigial mouths. They don’t eat. Their main job is to find a mate and get down to, ahem, business. Males do the pursuing. Newly-emerged cecropia moth females produce a pheromone from their abdomens. Males, using their feathered antennae, can detect one drop of the natural chemical from a kilometre away.

Cecropia moth females vs males 

Female cecropias weigh almost twice as much as males. That’s because they’re laden with up to 300 unfertilized eggs. That’s a lot of babies! Once they’ve made a love connection, male and female moths hook up for almost a full 24 hours. Then, males leave to find more potential partners. The female lays her now-fertilized eggs in batches, often on maple, birch, or cherry trees. Jobs complete, life is short for these bugs. Both parents die within a week or two.

What do the caterpillars look like? 

A female cecropia moth lays more than a hundred eggs, but many caterpillars don’t survive long enough to become adults. When they hatch, they’re tiny and black. They go through several successive molts, changing from yellow to green. Eventually, when a caterpillar is about five inches long, and fattened up from two straight months of eating, it begins to spin its cocoon. It takes a full day, and nearly a mile of silk. Home complete, a cecropia moth caterpillar seals itself into the cocoon for the winter. Nighty, night! See you next year.

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Cottage Life

Peek inside this year’s Princess Margaret Cottage Lottery

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery. But what’s even better than cash? How about a multi-million dollar lakefront cottage that your family can enjoy for generations (plus cash!)? Lucky for you, we got a sneak peek into the three luxury cottages you could win in the limited-edition 2022 Princess Margaret Cottage Lottery. 

Each all-season cottage is specially designed and built by Craig McFarlane of Linwood Custom Homes, exclusively for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Angela Jones of Lakeshore Designs uses her eye to deck each cottage out from top to bottom. Winners get to keep all of the decor and furniture that is used to stage the cottages. 

As one of the world’s leading cancer research centres, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre strives to make a positive impact on cancer patient care and treatments, and the home lotteries are its biggest source of fundraising. While the foundation has included cottage prizes in its lotteries for years, often as Early Bird prizes, this is the second-ever exclusive cottage lottery it has run. 

Each cottage is valued at approximately $2,000,000, and the winners will also receive $100,000 cash. Check out the three grand prize cottages below:

A large cottage with many windows, sitting at the top of a grassy hill surrounded by trees.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

The Muskoka Cottage

Located on Fox Lake.

A large indoor living area with grey couches, with an open concept leading to the kitchen and dining room.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Main living room

Plenty of space to relax.

A modern kitchen with an island and grey barstools, a stainless steel fridge and brown wooden cabinets.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Modern kitchen

The kitchen island offers lots of extra seating.

A table and grey chairs make up an open dining area that looks into the main living room.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Dining room

A bright space for family meals.

A room with a large bed and a glass door that walks out to an outdoor sundeck.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Primary bedroom

The main bedroom has direct access to the sundeck.

A room with a large grey sectional couch, and a blue-tiled juice bar area complete with a small island and stools.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Basement living area

Take a seat at the juice bar or on the large sectional.

A large grey sectional couch in front of a fireplace and a large television.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Basement living area

Watch your favourite show or cozy up by the fire.

The Muskoka Cottage

Situated on Fox Lake in Muskoka near Huntsville, Ont., this open-concept cottage has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and is the smallest of the bunch at a mere 2,260 sq. ft. (!). On the main floor, you’ll find the primary bedroom with a private ensuite, the mudroom, and the great room with a large living space that is open to the kitchen and dining area. There is also a powder room on the main level and a wide outdoor sundeck that offers lake views. There is another living area on the walkout basement level equipped with a small juice bar, a bathroom, and two other bedrooms with direct outdoor patio access. Also in the basement is a cozy space that can function as a playroom for the kiddos. Neutral decor and minimalist finishes give the home a modern feel that is balanced with the warmth of cottage living.

A large cottage with a green and brown exterior.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

The Kawartha Cottage

Located on Buckhorn Lake.

An open living area with a large grey couch and a sunny seating area in the background.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Main floor living room

The open living room transitions into the sunroom.

A bright room with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto an outdoor deck.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Sunroom

A bright space that opens to the outdoor sundeck.

A bright space with seating and large windows that is open to a living room beyond it.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Sunroom

The sunroom transitions to the main living room.

A long outdoor upper-level deck with a glass railing and seating.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Sundeck

A place to enjoy the view of the lake with a good book.

An open-concept kitchen with stainless steel appliances, an island, and lots of cupboard storage.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Kitchen

Complete with stainless steel appliances and ample storage space.

A large bedroom with a black accent wall and a door leading out to a balcony.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Primary bedroom

A private balcony is an added bonus.

A bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and bench, and a large window.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Upper-level bedroom

A large window offers lots of natural light.

A large room with two single beds, black accent walls, and large windows.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Second upper-level bedroom

Two beds make this a great space for the kiddos to stay.

A bright basement living room with a big grey couch and a gam table behind it.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Basement family room

The multifunctional games table beside the sectional makes this a great space for entertaining.

A good sized bedroom with an open window that has a view of the lake.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Basement bedroom

There is lots of guest space for cottage weekends.

A spacious lakefront area with a long private dock and adirondak chairs gathered around a fire pit.

Photo by Britney Townsend of Nourish Marketing

Fire pit by the dock

Jump off the dock and warm up by the fire pit when it’s time to relax.

A large cottage at nighttime, with warm white lights shining from inside.

Photo by David Kohn

Nighttime beauty

Sit on the dock and enjoy the glow of the cottage at night.

The Kawartha Cottage

With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and 3,003 sq. ft. of living space, this cottage on Buckhorn Lake near Peterborough, Ont. has all the room you need for family weekends and entertaining. The main level boasts ample living space that opens into a modern kitchen and dining area, a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a walkout sundeck. You’ll also find the primary bedroom on this level, equipped with an ensuite and private balcony. There are two more bedrooms and a full bathroom on the upper floor, providing tons of guest space. Heading down to the walkout basement, you’ll find another large living room complete with a multifunctional games table for pool and ping pong, one more bedroom, a bathroom, and a laundry area. At night, head down to the dock and relax by the fire pit.

A large cottage close to a calm lake with a small dock, surrounded by trees.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

The Haliburton Cottage

Located on Horseshoe Lake.

A large living room with a grey couch, a wood accent fireplace, and big windows with a view of the lake.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Main living room

Enjoy stunning views of the lake through the large windows.

A living area with a kitchen int he background, and stairs leading up to an upper-level loft.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Open-concept space

Stairs lead up to a loft area that over looks the great room.

A big kitchen with an island, dark wooden cabinets, and black accents.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Kitchen

Warm wood and dark accents create a cozy feel.

A bright sunroom with a couch and table, large window panel walls, and a blue exterior wall of the cottage.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Enclosed sunroom

Relax outside—without the bugs.

A large bedroom with a wood accent wall and big windows.

Photo by Maduxx Inc.

Primary bedroom

A walk-in closet completes this main floor bedroom.

The Haliburton Cottage

How does a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom cottage located on Horseshoe Lake in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands sound? At 3,115 sq. ft. with an open-concept design, this is the largest of the three grand prizes and offers more than enough room to host family gatherings and group getaways. On the main floor is the great room, with an unobstructed flow into the kitchen and dining area. A sundeck spans the length of the cottage, and there is an enclosed sunroom that is perfect for when it gets buggy outside. The primary bedroom and ensuite are also on the main level, along with a powder room. Stairs lead up to an open loft space with views of the main floor—a retreat when you need some down-time. In the basement, there are three more bedrooms off a spacious family room area, as well as a full bathroom and laundry room. The entire cottage is outfitted in warm wood tones and dark accents, contrasting the many bright windows that look out on the lake.

Feeling lucky? You can purchase cottage lottery tickets here.

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Cottage Life

Throw your dream cottage wedding thanks to these wedding planners

Photo by mambographer/Shutterstock.com

Planning an event can be stressful, and when it comes to weddings, there is a lot invested in making it memorable. From seating charts to floral arrangements, it can quickly get overwhelming—but these wedding planning pros can help you bring your vision to life and take care of the details. And bonus: they’re all located in cottage country, so you can make your lakeside wedding dreams come true. 

Refined Wild Intimate Wedding & Events in Bracebridge

If your wedding is on the smaller side, Refined Wild is a great option, offering everything from day-of coordination (starting at $1,400) to full wedding planning (starting at $4,800). If you’re unsure what your needs are, Refined Wild owner Ainsley welcomes inquiries and phone consultations.

Madeline Hockley Weddings in Gravenhurst

Madeline Hockley, another seasoned professional in Muskoka, has an array of planning services, including day-of (starting at $2,000) and full planning (starting at $4,500). Beyond that, there are partial planning options, which kick off about two months before your event, and even intimate and/or elopement options for a guest list under 25.

Primp & Pop Event Co. in Muskoka 

‘Micro’ or ‘pop-up’ weddings have become household terms through the pandemic, as anyone who has planned (or had to re-plan) a wedding over these past two years knows. And sometimes scaling down the guest list is the only option or the preferred way to go. Primp & Pop specializes in intimate weddings for under 20 (starting at $8,995) or elopements (starting at $3,800), with various service and planning options. 

Morgan Jennings Events in Port Carling

For a classic cottage, rustic vibe, Morgan Jennings is a Muskoka area wedding planner with three tiers of packages: event management (starting at $2,500), partial package (starting at $3,999), and the full package (starting at $5,999). 

Wheelhouse Event Company in Peterborough

Serving the Peterborough area, Wheelhouse Event Co. offers everything from proposal help to full wedding planning, ranging from day-of (starting at $650) to full packages (starting at $1,500). Add-on services are available, like help with marriage documents, custom invitations, and more.

The Style Co. in Prince Edward County

Part wedding planning service, part design firm, The Style Co. is based in Toronto but can serve clients getting married in the PEC region. They create unique, modern designs for weddings, with services from day-of coordination (starting at $1,300) to complete planning (starting at $3,500). 

Classic Affairs by Jenna near Simcoe County

This wedding planning company serves a variety of areas, including the GTA as well as Simcoe County. From day-of planning/coordinating (starting at $2,25) to full planning (starting at $5,500), Classic Affairs will make your Pinterest boards come to life.

Weddings by Miranda in St. Catharines

This planning company works out of the Niagara, Hamilton, and GTA regions, and it offers affordable options for express ($550; $250-475 for decor-only) and day-of wedding coordination ($850-$950), depending on your specific needs and the style of your day.

DIY planners

Whether wedding planning isn’t in your budget, or you just prefer to do it yourself, there are tons of great resources out there to help every step of the way (Brides.com has many suggestions for wedding planning books, that they usually update yearly). Here are a few to keep in mind:

The Wedding Planner & Organizer by Mindy Weiss

Front cover of The Wedding Planner & Organizer by Mindy Weiss
Photo by Mandy Weiss

This highly rated, cult favourite book by event expert Mindy Weiss is a go-to for those looking to start the planning process on their own. It even comes with built-in organization for your files, business cards, menus, and more.

The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer by Jessica Bishop

Front cover of The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer by Jessica Bishop
Photo by Jessica Bishop

Budgets are crucial to help you stay on track, and if you need some extra help in that regard, this book is a good call. It gives insider tips about the industry and helps you build out your specific vision based on your personal budget.

A Practical Wedding Planner by Meg Keene

Front cover of A Practical Wedding Planner by Meg Keene
Photo by Meg Keene

Another highly rated favourite, this book is written by the founder of A Practical Wedding and helps those who might be feeling overwhelmed or just don’t know where to start with the process—it covers the essentials and has it all laid out.