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Cottage Life

Charming ski chalets for rent near Mont Tremblant that are perfect for families

Location: Lac Dufour

Price: Averages $650 per night

Sleeps: 5

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Waterfront property
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Paddle boat and paddle board available for use
  • Indoor sauna
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Eight minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Labelle

Price: Averages $320 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Waterfront property
  • Laundry on site
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Internet included
  • 25 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur Village

Price: Averages $600 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Eight minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort
  • No pets allowed

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur

Price: Averages $566 per night

Sleeps: 5

Bedrooms: 2

Notes:

  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Pool access
  • Max 4 adults
  • Internet included
  • Laundry on site
  • No pets
  • Six minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur Village

Price: Averages $459 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Shared pool (closed for winter)
  • Semi-detached property
  • Kayak and canoe available for use
  • Internet included
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • 10 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Mont Tremblant

Price: Averages $375 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Hot tub
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Less than 2 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

Charming ski chalets for rent near Mont Tremblant that are perfect for families

Location: Lac Dufour

Price: Averages $650 per night

Sleeps: 5

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Waterfront property
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Paddle boat and paddle board available for use
  • Indoor sauna
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Eight minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Labelle

Price: Averages $320 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Waterfront property
  • Laundry on site
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Internet included
  • 25 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur Village

Price: Averages $600 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Eight minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort
  • No pets allowed

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur

Price: Averages $566 per night

Sleeps: 5

Bedrooms: 2

Notes:

  • Outdoor hot tub
  • Pool access
  • Max 4 adults
  • Internet included
  • Laundry on site
  • No pets
  • Six minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Lac Superieur Village

Price: Averages $459 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Shared pool (closed for winter)
  • Semi-detached property
  • Kayak and canoe available for use
  • Internet included
  • Outdoor hot tub
  • 10 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Location: Mont Tremblant

Price: Averages $375 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Hot tub
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Laundry on site
  • Internet included
  • Less than 2 minutes from Mont Tremblant Resort

Click here to book


 

Categories
Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: Lac la Ronge

A satellite map of 1,413 sq. km Lac la Ronge reveals an exceptional feature of this north-central Saskatchewan lake, which borders the Canadian Shield. Some 1,300 ice age–carved granite islands fill the lake’s northern half. Sand is rare along the granite islands, but there’s a beach nearly 40 kilometres long on the lake’s sparsely populated south shore. Lac La Ronge Provincial Park encompasses much of the lake, and most people lease land for their water-access cabins from the Saskatchewan government.

Because the area is so remote, cottagers usually visit for at least a week; many stay for the whole summer. Also, it can be difficult to get contractors out to these remote cabins. The government stipulates that cabin lots must be at least 800 metres apart or on separate islands, so quiet and solitude are the main attraction. There are about 20 title properties and 250 lease sites, most on islands. This far north, at 55 degrees latitude, summers are warm, short, and occasionally very windy.

The small town of La Ronge is the nearest centre and has groceries, a hardware store, a medical centre, and most services. Cottagers typically boat into Eagle Point Marina and drive the 5 km into town.

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Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: Bamfield

On the west coast of Vancouver Island, tiny, remote Bamfield sits on a protected inlet on Barkley Sound’s south shore. Bamfield Inlet divides the village, with a local water taxi linking the two sides. In West Bamfield, there’s the post office, a general store (with a premium selection of single malts, thanks to the local Scotch Club), and a pedestrian boardwalk cantilevered over the inlet. East Bamfield has a school, a café and market, a pub, and a building centre. Cottage properties overlook the sheltered inlet and exposed outer coast. In all weather, hikers explore the open beaches and lush rainforest trails, dodging fat yellow banana slugs. The West Coast Trail ends at Bamfield’s doorstep, traversing 77 km of coastline northward from Port Renfrew. The nearest centre is the city of Port Alberni, 76 km by road.

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Cottage Life

Cottage rentals in Muskoka with a hot tub

Location: Lake of Bays

Price: Averages $615 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 5

Notes: 

  • 15 minutes from Algonquin Park
  • ATV and snowmobile rentals offered nearby
  • Pets allowed
  • Two and a half hours from Toronto

Click here to book

Location: Rebecca Lake

Price: Averages $710 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 4

Notes:

  • Central air and central heating
  • Laundry on site
  • Canoe, kayak, and three paddle boards available for use
  • Two and a half hours from Toronto

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Location: Muskoka River

Price: Averages $675 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 5

Notes:

  • Central air conditioning
  • Laundry on site
  • One hour and 45 minutes from Toronto

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Location: Lake Vernon

Price: Averages $617 per night

Sleeps: 10

Bedrooms: 5

Notes:

  • Canoe and kayak available for use
  • Cedar plank sauna
  • Laundry on site
  • Includes dishwasher
  • Two hours from Toronto

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Location: Clear Lake

Price: Averages $714 per night

Sleeps: 16

Bedrooms: 6

Notes:

  • Laundry on site
  • Dishwasher included
  • No pets allowed
  • Less than three hours from Toronto

Click here to book

Categories
Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence River

Ontario’s portion of the mighty St. Lawrence River has two vastly different stretches. East of Brockville, the river flows wide and almost island-free. From Brockville west to Kingston and Lake Ontario, it flows even wider around a bewildering maze of islands. The Thousand Islands archipelago is the eroded remnant of billion-year-old mountain peaks, where the Canadian Shield lifts its ancient backbone through the rolling plains of Southern Ontario.

There have been cottages on the Thousand Islands for more than 100 years, and many are under fifth- and sixth-generation ownership. Communities date from Loyalist and American Civil War days, with strong ties across the border. Summer people today, just as in decades past, cottage on both mainland and island shores. They’re drawn to the granite landscape, the rich forests, and the myriad channels, large and small.

This area has perhaps Canada’s richest ecology: five of the continent’s forest regions converge here. The islands, more than 20 of which are in the Thousand Islands Nat­ional Park, attract visitors from around the world and boaters from all over Lake Ont­ario, who camp on them or drop anchor in their sheltered bays, making the area boisterous on summer days. A downside for cottagers is that security along the Canada-U.S. border means mandatory government check-in on both shores, no matter how short the visit. Regardless of this inconvenience, a large number of Canadian waterfront cottages are sold to Americans. Many properties, particularly on the mainland, are year-round homes.

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Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: North and South Shore, P.E.I.

Waterfront property has long been something of an industry in P.E.I., and the whole province is smaller than the Greater Toronto Area, so we’re talking about a limited commodity. The first wave of construction was from the 1940s to the 1960s, and some of these rustic places may be available. A place one or two lots back from the water, with easy access to the beach, will be more affordable, while true oceanfront will definitely cost more.

The north shore (the Gulf shore) is more commercialized, especially near Cavendish, a tourist draw as the childhood home of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The beaches here are protected Parks Canada land. Properties in the vicinity, especially near the Crowbush golf course, come at a premium for P.E.I.

The south shore is somewhat less built up than the north and offers great swimming in the relatively warm Northumberland Strait. For bargains, check out both tips of the island, especially toward O’Leary at the western end. If the price for waterfront seems too good to be true, there’s one word to consider: erosion.

 

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Cottage Life

Buy the Way: This family bought a ‘trottage’ in Muskoka

The backstory: Growing up in a working-class Toronto family in the 1970s, Susana Martinez didn’t have many opportunities to vacation in rural Ontario. “We couldn’t afford to rent a cottage, let alone buy one,” she says. But when she was 10, her parents splurged on an all-inclusive stay at Elgin House, a lakeside resort on Lake Joseph, Ont. Susana, now a 53-year-old client service administrator for a Toronto wealth management company, has fond memories of waterskiing and long nature hikes from that rare childhood trip. “I fell in love with the calming effect of being near the water,” she says.

Years later, she was keen to share those same experiences with her husband, Ben Bull, a 53-year-old IT security consultant, and her four kids. In 2008, they began renting cottages in Muskoka and the Kawarthas every summer. After three years, they noticed rentals were getting pricier: a two-week stay in a cottage to accommodate their family of six could cost as much as $4,000. When her mother passed away in 2011, Susana received a small inheritance that got her and Ben thinking. They wanted a place in Muskoka, which was a convenient two-hour drive from Toronto. A cottage was out of their price range, but what if they got a trailer in the same area? 

“It took some convincing for me,” says Susana. “I wrongly associated trailers with the rundown yards and doors hanging off hinges that you’d see in TV shows like Trailer Park Boys.”

The compromise: Susana soon discovered that her preconceptions about trailer parks were ill-founded. In July 2012, she and Ben came across a Kijiji listing for a trailer in Port Severn’s Hidden Glen on Georgian Bay—what is now a gated community less than two hours from Toronto. Sited on the water, the trailer was in excellent condition and came with a new front deck, as well as a dock. It had 600 sq. ft. of living space, with a double bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as an extension with enough room for the kids to sleep. The trailer was listed just under $60,000, but after a quick negotiation, Susana and Ben bought it within their budget for $50,000. They also had to pay approximately $4,500 (it has since increased to $6,000) in annual dues to lease their lot from Hidden Glen, which also covers park maintenance and septic pump-out.

the front deck of the trottage looking out over the lake
Photo by Susana Martinez

They spent about $6,000 on upgrades including a back deck and new bedroom floors. Dubbing their new retreat the “Trottage,” the family visited most weekends and for the holidays. Susana and Ben, who don’t own a car, spend $140 on a rental per weekend.  

The silver lining: With their children now grown up (their youngest is 18), Susana and Ben realized they wouldn’t be using their trailer as much. So last September, they sold a third share of their lease to a friend, who will spend time there when the couple isn’t using it and pay a portion of the annual dues. They plan on keeping their trailer as a possible retirement getaway. “Having a place to escape to has been so important,” says Susana. “This has been the spot where we can all relax and share time together, no matter what else is going on.”

Susana’s three reasons to embrace trottage life

1. A million-dollar cottage view—for a fraction of the price
Susana knows that she won’t be getting the same return on her investment that a cottage would offer since Hidden Glen owns the land that her trailer sits on. “But it’s still an investment in my quality of life,” she says. “Plus, I wouldn’t be able to afford this little slice of Muskoka waterfront otherwise.”

2. Built-in communities
Trailer parks offer lots of opportunities to socialize and take part in events such as horseshoe tournaments and disco nights. “It’s been great for our kids to share this park with so many other families,” says Susana. “We’ve also built close friendships with neighbours who we even vacation with outside the park.”

3. Less upkeep
“In the spring, all I have to do is put out the outdoor furniture and do a little cleaning,” says Susana. “With a cottage, it can take days to get things in order.” Another trailer perk: for a $100 annual fee, Hidden Glen takes care of winterizing her trailer in the fall. “For that price, somebody else does it for us, and we don’t have to worry about the pipes bursting—it’s great.”

Did you recently buy a cottage in a non-traditional way? We’d love to hear about it! Email alysha@cottagelife.com.

Categories
Cottage Life

Waterfront cottage rentals in the Kawartha Lakes under $300 a night

Location: Balsam Lake

Price: Averages $250 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • Canoe and kayak available for use
  • Laundry on site
  • Less than two hours from Toronto

Click here to book

Location: Fenelon Falls river

Price: Averages $275 per night

Sleeps: 8

Bedrooms: 2

Notes:

  • Canoe, kayak, and paddleboards available for use
  • Laundry on site
  • Air conditioning
  • Pets welcome

Click here to book

Location: Sturgeon Lake

Price: Averages $285 per night

Sleeps: 7

Bedrooms: 2

Notes:

  • Aluminum boat with paddles available for us
  • Bunkie with a queen bed available for an additional fee (see pictures)
  • Propane barbecue (propane supplied)
  • Dock can accommodate up to a 24-foot boat

Click here to book

Location: South shore of Balsam Lake

Price: Averages $200 per night

Sleeps: 6

Bedrooms: 3

Notes:

  • No pets allowed
  • $500 refundable damage deposit
  • Lots of parking

Click here to book

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Cottage Life

5 things I wish I’d known before renting a cottage for the first time

For many, spending time at the cottage is something they’ve always known—their cottage has been passed down for generations. For others, they’ll visit a friend’s cottage or they know someone who knows someone. Then there’s the rest of us. The wonderful privilege of growing up with summers at the cottage wasn’t an experience I grew up with. But after a very long lockdown last year, I wanted to take a vacation where I could safely include my parents in without risking their health. Renting a cottage felt like the perfect escape, but if you didn’t grow up going to a cottage like me, it can be tricky navigating it for the first time. I learned quite a bit during this first experience. Here’s what I wish I had known before I booked the trip. 

What do you get for the price of the rental? 

When we were looking for the perfect cottage, the one thing we knew we really wanted was to be right on a lake—and while many listings marketed a lake—the more we would dig into it, we would often find that the lake was actually a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive away. Other things to note: does it have a TV or any entertainment? Does it include access to a barbecue, laundry, firewood, life jackets, canoes, and other supplies, or does those require an additional fee? Make sure you read the fine print before you commit, or you might find yourself disappointed on arrival.

How accessible is the rental? 

The cottage we ended up renting was in a heavily wooded and isolated area near the tiny town of Severn Bridge, Ont. While the listing did mention that the area around the cabin was quite rocky, we didn’t realize just how inaccessible it truly was for anyone with mobility issues until we were there. My mom has bad knees and wasn’t able to come sit by the fire, as the firepit was located on steep, slanted, rocky ground. If accessibility is an issue for anyone in your party, make sure the place that you’re booking will work for them. 

What is the food and supplies situation? 

The cottage owners noted they would supply little things like salt and pepper, but we ended up bringing many items that we didn’t need. This can be tricky, but if possible, request exact information on what supplies will and will not be provided from your host so you don’t unnecessarily overpack.  

What is the safety situation around the lake? 

The instructional guidebook provided on arrival said that we had to wear life jackets on the lake at all times. Our cottage was on a small lake with no beach area—a dock was the only way to access the water. Powerboats were plentiful on the lake, which could create safety issues if you were without a life jacket. 

What is the rental’s access to the outside world? 

Our cottage had Wi-Fi, which was a non-negotiable for us when we were looking for a place to rent, but the location was hard to find. We had to follow special directions from the owner on the drive up to find it hidden deep into a sprawling wooded area, which made us want to heading back into town should we have needed anything or wanted to explore. This also made me slightly nervous that if anything went wrong, emergency services might have a hard time finding the place quickly.