Escape, relax & unwind at our beautiful recently updated family cottage with nautical inspired motifs and vast gorgeous views overlooking Trading Bay on Lake of Bays in the District of Muskoka near Dorset, Ontario.
The cottage is a bungalow with 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms including 1 king bed and 2 queen beds with high quality linens.
Note that a twin bed with trundle (effectively 2 twin beds) is additionally found in the accompanying cedar bunkie, however Lake of Bays Municipality bylaws do not allow the use of bunkies as part of short term rentals.
The cottage is equipped with the enjoyment and comfort of families in mind. The main room is an open concept living space with vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows providing plenty of natural light and uniquely stunning long lake views. The kitchen is fully stocked and has stainless steel appliances, including dishwasher, microwave, double oven and large fridge. The living room includes a gas fireplace, smart TV with Fire Stick (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon prime, etc) and Bang and Olufsen sound system. The large deck, dock, screened 3 season Muskoka room, and Weber BBQ encourage taking full advantage of the beautiful outdoor surroundings.
The cottage is tucked away in the woods with ample parking for five vehicles and has a carport. A scenic private road will bring you to a long driveway that will lead you to the secluded nearly 1 acre property. The property boasts 150 feet of waterfront with shallow hard-packed sand entry and crystal-clear water that is perfect for young children, swimming and launching watercrafts, as well as deeper water off the dock and swim raft. There is a small beach (depending on water levels) to the left of the dock. Various colourful perennials will welcome you to the garden at different times throughout the seasons. Watch the several hummingbirds that visit our gardens daily from the deck during summer months when the red bee balm flowers are blooming.
Lakefront Muskoka chairs, side tables and lounge chairs line the dock for your comfort as you soak in the sun and breathtaking views. Landscape and post lights facilitate the use of the dock at night. Enjoy the lakeside fire pit and seating for evenings roasting marshmallows and sausages. A cedar playground (play rated for ages 2-14) and sand box at the front of the property are a delight for our younger guests.
The walkout basement with large garage door opening towards the lake provides convenient access to paddles, life jackets, additional water toys, a Joola ping pong and FAS gitoni/foosball table, as well as a custom built cedar sauna.
LOCATION
Lake of Bays is the second largest lake in Muskoka and is surrounded by 4 lovely towns (Baysville, Dorset, Dwight and Huntsville) that are all within 15-30 mins of one another. The lake is known for its crystal-clear pristine waters that are fed from the Algonquin watershed via the Oxtongue and Hollow rivers. The lake is superb for boating, water sports and fishing, and it additionally is in close proximity to several renowned provincial parks including Algonquin, Arrowhead and Oxtongue River – Ragged Falls. Fish species in Lake of Bays include lake trout, walleye, large-, smallmouth and rock bass, pike, perch, whitefish, brook trout, and bluegill. Kids will enjoy easily catching rock bass off the dock.
Although many sections of Lake of Bays can get choppy or busy with boat traffic, our cottage is tucked away in a calm and peaceful cove on the still waters of Trading Bay far from the main boating waterways, making it ideally situated for relaxation, swimming and water sports. Between our shallow hard-packed sand entry waterfront, dock and swim raft you'll find different depths of clear weedless water for enjoyment by everyone in your family or group.
The surrounding picturesque rolling hills of Canadian Shield with boreal/mixed forests and close proximity (~250 meters) to Paint Lake Creek (allowing boat access to Paint Lake) provide unique hiking, watercraft/boating, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities (see photos).
Take nature hikes or forage for mushrooms along our private road or into the woods of the surrounding hills. Watch out for waterfowl, turtles, otters & frogs while paddling through the lily pads at the mouth of Paint Lake Creek or throw in a lure in this bass and pike hot spot. The lily pads/wildlife of the nearby creek in contrast to the sand entry and clear weedless still waters of the cottage & bay provide a rare combination for maximum enjoyment of the water.
Moreover, despite providing a feeling of being secluded deep into the woods, the cottage is conveniently located only a 5 mins car or boat ride to the charming town of Dorset, where you’ll find restaurants, the SS Bigwin Cruise, gift shop/crafts, ice cream parlour, LCBO and the Robinson’s General Store (voted Canada’s best country store; selling groceries, hardware, clothing, toys/games, souvenirs and just about all other necessities).
This combination of topography, access to varying bodies of water, and convenience described in the above is seldom found elsewhere on the lake. The superb long lake views are an added bonus that differentiates our cottage.
During autumn, Lake of Bays and nearby Algonquin park (30 mins drive from cottage) are some of the best places to view the fall colours in Canada. Our cottage is surrounded by various hues of red, orange and gold throughout the fall. Early fall colours will typically start during the last week of September and peak mid-late October.
AMENITIES/COMFORTS
We have tried to ensure that our guests have everything they may need to thoroughly enjoy their stay.
The cottage includes watercrafts (3 pelican kayaks, 1 inflatable kayak, 2 paddleboards, 1 canoe, and 1 child inflatable boat with oars), 2 inflatable floating lounge chairs, several pool noodles, life jackets, a ping pong table, gitoni/foosball table, several board games, child toys, books, cedar sauna, swim raft, playground, sand box and Fire TV Stick with Prime, Netflix, Disney, Apple TV, etc.
It additionally has all modern comforts including central air, washer/dryer, reliable high-speed WiFi and a stocked kitchen. The internet/cell tower is directly across the bay providing excellent signal/reception throughout the property.
RESPONSIVENESS
Your booking is accompanied by a welcome document that provides detailed information on the cottage and surrounding attractions. We are always available to answer questions via email or cell phone (voice/text) and aim to resolve any guest concerns as soon as possible. If there are any kitchenware missing that would improve your stay, feel free to purchase them and we will reimburse you. Please just let us know in advance to ensure that the item qualifies.
We very much look forward to hosting you soon!