Top Ten Things to Do on Your Muskoka Cottage Rental Vacation

Just 90 minutes north of Toronto, folks who rent Canadian cottages find a world of nature, culture, and possibility--Muskoka, Ontario. With possibilities so diverse that it becomes a getaway paradise, Muskoka is the prime destination for your next vacation. Among the numerous possibilities for romance, family entertainment, and tranquil relaxation are ten top spots to make your memories of Muskoka a bold call for return again and again.

1. Those travelers seeking adventures of a more romantic sort will enjoy strolls along the banks of over 1600 lakes, water glistening in the sun. For a more personal sense of the wet life force of Muskoka, take a cruise aboard one of the lovely boats that dots the landscape.

2. Haliburton Highlands Water Trails offers nature lovers a chance to explore 26, 985 hectares of land teeming with verdant forest, hiking/cycling trails, and waterways such as lakes and rivers. You and your companion will discover that a love of nature unites fond hearts.

3. Travelers with a family to entertain will find a world of opportunity in Muskoka, from cultural events to good, wholesome fun, there's something for everyone in your crew. Your first stop, though, will likely be Santa's Village. Here, your child will enjoy the magic of living like one of Santa's elves as she experiences Christmas themed carnival rides, meets Santa's deer, and even takes a splash in the surprising summer waters of Santa's off-season home.

4. Children with a flair for the arts will appreciate a family excursion to The Tree Museum. Set on 200 acres, this innovative museum incorporates the edge of contemporary sculpture with the soft invitation of a natural woodland setting. 2.2 kilometres of trails ensures that your little ones and all the adults involved will get a chance to be active as they entertain their minds.

5. Individuals, couples, and families seeking a more tranquil getaway find that Muskoka offers numerous back-to-nature, low key entertainment opportunities. In this land of lakes, one of the most popular vacation pastimes is fishing. For a perfect afternoon, with no headaches, visit one of the local marinas, such as Haystack Bay Marina. There you can rent boats, wakeboard, waterski, and fish.

6. Proud history is the foundation of the Muskoka genealogy and your Muskoka cottage rental experience. Visit the Muskoka Heritage Place--Museum, Village, and Train--to experience first hand what a day in early Muskoka was like. Costumed interpreters share the truths of this circa 1880s-1910s community, and engaging interaction allows individuals and families to connect with the past. Visit a one-room schoolhouse, taste the fare of pioneer baking, and become exhilirated by an open-air coach train journey.

7. Boys, Girls, and Parents will want to step into the story as they visit a home once a getaway for Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of the beloved "Anne of Green Gables." Photo opportunities abound, and costumes are even available to help visitor look the part! A well-appointed gift shop makes this the perfect spot to pick up souvenirs and what-nots to show you thought of others on your trip.

8. Having stepped into Muskoka's past, look into a tradition as young as many of its visitors--Johnston's Cranberry Marsh and the Muskoka Lakes Winery. Since 1952, this award-winning winery and cranberry farm as attracted visitors and locals alike. Hiking and biking trails, family picnic sites, and children's wildlife activities/programs makes this a must make visit for anyone renting a cottage in this lovely part of Canada.

9. Those of you who embrace an active lifestyle will be pleased to discover that beautiful scenery and design ingenuity make Muskoka's 20+ public and semi-private golf courses among the finest in North America. Plan a day at Bigwin Island Golf Club and have lunch at their world-class Marine Dining Room.

10. And when you're called back to your everyday life, don't despair, take a piece of Muskoka with you. Spend your last day shopping the many fine antiques stores that make it possible for you to collect treasures all your own. Among the antiques offerings of Muskoka is the Gravenhurst Grand Antique Show and Sale, held in August. Find the best-informed dealers in Ontario in one location. What a perfect opportunity.

While a Canadian cottage rental is always the perfect choice for a vacation that refreshes and rejuvenates, you're sure to find that a home away from home vacation option in Muskoka opens your eyes to a whole new world of excursion possibilities.

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Top Ten things to do in Nova Scotia Cottage Rental Vacation

Nova Scotia has a reputation for its natural beauty and Old World presentation, but vacationers taking the time to know the land and her people as they rent Canadian cottages can attest to the fact that living for days, weeks, or months among the locals gives them a broad, clear perspective of all of Nova Scotia's charms.

Renting a cottage with Canadian charm in Nova Scotia, you and your companions will want to take in some of the sights local residents recommend to their friends and families. This Top Ten Sights/ Attractions in Nova Scotia list will help you get started in your quest to discover the best a Canadian cottage rental has to offer.

History buffs will be astounded by the careful consideration Nova Scotia has dedicated to preserving its proud military record. Our top four sites are forts, carefully preserved to help you step into Nova Scotia's past.

1. A panoramic view of of the Annapolis Basin makes an excursion to Fort Anne both a beautiful respite and a glimpse into the turmoil that built as European powers vied for control of the area. The oldest National Historic Site in Canada, this is the must-stop beginning to your journey.

2. A garrison of the British Army well into the 1820s, Fort Edward features one of Nova Scotia's oldest buildings, the blockhouse, further distinguished asa the oldest structure of its kind in the area.

3. Take a ferry to downtown Halifax from Cable Wharf. This fun trip on the water is enhanced by the chance to see Fort McNab, a crucial player in Nova Scotia's defence from the late 1880s to World War Two.

4. With your sea legs ready, prepare yourself for Nova Scotia's most exciting glimpse into maritime history, a day at Halifax Citadel. Here you'll learn key facts regarding the part Halifax played in the extension of the British Empire.

Having whet your historic appetite with the proud lore, legend, and history of the evolution of British influence in Nova Scotia, now it is time to discover the mystery of the Acadians who deported by the British powers in the 1750s.

5. At Le Village Historique Acadien, you and your party will have the pleasure of experiencing firsthand what a day in 18th century Acadian life may have been. Interpreters donning period costumes share their translations of Acadia with you.

6. The Melanson Settlement Historic Site takes the glimpse into Acadian history a step further as it puts you up close with true artifacts of the daily lifestyles of this proud French Canadian community.

Families looking for more active adventures will be pleased with the cultural and natural opportunities Nova Scotia offers.

7. Upper Clements Parks feature diverse entertainment possibilities, including a theme park, a picnic park, a wildlife park, and the chance to try 30 rides.

8. Annapolis Gardens gives you a chance to look into the culture of Nova Scotia through a horticulturist's creation. Heirloom plants highlighting the diverse parentage of Nova Scotia thought enhance your strolls through the gardens.

9. Set on over 950 kilometers of wilderness Cape Breton Highlands National Park will help you and yours connect with the natural tapestry of Nova Scotia. Among the activities enjoyed here are geocaching, birding, hiking, and communing with nature.

10. No trip to Nova Scotia would be complete without a tour of its lighthouses. With more lighthouses in its reaches than any other portion of Canada, Nova Scotia is home to Sambro, the oldest lighthouse in North America.

For a better understanding of the idyllic getaways available in Nova Scotia, see these lovely Nova Scotia cottages, or visit Rent Cottage Canada for more vacation rentals in Canada.

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There’s Plenty to Do in Wintertime Nova Scotia

Winter is an exciting time of year in Nova Scotia. Nordic skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing all beckon the outdoor enthusiast.

Nova Scotia boasts 23 cross-country ski areas. If you prefer groomed trails, you can visit the Kejimkujik and Cape Breton Highlands national parks, or the Fortress Louisburg historic site. Or if you’re more adventurous, you can simply strike out for the wilderness. Throughout the province, you’ll find plenty of groomed and ungroomed trails. Skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to see Nova Scotia in a way you’ve never seen it before.

If you’re ready for a unique adventure, you can mush through the countryside in your own dog sled. Experienced guides will lead the way and show you how to hitch up your dogs – each with its own unique personality – and steer the sled through the spectacular winter scenery. Multi-day trips are available, with the option of staying in lodges, or for the hardy, camping along the way.

Or if you’d rather zip around the countryside in your snowmobile, Nova Scotia offers a host of quality snowmobiling trails. There are many trips and safaris to choose from, and outfitters can provide snowmobiles, trail permits, safety gear and guides. Each year, more and more serious snowmobilers head for Nova Scotia.

Wintertime Nova Scotia is a hot spot for fishing, as well. Hundreds of ice fishing huts dot the frozen lakes as anglers enjoy this unique twist to their favorite pastime. The fish are hungry at this time of year, and you can relax with all the amenities in a snug hut as you haul in game fish like trout and smelt. Nova Scotians will tell you that ice fishing produces some of the tastiest fish of the year.

A rental cottage in Nova Scotia makes a terrific home base for your wintertime outdoor activities. Great year-round accommodations can be arranged through http://rent-cottage-canada.com. Local outfitters and operators can provide information about ice fishing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, skiing and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

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Photo credit: http://www.canada-adventures-guide.com/NovaScotia/dogsledding.html

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