Author: Bobs Lake
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Toronto Post City Magazines February Cover Story – 10 Best Winter Weekend Get-Aways
The cosiest winter cabins to rent near Toronto for an enchanting weekend getaway
by Nikki Gill Posted: February 5, 2020 Photo: Cabinscape
February is a month for love — whether you’re cuddling up with your partner on Valentine’s Day or taking the family on an adventure for Family Day weekend. So we rounded up some of the best off-the-beaten-path winter cabins within a three-hour drive of Toronto. These little hideaways are sure to give you a real cabin-in-the-woods type of experience, but with a touch of luxury.
Escape to a secluded lake
Godfrey | 3 hours
Marla Isaacs discovered Bobs Lake when her eldest child was four years old — he is now 42. They rented a property on the lake for a decade before deciding to buy their own. Now they own five cottages and have created a lakeside retreat like no other. The Great House is perfect for a family getaway with six bedrooms. In the winter, there is a skating rink carved out on the lake right out front for skating and hockey, along with cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails on the lake. The activities don’t stop there for this winter cabin — snowmobiles are available for rent, as well as ice fishing excursions and an igloo-building activity. For those looking to stay warm, there is an outdoor hot tub that overlooks the lake. The town of Westport is just a 20-minute drive away, and there you’ll find a craft brewery, and just 10 minutes further is the Kilborn’s store and restaurant. Babysitting services are also available if you want to leave the little ones in the cottage while the adults go explore. What else? The staff will even prepare meals and baked goods if you put in the request.
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Join Us for the Bobs Lake Cottages & Escapes Folk Festival
Join us on September 14, 2019 for a day of folk music at the first annual Bobs Lake Cottages & Escapes folk festival! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy The Celtic Kitchen Party‘s playful mix of traditional and contemporary East Coast, Irish and Scottish Celtic music.
Check out some of their high-energy songs—with just the right amount of pop, classic rock, and country:
Watch this space for weekend stay packages and more!
Calling aspiring musicians and vendors!
Are you a musician who would like to do a 15-minute solo on stage or jam with other musicians on our grounds? Are you a local who would like to showcase and sell your products and services to attendees?
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Badour Island Retreat in The Art of Glamping
by Louise Johnson, originally published in The Art of Glamping
This lovely, rustic retreat on beautiful Bob’s Lake (part of the Land o’ Lakes region) is the ideal getaway for large groups from family reunions, to bachelorettes, to corporate retreats. With four accommodations to choose from (Main Cottage, Guest Cottage, Tree House, and Glamping Tent) there are plenty of beds, bathrooms, and activities to keep everyone of all ages occupied. Don’t forget your furry friends! This glamping site is pet-friendly and the perfect playground to let your pooch pals roam (the hosts have a poodle).
Main Cottage
The post-and-beam main cottage (featured in Fine Homebuilding) boasts soaring, 16-foot ceilings, pine wood flooring, floor-to-roof windows, an open concept kitchen-dining-living room, and a panoramic porch with expansive views of the water. The extra long dining room table can accommodate your entire group for a cozy, chic dinner party! The kitchen is fully-equipped and the tap water is safe to drink. There is a BBQ, dishwasher, and fruit & veggie compost outside.
My favorite part of every evening was having a glass of wine and soaking in the hot tub as the sun set over the lake. It was the most serene scene.
Guest Cottage
There are paths to the guest cottage, tree house, and glamping tent, which are idyllically hidden from each other to provide the utmost privacy. The guest cottage has a futon couch (double bed) and bunk beds on the main floor, while the queen bed upstairs has its own private, covered balcony and telescope to see the stars at night.
Tree House
The one-room tree house has a queen bed, rocking chair, skylight, stained-glass window, and artist-painted mural of Bob’s Lake. There is no electricity in the tree house but would be perfect for a couple who prefer a romantic reprieve.
Glamping Tent
The glamping tent is a new addition to the property and features a King-sized bed, making it another great alternative for an outdoorsy twosome. There is an outdoor shower and outhouse (complete with half-moon door).
OTHER NOTEWORTHY TIPS:
- Bring your iPod as there is a sound system
- Cell service and WiFi provided
- Speak with Marla (the helpful host) in advance, as she will be happy to accommodate your group’s needs by providing additional water equipment (like a Hobie stand-up pedal board!) and she is also able to organize fishing/lake tours, dock-side, homemade pie delivery or a private chef for your dinner party!
The hosts (Marla and her husband Larry) have watched their children fall in love and their grandchildren take their first steps on Bobs Lake. It is a place close to their hearts and they hope it will be a special place for you to make memories with loved ones, too. In addition to Badour Island, they have multiple properties available for rent on Bobs Lake, accessible by car, for family gatherings and small, rustic weddings (room for up to 50 people).
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Making the Case for Winter Cottaging in Ontario
by Alexandra Donaldson, originally published in EditSeven
I love a summer cottage. There are few things better than swimming in a lake in the summer heat, spending the days hiking and relaxing (often with drink in hand) and the evenings sitting around a campfire (often with s’mores in hand). But even though I wouldn’t call myself a winter person (and definitely not a winter sports person), getting away to a cottage in the winter is definitely something I love almost as much. Maybe even more. Something that was confirmed for me when I went to a cottage just outside of Kingston (booked with cottage-rich website Glamping Hub) with my husband and three other couples over our winter break. It was relaxing and fun and simple and pretty good Instagram bait all in one. Not convinced? Here are 4 reasons why you should book a cottage getaway in the winter:
It’s Often Gorgeous
While summer sunsets and boating shots get lots of Instagram love when you post them, your winter wonderland will do just as well, trust me. Winter light across a frozen lake, softly falling snow, shots of you and your friends on a backdrop of pristine winter wonderland—honestly, it doesn’t get much prettier.
It’s The Coziest
If, like almost everyone I know, you love when the season changes to fall because it means you can embrace a much cozier vibe, then winter cottage-ing is going to be right up your alley. Think cozying up by fireplaces, a wardrobe of tights (extra points if they’re cashmere) and oversized sweaters and all of the comfort food.
You Feel Less Guilty About Being Lazy
Don’t get me wrong—I still read voraciously when I head to a cottage in the summer. But unless it’s raining outside I usually feel a little guilty that I’m not taking advantage of the summer sun and hiking or swimming or at the very least being social. But in the winter, it’s already cold outside. So if you want to curl up on the couch with a book or plan a movie or Netflix marathon, you can largely do so guilt-free.
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The Best Websites to Book a Homey Getaway
From Glamping Hub to Airbnb there are plenty of ways to get out of town for rest and relaxation.
Last year, in the days between Christmas and New Year’s, I made sure to get out of town. Not quite a vacation, this 3-night trip was the perfect antidote to jam-packed schedules and digital over-stimulation. There were no fancy dinners out or new and exciting activities. Instead, it was all about fire pits, board games and the comfiest clothes I owned worn on repeat. It was perfect. Which is why I highly recommend ditching over-the-top hotels and looked-better-in-the-picture-motels for homes and short-term rentals. You get the flexibility of being in a space that allows you to cook and relax with all the amenities close by—with the added knowledge of being able to keep to yourself and without the pressure of needing to make every minute count.
Glamping Hub
My own winter getaway was courtesy of Glamping Hub, a website I’ve used a few times to book off-the-beaten-path weekend trips. It’s a great option if you’re into options like yurts, treehouses and fancy tents to connect with the outdoors. This time, since I was traveling with three other couples, we opted for a more familiar cottage setting. The space, just outside of Kingston, slept all eight of us comfortably, included a gas fireplace inside and a big firepit outside, a full kitchen (perfect for some hearty home-cooked meals), an indoor hammock, and a television (though I have to say we didn’t really use it). Oh, and an outdoor hot tub, which I found myself in every day. Needless to say, our days were full of winter walks, hot tub dips, and lots of eating and playing games indoors. Not your speed? The best thing about Glamping Hub is the variety. So whether you want rustic or luxurious, there’s something for you.
Read the rest of Alexandra Donaldson’s story here.
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Baby Loon Rescued, Mother sought by OPP
Photograph of a loon from Pixabay Dateline: Bobs Lake, Ontario July 31, 2018
The OPP reported yesterday that a baby loon nearly drowned in Bobs Lake not far from the entrance to Green Bay. The loon was found struggling in the folds of waves caused by a pontoon boat passing the Twin Oaks camp shortly after the owner had stopped to buy worms and gas. The OPP gave chase but the reckless drivers of the Pontoon disappeared behind a small island only meters from the camp. Returning to the distressed loon, OPP officers rescued the creature, only to set upon a search for its mother, suspecting the latter with endangering a minor by abandoning it mid-stream. Records indicated that the baby loon had no bathing certificate and had not undergone the mandatory training required of all avian species that either live on, or around the lake.
“We looked at the poor critter, struggling in the, water,” noted one officer, “it was clear that that this was a case of baby-duck abandonment by its parents.” Relying on a photo taking by a bystander on land, the OPP has tacked several “wanted” posters of the suspected mother on trees lining the lake close to the spot where the baby loon was first found. As the photo shows, the mother has the tell-tale signs of black stripes and white neck (see below). The OPP welcomes any information or tips leading to the arrest of said mother. Baby loon, called “Jane Duck” for want of knowing its actual birth name, is in the good hands of the SPCL (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Loons).
Reported by Larry Hirschhorn, co-owner of Bobs Lake cottages and Escapes; www.bobslake.com Please visit us at 75 Burns Lane North, Godfrey or call, 613-273-9193
AP: July 31, 2018
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YEAH!! Ice Fishing
I am SO excited to start our ice fishing season—Our staff and fishing guide have been working round the clock to get ready. Sebastian, our wonderful guide, has been combing the lake with his GPS to find the best spots for fishing. He was joined two weeks ago by Lonny King, from Ontario Out Of Doors. We just had a delivery of our hot tubs, and they are being set up as we speak. What could be more beautiful than sitting outdoors, in a hot tub, in the middle of winter. Manna Catering is busy preparing menus for those of you who will take our meal packages. We have just completed one 6-person ice hut, and Sebastian looked at it and gave us 5 stars and the go-ahead to make more. Our first snowmobile is due for delivery next week. We are just so excited and hope you will join us.
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Ice fishing packages for winter 2018 now available
We are pleased to announce that we will be providing ice fishing at Bobs Lake Cottages and Escapes this winter, starting February 2018. We are fortunate to have the services of one of the greatest anglers in Ontario, Sebastian Kolwaczuk, and his Cottage Fishing Adventures. Sebastian has appeared on numerous fishing TV shows and knows Bobs Lake like the back of his hand. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfVfS_UBGzQ). We will provide ice fishermen with 6-person heated huts, several portable huts, transportation to and from the huts, minnows, and if needed survival suits, for $50 per person per day. Sebastian will be scouting out the best places to fish throughout the season. Sebastian provides a guided fishing service for those who want to catch the most fish and have the most fun during their stay. His fee is available upon request.
People who want to stay for several days have two options. They can stay in the Great House or the Eagle with our American Plan provided by Manna Catering. These are beautiful cottages suitable for the fisherman and his or her family members. The price for three meals and lodging is $700 CDN per person per day. We also have two housekeeping units each of which can sleep 5 people (two twin beds per bedroom and one living room fold-out bed), for those who want to cook for themselves.
Space is limited and the season is short, so please contact us as soon as possible.