In the month of December, there’s commonly a surge in marriage proposals across the globe. In Canada alone, the final month of the year sees 15.5 percent of all annual engagements!
If you’re one of the lucky loved-up couples to get engaged over the holiday season, you’ll likely soon be planning, preparing, booking, and organizing your wedding and its supporting activities. If you’re not big on clubs and bars, a lowkey (but fun!) cottage adventure might be the ticket.
While southern Ontario is known for being a lively economic hub, the province is also home to a bounty of beautiful forests, beaches and provincial parks, and an abundance of natural diversity.
For these reasons alone, it’s worth looking to visit or stay in Ontario for your bachelorette. So, how would you go about finding the perfect cottage for such a special, monumental occasion?
Find a Localized Rental Platform
While large, multi-national rental platforms offer a vast selection of accommodations in the area, opting to book through a localized cottage company will ensure you get a true experience of the area. More localized platforms often offer a more specialized understanding of the neighbourhood, and more in-depth listings.
RentCottage.com, for one, specializes in cottage rentals in the Ontario area. The platform offers a wonderful selection of accommodations for various party sizes, and also offers location-specific resources and content to help you make the most of your stay.
Lock Down Numbers in Advance
By knowing how many friends and family members are coming well in advance, you’re most likely to be able to snag the cottage that’s best for your needs. Having an exact number means you’ll know how many beds and bedrooms you need to secure and will help you to narrow down your cottage search.
Make Sure the Location Suits All Attendees
When you’re looking to book a cottage for a small group of friends, consider the destination. While this seems obvious, you want to make sure the cottage is somewhat accessible from all points of departure.
A two-to-three-hour drive for a weekend away is reasonable. For those without cars, make sure they’re able to carpool with another attendee.
Check the Local Area for Activities
When you’re visiting an Ontario cottage for a long weekend, it’s perfectly reasonable to want to spend your days swimming, BBQing, roasting marshmallows around the fire pit, and catching up.
That said, if you do want to take an excursion or a day trip, check availability at local sites and make a reservation in advance (where possible). Here are some ideas for your consideration while visiting cottage country.
- Take a hike in a nearby provincial park.
- Visit an Ontario winery for a tour and tasting.
- Try a watersport, like kayaking or canoeing.
- Spend an afternoon visiting local art galleries and farmers’ markets.
Meal Plan
It doesn’t necessarily make sense for everyone to bring their own burgers, buns and condiments. It often makes things easier when things are divided up; whether that means every person brings supplies for a specific meal or one person takes charge of grocery shopping and the group chips in.
Planning a wedding, engagement party and bachelorette can feel a little overwhelming. Of course, you’ll want everything to be perfect. Spending a little extra time when selecting your cottage, and planning well in advance, will go a long way in guaranteeing you all have a memorable weekend.
