A quintessential summer in Toronto includes trips up to the cottage to swim in the lake, sip cocktails and enjoy a little reprieve from the city heat. The classic cottage country of Muskoka and Georgian Bay is well known to all, but as more and more people search for cottages, there are more areas that are popping up on people’s radar. In today’s blog, we go through five up and coming cottage towns that may be the perfect fit for someone wanting to get into the cottage market.

-----

Bancroft

Located about 2.5 hours from Toronto (northeast of Peterborough), Bancroft is a great option for those looking to buy, rent or build. An hour south of the east gate of Algonquin Park, this is a serene slice of Ontario you’ll want to check out. It was recently named the best place to purchase a home in Canada based on financial reasons (from a Zoocasa report), so it has been gaining some interest outside of just a cottage town. There are many small lakes to choose from (in comparison to Muskoka) but Elephant and Baptiste Lake are two of the most popular. Another perk: the 407 has just been extended to the east so avoiding traffic on those long weekends is *a bit* easier!

‍

Haliburton

Haliburton may be a familiar name to you, but since it is a three-hour plus drive from Toronto, many people have not considered it to be a feasible cottage area. With prices rising for cottages, however, more and more are considering Haliburton. Haliburton has everything a cottager could want: beautiful lake front access, gorgeous forest ares and a small town to make it easy to get all your cottage supplies. Even though Haliburton is touted as the “next Muskoka” it has a more chill and laid-back vibe.

‍

North Frontenac

Another great vacation spot that is overlooked due to distance is North Frontenac, located about 3.5 hours northeast of Toronto. The extra travel time is definitely worth it (and you can also take advantage of the 407 extension here too), with several different lakes to choose from and the breathtaking scenery of the Canadian Shield. There are also many hiking (or ATV) trails in the area to take advantage of. If you’re in the market for some peace and quiet, North Frontenac may be right up your alley as it is a relatively unpopulated area (for Ontario!). However, with many provincial parks close by including Bon Echo, Frontenac, Silver and Sharbot Lake, you won’t run out of activities in the area.

‍

North Kawartha

Looking for something a little closer to Toronto? North Kawartha is located between Peterborough and Bancroft and just over a two hour drive from the city. With many lakes to choose from, Stoney Lake stands out for us and is made up of three interconnecting lakes . WIth two provincial parks in the area including Petroglyphs and Kawartha Highlands, the area has much to offer. Even though it is closer to Toronto, it isn’t quite as busy as some of your typical cottage country, but it has definitely been gaining in popularity in recent years. A bonus: there is a great chip truck route that you can explore on your way up (https://thekawarthas.ca/itineraries/chiptrucktrail/ *if you can change this to a check it out here or something so its not just the link would be great!)-road tripping has never tasted so good!

‍

Rice Lake

Another gem to the east of the city (I think we are seeing a trend here!), Rice Lake is located even closer to Toronto at just under two ours (1 hour 45 minutes to be exact). So if you are looking for a quick escape, Rice Lake may be the perfect locale for you! Rice Lake is located near the town of Hastings and in the center of the Kawartha Lake region. A popular fishing lake, this well kept secret may be worth checking out (although I’m sure the many year-round residents don’t feel the same way!)

‍