"Happynest" Private Cottage for Rent
Cottage Details
You can scroll down and begin reading or click on the section in the list below to jump right to that section:
- The Lake
- The Cottage
- Activities at the Cottage
- Winter Activities at the Cottage
- The Surrounding Area
- Summary
As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
The Lake
As you can see from the map, Kawigamog Lake (which is east of Highway 69 and north of the Town of Parry Sound) is one of several lakes joined together by the Pickerel River System totalling over 37 miles of navigable waterways. Our cove provides a quiet place away from the main lake.
The marina, where you can find staple grocery items, gas, bait and tackle and a licensed dining room, is 1 mile by boat and about 4 miles by car. This dining room is one of four places on the lake where you can dine overlooking the water -- two of which are operated year-round.
Fully 90% of the shoreline is unspoiled natural crown land. Because there are relatively few cottages, this means there are less people, and therefore less noise and less boat traffic than at most other lakes. In fact, since the cottage is located at the head of a beautiful cove there is never any boat traffic whizzing past your dock and swimming area.
The lake is being stocked with pickerel (or walleye) 60,000 at a time and there are also large and small-mouth bass, pike, and whitefish. Kids can catch sunfish right off the dock.
There are several places around the lake where you can take a short five to ten minute walk to lakes where there are no dwellings or development of any kind. One of them has a wide sand beach, another has a big sloping rock and both are great for swimming and picnics. There are inlets, beaver lodges, dams, waterfalls and lots of nooks and crannies to explore.
The lake is protected from excessive winds by the surrounding forests, so every day is boating day. It is ideal for canoeing, paddle-boating, fishing, motor-powered crafts, water skiing, etc.
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As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
The Cottage
Here is a picture of the cottage taken in early spring before the leaves come on the trees. As you get closer, you will see the path leading from the dock to the cottage. There is also wheelchair access to the dock (to the left of the path, not shown).
The entrance to the cottage is through the screened deck and there is a wheelchair ramp which provides a gradual sloping access to the deck. The vinyl-coated open-weave fencing material provides safety for children without sacrificing any of the view or blocking the breeze off the lake.
Beyond this screen door is the open sun deck where the barbecue is located, and here you can see the picture window off the sun deck more clearly.
The picture window shows the panoramic view of the lake, and you can enjoy this view, as well as the TV, VCR, and fireplace, from any part of the common area (living room, dining area, kitchen).
(Note: If you call up an extra browser window, you can refer to the floor plan while you view the next group of photos. If viewed in order, they will show a counter-clockwise tour of the common area, starting at the picture window and fireplace.)
Above the fireplace is a fan to keep the air moving summer or winter. Here we see more of the living room and part of the kitchen, including the dishwasher, sink and cupboards. Inside the cupboards are dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, enough for 20 or more settings, plus toaster, electric kettle, electric frying pan, coffee maker and popcorn popper.
In this picture, you can see from the living area into the other side of the kitchen. The table shown on the right can be used as a separate kids table, or to extend the main dining table on the left. This newer photo shows the new stove/oven, refrigerator/freezer, and (not shown) microwave oven. If you look carefully, you can even see the popcorn popper and coffee maker!
The dining table is fully eight feet long and can accommodate up to 14 people without the extension. Although the table is shown with six chairs, there are 16 of these padded chairs in the building allowing everyone to eat together at the same table.
This photo shows the main entrance door and the couches again, and brings us full circle in our tour of the common area of the cottage. You can also see that there is a couch outside on the covered porch facing the lake.
The next group of pictures are arranged in order, showing the rooms around the perimeter of the building in counter-clockwise sequence. Again you may want to refer to the floor plan.
Bedroom one is shown along with its view of the lake, and the double bed shown here has just been replaced by a queen size. Bedroom two has two twin beds (which can be used together as a king size).
The four-piece bath has modern tub-surround and glass shower doors, a pedestal basin, and large mirror.
The two-piece bath features a vanity countertop and is located at the other end of the building.
Bedroom three is shown here with a double bed, a dresser, and a clothes rod with hangers, although that bed has just been replaced with a new double size bunk bed (no picture yet). Bedroom four (not shown) also has two double size mattresses, built as bunk beds, and bedroom five is an overflow bedroom consisting of a single bunk bed over a new double bed. Where additional sleeping space is needed, there are several extra mattresses stored under the beds, plus two bed-couches in the living room.
You will see from the floor plan that bedrooms three and four provide a quiet sleeping area for children behind two sets of closed doors away from any activity in the main living area.
In winter, Happynest is kept toasty warm by quiet electric baseboard heating with wall mounted thermostats in every room for individual comfort control. Of course the wood burning fireplace also generates lots of heat as well and Happynest is well insulated including the floors.
Back on the deck, facing the door with lake on your left, the driveway and campfire area are ahead of you. The driveway encirles the lawn and campfire area. Check out the fall colours on this section of the road, just before you get to the driveway.
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As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
Activities at the Cottage
Many activities are available to you at the cottage.
- Perhaps you would like to tour Kawigamog lake with us in our Glastron touring boat, which is also our water ski boat.
- During the tour, we can show you where to find the "jumping rocks," a set of increasing cliffs over very deep water for dare-devils of all ages and abilities.
- Kids can jump right off the dock if the jumping rocks are too high.
- For water skiing we have kids skis, adult skis, slalom skis and trick skis. We can teach the beginner or take the experienced skier on an extended tour.
- "Toobing" behind a motor boat is always a big hit with the young set.
- Campfire time is after the sun goes down and the stars come out. That is when the marshmallows get roasted and the ghost stories get told.
- Here is one of our guests who just returned from fishing with his catch of the day - a northern pike.
- The T-shaped dock provides a defined swimming area for young children. It goes out into the water 11 m (33 ft) where the water is about 1 m (3 ft) deep. The dock shown above was actually replaced this past summer with a huge new dock, and is a great spot for all kinds of activities from sun bathing to star gazing. From shore, you can see out the cove and a bit more of the lake.
- From this aerial shot, you can get a better perspective of our cove. The trees in the foreground are actually on an island and the lake is about twice as wide (and many many times as long) as what is visible here (also see the map).
- Hiking on a forest trail to a nearby lake.
- Exploring the shoreline near the dam and waterfall about six miles from the cottage.
- Swimming off a rock island on the way to the town of Loring.
- Various windsurfing photos.
- Kids love the paddle-boat and it is a good way to burn off some of that excess energy.
- Canoeing is a great way to discover nature close to shore and observe the loons, great blue herons, and beavers in their natural habitat. You can also paddle along the shoreline and enjoy the fall colours.
- Also available: boat with brand new outboard motor.
- The sauna is a traditional wood-fired unit that can accommodate up to six people at one time. Although there is a shower in the sauna with hot and cold running water, the usual custom is to jump in the lake between sessions in the hot room. Leisurely cooling down can also be done in the adjoining change room.
- We invite you to use our whirlpool spa, which is sold as a "seven person spa", though it more comfortably fits four people at a time. An additional shower with hot and cold running water is provided in the spa room.
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As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
Winter Activities at the Cottage
In winter, we keep a skating rink cleared on the ice in front of the cottage which we also flood light at night. There is a toboggan hill on the property that gives you a two hundred foot run right out onto the lake. You can expect the ice to be a quite safe foot thick between Christmas and the end of March. Other winter activities are cross country skiing, snow shoeing, skidooing on thousands of miles of groomed trails, ice fishing, and simply walking the quiet roads behind the cottages or reading by the fire. The sauna and spa are great after-ski activities.
We can arrange to have rental snow machines gassed up and waiting for you at our cottage by advance booking. Dog sled rides are also available nearby, or it can be arranged that they come to you. You could take your camera to the local deer yard to observe hundreds of deer wintering in a protected environment.
There are several restaurants in the area that are open in winter. One special place on the lake offers superb food and has no road access. It can only be accessed on foot or by snowmobile (or by boat in summer).
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As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
The Surrounding Area
It is one mile to the store where there is also a marina and dining room or you can visit the craft shops or golf courses nearby or hire a plane to fly over the area. The local provincial park has public swimming beaches, a museum, and self-guided walking tours which identify and explain notable features about the local geology. North of us, in the French River area, there are additional hiking trails, pay-as-you-play sports facilities, golf courses, and tennis courts and several more interesting dining rooms.
Full line grocery stores, a beer, wine, and liquor outlet, and four restaurants that overlook different parts of the lake are within fifteen minutes of the cottage.
click here to go back to the list of sections at the top
As you scroll down and read the description, click on each underlined word to see the associated picture.
Summary
Your private sand beach directly in front of the cottage has a safe gradual slope which is great for children and there is lots of sand for building little castles. The water quality of the lake is second to none in Ontario and our cove provides pleasant swimming temperatures throughout the summer and even well into the fall when using the sauna.
There are also two front decks: one covered and screened and the other open to the sun and they both have doors that make them babyproof and have lots of deck chairs.
There is a cozy indoor fireplace and another outdoors for campfires. Our lake is being stocked with fish for the sportsman and there are 37 miles of uncrowded waterways. In addition, there is easy access to several uninhabited back lakes and canoeing and exploring opportunities are excellent. Fully 90% of the shoreline is undeveloped crown land and beautiful scenery and unspoiled nature walks abound so you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty.
It is one mile to the store where there is also a marina and dining room or you can visit the craft shops or golf courses nearby or hire a plane to fly over the area. Grundy Lake provincial park is nearby.
Full line grocery stores, a beer, wine, and liquor outlet, and four restaurants that overlook different parts of the lake are within fifteen minutes of the cottage.
As the cottage that our family uses is on the same cove, we are not far away if you need anything during your visit. In addition, we take personal responsibility for making sure that the cottage is spotlessly clean and tidy for your arrival.
All in all the lake is calm, the air is clean, the stars are magnificent away from the city lights, and the sunsets are the perfect ending to a beautiful day at the lake.
Hope to see you soon,
| Bob and Marsha Laing |
| E-mail: click here |
| Telephone: 705-757-3030 |
| Postal mail: 34 Derwyn Road |
| Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4J 4M9 |
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