One-Tank Trip for March 17/18
(c) By Jim Fox
There’s
something in the Canadian psyche that draws us to the great outdoors and
cottaging.
Not just
people, but pets, too, are mysteriously attracted to spending as much time as
possible by the lake, river, stream and immersed in the woods.
“The
lifestyle of a home surrounded by the striking beauty of lakes, forests or
mountains enjoyed with loved ones is an irreplaceable experience and one that
remains part of the Canadian dream for many,” said Kevin Somers of Royal LePage
Real Estate Services Ltd.
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| Cottagers can enjoy colourful dockside
sunsets over the lake. (Jim Fox photo) |
And why not, with about
250,000 fresh-water lakes and 100,000 kilometres of rivers in Ontario?
Find out if you are
a “dreamer or doer” at the Spring Cottage Life Show from next Thursday to
Sunday (March 22 to 25) at the International Centre (6900 Airport Rd.) in
Mississauga.
The Canadian
recreational property market had “healthy increases in both sales activity and
pricing” last year, Somers said.
Dream properties can
be hard to find as retiring baby boomers, millennials and Gen Xers escaping
high house prices in the cities, and investors are in the market to buy or rent.
The 2017 LePage price
summary for lakeside recreational properties ranged from $160,000 around Lake
Huron to $594,200 in southwestern Ontario, $464,400 in the Bruce Peninsula and
$1.5 million in Muskoka.
A Cottage
Life study with the Ontario Real Estate Association of 1,100 cottage owners
found the “most-predominant trend” is year-round cottaging.
Some 64
per cent of owners attributed four-season’s use for buying, with 56 per cent planning
to convert to year-round use.
It found
44 percent of cottage owners plan to retire or live at the cottage part-time
within the next 10 years.
One more day at the cottage (show)
 |
| Whooo are you asks this owl along with birds
of prey from Wild Ontario. (Jim Fox photo) |
Due to popular demand, they’re
making it a “four-day weekend” to check out the Cottage Life show this year.
“This
will give visitors even more opportunity to explore and discover all that the
show has to offer,” said Rebecca De Silva, manager.
Highlights include
meeting the Brojects’ brothers Andrew and Kevin Buckles, and contractors Marshall
Black and Simon Hirsh of Cottage Life TV’s new series, Lake Docks and Decks.
Calling it the “largest,
premier, one-stop destination to get ready for summer,” visitors can check out
600 exhibitors offering the latest in boats, docks and water toys.
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| A vast selection of cottage “toys” and items
fills the International Centre. (Barbara Fox photo) |
There’s also information
about builders, innovative products, green solutions, furniture and decor, arts
and crafts, food and entertaining, and more.
Find out about
prices and deals from more than 500 cottage realtors representing 36 regions in
Ontario.
Learn about cottage real estate from realtor
Rob Serediuk, host of What’s For Sale, who will discuss mortgages and
best practices for financing a dream recreation property.
Bonneville Homes
has a walk-through model cottage and there’s beverage sampling at the Dock
Party and cooking demos on the kitchen stage.
Planning a cottage
wedding? From renting porta-potties to creating rustic dockside decorations,
Lynzie Kent, host of Crazy Beautiful Weddings, and Cottage Life editor-in-chief
Michelle Kelly give tips.
 |
| Log furniture and more are among the 600
exhibitors at the cottage show. |
Other topics are
conservation, container gardening, staining decks, chainsaw safety, design
ideas, building an outdoor bar cart, cottage games, outdoor activities and
cottage country critters.
If you go
Show hours are
March 22, noon to 8 p.m.; March 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March 24, 9 a.m. to 7
p.m.; and March 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $20;
$25 on March 24; $10, ages 13 to 17; free, to age 12; $30, weekend pass; $15, age
65 plus, March 22 and 23. Save $4 on adult admission after 4 p.m. on Thursday
and Friday. Free parking. Details:
cottagelife.com/shows
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