Life at the cottage is a Canadian rite of passage

   One-Tank Trip for March 30/13

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Are we there yet?

   That familiar refrain will soon be heard as cars, vans, trucks and assorted vehicles head off to “the lake” for another season of fun.

Dogs, including Cisco, enjoy cottaging as much as their human companions. (Jim Fox photo)

   Doers and dreamers can learn all about the joys and potential challenges of “cottaging” at the Spring Cottage Life Show, April 5 to 7 at the International Centre in Mississauga (6900 Airport Rd.).

   Rite of passage

   Owning, sharing or renting a weekend or vacation cottage, cabin in the woods, lake house, villa, chalet in the mountains or country retreat is a rite of passage for Canadians.

   Looking for that idyllic escape and close-to-nature, family-gathering spot or retirement dream home?

   Then join the 30,000 people and more than 500 exhibitors at the 20th annual edition of the show.

   “It’s a must-attend event for wannabe cottagers who are searching for their little piece of paradise to own or to rent,” said show publicist Peggy Sheffield.

A couple tries out a kayak built for two

   Produced by the publishers of Cottage Life magazine, it features exhibitors and seminars about virtually everything dedicated to life at the lake or in the woods.

   This includes boats, water toys, arts and decor, food, furnishings for indoors and out, and gift ideas along with hundreds of building products and services customized for waterfront and country properties.

   For inspiration, new this year is a finished and decorated model cottage constructed outside one of the entrances by Canada Builds of Lindsay, Ont.

   The 1,300-square foot (120-square-metre), three-bedroom, one-bathroom modular cottage has an open kitchen and living room, pine ceilings and screened-in porch.

   Sitting pretty

   Cottage handyman Wayne Lennox will be flush with pride spending the weekend building an outhouse at the show.

   This custom privy with a value of $3,000 has a composting toilet as part of the design.  

   Apparently outhouse building plans are the most popular download of any design-build project at Cottage Life magazine’s online site.

   A company from Finland will be showing a “great new way” to have a small cottage or an extra place for sleepovers, Sheffield said.

   Arctic Finland House Ltd. will exhibit a small cabin/bunkie with a heat source inside that can be used to stay warm as well as for cooking.

   The Scotiabank Cottage Real Estate Centre is where cottagers-to-be can meet with more than 100 realtors from across Ontario’s cottage country and financial advisers.

Paddling a canoe back to a lakeside retreat is one of the joys of cottage life.

   Chris Winney of Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty Brokerage in Land O’ Lakes will talk about getting the best deal when buying or selling a cottage.

   Lawyer Marvin Geist will advise about shorelines, set-backs and deeded access while lawyer Peter Lillico will explain how to develop a cottage-sharing agreement with family members or friends.

   HGTV’s Scottish design duo, Colin and Justin, will share their story about buying a log cabin cottage in Muskoka with friends.

   Sales figures show the busiest area in Ontario for cottage sales last year was Peterborough/Kawarthas followed by Parry Sound.

   Cottage Life reports this year’s five “regions to watch” for good prices and value are Sault Ste. Marie/Lake Huron; Sudbury; Haliburton; the Kawarthas and Rideau Lakes.

  A vibrant red sunset taken from a cottage on Bass Lake near Orillia. (Barbara Fox photo)

   Show hours are April 5, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; April 6, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and April 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

   Tickets are $17, adults; $12, seniors on April 5 (and for adults from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. only on April 5); $8, ages 13 to 17; free, children to age 12; $24, weekend pass. Free parking. cottagelife.com/shows

   Fox Trots

   - The All About Pets show is on this weekend through Sunday with 160 exhibitors at the International Centre in Mississauga.

   Called a “true pet lover’s paradise,” visitors can find out about products and services, learn about health issues with a veterinarian and how to adopt an animal. There is also a dog parade of breeds, cats, horses, reptiles and fish to view. Details: allaboutpetsshow.com; 1-877-340-7387

   - The Authors’ Book Fair is being held April 6 and 7 at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover to “promote literacy, reading and mentoring for established published authors.”

   Featured speakers are Wendy E. Nelles about writing non-boring true stories; John B. Lee, poet laureate of Norfolk County; David Beasley on self-and-electronic publishing; and Brad Smith reading from his “Virgil Cain” mystery series. There is also a “poetry slam.” Facebook.com/AuthorsBookFair; (519) 586-9762

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca