The Lowdown
Let's get ya feeling comfy with some frequently asked questions & their answers.
If there's anything you're unsure about, or you have another question, please do let us know! We love being helpful :)
Table of Contents
Inside
What size are the beds?
Find descriptions of all the bedrooms for The OG, Cahoots, or Woody Cottage.
What's the layout?
Have a looky at cottage layout for The OG, Cahoots, or Woody Cottage.
How many people can the cottages sleep?
We comfortably sleep 12 folks. If you're honky-dory to cuddle up, you're welcome to have a couple more guests in most seasons (this may incur an additional charge). Contact us to discuss the options.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The cottage is not officially wheelchair accessible (yet! - it's in the renovation plans) but we have had guests in wheelchairs in the past. It requires a little bit of extra muscle power and some ingenuity. If you have any concerns at all, please contact us and we can talk it through together.
All in all, it's our hope to make the cottage as comfortable and inviting to everyone as possible. We'd certainly love to have you & hear feedback on how we can make it even better.
Is there air-conditioning (a/c)?
Since most folks like to come up and experience the peace, quiet, and authenticity of rural cottage country, we try keep everything as natural as possible, so we don't offer central air conditioning. Instead, along with many fans and a portable air conditioning unit, there’s a regular westerly wind that creates lovely cross-breezes through the cottage - just leave the windows open at night to let the cool air flow through!
Is the kitchen well equipped?
Yup, sure is! There's more info on the packing list or contact us with your specific questions, easy peasy.
What size is the fridge?
Details on the size of the fridge are available on the packing list.
Is the oven self-cleaning (kosher)?
Yes, indeed, as long as everyone is comfortable using the self-cleaning feature for this purpose, she's all good.
Is there satellite or cable TV?
Most folks come up to getaway from it all, so we've done our best to leave the cottage and 'er surroundings as natural as possible. The cottage doesn't have satellite or cable TV, though there's a large TV with a DVD player & plenty of movies. There's also free internet so, if you're handy with it, you can watch the big game online.
Can we smoke at the cottage?
Smoking isn't allowed inside the cottage. It's fine anywhere outside. We ask ya to put cigarette butts into one of the supplied ashtrays and "pack out what you pack in" by removing them along with your garbage.
Outside
Is the hot tub open?
Yes! The hot tub is open all year round at all of our cottages. For your year-round pleasure, we also have a lakeside sauna, firepit & log fireplaces - wohooo.
Is the sauna open?
You betcha it is. The sauna is open all year round at all of our cottages - along with the lakeside hot tub & log fireplaces. Come and warm yer bones.
Can we swim at the cottage?
Our family loves to, so you certainly can with the knowledge that it's a lake you'll be swimming in. The lakefront itself at all of our cottages is natural, making it an ideal fish habitat (and fab for catching lunch ;) Most folks who head up to the cottage are looking to spend time in nature, as nature intended, so if you're okay with the fishies, lilly pads & reeds - like our family is - you can swim off the end of the dock or sandy beach, while others prefer to row or paddle out into the inlet or lake to swim. Please note that in the middle of summer, the reeds are at their tallest & most majestic, so if you're uncomfortable with natural lake shorelines, this may not be the place for you & yours - worry not, we won't take it personally! For the wee wonders, there's also a large sandy beach & wading area great for toddlers.
Can our kids/toddlers swim there?
Our kids love it. The lakefront itself at all of our cottages is natural and we have a large sandy area that's specifically designed for toddlers to play & wade into the edge of the lake. It's shallow and extends out into the lake for the wee wonders. At The OG & Woody, specifically, the bigger kids jump off the end of the dock when they don't mind swimming with the fishies, lilly pads & reeds. At all of the cottages, we're on a calm inlet so there's no currents to worry about (there isn’t even any rowdy boater or jet-ski traffic to make waves - yay). For more on the swimming, see "Can we swim at the cottage?" above
Is there fishing equipment?
You'll definitely want to bring your own fishing equipment with you to reel in some tasty lunch :)
Are there fishing boats?
It depends what you consider a fishing boat as we've got various water toys at each cottage, including a canoe, rowboat and/or paddleboat.
Can we rent motor boats?
Yes, indeed. Check out the lovely local folks like Lauderdale Point Marina and Sopher's Landing Marina. There's also Muskoka Wharf Marine and Northern Lakes Marine who'll deliver boats right to the local boat launch for ya:
The OG cottage - Franklin Park on Sparrow Lake
Cahoots cottage - North Morrison Lake Boat Launch
Woody cottage - Fox Point Public Boat Launch on Wood Lake
Can I dock my own boat?
The OG cottage has a dock with water depth of about 5 feet. You can launch it locally and moor it on the dock, which will be in the water from Victoria day weekend (May) thru thanksgiving weekend (October), weather permitting.
If you're booked into one of the other cottages, reach out and we can yadder through the options :)
Can we hoot & holler with music?
Nope. Being at a lakefront cottage has its perks like being able to relax & enjoy it with your loved ones. We like to remember that we share the lake with lotsa lovely folks who've also come up to relax. If it's a summer pool party vibe yer after, with outdoor music, hoots & hollers, there's plenty of other places to do that (Vegas, anyone?)
Since noise travels easily across water, there are Muskoka-wide bylaws asking for music amplifying devices to be kept indoors & at a low volume so that the natural outdoor vibes can continue to be shared by everyone.
If you're like us and just wanna soak up the calm, quiet, and peacefulness of the lake and each other, then you'll be ace. We love the sound of nature, swapping campfire stories, and sharing giggles - that's music to our ears!
How much outside space is there?
Oodles. At each of our cottages, there's anywhere between one-two acres of cleared property (and loads of forest). On the lakeside of the cottage, each cottage has spacious decks, lotsa lawn sprawling space & a sandy beach. Check out The OG, Cahoots, or Woody Cottage for visuals.
Will the cottages offer privacy for me & my loved ones?
You've got it! There's no sharesies of the cottages & what they each have to offer (except with your loved ones of course) as they're on separate lakes. They're each nicely nestled amongst trees for some natural privacy as well, and we've got a single front outdoor security cam for the driveway & parking lot area, which stays on for the safety of everyone at the cottage :)
What's there to do in Muskoka?
Darn good question! Have a gander at our detailed list of fun and frolicking opportunities in Muskoka.
Winter
Will the lake be frozen?
This is a very difficult question to answer as it, obviously, depends on the weather. Generally speaking, the ice is at a suitable depth some time in December or January (occasionally earlier) until at least March. At the Woody Cottage, specifically, we recommend a quick stroll up the road to the public access for more solid adventures on ice. Have a look at the "How to know when ice is safe" wiki-how page to keep you & yours safelease :)
Will the driveway be plowed?
Yes, both the driveway & the private lane leading up to the cottage are plowed regularly by professionals.
Can we ice-fish at the cottage?
Yes indeed. You can weather the elements directly with a chair, or rent an ice fishing hut & equipment from some local folx like Sopher's Landing.
Need a fishing license? Get your fishing license here.
Can we rent snowmobiles?
Sure can. We'll introduce ya to some lovely local folks that offer snowmobile rentals.
What's there to do in winter in Muskoka?
Oodles! Have a gander at our detailed list of great things to do in winter in Muskoka.
Meat & potatoes
How much does it cost?
See the rates info. If ya can hear us clucking but can't find our nest, contact us & we'll help ya work it all out.
How much is the booking deposit?
To reserve your dates, we ask for a booking deposit of 50% of the rental rate.
How much is the security deposit?
There's a minimum security deposit* of $1000, which we collect just a week before your getaway and wing back to ya in full within ten business days when the cottage and 'er surroundings are left as you found 'em - undamaged and in a clean, re-rentable state. Wanna pay it later? Need it back sooner? Just let us know.
* We may require additional security deposits for pets, large gatherings, events, extended stays, etc. We'll let ya know early on.
How much is the cleaning fee (aka barnsweeping)?
Darn good question! Have a gander here: https://www.trenanthiacottage.com/etc/barn-sweeping
What if we need to cancel?
Sh!t, uh, Cancellations happen. Worry not! We understand that sometimes the unforeseen gets in the way of your getaway and we love to make everything a bit easier with our friendly cancellation policy :) When booked directly with us there's:
A 100% refund on cancellations within 48 hours of booking when the cancellation is at least 14 days before check-in (so you can feel safe & secure in scooping ‘er up while plans are still in motion!)
A 100% refund on cancellations at least 30 days before check-in (sweeeeet)
Once we’re within 30 days of check-in, any funds paid will be held, while we do our best to get another lovely group of guests into the cottage. When we’ve successfully re-rented ‘er out to a new group (at times, for a discounted rate), those newly gathered funds will be returned to ya, less a $95 +tax administration fee. When you book again with us in the future, we'll put the fee towards your next getaway, easy peasy.
And as always, if there's a pandemic or other natural disaster outside of any of our control, we'll work with you to shuffle your dates to another time of the year so you can enjoy 'er when the restrictions lift!
Life is bigger™ with friendly cancellation policies :)
Is it available on weekends?
Yup. We've got weekends available all year round, including during the summer. Yippee!
Can we have a party?
Nope. Simple as that. If you're looking for a party cottage, then moooove along. It's not gonna happen here.
If, however, you're looking to simply enjoy a relaxing cottage getaway with your loved ones, and you respect that everyone else around ya comes to relax at their cottages too, then we'd love to have ya! You're also asked to remember that noise travels easily across a lake, so no outdoor music devices are allowed (speakers, boom boxes, etc) and to keep the noise down, especially after 10:30pm (which is a Muskoka-wide bylaw - and the quickest way to put a real damper on yer getaway with a visit & fine from the OPP!)
Can we have an early check-in? Can we have a late check-out?
During the fall, winter and spring, contact us and we'll do our darnedest for ya. In the summer, however, we're not able to as there's just too much to get done in a super short period o' time.
Where do we get the keys?
Have no fear - entry information will be sent to you one week before your getaway begins.
Can we have a look around?
Certainly you can. As you'd expect, we want to preserve the peace and tranquility for our guests, so just contact us & we'll work out a good time for ya to have a gander.
What to bring
What do we need to bring with us?
Good question. Have a look at the packing list.
Do we need to bring bedding?
Nope, we provide 'em :)
Unless you'd like to bring your own, in which case, feel free! Here's the respective bed sizes & snoozing layout for The OG, Cahoots, or Woody Cottage.
Do we need to bring towels?
Yes and don't forget to bring some for the hot tub & sauna too (see the packing list).
Is firewood provided?
We start ya off with a whack o’ logs so depending on how handy ya are as the fire-tender, and how much fire lovin’ you’d like, you could be all set. Otherwise, you may wanna get some more, lol. They sell it at most gas stations & grocery stores up in this neck o' the woods (about $12/bag) or you're welcome to buy some directly at the cottage. We’ve conveniently left some piled for ya with the prices marked (about $15 for a similar quantity). You can either leave cash or we can sort it out with the security deposit afterward, whadevah suits ya :)
Are pets allowed? Are dogs allowed?
Yes, indeed we love pets & consider 'em part of the family, so there's no charge. We're pet-friendly so bring the fur-family along!
Can we drink the water?
The water at the cottages comes direct from the lake (at The OG) or a well (at Cahoots and Woody). It's safe to use for regular activities such as showering, washing dishes, and the like. For drinking water, we recommend bringing some for your getaway, and all nearby supermarkets stock water - easy peasy :)
You can also see other tidbits here on the packing list
What washing up liquid or dishwasher tabs do I need?
Technically, you don't need any as we provide enough for most uses. If you'd still like to bring some, please bring phosphate free varieties. Take a gander at the packing list for more info.
Travelling
How can I travel there? How can I get there from Toronto Pearson airport (YYZ)?
Your best bet will be a rental car, easy peasy.
If you're traveling without a car, there's a number of options including taking an airport shuttle, bus, train, or flying into Muskoka Airport (YQA). The nearest towns to The OG and Cahoots cottages is either Orillia or Gravenhurst, while for Woody cottage, it'd be Bracebridge.
From those towns, it's a 15-20 minute drive to the cottage by taxi or limo. And personally, we definitely recommend the limo - shared across a number of peeps, it's a reasonable price and they'll take you directly to the cottage in style, whoot whoot.
Here are some leads:
Northern Airport (shuttle): 1-800-461-4219, www.northernairport.com
Ontario Northland Transportation (bus): 1-800-461-8558, www.ontarionorthland.ca
Muskoka Airport Limo Service: 1-705-710-3737, www.muskokaairportlimotaxi.ca
Where's the nearest grocery store?
Personally, we like to stop at the Zehr's just off highway 11 in Orillia (about 20 minutes from the OG and Cahoots cottages, and 45 minutes from Woody) - 289 Coldwater Road, Orillia. Click the link for a google map to help ya find it.
Are there hospitals nearby?
Yep, there are two hospitals. One in Orillia (Orillia Soldiers Memorial) and one in Bracebridge (South Muskoka Memorial Hospital).
What's there to do in Muskoka?
Have a gander at our detailed list of fun and frolicking opportunities in Muskoka.
Can't find an answer? We're all ears. Just contact us!