The hot and humid weather is here and many of us will be headed to our Muskoka, Haliburton, Kawarthas or Parry Sound cottage for a summer vacation by the lake in the next month or two. Here are essentials for your Ontario cottage vacation:
Bath and Body Works Lakeside Summer Candle Collection 2013
With a summer forecast that includes more wet weather, make sure you have packed candles for those thunder storm evenings when you find yourself inside playing board games. Bath and Body Works has released their Lakeside Summer Candle Collection 2013, which includes cottage scents such as Boathouse Row, Lakeside, Summertime S’Mores, Watermelon Lemonade, Mahogany Teakwood and Strawberry Picnic. I had a chance to sample Boathouse Row and Lakeside. The former is a blend of blue water, green sage and cedar wood, reminiscent of star-filled evenings on the dock while Lakeside is a blend of water scents, drift wood and lemon, conjuring the aromas of a sand beach. You can also burn them at home to remind you of your time at the cottage.
One Piece Bathing Suit
The one-piece bathing has seen revived popularity because not everyone’s body is bikini ready and one pieces are figure flattering. Plus it can be cooler swimming in the lake so a one-piece might come in handy when at the cottage. This Seafolly one piece bathing suit from Beachwear Unlimited is as sexy as a two-piece and more slimming. Beachwear Unlimited at Leslie Street south of Cummer Avenue has a wide selection of designer swimsuits for all shapes and sizes.
Vegetable Grill Basket for Barbeque
You’ll probably be barbecuing a lot at the cottage and of course you’ll want to throw peppers, onions and zucchini on the grill along with your steaks and chicken. You’ll be able to grill smaller vegetables and even shrimp using this Cuisinart mesh stainless steel grill basket without having the vegetables fall through the grill. The base is also large enough for a good portion of vegetables. You can pick it up at Canadian Tire for $34.99.
60 SPF Sunscreen Lotion
Beach Defense from Neutrogena comes in a 30 and 60 SPF sunscreen lotion, which you’ll need to apply when sunbathing on your Muskoka dock. Beach Defense sunscreen is not greasy at all and is light enough to apply on your face.
White Burgundy Wine with Fish
If you’re going to be enjoying a fish dinner of pickerel, bass or trout, you’ll need a white wine to accompany your meal. White burgundy wine has always been my favourite for its crisp, tart and woodsy taste. Choose a reasonably priced white burgundy such as Louis Jadot Chardonnay Bourgogne (V), which is $17.95 at the LCBO. This dry white with a sugar content of four has an aroma of yellow apple, citrus and lime zest with a touch of oak and is perfect with trout, pickerel or salmon.
The Great Canadian Novel
I think it makes sense when you are enjoying the great Canadian cottage vacation to bring along a Canadian novel to help you imagine other regions of our vast landscape. Novels which come to mind are:
- The Shipping News by Annie Proulx – Although Ms. Proulx was born in Connecticut, her ancestors are French Canadian and she received her M.A. from Concordia University. Further, this novel focuses on Quoyle, a newspaper employee from upstate New York who returns to Newfoundland, the home of his father to piece together his life.
- The Road Past Altamont by Gabrielle Roy – This exquisite short story collection traces a girl’s experience growing up in Manitoba including a coveted visit to Lake Winnipeg.
- Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay – A radio journalist accepts a job at the CBC in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and learns about himself through his colleagues and during a canoe trip into the Arctic wilderness.
- Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood – A Richmond Hill, Ontario maid is accused of murder during the mid-nineteenth century. A page turner and one of Atwood’s finest.
