cottages Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Top Rainy Day Cottage Activities: What to do When Weather is Poor

Paula — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 13:42:30 +0000

Almost every year of my life I’ve spent at least a week at the cottage. Typically, we visit in the summer, and sometimes in the fall too. It’s a Canadian tradition. Camping and cottages and long summer nights and wildlife. Bad weather can also be a Canadian tradition. Don’t let your cottage vacation be a rainy disappointment. Plan ahead for some Rainy Day Cottage Activities and keep everyone happy for the week, or weeks ahead. This Rainy Day Cottage Activities Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive s all commission on qualifying purchases. There’s no end to the fun that can be had when the weather cooperates in cottage country. But what about when the weather turns suddenly? How can you keep everyone happy. Rainy Day Cottage Activities sometimes require a little bit of planning but these are all low cost and family friendly.. Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. Here are my recommendations of things to do at the cottage when rainy days seem to pile up or even just sweep in out of the blue. Fun and Easy Rainy Day Cottage Activities Early on in my childhood, I got used to spending one week of every single summer at the beach. After a nightly barbecue or corn on the cob, we’d stroll the boardwalk, walk into town for ice cream, or relax near a campfire. Some of my favourite summer childhood memories took place against the backdrop of a lighthouse and the Southampton shoreline, or the Wasaga Beach strip. As a child, I lived for that week with my family, a series of books jammed into a suitcase and the sweet luxury of time. Beach sunsets, board games indoors, hours poking through the downtown shops. Reading for hours under an umbrella and waking up to the chirping of Blue Jays in cedars. All of these are sensory visceral memories that pull me right back to childhood. July? August? Either month works here in Ontario, as long as we had a cottage, fresh food, a beach and a grill, plus a book, then we were set and happy. When it rained we were all huddled up inside a three bedroom green cottage, built circa 1960, that we rented typically off of one of my mom’s friends. Of course there are always those rainy cottage days too. So, what to do when the weather lets you down in cottage country? Well, those days are inevitable and we definitely had our share. Here’s what I still do with my own kids when rain clouds chase you off of the beach and into the cottage. Don’t Be Disappointed at the Cottage Board games Over the years we have spent many afternoons playing first Candyland and Snakes and Ladders and then Scrabble, Pictionary, UNO and Trivial Pursuit. Monopoly is in there too. There are some games that simply HAVE to be packed when you travel anywhere. We have a few road trip games that go everywhere with us. Guess Who is one that travels easily because it is a small travel-sized game. Crack them out even on a day when you have all had a bit too much sun. Books Listen, this was my happy place. I didn’t care if it rained or was super sunny. Forever topping my list of rainy day cottage activities, or simply cottage activities, period – BOOKS! Grab a book and read. Take it to the beach and read. Just read. Never a bad side to reading and there’s rarely a bad time to read either. Library Many cottage towns have a library. Depending on the time of week you are there, it might be open. One of the libraries we visited in Southampton on the Bruce Peninsula often had a book sale when we were at the cottage. This worked in everyone’s favour. Also, frequently whether you are renting a cottage or a chalet during ski season, people have a small library there in their second homes. Maybe there’s something you have not read yet there. Museum Maybe there is a city museum nearby. That can be the ideal way to spend a rainy day. Check this post for Bruce County Museum information. Museums make a brilliant choice for rainy days at the cottage. Shopping Grab an umbrella and hit the shops. Unless the rain is torrential, you can easily pop in and out of the shops and buy a few souvenirs. Card games Obviously rainy day cottage activities and card games go together brilliantly. Every cottage should be sold with a deck of cards right in it. Word searches/ crosswords Never go anywhere without a word search or crossword puzzle. Also, there’s no reason to go anywhere without one because I have a lot of word games posted here on my Free Printables Pinterest board. Lighthouse Many of the cottages and beach areas along the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada have lighthouses. Some have lighthouse museums as in Kincardine. Check the hours of operation and go have fun inside. Park nearby and don’t get soaked while exploring history. I love the lighthouses along the Bruce Peninsula. We have been through many of them. Bakery Check the hours of service when you get to the cottage. Sometimes there’s a super popular bakery that’s in high demand every morning, or on rainy days. You should know the times so that when you are ready to pick up some lemon tarts, squares or sweets you can get them without a long wait. Journal Always a great way to spend an hour or two before bed, but you could also do this on bad weather days too. Rainy day cottage activities that get kids writing or drawing or doing something that is not TV or smartphone related are the best kinds of activities in my books. Knit, do crafts Pack your knitting materials. Don’t forget a craft or two for the kids. Many beach towns and cottage areas have markets or even dollar stores now. Pop in on the way out of town if you need a few cheap supplies. Craft paper, markers, paint, a colouring book, an easy craft kit – all of these are great ways to pass a few hours in the rain. Paint Bring the cleanup materials and it’s no problem to paint at the cottage too. You don’t need to wait for a rainy day to have fun doing this. Draw or Sketch ALWAYS. Always pack the crayons, pencil crayons and pencils. My kids never ever leave home without pencils and pencil crayons, even still as teenagers. Markers are a good bet too. Movie Marathon I mean this is much lower on my list of must do activities when the rains swoops in. But, that said, one year we were staying with my Mom at a cottage and she was a senior living by herself at the time. It was a luxury for her to be able to sit and watch movies with me and my two daughters at that time, who were 7 and 9. So, we opted for a couple of movies that she wanted to see during the week and we enjoyed them together. Sometimes, even when you want or plan for screen free time, there’s a time and a place to include it. Write Pick up a pen or pencil and write. Have the kids write you a story or give them a story prompt and let them loose. FYI, we also love things like Ad Libs to get kids thinking and laughing and being creative. These are even fun for adults. Have Fun Indoors at the Cottage! Of course you want to be outside at the cottage, but that’s not always possible. All that really matters is that you make memories and have fun, indoors or outdoors. Anything is possible with a little imagination. To Download and print out my Rainy Day Cottage Activities list, just click on the file below. What are some of the things you do when it rains at the cottage?

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Ten Camping Apps to Make Camping Go Smoothly

Paula — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:44:14 +0000

Camping apps? Yes, there are even apps to make you camping experience run a little smoother, if that’s your mission this year. Camper, glamper or weekend warrior – no matter what your camping style there’s a camping app to help. Most of my readers know by now that I am more of a glamper than a camper. I enjoy the outdoors and I love a good road trip. But I don’t do tents. Luckily there are a million and one different ways to get away in the summer. And whether you are camping, glamping, cottaging, or heading out of town to a resort with some friends and family the important thing is typically how you spend your time and who you are with while there. I love staying in a cottage and enjoying all of the comforts of that lifestyle, while doing some fun camping activities too. Like sharing campfire stories, roasting marshmallows and smores and enjoying a good song or two. So a space like Parkbridge Resorts or Sherkston Shores works beautifully for me. In fact many years I have rented a cottage with a relative too. Many of my readers are travellers and some are hardcore campers. Several also have their own RVs. No matter what style of camper you are there’s a reason camping or heading to the cottage is a favourite with families everywhere. It’s a great chance to unplug and spend time together in the great outdoors! When it comes to camping or any travel at all really, packing the right tools and necessities can be the difference between a bad or a good experience. Did you know that there are camping apps out there to make your camping trick run smoother? I know we’re supposed to be unplugged here, but these apps are definitely worth it! Ten Camping Apps: Camp Finder Compare and find camping and RV sites. Camping List Never forget another item on your camping trip again. Super simple to use. Must have iOS 8.0 or higher. Check off all the items you need and then mark them as packed when they are in fact ready to take with you. This may help keep you organized. Coleman Campfire Tale – a fun little app with some campfire stories for those times that you are stuck. Spyglass – available in multiple languages this is a GPS camping app and it is hardcore. MotionX GPS – Excellent and highly rated GPS app that will record your hikes, treks and bike rides with accuracy. Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Great for biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, running, paddle boarding, sailing, rowing, flying, geocaching, and more. Has free downloadable worldwide maps and NOAA marine charts. Over 5 million users worldwide. Star Walk Of course this camping app is a stargazing app in case you couldn’t tell by the name. Very educational. This is the kind of app my daughter loves when she’s outdoors. If you have to take the tech then it better be educational and helping. What Knot to Do – by outdoor sports clothiers – Columbia Sportswear this app details how to make over 70 different types of knots! Did you have any clue there were that many knots? This app requires iOS 9.0 or later. Dutch Oven Helper This is kind of a quirky little app. If you identify what kind of dutch oven you are cooking with and your cooking method then it will tell you how many briquettes you need to use. St. John Ambulance First Aid – Be warned this is only to be downloaded by those over age 17 and is based on UK St. John Ambulance protocols. But this is still a useful first aid and safety app for camping. The app doesn’t replace the benefits of learning first aid, nor is it as in depth as a full first aid manual. When there is an emergency, it may help you in the first crucial moments when time is important. BackCountry Navigator – the best selling outdoor navigational app for ANDROID. Best TOPO maps that are downloadable too. Camping Apps Can Add Value to the Outdoor Experience Have you heard of any of these camping apps before? Are you a camper? If so what’s your favourite app and do you even use them when camping?

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Be a Summer Hero – Parkbridge Resorts Twitter Party – RSVP Now – #ParkbridgeLife

Paula — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:00:10 +0000

There’s so much to love about summer. The longer days can be magical, even if you wish there were many more of them. Make the most of all the hours, all the days from May through September. Bring your A game, but don’t worry if you haven’t booked your vacation yet. This week, we are going to help you figure out what you need to know to be a summer hero. Join the Parkbridge Resorts Linked Moms twitter party this week and be a summer hero for 2017. Parkbridge Resorts will help you build beautiful memories this season. We have loved every single visit to Lakes of Wasaga, in winter and summer too. In 2014 we visited Lakes of Wasaga for the first time. The kids brought a good friend and we spent time swimming, having great food and playing near the beach. WE loved the grounds and even spied a beaver near the one lake on site. We have done a couple of summer stays now. And we have happy memories of these fun times with family. Every Family Day in February we return. Our winter stays are some of our most memorable. We spend the weekend skiing nearby and then collapse exhausted late at night. The Lakes of Wasaga, Georgian Bay cabins and ski chalets are warm and perfect for apres ski. Plus the fully stocked and well appointed kitchens mean we can cook a big protein rich breakfast and comfort food for dinner too. That’s vital when you spend hours on end skiing. Parkbridge, Canada’s leading owner and operator of land lease communities, believes in affordable, comfortable and secure places to live, vacation and retire. Parkbridge has four types of properties: Cottage & RV Resorts, Retirement Communities, Family Lifestyle Communities & Marinas. You can rent or buy. They have locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario. They currently operate 124 communities in Canada! The Lakes of Wasaga cabins are amazing, clean and spacious. They are heated, safe and family friendly. You can easily spend a week or two there as many have fully stocked kitchen areas. We found everything we needed every time we stayed here. So a family could easily sleep 5 to 6 in a cabin the size of the one we had. There are many nearby stores if you need to run out and grab some food to cook in the well equipped kitchen. [tweetthis]RSVP now for WEDS. April 26 at 8 p.m. EST #ParkbridgeLife – prizes ARV $1200 plus.[/tweetthis] As well, Parkbridge has are options to purchase a cabin as well. You can rent, or buy which makes this a really appealing way to manage a yearly family vacation or an entire season of glamping. There are amenities for people of all ages and each Parkbridge community is unique. Stay a week, a month, an entire summer or longer. You can rest all summer long when you know your property is being well maintained by the team at Parkbridge. If you have ever contemplated cottage ownership but worried about upkeep, well here you have much less to worry about that way. At Parkbridge your home away from home is taken care of when you are away. You can learn more about Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities this month at our Linked Moms twitter party April 26 at 8 p.m. EST. There are more than $1200 worth of prizes!! RSVP now for the possibility of winning a prize. The grand prize will be a three night stay at Lakes of Wasaga. There are 3 VISA gift cards as well. Follow along right away with #ParkbridgeLife hashtag on Twitter. Follow Parkbridge Resorts on Twitter too. Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Time: 8:00pm -9:00pm EST Hosts: @ParkbridgeLife Co-Hosts: @LinkedMoms @Inkscrblr @DownshiftingPRO Questions: @LinkedMoms Hashtag: #ParkbridgeLife Prizing eligibility: Canada Only Over $1,200 in prizing ONE 3 Night MINI STAY at Parkbridge’s Lakes of Wasaga Resort and 3 $50 Visa Gift Cards will be awarded. RSVP NOW. I am working with Parkbridge Life again this year to share their great accommodation options with readers. As such I am compensated. Please join us for a great chat on Wednesday night!! An InLinkz Link-up

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Road Trip Safety On and Off The Road #travel

Paula — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 14:47:30 +0000

Road trip safety is something that we can all use a refresher course on. It’s so easy to become complacent on the road. Finding a rest stop becomes the paramount objective when exits become sparse, and we tend to forget dangers are literally everywhere. It’s important to remember that road trip safety is as much a part of travel as remembering to be safe abroad. Keys to Road Trip Safety Safety on the road begins with planning, continues with planning, and ends with planning. Seriously, though. Road trip safety requires thought and vigilance, just like any other form of safety or travel. We road trippers too often abandon that because we’re tired and we just need to use a restroom. That’s why I think this refresher course is so important. Car Check I covered this in my last post about general travel safety, but it bears repeating. If you’re about to take a road trip, the car needs to be in good working order. Have a certified mechanic check your car from top to bottom. If you have a mechanic in the family, that works too, and can save you money. But the important thing is to be sure everything works. Headlights, blinkers, fluid levels, brakes, and everything in between should be checked to ensure that they’re all good to go for your extended stay in your car. Buddy System The buddy system isn’t just for theme parks and swimming. It’s a big part of road trip safety. Whether you or a family member is headed into a gas station for snacks or a rest stop bathroom, never go solo. Rest stop bathrooms are perfect places for many more horrors than just a toilet that hasn’t been flushed. Never enter one, or any area for that matter, without a partner. Keep the Cash on the Down Low I covered this in my general safety post as well. Never flash money or credit cards when paying for anything. Be surreptitious about your wallet’s guts when going through it. The less folks know about what’s going on inside your wallet when you’re traveling the better. After all, travelers make excellent targets for crime. People aren’t expecting them to be anywhere for a certain length of time. Less is More When it comes to road trip safety, less conversation is more when you make stops. I know it sounds paranoid, but this can be important. Does that guy at the counter really need to know exactly where you’re going and what car you’re getting there in? No. He doesn’t. And even though the chances that he is some sort of criminal are slim, the chance is still there. Better safe than sorry. If a random stranger thinks you’re rude, so be it. Safety first. Don’t Broadcast Your Trip Last but not least in road trip safety is this: don’t broadcast your trip. There is no need to tell everyone on social media that you’ll be leaving your home all by its lonesome for a solid week. Your friends may not be thieves, but what about their friends or their friends’ friends? Social media is not the place to announce your impeding trip. However if social media is part of your travel arrangement and your trip is sponsored then consider this: you can post to social after you return, or have someone checking your home routinely while you are away. [tweetthis]Road trip safety tips are important to remember before you hit the road #travel [/tweetthis] Road Trip Safety is Easy but Essential Road trip safety is actually really simple to implement, but most of us don’t do it adequately. We get tired. We get a full bladder. We just want the kids to stop fighting. There are tons of distractions on a road trip, and it’s easy to become complacent. That’s when disaster has a chance to happen. Follow the tips above and remain vigilant at all times to ensure that road trip safety is a key part of your next road trip. Don’t forget to check out my other travel posts above.

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It’s Time to RSVP For The #ParkbridgeLife Twitter Party April 15 at 8 p.m. EST #travel

Paula — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 16:35:53 +0000

It was a rainy afternoon in August and our second day at Parkbridge Resorts, Lakes of Wasaga. We were there for three nights as guests. The kids had a friend with them and I was wrestling with the urge to tell them all to get off their Nintendos when I heard my youngest daughter holler: “There’s something over there by the lake.” All three children threw their sandals on and they ambled towards the lake. That weekend we had already spied dozens of groundhogs, we’d been swimming multiple times, made our own fishing poles of twine and branches, spied many fish, played some board games, been mini golfing and picked up about 30 different frogs and toads. The rumour was that there was a beaver living in the bullrushes near the picturesque lake at Lakes of Wasaga. I followed after the kids with my iPhone in my hand, partly skeptical and a wee bit hopeful that they had found the fabled creature of the lake. I stared at a rock and was ready to leave, after all my mission had been accomplished anyways: the kids had dropped electronics to interact, investigate and explore the natural surroundings. As I turned, the rock moved. I have never ever seen a beaver up close before but there it was. It was unmistakably a beaver. The rumours were true. We didn’t believe it until we saw it for ourselves. That kind of describes the entire stay at a Parkbridge Resort Community. You won’t believe it until you are there. Parkbridge, Canada’s leading owner and operator of land lease communities believes in affordable, comfortable and secure places to live, vacation and retire. Parkbridge has four types of properties: Cottage & RV Resorts, Retirement Communities, Family Lifestyle Communities & Marinas. [tweetthis]Parkbridge has four types of properties: Cottage & RV Resorts, Retirement Communities, Family Lifestyle Communities & Marinas.[/tweetthis] The cabins are clean and spacious. They are heated and safe and you can easily spend a week or two there as many have fully stocked kitchen areas. We found everything we needed. I even found a cork screw. So a family could easily sleep 5 to 6 in a cabin the size of the one we had. There are many nearby stores if you need to run out and grab some food to cook in the well equipped kitchen. There are also options to purchase a cabin as well. You can rent, or buy which makes this a really appealing way to manage a yearly family vacation or an entire season of glamping. This is my kind of stay. Glamping in a gorgeous cabin, not too far from the beach, but also secluded enough to feel like you are away from the city. Looking to get away this summer at an affordable price? This is a great solution. Check out the resorts section on the Parkbridge website and browse the map, or search resorts by name: http://www.parkbridge.com/en-ca/Pages/CottageRVResorts.aspx [tweetthis]This is my kind of stay, glamping, #ParkbridgeLife not far from the beach, or major urban centre and yet somehow also in a secluded restful atmosphere.[/tweetthis] [tweetthis]Parkbridge Resort and Lifestyle Communities #ParkbridgeLife are located throughout Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and British Colombia.[/tweetthis] There are amenities for people of all ages and each community is unique in what it offers. Stay a week, a month, an entire summer or a whole season from April through to Thanksgiving. You can rest easy, relaxing all summer long when you know your property is being well maintained by the team at Parkbridge. I know I am not the only one out there who has contemplated cottage ownership at one time or another but thought to themselves I am not sure I want to be driving every weekend to a cottage just to make sure the grass is cut and the water hasn’t overflowed and that nobody has broken in while I was away. At Parkbridge your home away from home is taken care of when you are away. You can learn more about Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities this month at our Linked Moms twitter party April 15 at 8 p.m. EST. There are $1200 worth of prizes!! RSVP now for the possibility of winning a prize. The grand prize will be a three night stay at one of the many Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities in Canada. [tweetthis]RSVP Now for a chance to win a three night stay at a Parkbridge Resort. #ParkbridgeLife[/tweetthis] Eligibility Rules are here: Read them so you don’t lose out. Please remember to show Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities some love on their social channels: Twitter – @ParkbridgeLife Facebook – Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities. and follow the hosts as well for a chance to win. @LinkedMoms @inkscrblr @downshiftingpro We can’t wait to share this with you! See you there! Remember to RSVP with your twitter handle. And this particular party, the prizes are only open to Canadians.

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Save the Date For Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Twitter Party – $1200 in prizes April 15 8 p.m.

Paula — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:38:36 +0000

Super excited to share this save the date post with everyone! Remember last August when we visited Parkbridge Lifestyle community in Wasaga Beach? It was really lovely. You can read more about that if you click through to the post from last August. We know that it is almost spring and some people are already starting their summer resort and cottage planning. After all when you live in Canada where we have a mere two months of summer, you need to get accustomed to wringing it for all it is worth. So you plan every last weekend and you map out all the best spots to stay. Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities knows Canada. They have some beautiful properties across Canada. Anyways here’s the scoop. Linked Moms will be hosting a twitter party event with Parkbridge on April 15 at 8 p.m. EST!! Parkbridge is generous and we have over $1200 in prizes to share with you. So T this up. Add it to your Outlook Calendar, your Google Calendar and your kitchen calendar too. You don’t want to miss this one!! Parkbridge Lifestyle communities will be giving away a Mini Stay at one of their resorts. We also have some Visa gift cards to share too!! Can’t wait to see you there. Follow all the Twitter handles below and follow the hashtag #ParkbridgeLife the night of the party. RSVP to follow soon. Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Time: 8:00pm -9:00pm ET Hosts: @ParkbridgeLife Co-Hosts: @LinkedMoms @Inkscrblr @DownshiftingPRO Questions: @LinkedMoms Hashtag: #ParkbridgeLife Prizing eligibility: Canada Only Over $1,200 in prizing RSVP to follow soon!! This is your save the date notice only.

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Rainy Day Family Fun on the Bruce Peninsula

Paula — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:33:00 +0000

What to do when you are at the cottage and the rain starts? Well why not visit the Bruce County Museum? There’s plenty to do and see for kids of all ages. Plus the exhibits are always a hit. Here’s one more reason to visit the Bruce Peninsula. I have spent all my summers from the time I was a tot heading to the beach with my family, often winding up at a rental cottage hanging out and enjoying the summer months near Southampton. But only last year at the ripe old age of 40 with my children in tow did I finally visit the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre. The Museum Details Just off of Victoria Street, not far from the cottage we’ve been renting for the last two years, the museum is a largely overlooked gem on the Bruce Peninsula. Last year I took my children, then seven and four and we enjoyed wizardry and weaving exhibits. We even explored the old one room school house and pioneer home they have on the grounds overlooking Fairy Lake. The prices were reasonable and we had a fun afternoon exploring the medium-sized museum. Even Grandma was won over despite her protests ‘if you’ve been to one museum you might as well have seen them all.’ In fact this year, just last week we happened on a rainy afternoon to find ourselves back in the museum enjoying their excellent dinosaur exhibit. What’s not to like about a giant felt dinosaur form that can be sculpted by children into various dinosaurs including triceratops and stegosaurus? There are play areas where dinosaur pictures can be etched and also a few sensory sandboxes where children can climb in and excavate bones. But best of all the dinosaurs on exhibit from May to October of this year. They are realistic and robotic and very appealing to kids of all ages. The theatre on site also runs a BBC film on dinosaurs several times a day. (Updated 2013 – this year is a shipwreck exhibit and lighthouses as well. There are day camps and other adventures awaiting within.) A Few More Details Location: 33 Victoria Street North Southampton, On. Bruce Peninsula Hours are: Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and Holidays: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adult: $8.00, Seniors and Students are $6. Children under 12 are $4. Three and under free. Thriftymommas rating $$$$ out of $$$$$. Tip: Check with other museums to see if they have a partnering policy with this one. You may get in free.

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