Welcome to the Fall Issue
“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”
— John Burroughs.
As summer yeilds to fall here in Cottage Country a quiet shift occurs, the often frantic busyness of July and August dissolve as we prepare for cooler days and vibrant autumn colours.
The bustling energy of summer fades, replaced by a rhythmic pace of cool mornings, warm afternoons and cozy evenings. Speedboats and jet skis slowly get put to bed for the winter, leaving the water glassy, calm, and perfectly reflective. With heavy weekend traffic slowing down, hot days once packed with beach visits turn into slow morning coffees, as mist lazily hovers over the lake, quiet afternoon walks, and early evenings by the fireside.
As the grand spectacle of changing leaves begins, summer greens slide into brilliant, fiery crimson, amber, and gold. Muskoka chairs, once hosting sunbathers now hold thick wool blankets and warm mugs of cider. This slower pace makes autumn the ultimate season for daytripping; exploring winding backroads becomes a highly rewarding escape as daytrippers explore the rolling hills and shores of Cottage Country.
These quiet country roads lead travellers to fall studio tours, family farms open up for pumpkin picking and corn mazes, while local village bakeries draw travelers in for fresh apple spiced preserves and warm pumpkin spice delights. The traffic here in Cottage Country may have changed, but the fun and adventure continues.
Welcome to the Fall 2026 issue!
On the cover: Four Points Construction
In this issue the focus is not just on fall fun and local travel, but also on planning and preparing for renovations, new builds and designing and curating spaces that reflect our lifestyles with our Builder Renovator Feature. Read bios and articles from builders, landscapers, interior designers, custom cabinetry, windows and doors, well and septic installers, HVAC, and more!
Plan your 2027 projects and book now for best availability.
We also have a lovely fall hike in the Haliburton Highlands outlined by regular contributor Rick Whitteker, recipes for fall from Weekend at the Cottage will have you taking a tour around the kitchen to create fall magic. The Kawarthas Tourism, Peterborough Tourism, Northumberland Tourism & Haliburton Tourism have curated perfect fall itineraries for you to explore each area. Author Jacob Rodenburg teaches us how to capture the scent of autumn, and we’ve put together a fun nature hunt for the kids! We hope you enjoy, after all – Cottage Country isn’t just exciting in the summer – winter, spring, summer or fall – we’ve got it all!
