Welcome to the Summer Issue

 “Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
– Henry James

In our house, summer afternoons can go one of two ways; they are either packed with go, go, go adventure and play – or they are quiet and lazy and full of books, hammocks and popsicles; and I say, amen to balance! With no school in sight, kids are free to explore and experience the fun of long summer days. Maybe those days for them are spent at camp, perhaps with family, or floating in the lake. No matter what you get up to this summer, soak it all in – as much as our Canadian winters seem long – our summers can feel incredibly short. So hit the road, pick a new lake every weekend, and explore the heart of this amazing region we lovingly refer to as Cottage Country. Pitch a tent and listen to the frogs croak and the buzz and hum of the night, catch fireflies, have campfire sing-alongs and eat as many S’mores as your tummy allows. Squeeze every bit of summer into these next two months.

Welcome to the summer issue, Cottage Country! In this issue we put together a selection of summer inspired destinations and stories for you, along with yummy summer grilling recipes from Weekend at the Cottage. With sweet summertime at our doorstep, so comes road trips and adventures; and we encourage you to make some of those adventures local. Explore your own backyard and adjoining towns, there are so many hidden gems waiting for you to discover them, plus it is definitely high season for festivals – like free concerts with Musicfest in Peterborough. In our Daytripping section, we highlight some great destinations and events, all happening right here in Cottage Country, mark your calendars and you will fill every weekend with an epic event. One-of-a-kind destinations are sprinkled throughout our unique small towns – like Bigley’s who are on the cover for this issue. Bigley’s is one of our favourite summer shopping destinations, with multiple storefronts they have a little something for everyone visiting Bobcaygeon. We have fan favourites with animal bios from regular contributors Riverview Park and Zoo as well as Kawartha Wildlife Centre. There are design tips and inspiration in these pages, as well as fun crafts and activities to keep the kids busy on those scorching hot days. Writer Craig Nicholson makes us laugh with his humorous take on cottage life, and local contributor Rick Whitteker lets us in on the rules of Leave No Trace exploring.

So, take this issue to your go-to summer relaxation spot, whether it be a deck or a dock, or maybe your favourite chair under the air conditioner, and enjoy what we have curated for you this season. Remember to immerse yourself in the moments of sun, adventure and fun because

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”  – Charles Bowden