Tips to be the Best Muskoka Cottage Host

Not For Your Average City Host

After a work week, there’s no better feeling than heading up to the cottage to escape the city, especially when your family and friends are tagging along! Hosting guests at your Muskoka cottage might just be the best summer weekend of the year, so it’s important to prep ahead of time to give them the ultimate experience. You want your guests to have fun but also feel completely at home. Here’s what you’ll need to be the best Muskoka cottage host:

Plan Your Menu

Hot dogs may get a little bland after day two. Plan out your menu a week ahead so that you’ve got time to buy the necessary ingredients. Be sure to include meal and snack options for:

• Kids or fussy eaters
• Those with specific dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free)
• Guests who enjoy alcoholic beverages and those who do not

Determine ahead of time whether you’ll serve meals family or buffet style to ensure you’ve got the space and dishes.

Here are some fun and different meal and drink ideas that your guests will be raving about for summers to come:

• Mimosa bar with fresh fruit and fancy glasses
• Pig roast
• DIY s’mores station (kids will love it!)
• Wine tasting — pick up a few bottles from the Muskoka Lakes Winery to give your guests the ultimate local experience

Fun in the Sun

What would a Muskoka cottage weekend be without outdoor activities and games? Allow your guests to truly soak up the skyscraper-less skies with these ideas that cater to friends of all ages:

• Horseshoe pit
• Badminton net
• Motorboat, canoe, kayak, or a pedal boat
• A fire pit
• Hammocks
• Water trampoline

Have a Backup Plan

If Muskoka doesn’t pull through with the sun and heat you were hoping for, create an indoor backup plan. Equip the cottage with cards, board games, movies, extra seats, or plan a day out to visit some local attractions.

Safety First

It’s usually all fun and games at the cottage but it’s important to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Prior to your gathering, ensure you’ve got:

• Enough life jackets for all boaters and swimmers
• Pool noodles and water wings
• 2 fire extinguishers; one for indoors and one near the fire pit
• First aid kits for the cottage and the boat
• Working smoke and CO2 detectors
• Several flashlights

If you have an older cottage that hasn’t been maintained well, consider upgrading it to ensure it meets the appropriate building codes.

Make Them Feel Special

You’ll already wow your guests with your spectacular cottage, but to give them the ultimate Muskoka cottage guest experience, leave chocolates on their pillows, set up baskets with toiletries, or have a delicious breakfast ready for your guests when they wake up.

Time to Chill

Towards the end of the weekend, you might be feeling the draining effects of being the ultimate Muskoka cottage host so it’s important to take time for yourself to decompress. Wake up earlier than your guests one morning to enjoy coffee in your sunroom or go for a solo walk.

Regardless of the weather or any hiccups along the way, your guests will leave your Muskoka cottage with memories to last a lifetime.