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Entire home

5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala!

Lakefront cottage with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for 5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala!

Property grounds
Outdoor dining
Exterior
5 bedrooms, desk, WiFi, bed sheets
Dining
Nestled on Long Lake's serene shores, Sunny Lakeside Cottage offers a quintessentially classic retreat with over one hundred feet of private lake frontage and a sandy beach. Enjoy all-day sun from the property that faces south/southwest, unwind in the cozy living room or games room, and take advantage of high-speed internet connection for Zoom calls - ideal for working remotely.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala!

Just 10 min. walk from downtown Bala, very close to grocery store, ice cream store, restaurants, coffee shops, liquor store, beer store, etc. The cottage is family owned, on great small lake with great swimming and fishing, with a fireplace, and an open living room/dining room/kitchen. Wifi Internet, satellite t.v, 112` of waterfront facing South West, beach on property, lake-side fire pit. Built in `94, all amenities. Outdoor BBQ grill. A bit rustic in terms of finishes, but lots of character.

Main Floor Bedroom #1: Queen Bed (overlooks the top deck and lake)
Main Floor Bedroom #2: Queen Bed (faces into the forest)
Middle Floor Bedroom: Queen Bed (mid-size window faces the lake) - is down a flight of stairs and floor is built into the hill. Pool table, tv room and ping pong table is right outside.
Middle Floor Bedroom: Queen Bed (mid-size window faces trees) - is down a flight of stairs and floor is built into the hill. Pool table, tv room and ping pong table is right outside.
Cool Loft: 2 single beds (for the kids or the adventurous parent!), and a double bed - is up a flight of stairs and overlooks dining room.

There are lots of stairs - Property is unsuitable for young children who are not yet comfortable managing stairs without parental oversight. It is likewise unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues.

(Please note - watercraft is not available from September to mid-May)

Entire cottage and waterfront.

By Telephone and text

20 minutes to Gravenhurst
20 minutes to Port Carling
Less than 2 km from Don’s Bakery
Less than 2 km from Ice Dreams Soda Shop (Ice cream)
Less than 2 km from LCBO
Less than 1 km from Beer Store
Less than 2.5 km from Bala Freshmart (Supermarket)
Less than 2 km from Bala Falls

The cottage is in a fantastic location, easy to access and on a beautiful lake front with lovely views. It is spacious and can accommodate 12 people easily. It is definitely ideal for those looking for a comfy but not luxurious stay. It is perfect for large family get togethers and a relaxing getaway. It gently sloping toward a shallow entry sand beach, with a dock and a wonderful firepit. It has enough space for everyone to have their own bedroom, but has loads of communal space (living room with TV, Games room) to share together. The dining table seats 12. The cottage is located within 15 minutes walk of a couple of great restaurants, a supermarket, an ice cream parlour, liquor store and beer store.

Please note - watercraft is not available from September to mid-May.

Cottage is rented Friday to Friday from early June to late September. Please message if you are are interested for accomodation with a different check in or check out date.

There is a lower cottage attached that is not rented and not included. You can see this in the pictures of the cottage on the lower right.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower/bathtub combination

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 3 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 3 steps to reach entrance
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Billiards/pool table
  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Table tennis

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Recycling

Similar properties

Dining

Stillwater Lakehouse • 20 Acre Lakefront • Sandy Beach • Dock • Firepit!

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, 9 reviews
Stillwater Lakehouse • 20 Acre Lakefront • Sandy Beach • Dock • Firepit!

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

House Rules – Apologies for the length of our rules - we have had great success when we are transparent about expectations - are of which we think ar

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
3 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 828236711RT0002

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Family Cottage on Long Lake 5 min From Bala
409721

About the area

Map
Port Carling, ON

What's nearby

  • Lake Muskoka - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Bala's Museum - 4 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Hardy Lake Provincial Park - 8 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Muskoka Lakes Winery - 11 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve - 18 min drive - 15.6 km

Getting around

  • Muskoka, ON (YQA) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Clear Lake Brewing Co - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Don's Bakery - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Bala Falls Pub - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Hook and Ladder - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Pearl - ‬13 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is 5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 3 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

What time is check-in at 5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala! located?

This family-friendly Muskoka Lakes cottage is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Lake Muskoka and Bala's Museum. Hardy Lake Provincial Park and Muskoka Lakes Winery are also within 6 miles (10 km).

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Reviews

5BR Family Lakefront Cottage, Walk to Bala! Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

7.8

Cleanliness

9.8

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Stanley T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best cottage I've stayed at

Very well maintained. Great location. Host was very responsive and kind. Would definitely come back if available for booking again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun in Muskoka!

We are already planning our stay for next year! We had family and friends join us for our far too short stay…it was a great cottage with lots of fun toys for the kids and the perfect setting for the adults to just hang out. We had a great time-kid, adult and dog friendly!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

rowland f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family gathering

It was wonderful in all respects
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alicia G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

We had a wonderful week in a lovely cottage. All my family was there, so it was very nice. We were 12 people and we were never on top of each other Very well equipped! Eugenia, owner was lovely, very helpful and always available! We loved being close to the water and they had tons of water equipment to keep us more than entertained for the week. Would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dong L., Toronto

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious Cottage

Cottage is a tad rustic but is plenty large for our family reunion. The lower cottage is attached to the main cottage which allows for people to spread out. Plenty of bathrooms which was awesome too. Waterfront with a southwest view makes for long afternoons on the water. They also provided us with ample water recreation toys… paddle boards, kayaks and canoes. We really enjoyed our stay and would consider visiting again. Thanks for the hospitality.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The perfect cottage

The cottage was perfect for our family reunion. Big enough for 11 adults and two children. The floor plan is spacious, so we never felt cramped. Some things in the house are a bit old, but still functional. We found the furnishings tasteful and harmonious. The kitchen equipment is sufficient even for a large group. There were also more than enough seating options. There are many watercrafts, both for children and adults. We had a great time, surrounded by nature. Communication with the owner was easy. The property is only partially suitable for people with mobility problems. There is a long staircase into the backyard, which is sloping. There are also many stairs in the house. We couldn't get enough of the view of the lake, which is exactly as shown in the photos. Simply gorgeous! We had a perfect week in this cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

4/10 Poor

Priscila A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Beautiful house and place but

An Icy Chipmunk Adventure Not what you’d expect from a lakeshore rental in fabulous Muskoka. This four story lakehouse gave us a surreal experience. As we read the home welcome binder, which was very elaborate and complete with useful information and strict fee guidelines, we started to realize our stay would have some inconvenient yet not minor caveats. This pricey vacation home came with unexpected guests. Since the moment we set foot in the house our would be roomate chipmunck friends had gifted us with plenty poop right on the kitchen island and countertop. We cleaned up an made sure no food was left outside the fridge during the rest of our stay. That did not stop our furry little guests to make multiple appearances. Some of the most notorious were when their curiosity peaked next to the crib of an 10-month old baby and left some precisely targeted defecation atop the baby’s clothes and bibs, when inside a different room they bit through a suitcase to get to a gift wrapped box of chocolates and finally when they showed up on gamenight to taste some snacks while all the human guests were gathered at the table. To say the least, the house was not clean, not for our vacation dates and probably not since the 80’s. The grill was unusuable, greasy and with recently cooked meat. We found cat hairs under a few beds, 80% of the house floors, walls and rails were suspiciously sticky. You could not walk on stealth mode as floors made dirty music as we moved from one side of
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

bruce d.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Family Get-Away

Property is beautiful and in a great location. Plenty of things to do on and off the property. Eugenia was a great host and available if needed. Our only small complaints comes with hesitation as we had a great time. Some cleanliness issues that really should be looked after, dog hair on couches, some beds were comfortable, others were not. Sliding door to deck needs work. Septic? It is a big property to look after and these are only suggestions. Thank you for making my Mom's 90th very memorable. Cheers.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joanne V., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home away from Home

We had a great time at the cottage. There was plenty of rooms for everyone to spread out. You did not feel crammed in at all - enough bedrooms for everyone, a great basement area with pool table and air hockey - great getaway for the teens. The cottage was exactly as pictured / described in the listing. The host, Eugenia, was amazing to work with - very responsive and helpful. We would definitely book this cottage again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Lisa M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Lake House

Beautiful cottage very large.and spacious! Good for two families. Beautiful lake view and great water amenities. However the cleaner need to focus on cleaning under the beds and removing thick spider webs from windows(inside and out ) ceilings, bedrooms, doors, and chairs.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Debbie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous cottage week

The cottage was perfect for my 4 adult kids, their spouses and 1 toddler. Everyone could spread out and not be ontop of one another. We loved the water toys, sandy beach and easy access to the water was a huge bonus. I’d like to suggest adding the fact that there was a crib set up for use. We dismantled ours and brought it up but didn’t need to. The kitchen was very well stocked with utensils and cookware. Would rent again in a heartbeat. Loved our week.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

David J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We had a great week and enjoyed our stay.

There was lots of space for our party of 12. Great location could walk to town and amazing waterfront with lots of kayaks and water toys. Host was very quick to respond to any questions we had.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sh N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage Week

Our family had a super week on Long Lake. Cottage is better than described.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cindy G.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great cottage area

Was a great area to cottage. Very few bugs, campfire area , sandy beach for small children to enter water. Lots of water activities, games for indoor. Comfortable beds and lots of bathrooms. Lots of room to spread out the family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sabine M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

BALA COTTAGE for a big family

This is a great cottage for a big family! Lots of comfortable beds and full bathrooms. Nice location on Long Lake with sandy shoreline. Easy walking distance into Bala for food, LCBO, a latte at Oliver's or baked goods from Don's Bakery. Host is exceptionally accommodating and responsive - thank you for a wonderful family cottage vacation!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Arlene B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful Lakefront and lovely host!

The lakefront is excellent. Lots of boats, loungers, seating and shallow entry into clear lake! A lot of bedrooms and bathrooms in the basement and new addition compensate for the dated kitchen and main floor. Refrigerator and kitchen cabinets need a major update - as does main floor seating/couches/cleanliness. Thankfully great weather so minimal time spent indoors! Pool table and Air Hockey a great way to kill time! Property owner very responsive and made the process stress free with plenty of information and quick responses.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Ryan K.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Lots of Pros

There is a lot to like about this property. The cottage consists of 7 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms that are spread out which allows families to not feel as though you are on top of one another. If you want to step away for some alone time, there was space to do so inside and outside. The main living space, Kitchen and dining room table are large enough for everyone to feel comfortable, which is nice if the weather is not the greatest, add in the spacious lower level which has an air hockey table and small pool table, and you should be able to have a great time. For those that enjoy television, that option is available as well, however I cannot comment on whether the satellite channels work as we only used it so the kids could watch netflix childrens shows. Outside, which is probably why you would want to go was fantastic. The main cottage is higher up and thus has a very nice view of the lake. The walk down to the dock and water is grassy which makes it nice for some lawn games, although there is a decent slope for most of the lawn. What we found amazing for our group was 1) the walkout beach on both sides of the dock, which is rare for cottages in this area. This allowed our baby and 3 year old to enjoy the water as everyone else did. and 2) the watercraft. The cottage is stocked with a number of different watercraft (SUP, Canoe, Kayaks, Paddleboat) for all members of the family to enjoy. Also, not sure if it was due to a hotter month, or if the lake is secretly shallow (you would never know by looking), but the water was unbelievably warm compared to what I have experienced with Muskoka lakes. Not that it was a bother for us, but if you are looking for privacy, then keep in mind that the neighbouring cottages and more noticeably the neighbouring docks are very close. Due to the location of the cottage, this is normal and should not be a surprise for anyone. Location is also fantastic as its a short 2-5 min drive into Bala, or a 25 min walk in case you needed to get more groceries/drinks. The Cottage itself is a little on the dated side and could use a little TLC in some areas, plus some attention to detail with respect cleaning, but that may just be a personal preference. Nothing that should stop you from considering this for a family vacation. All in all, a great place to spend a week away from normal city life.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location and lovely cottage

Overall we had a fanatasic stay. Short walk from Bala Falls. Great lake with lots of water toys. What more can you ask for?
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Varahram H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for a large family!

We had a great time with our family of 15. Great location, close to town, everything you need just a short drive away. The tap water is municipal and drinkable which is amazing. Enough bedrooms and washrooms to accommodate everyone. Mots if water toys. The kitchen could use some improvement and updating. Overall a great experience. Would come back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

wilfred F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Time

Great Lake front setting with a modern yet with a rustic cottage feel. There weed eight of us my two adult children and my three grand children we had a GREAT time and would go back again. I would have no problem recommending it to family and friends. 😋

10/10 Excellent

Kathy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing cottage experience

This unassuming cottage from the outside, was a delightful surprise inside: Clean, very spacious, and fully equipped with a homey ambience. We enjoyed the waterfront area and had access to lots of leisure equipment. The owner was very helpful and accommodating. Great for a large family and only a kilometre from downtown Bala which was a bonus!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021