Foote Lake Mooring – F613

Location: Foote Lake, Emsdale, Ontario

Near the end of a winding, wooded road, this well-constructed cottage offers a wonderful view of Foote Lake, located approximately three hours north of Toronto, close to the village of Novar. Easy access to the pleasant outdoor space is a key feature of this property, as well as the expansive common areas inside the 3,600-square-foot primary structure. This is a great place for multigenerational families to feel comfortable and relax, whether indoors or out, socializing, playing games or enjoying the lake.

Soaring windows in the main-floor living room provide a perfect vista for viewing the lake and a deck spanning the length of the cottage has doors from several rooms on this level, as well as a table that seats six. From one end of the deck, a dozen solid stone steps lead down to the patio, which is also accessible from the lower-level family room, directly below the living room. The patio has two smaller tables with chairs for eight, in total. Beyond this, charming rock gardens frame a grassy yard that rolls gently down to the lake. Five more stone stairs connect the waterfront to the long dock.

Although the lake bottom is sandy near the shore, those wishing to swim may prefer to jump in from the dock or use the ladder at the far end. This cottage’s waterfront is not large but it is quite private and nicely organized. Off to the right, when facing the lake, there’s a stone firepit and a rack holding a canoe and two solo kayaks. On the left side of the dock, a boathouse with a rooftop deck and a set of lounge chairs provides a great place to enjoy the sun or view the night sky. Since the opposite shore of Foote Lake is primarily Crown land, there won’t be many cottage lights to worry about when star gazing.

Night or day, guests will also enjoy the views from most rooms in the cottage, and this is especially true of the living room thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. Opposite the windows, solidly built stairs lead to the lower level, where there’s a secondary family room or common area. The living room has a leather sofa with reclining sections, a matching loveseat and a comfortable upholstered armchair, arranged around a large coffee table. A massive stone fireplace, though not usable, is a focal point on one wall. The other end of this broad living space blends into the open-concept kitchen/dining room.

The dining room table has chairs for six but can seat up to 12, if the leaves are extended. A large island is situated between the dining table and the cooking area, providing extra room for more diners, a buffet or simply more counter space, for cooks who like to sprawl. The kitchen includes a large gas stove/oven and an equally substantial fridge/freezer, as well as a microwave, drip coffee maker, four-slice toaster, blender and a wide variety of cooking utensils, cutlery, serving dishes and other items. There are plenty of plates, bowls and glasses in the cupboards surrounding the kitchen/dining area.

Off the kitchen/dining room, there are two doorways. One provides access to the laundry room, which is equipped with a washer and dryer. Another leads into a Muskoka room with two tables that each have four chairs. This is a perfect space for playing games or doing puzzles! From this fully screened room, an external door opens onto the deck and, at the far end, another door allows access to the master bedroom.

In total there are four bedrooms in this cottage – two on the main floor and two in the lower level. The spacious master bedroom has a king-sized bed, a TV, a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom with double sinks and a shower. The other bedrooms have queen-sized beds and closets. All bedrooms are nicely decorated, appropriately furnished and have windows. There are three bathrooms in total, including the ensuite. The primary main-floor bathroom, off the living room, has a combined tub/shower unit and the others have free-standing showers. On the lower level, the bathroom is off the common area and the two bedrooms are located at opposite ends of the cottage.

The common area or family room in the lower level is L-shaped, with a ping-pong table occupying most of the space in the smaller section. The larger section has a massive smart TV above a gas fireplace, both of which guests can use. Seating downstairs echoes the arrangement in the living room upstairs, with sofas situated around a long wooden coffee table; in this case, though, the armchair is the only recliner. There’s an assortment of books and table games, as well as WiFi available throughout the cottage.

Overall, this property has ample space, both inside and out, for guests to spread out for socializing, games or other activities, along with quiet places to read or watch the sun rise over the lake. And, for those inclined to explore the area, two provincial parks are located nearby (Algonquin and Arrowhead), in addition to the Dyer Memorial Nature Reserve and the unique art installation known as the Screaming Heads of Midlothian.

**Check-in: after 4:00pm and Check-out: before 10:00am

**Vacationer supplies their own linens: Sheets and pillowcases + Inside towels, kitchen towels and beach towels. Please inquire about other arrangements.

**Paper products: The cottage will provide enough to get you started, but vacationers must supply their own, including toilet paper and paper towels.

**Adult life jackets are supplied. Vacationers must bring their own children’s life jackets due to safety and liability concerns