General 10 reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving at the cottage this year By Erin Pepler Published: October 7, 2019 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by oceanfishing/Shutterstock You’ll see the fall colours Cottage country generally has colder nights earlier in the season, which can translate to gorgeous fall colours well before you see them in the city. It’s the perfect backdrop for a relaxing weekend and a delicious family meal. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by R Weir Works/Shutterstock Turkey and sides on the BBQ Yum! All of your traditional Thanksgiving favourites can be made on the BBQ, and it’s well worth it. Plus, clean-up is a breeze when much of the cooking happens outside. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock You won’t feel guilty about using the oven Turning on the oven in 35 degree summer heat? Blasphemy! Roasting a turkey on a crisp fall day? A little slice of heaven. Go ahead and bake those pies. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by Anetlanda/Shutterstock Family-friendly autumn activities Cottage country is known for incredible hiking trails (both public and off the beaten path). Even a walk along the cottage road is spectacular in the fall. There are also many fall fairs to explore, or find a local farmer's market to grab some local produce for your Thanksgiving dinner and the rest of the weekend. Brunch anyone? View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by tynyuk/Shutterstock Less time with extended family Some families play board games, others argue about politics, and who’s doing the dishes. If your extended family makes you feel more stressed than thankful, head up to the cottage on your own and enjoy a quiet, peaceful weekend solo, with a few close friends, or your immediate family. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by Jonathan Feinstein/Shutterstock Close up while you’ve got a crew A little turkey, a little pumpkin pie, a little removing the dock from the water maybe? If you still need to close up for the season, consider doing it over Thanksgiving when many hands make light work. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by GRJ Photo/Shutterstock Less boat traffic With many boats out of the water for the season, there’s less traffic on the lake (and more quiet for your ears). It’s the perfect time to make a cup of tea, grab a book, sit on the dock, and enjoy some solitude. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by colecatharine/Shutterstock Fall cottage sleeping is the best We love summer at the cottage, but sleeping soundly can be a real challenge in the heat — plus, the sun often rises before you're ready to. Fortunately, fall offers some of the best cottage sleeps you’ll ever get. There's nothing like cozying up under a warm blanket on a chilly autumn night. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Photo by Roland Shainidze/Shutterstock Mother Nature decorates for you The rich fall colours, that lake view — it’s what the doctor ordered. Grab some decorative corn and gourds for the table if you’d like, but beyond that, cottage country decorates itself for Thanksgiving. What better place to spend a weekend reflecting on gratitude? Happy Thanksgiving. View in Fullscreen Related galleries ‘It’s very frustrating and dangerous’: Lake of Bays cottagers say government agencies refuse to clean up debris months after washout 7 knots every cottager should know how to tie Make a pit stop at these 6 cottage-country distilleries in Ontario 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving at the cottage this year Families often associate the cottage with summertime, but it’s a beautiful place to be any time of the year. Now that fall has arrived and Thanksgiving weekend is just around the corner, why not take advantage of the long weekend and spend it at the cottage? Here are 10 good reasons to head north for the holiday. Related Story 10 commandments for Thanksgiving guests