Good news: You don’t need to inherit an island to summer like Annie and Ramona. Muskoka is having a pop culture moment. In Prime Video’s Sterling Point, which premiered in August, New Yorker Annie heads north to explore the Canadian island she and her twin brother inherited from the grandfather they never knew, setting off a summer of family secrets, romance, and dreamy lakeside views.
Heated Rivalry fans may also recognize Lake Muskoka as the real-life filming location for Shane and Ilya’s pivotal cottage escape. In Canada, Muskoka is synonymous with cottage culture, which is less a type of building than a summer state of mind. Despite what Sterling Point might suggest, arriving by seaplane is optional: Muskoka’s towns and many of its cottages can be reached by car, with minimal risk of a moose-related delay.
For travelers driving north from Toronto, the cottage ritual typically begins en route with a burger from Webers, a cult Highway 11 roadside stop that is practically nonnegotiable on the way to Muskoka. Once there, days unfold around coffee on the dock, swims that replace showers, barbecued dinners, and debates over who should build the fire. Like Annie, I initially arrived in Muskoka as an outsider.
Although I grew up in Ontario, I didn’t
Although I grew up in Ontario, I didn’t visit the area until adulthood—regrettably, not all of us inherit private islands—but soon understood why generations return to the same lakes summer after summer. I now visit annually, often hunting for the ideal Airbnb to call home for a weekend or longer—and I can confirm that there are some pretty incredible rentals waiting waterside.
For viewers wondering whether Muskoka’s clear water, rugged shorelines, and woodsy cottages are as enticing beyond the screen, the seven stays below offer a chance to experience television’s current favorite Canadian summer setting. Read on for some of the best Airbnbs in Muskoka. We’ve selected these listings based on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, decor, editor stays, and previous guest reviews.
*** Number of guests: 8
Bed and bath: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Top amenities: Private dock, hot tub, floating hammock net, two-sided indoor-outdoor fireplace, canoe, kayaks, paddleboards
Surrounded by forest on the steep banks of Three Mile Lake, this four-bedroom getaway suits outdoorsy groups seeking Sterling Point–style seclusion—without the disputed ownership and long-buried family secret, of course.
Its dark A-frame exterior blends into the wooded
Its dark A-frame exterior blends into the wooded surroundings, while walls of glass and warm wood finishes give the interior the feel of a grown-up treehouse. Outside, guests can swim, canoe, or paddleboard from the private dock, soak in the hot tub, or gather around the two-sided indoor-outdoor fireplace as the evening cools. Location: Three Mile Lake, near Utterson
Things to do nearby: Swim, fish, or paddle from the private dock; hike the Raymond or Skeleton Lake Fish Hatchery trails; visit Port Carling for galleries and waterfront dining
Number of guests: 8
Bed and bath: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Top Amenities: Private boathouse dock, lake-facing deck
Set on Lake Rosseau, one of the Muskoka lakes used to film Sterling Point, this four-bedroom property is great for groups planning a low-key cottage shindig (in other words, the opposite of Connor’s birthday bash).
Its location where Lake Rosseau meets the Joe River allows boaters to reach all three of Muskoka’s biggest lakes, while the non-boating crew can make drinks at the lower-level wet bar and find the perfect perch on the west-facing boathouse deck for prime sunset views. Location: Minett, where Lake Rosseau meets the Joe River
Things to do nearby: Boat across Lakes Rosseau, Joseph, and Muskoka; cruise to seasonal Rosseau Pizzeria (there’s free transient docking at the public launch beside the restaurant); play a round at The Rock, a nearby golf course designed by Nick Faldo
Number of guests: 2
Bed and bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Top Amenities: In-deck hot tub, private neighborhood beach access, double kayak, gas fireplace, outdoor firepit
This revamped 1970s A-frame scales the Muskoka cottage fantasy down for two.
Best for couples—or perhaps a secret sister duo—this retro-meets-modern retreat features lofty ceilings and treetop views, plus a clawfoot tub and gas fireplace. Take the provided kayak onto Peninsula Lake or explore nearby Arrowhead Provincial Park. Back at the cabin, play Atari, roast marshmallows around the firepit, and end the night in the hot tub set under a canopy of string lights.
Location: Hidden Valley, a forested cottage community near
Location: Hidden Valley, a forested cottage community near Huntsville
Things to do nearby: Swim at the private neighborhood beach; mountain bike at Ski Hidden Valley; check out Huntsville’s breweries, patios, and independent stores
Number of guests: 6
Bed and bath: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Top amenities: Bridge-accessed private island, waterfront hot tub, private dock, seasonal outdoor clawfoot tub, firepit, kayaks, paddleboards
No “boat plane”—ahem, seaplane—is required to reach this three-bedroom island cottage on the Severn River, but you do access it via a small bridge.
Vaulted wood ceilings, barn doors, and a stone-accented fireplace set a classic cabin tone. Borrow a kayak or paddleboard from the private dock, cook dinner over the firepit, then take in the river views from the wraparound deck’s hot tub. In warmer months, an outdoor clawfoot tub provides an alfresco bathing alternative beneath the trees. Location: A private island on the Severn River, near Sparrow Lake and Severn Bridge
Things to do nearby: Paddle the Severn River, Sparrow Lake, and the Trent-Severn Waterway; visit the Big Chute Marine Railway; hike and cycle the trails around Severn and Coldwater
Number of guests: 8
Bed and bath: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Top amenities: Private dock, lake-facing deck, barbecue, fireplace
Set on Lake Muskoka, this log cottage occupies the same shoreline world seen in Sterling Point (in fact, nearby Mortimer’s Marina was used for the show’s marina scenes, a frequent backdrop for Joe and Ellis’s storyline).
Inside, honey-toned timber rises to a cathedral ceiling, while large triangular windows face the lake. Barbecue duty is considerably less thankless on the deck overlooking the water, where whoever is handling the grill can keep an eye on both dinner and the sunset. Location: Lake Muskoka, near Gravenhurst
Things to do nearby: Visit Hale Muskoka for food vendors, artisan markets, live music, and art installations; walk around Muskoka Wharf; take a sightseeing cruise from Gravenhurst
Number of guests: 4
Bed and bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (additional double sofa bed in the living room)
Top amenities: Large private dock, kayaks, floating mat, fireplace, lake-facing deck, barbecue
Fans drawn to the accumulated-over-time charm of Gordon’s cottage will find a similar spirit at this stay on Henshaw Lake.
Its wood-paneled interior and unfussy furnishings suggest years
Its wood-paneled interior and unfussy furnishings suggest years of leisurely summers by the water. Days revolve around swimming from the gently sloping shoreline, drifting on the provided floating mat, and sinking into a bright-red Muskoka chair—the Canadian cousin of the Adirondack—as the sun sets over the dock. Location: Henshaw Lake, five minutes from Port Carling
Things to do nearby: Swim, fish, or kayak on Henshaw Lake; visit Port Carling for independent shops and boat-watching at the locks
Number of guests: 8
Bed and bath: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Top amenities: Lake-facing cedar sauna, private dock, waterfront deck, fireplace
Ramona could take a few renovation notes from this cottage on Bass Lake.
Rustic architecture meets more polished design in the vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and gray paneling. Sliding doors connect the living area to a broad lakeview deck, but the standout feature is the barrel-shaped cedar sauna with a circular window framing the lake. Cool off with a swim, linger by the water, or head to nearby Bala or Port Carling for dinner. Location: Bass Lake, near MacTier, Bala, and Port Carling
Things to do nearby: Swim from the dock, visit Bala Falls, taste cranberry wine at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, stop for lunch on Port Carling’s waterfront
Source: www.cntraveler.com
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