Category: Short-term rent

Everyone drives north. The smarter trip goes east. Head up Highway 401 and then north on 115 and inside 90 minutes you’re in Northumberland County and the southern Kawarthas — lake towns, beaches, a UNESCO-adjacent waterway, one of Ontario’s best fisheries, and none of the Highway 400 parking lot. Here’s what’s actually worth the drive east of Toronto, roughly in order of distance.

Why East Beats North on a Summer Weekend

The Muskoka corridor — Highway 400 through Barrie, then 11 — carries the bulk of the GTA’s cottage traffic every Friday afternoon. The eastern corridor doesn’t. Same drive time on paper, dramatically different in practice, and the destinations at the end are quieter and cheaper. (We compared the two regions properly in Kawarthas vs. Muskoka.)

Under an Hour: The Lake Ontario Shore

Port Hope — about an hour east. One of the best-preserved 19th-century main streets in Ontario, a walkable downtown of independent shops and restaurants, and the Ganaraska River running through the middle of it. Worth a half-day on its own.

Cobourg — ten minutes further. The big draw is Victoria Park Beach: a genuine sand beach on Lake Ontario with a boardwalk, right beside the downtown. It gets busy in July for good reason.

90 Minutes: Rice Lake and the Southern Kawarthas

Rice Lake — roughly 90 minutes from Toronto, and the reason most people make this drive. It’s a 32 km lake at the southern edge of the Kawarthas, shallow and warm enough to swim from mid-June into September, and one of Ontario’s strongest bass and walleye fisheries. Small public beaches at Harwood, Gores Landing, and Bewdley, with most of the swimming happening off cottage and resort waterfronts.

Serpent Mounds — on the north shore near Keene, an ancient Indigenous burial site with short interpretive trails and one of the better views over the lake.

Bellmere Winds Golf Resort — an 18-hole championship course on the Rice Lake shoreline with lake views from every hole, and where Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage sits if you want to stay the weekend rather than day-trip it.

Two Hours: Peterborough

Twenty-five minutes north of Rice Lake, and the anchor city for the whole region.

• The Peterborough Lift Lock — the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world, and genuinely impressive to watch operate. Free to view from the park.
• The Canadian Canoe Museum — opened a purpose-built waterfront building in 2024, holding the world’s largest canoe and kayak collection alongside Indigenous history and hands-on exhibits.
• Del Crary Park — free summer concerts on Little Lake through Peterborough Musicfest, plus the fireworks that close out big holidays.
• Hunter Street — the café-and-restaurant strip; more range than a city this size has any right to.

Making It a Weekend Instead of a Drive

The honest case for staying over: everything above sits inside a 30-minute radius of Rice Lake, and doing it as day trips from Toronto means four hours of driving to see two things. A cottage on the lake turns the same list into a weekend where the lake itself is the main event and the rest is optional. Our 3-day Rice Lake itinerary lays out how the days actually fit together.

If you want the region without a private-cottage commitment, a resort cottage covers both — your own place on the water plus a pool, beach, and golf course on site. Check availability for Mildred’s, which sleeps six.

FAQ — Day Trips East of Toronto

What is there to do east of Toronto within 90 minutes?

Port Hope’s heritage main street (1 hour), Cobourg’s Victoria Park Beach on Lake Ontario (1h10), and Rice Lake in the southern Kawarthas (90 minutes) for swimming, fishing, boating, and golf. Peterborough — the Lift Lock and Canadian Canoe Museum — is about two hours.

Is there cottage country east of Toronto?

Yes — the Kawarthas. Rice Lake marks its southern edge, about 90 minutes from Toronto via Highway 115, and the region continues north through Peterborough to Stony, Buckhorn, and Pigeon Lakes. It’s quieter and generally less expensive than Muskoka, and the drive avoids the Highway 400 corridor.

Where can you swim east of Toronto?

Cobourg’s Victoria Park Beach is the best-known Lake Ontario option. Inland, Rice Lake is shallow and warm — typically around 20°C or better from July into September — with small public beaches at Harwood, Gores Landing, and Bewdley plus resort waterfronts.

How long is the drive from Toronto to Rice Lake?

About 90 minutes from the east end of Toronto, via the 401 and then north on Highway 115 past Peterborough. Because it avoids the Highway 400 cottage corridor, the Friday-afternoon drive tends to hold closer to the estimate than a Muskoka trip does.

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East of Toronto is the direction with the beaches, the fishing, the heritage main streets, and the open highway. Everyone else is sitting on the 400.

Labour Day weekend 2026 runs Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7 — and on Rice Lake it’s the most underrated weekend of the entire season. The water is still around 20°C, warmer than it was in June. The summer crowds are thinning. The fishing is turning on. And unlike the July long weekends, you can usually still get a cottage.

When Is Labour Day 2026?

Labour Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026 — always the first Monday in September. It’s a statutory holiday across Canada, which makes the preceding Saturday and Sunday (September 5–6) the last three-day weekend of the summer. Take the Friday off and you’ve got four days at the exact moment cottage country stops being busy.

The Season Isn’t Over on Labour Day

This is the part people get wrong about Labour Day — they assume it’s the end. On Rice Lake it isn’t. The lake is shallow, so it banks heat all summer and gives it back slowly: early-September water typically sits around 20°C, warmer than it was in June.

Month-by-month temperatures are in our Rice Lake water guide, and Rice Lake beaches covers where the sandy entries are. On the resort grounds the heated saltwater pool and splash pad run through the weekend too.

Why Labour Day Beats the July Long Weekends

The lake goes quiet. Boat traffic drops noticeably once the peak-summer renters head home. Mornings turn to glass, and paddling the shoreline — with the kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards included at Mildred’s — stops being an exercise in dodging wake.

The fishing turns on. Bass and walleye start feeding hard ahead of winter. Serious Rice Lake anglers plan their trips for exactly this window; our fishing and boating guide covers what’s in season and where to cast.

The golf opens up. Tee times that were fought over in July are walk-ups by September. The 18-hole course at Bellmere Winds overlooks the lake from every hole and stays open through Thanksgiving.

Evenings get good. Cooler nights mean the firepit finally earns its keep, and sunsets arrive early enough that you actually stay up for them.

What’s On Around the Lake

The resort runs its activity program straight through the long weekend — Kids’ Club mornings, pool events, and evening entertainment on the Golf Deck, all included with a stay. Off the grounds, Peterborough is 25 minutes away, and the last of the summer’s farmers’ markets and fall-fair season overlap with the weekend. The 3-day Rice Lake itinerary maps a full long weekend without a wasted drive.

Booking Labour Day Weekend

Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage sleeps six across three bedrooms, with a private porch, direct waterfront access, and the pool, beach, and splash pad a short walk away. From $375/night, which splits sensibly across a group.

The honest note on timing: Labour Day books later than July, but it does book — and the season runs only through Thanksgiving (October 12, 2026), so this is one of the last real summer weekends on the calendar. Check Labour Day availability or see the booking page.

FAQ — Labour Day Weekend 2026

When is Labour Day 2026 in Ontario?

Monday, September 7, 2026 — the first Monday in September, as always. It’s a statutory holiday in Ontario and across Canada, making September 5–7 the last long weekend of the summer.

Is Labour Day weekend too late for a lake trip?

On a shallow lake like Rice Lake, yes. Early-September surface temperatures typically run around 20°C — warmer than June — which is comfortable swimming range. Deeper Shield lakes further north cool off faster.

Is it easier to book a cottage for Labour Day than July?

Generally yes. July long weekends at Bellmere Winds book out months ahead; Labour Day fills later and shoulder-season dates stay open longer. It’s the same lake at nearly the same water temperature, with fewer people on it.

What is there to do on Rice Lake in September?

Swimming, paddling, and the year’s best bass and walleye fishing, plus golf on a course that’s finally quiet. The resort’s weekly activity program runs through the long weekend, and Peterborough — museums, the Lift Lock, markets — is 25 minutes away.

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The last long weekend of summer, on a lake that’s still warm and finally quiet, 90 minutes from Toronto. Labour Day is the one the regulars keep to themselves.

Staying longer? September on Rice Lake makes the case for the whole month — and the season runs through Thanksgiving.

Rice Lake has a handful of small public beaches—Harwood, Gores Landing, and Bewdley on the south and west shores—but it isn’t a public-beach lake the way Cobourg or Wasaga are. It’s a cottage-and-resort lake: most of the swimming happens off private docks and maintained resort waterfronts. Here’s where you can actually get in the water, what each spot is like, and what to expect when you arrive.

The Public Beaches on Rice Lake

Harwood Waterfront & Dock (south shore)

The closest thing Rice Lake has to a proper public beach. Harwood sits on the south shore, and the waterfront has a small sand beach, a picnic shelter, and an accessible dock. It’s the most family-practical of the public options—you can park, swim, eat, and watch boats come and go without hunting for facilities. It’s modest in scale; think village waterfront, not a beach day-trip destination.

Gores Landing (south shore)

A long-standing local swimming spot on the south shore, and one of the prettiest corners of the lake. Worth knowing before you go: Gores Landing is not a monitored beach—there’s no lifeguard and no posted water-quality testing, so swimming is at your own discretion and kids need close supervision.

Bewdley (west end)

Bewdley sits at the western tip of Rice Lake, about 20 minutes from Port Hope, with a lakefront park area and marina that locals have used for generations. It’s the busiest of the three villages and the easiest to combine with a meal or an ice cream.

Why Most Rice Lake Swimming Isn’t at a Public Beach

Rice Lake is roughly 32 km long and ringed almost entirely by cottages, resorts, and private shoreline. The public access points are small because the demand was never for day-trippers—it was for people staying on the lake. That shapes the whole experience: the best swimming here is usually wherever you’re staying, not somewhere you drive to.

It also explains the thing newcomers notice first. Rice Lake is shallow—about three metres on average—which makes it warm and genuinely swimmable from mid-June into September, but also weedy along undeveloped shoreline. Maintained swim areas are cleared and sandy; wild shoreline is not. Where you swim matters more here than on a deep Shield lake.

The Resort Beach Option

At Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage, the beach is part of the stay. The Bellmere Winds waterfront has a sandy, gradual entry that works for young kids, a multi-slip dock for deeper-water swimming, and it’s maintained daily through the season. There’s also a heated saltwater pool and a splash pad a short walk from the cottage door—which is the practical answer to a cool morning or a windy afternoon.

Complimentary kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards come with the cottage, so the shoreline beyond the swim area is reachable without renting anything.

Practical Notes for Any Rice Lake Beach

• Water shoes help. Sand near shore, but natural lake bottoms have the occasional shell or pebble.
• Mornings are calmest. The lake tends to be glass before mid-morning; afternoon brings wind and boat wake.
• Watch for boat traffic. Rice Lake is a busy boating lake in July and August—stay inside marked swim areas with kids.
• Late summer clarity dips. Warm, shallow, nutrient-rich lakes cloud up in August. Normal here, and the maintained beaches stay busy regardless.
• No lifeguards. None of Rice Lake’s public access points are lifeguarded—plan accordingly.

FAQ — Rice Lake Beaches

Does Rice Lake have a public beach?

Yes, a few small ones. Harwood Waterfront has a small sand beach with a picnic shelter and an accessible dock; Gores Landing is a popular unmonitored swimming spot; and Bewdley at the west end has a lakefront park area. They’re village-scale beaches—most swimming on Rice Lake happens at cottages and resorts with their own maintained waterfronts.

Which Rice Lake beach is best for young kids?

Of the public options, Harwood—it has the most facilities (sand, picnic shelter, accessible dock). But for families, a resort waterfront usually wins: the beach at Bellmere Winds has a sandy gradual entry, is maintained daily, and sits beside a splash pad and heated pool. None of the public spots are lifeguarded.

Are Rice Lake beaches sandy?

The maintained ones are—Harwood’s waterfront and the resort beaches have sand and a gradual entry. Undeveloped shoreline is a different story: Rice Lake is shallow and weedy in natural stretches, which is exactly what makes it such a productive fishery.

Is there a beach at Bellmere Winds?

Yes. Bellmere Winds Golf Resort has a maintained sand beach on Rice Lake with a shared multi-slip dock, plus a heated saltwater pool and splash pad on the grounds. Guests at Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage have access to all of it, along with complimentary kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.

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Short version: Rice Lake’s public beaches are small and pleasant—Harwood is the pick if you’re driving to one—but the lake rewards staying on it. A maintained beach, a dock, and a pool within a two-minute walk beats a parking lot and a picnic table.

Planning a swim trip? Start with can you swim in Rice Lake for water temperatures month by month, or see September on Rice Lake—the warm-water, empty-beach sweet spot.

September is the best-kept secret on Rice Lake. The water holds its summer warmth into early fall, the boat traffic thins to almost nothing, the fishing turns aggressive, and the cottage calendar finally opens up. If July taught you that Rice Lake is worth the trip, September is when the regulars actually book—same lake, warmer water than June, none of the competition for dates.

Why September Still Feels Like Summer Here

Rice Lake is shallow, so it banks heat through the summer and gives it back slowly. The practical effect in September: the dock stays usable into the third week of the month most years, and the heated saltwater pool covers the cool mornings. For the month-by-month water temperatures and where the sandy entries are, see our full guides to swimming in Rice Lake and Rice Lake beaches.

The Lake Goes Quiet

Labour Day flips a switch on Rice Lake. The weekly renters go home, the school-year routines start, and the lake returns to the people who know better. The morning water turns to glass and stays that way past breakfast. Paddling the shoreline—with the kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards included at Mildred’s—stops being a dodge-the-wake exercise and becomes the thing you drove up for. Sunsets come earlier, which means you actually stay up for them.

September Fishing Is the Year’s Best Window

Ask serious Rice Lake anglers when they plan their trips and the answer is September–October: bass and walleye feed hard before winter, the weed edges concentrate fish, and the boat pressure is a fraction of July’s. Our fishing and boating guide calls it the best-kept secret window of the season, and the guides who work the lake agree. If the summer trip was for the family, the September trip is for the tackle box.

Golf, Trails, and the Fall Colour Head Start

The 18-hole course at Bellmere Winds stays open and gets quieter—tee times that were fought over in July are walk-ups in September. By the back half of the month, the Northumberland hills around the lake start turning, and the Kawarthas in early colour—without Thanksgiving-weekend crowds—is one of Ontario’s most underrated drives. Peterborough’s 25 minutes away when you want a town day; the 3-day itinerary maps it.

The Season Runs Through Thanksgiving

Mildred’s operates from Victoria Day through Thanksgiving, so September isn’t the last call—October’s colour weekends and Thanksgiving itself (October 12, 2026) close the year. But September is the sweet spot: summer amenities, fall calm, and—unlike July—actual availability. The three-bedroom cottage sleeps six, has its own porch and direct waterfront access, and the pool, beach, and splash pad are steps away.

Check September and fall dates through Great Blue Resorts: search availability here, or see the booking page for details.

FAQ — September at a Rice Lake Cottage

What is Rice Lake like in September?

Quiet, and still warm. The boat traffic thins out after Labour Day, mornings turn to glass, and the lake holds its summer heat well into the month. Bass and walleye feed hard through September and October, tee times open up, and the Northumberland hills start turning colour toward the end of the month.

Is the resort still open in September?

Fully. The season at Bellmere Winds runs from Victoria Day through Thanksgiving (October 12, 2026)—pool, golf course, restaurant, and grounds all operating. September just trades the crowds for quiet.

Is September cheaper than summer at Rice Lake?

Availability is certainly better—peak-summer weekends book out months ahead, while September dates stay open much later. Check current rates on the booking page; shoulder-season value on Ontario waterfront is consistently at its best after Labour Day.

What’s the fishing like in September?

The year’s best. Bass and walleye feed aggressively ahead of winter, the lake is quiet, and experienced anglers deliberately plan their Rice Lake trips for September and October. The full seasonal breakdown is in our fishing guide.

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Summer gets the headlines. September gets the lake. Warm water, glass mornings, hungry fish, open tee sheets, and a booking calendar that finally says yes—90 minutes from Toronto.

Planning the long weekend first? Labour Day falls September 5–7 this year—the long-weekend playbook applies, and our Labour Day guide is coming next week.

The honest short version: Muskoka and the Kawarthas aren’t competing for the same trip. Muskoka is the iconic one—granite-and-pine Canadian Shield, deep clear lakes, a premium price tag, and a longer drive. The Kawarthas are the practical one—about 90 minutes from Toronto, warmer swimmable lakes, some of Ontario’s best fishing, at roughly half the rental price. Neither is “better.” They’re different weekends. Here’s the full comparison, from a cottage that picked Rice Lake.

Kawarthas vs. Muskoka at a Glance

• Drive from Toronto: Kawarthas (Rice Lake) about 90 minutes via Hwy 115. Muskoka typically 2–2.5 hours via Hwy 400/11—and famously longer in Friday cottage traffic.
• The water: Muskoka’s lakes are deep, cold, and clear. Kawartha lakes are shallow and warm—swimmable from mid-June into September.
• Price: Peak-season waterfront rentals in the Kawarthas commonly start around $375/night. Muskoka’s premium lakes routinely list at two to four times that.
• Fishing: Kawarthas, decisively—Rice Lake is one of Ontario’s top bass and walleye fisheries. Muskoka’s deep lakes fish differently (lake trout country).
• The vibe: Muskoka is the scene—boutique towns, big boathouses, celebrity cottages. The Kawarthas are working cottage country—quieter water, smaller marinas, less lineup.

The Drive Decides More Weekends Than Anything Else

Every cottage weekend has the same bookends: the Friday drive up and the Sunday drive home. Muskoka’s corridor—Highway 400 north through Barrie, then Highway 11—carries most of the GTA’s cottage traffic, and summer Fridays there are a known quantity: what should be two hours can stretch well past three.

Rice Lake sits on a different corridor entirely—east on the 401 or 407, then up Highway 115 past Peterborough. It’s about 90 minutes from the top of Toronto, and because the Kawarthas draw a fraction of Muskoka’s volume, the Friday drive stays close to the map estimate. Over a summer of weekends, that difference compounds: you’re on the dock for sunset instead of watching brake lights in Barrie.

The Water: Clear and Cold vs. Warm and Alive

This is the most honest fork in the road, because Muskoka genuinely wins one half of it. The Shield lakes—Muskoka, Rosseau, Joseph—are deep, cold, and strikingly clear. If your picture of a cottage is diving off a granite point into cool, glassy water, that’s Muskoka, and the Kawarthas won’t replicate it.

The Kawarthas win the other half. Rice Lake averages only about three metres deep, which means it warms early and holds its heat—comfortably swimmable from mid-June into September, when deep Muskoka lakes are still bracing in June. For families with young kids, warm shallow water with a sandy, gradual entry beats impressive-but-cold every time. The same shallowness feeds the weed beds that make Rice Lake one of Ontario’s best bass and walleye fisheries—serious anglers pick the Kawarthas without a second thought.

The Price Gap Is Real

Muskoka carries a brand premium, and it shows up in rentals: peak-season waterfront on the big three lakes routinely lists at two to four times comparable Kawartha properties. Published rental comparisons put peak Kawartha waterfront in the $375–600/night range against $900–1,800 on Muskoka’s premium lakes. Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage—three bedrooms, sleeps six, directly on Rice Lake with a heated saltwater pool, golf course, and included kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards—starts from $375/night. For a group splitting costs, the Kawarthas often mean a full extra weekend of cottage time on the same budget.

What Muskoka Genuinely Does Better

Credit where it’s due, because a comparison that pretends otherwise isn’t worth your click: Muskoka’s Shield landscape is the postcard—granite shorelines, wind-bent pines, water so clear you can watch your anchor drop. Its towns—Huntsville, Bracebridge, Port Carling—have a boutique polish the Kawarthas don’t try to match, and the high-end dining and resort scene is a category of its own. If the trip is about the scenery and the scene—and budget isn’t the constraint—Muskoka earns its reputation.

But most cottage weekends aren’t about the scene. They’re about how fast you can get there, whether the kids can swim off the dock, whether something bites at 7 AM, and what it all costs. On those questions, the Kawarthas keep winning quietly—which is why locals have started calling the region “the new Muskoka” as prices and attention drift east.

The Middle Path: A Resort Cottage on Rice Lake

One thing Muskoka’s famous resorts and the Kawarthas’ private rentals both half-deliver is the combination of privacy and amenities. A resort cottage covers both: Mildred’s sits inside Bellmere Winds Golf Resort, so you get your own three-bedroom cottage and porch on the water, plus the heated pool, splash pad, beach, 18-hole course, and a weekly activities program the kids don’t need you to organize. That package at a Muskoka resort is a different tax bracket.

If you’re weighing regions for a specific weekend, the Kawarthas lakefront rental guide covers how to judge a property here, our Rice Lake cottage rental guide covers what waterfront rentals here actually cost and when to book, and the August long weekend guide covers the biggest remaining weekend of this summer. Availability: the booking page has current dates.

FAQ — Kawarthas vs. Muskoka

Is Kawartha Lakes part of Muskoka?

No—they’re separate regions. Muskoka sits north of Barrie on the Canadian Shield (Highway 400/11 corridor). The Kawarthas lie east of Toronto around Peterborough, along the Trent-Severn Waterway (Highway 115 corridor)—Rice Lake marks the region’s southern edge. Different geology, different drive, different price bracket.

Which is closer to Toronto, the Kawarthas or Muskoka?

The Kawarthas. Rice Lake is about 90 minutes from Toronto via Highway 115, on a corridor that avoids the worst cottage traffic. Muskoka typically runs 2 to 2.5 hours via Highways 400 and 11—and materially longer on summer Friday afternoons.

Is Muskoka more expensive than the Kawarthas?

Generally, yes—substantially. Peak-season waterfront rentals on Muskoka’s premium lakes routinely list at two to four times comparable Kawartha properties; published comparisons put Kawartha peak rates around $375–600/night versus $900–1,800 in Muskoka. The gap reflects Muskoka’s brand premium more than a difference in the actual weekend.

Which is better for families with young kids?

For most families, the Kawarthas: the lakes are warm and shallow with sandy, gradual entries—easier and safer for young swimmers than deep, cold Shield water—the drive is an hour shorter, and resort settings like Bellmere Winds add a pool, splash pad, and organized kids’ activities. Muskoka’s edge—dramatic scenery and clear deep water—matters more to adults than to a six-year-old with a bucket.

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Pick Muskoka for the postcard. Pick the Kawarthas for the weekend—more of them, warmer water, better fishing, and a booking that doesn’t need a second mortgage. We’re biased, but we showed our math.

The August long weekend—Saturday, August 1 through Monday, August 3, 2026—is the Civic Holiday weekend in Ontario, and it lands at the absolute peak of cottage season. The lake is at its warmest of the entire year, the days are still long, and it’s the last big long weekend before Labour Day closes out the summer. If Canada Day came too fast to plan around, this is the do-over.

Rice Lake sits about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto in the Kawarthas—close enough for a Friday-evening arrival without the northbound Muskoka crawl, far enough that Monday morning feels like a different world.

When Is the August Long Weekend in 2026?

Civic Holiday falls on Monday, August 3, 2026. It goes by different names around the province—Simcoe Day in Toronto, Colonel By Day in Ottawa—and while it isn’t an official statutory holiday in Ontario, most workplaces observe it, which makes the first weekend of August one of the busiest cottage weekends of the year. Take Friday, July 31 off and you’re looking at a four-day run at the height of summer.

Why Early August Is Rice Lake’s Best Stretch

The water is as warm as it gets. Rice Lake is shallow, which means it heats all summer and peaks right about now—the shallows off a sandy beach can feel bath-warm in early August. If swimming is the point of the trip, this is the weekend to book. (The full picture—temps by month, where the sandy entries are—is in our guide: Can you swim in Rice Lake?)

The fishing stays honest. Early mornings on the dock before the boat traffic wakes up are prime for bass; the Rice Lake fishing guide covers seasons, limits, and where to cast. Complimentary kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards come with a stay at Mildred’s, so the calm first hours of the day are yours without renting anything.

Golf, if that’s your thing. Bellmere Winds’ 18-hole championship course overlooks the lake from every hole, and a cottage with golf course access means someone can slip out for nine holes without hijacking the family’s day.

What’s Happening Around the Lake That Weekend

The resort’s program for July 27–August 2 is Country Week, and the long-weekend stretch is the fullest of it. The week also honours William’s memory—a 50/50 raffle and donation boxes run all week in support of Camp Kerry. Here’s the long-weekend lineup on the grounds:

• Friday, July 31 — the bouncy castle goes up at the Phase 1 pool (it runs all weekend), bingo hits the Pro Deck at 7:00 PM, and at 9:30 PM there’s an outdoor screening of Minions on the Sales Deck, shown in loving memory of William.
• Saturday, August 1 — pickleball at noon on the Phase 1 court, a ZooToYou petting-zoo visit at the Phase 1 pool in the early afternoon (50-person limit, first come first served—check the posted time), a $10 paint-and-sip on the Pro Deck from 6:00–8:00 PM (cash only), and DJ Omar on the Pro Deck from 8:00 to 11:00 PM.
• Sunday, August 2 — Kids’ Club at 10:00 AM (DIY sheriff badges), a pool party with DJ Omar at the Phase 2 pool from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, and the 50/50 raffle draw to close the week.

Everything above except the paint-and-sip is free with a stay—and it’s all a short walk from Mildred’s door.

Off the grounds, Peterborough is 25 minutes away: Musicfest’s free summer concerts at Del Crary Park run through mid-August, the Lift Lock is the engineering field trip that actually lands with kids, and the Canadian Canoe Museum is the rainy-day insurance. The 3-day Rice Lake itinerary maps a full long weekend without a wasted drive.

Booking the August Long Weekend

Here’s the honest read: the first weekend of August is peak demand, and Bellmere Winds has roughly 25 stay-and-play cottages—when they’re booked, that’s the whole inventory. Mildred’s sleeps six across three bedrooms with a private porch, direct waterfront access, and the pool, beach, and splash pad a short walk away. From $375/night, splitting to a reasonable rate for a peak-season waterfront weekend.

Check availability and book through Great Blue Resorts: Book Mildred’s Lakefront Cottage for the August long weekend, or see the booking page for details. If the long weekend itself is gone, the weeks on either side are the same lake at the same temperature—and September on Rice Lake is the quiet secret the regulars keep.

FAQ — August Long Weekend at Rice Lake

When is the August long weekend in 2026?

Saturday, August 1 through Monday, August 3, 2026. The Monday is the Civic Holiday—called Simcoe Day in Toronto—and while it’s not an official statutory holiday in Ontario, most workplaces take it, making this one of the busiest cottage weekends of the summer.

Is August a good time for a Rice Lake cottage?

It’s the best swimming stretch of the year. Rice Lake is shallow and warm, and early August is its peak water temperature—plus the resort’s weekly activity program, golf, and Peterborough’s summer events are all in full swing. The trade-off is demand: it’s peak season, so book early.

Can I still book a cottage for the August long weekend 2026?

Availability moves fast for August 1–3—Bellmere Winds has roughly 25 bookable stay-and-play cottages. Check the Great Blue Resorts booking system for current openings, and if the long weekend is taken, adjacent August weeks offer the same peak-summer lake with more availability.

Is the Civic Holiday a statutory holiday in Ontario?

No—the first Monday of August is an optional civic holiday in Ontario, not a statutory one. Employers aren’t required to give it, but most do, which is why the weekend books like a stat holiday everywhere in cottage country.

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Last call on high summer: warmest water of the year, four days if you take the Friday, and 90 minutes from the city. That’s the August long weekend on Rice Lake.

Planning other summer weekends? See the Canada Day long weekend guide for the July playbook, or what a regular resort week includes free with a stay.

Thinking past summer? September on Rice Lake is the quiet secret—water warmer than June, the year’s best fishing, and dates that are actually open.

Yes—you can swim in Rice Lake, and from mid-June through early September the water is genuinely warm. Rice Lake is a shallow, warm Kawarthas lake, which means comfortable swimming temperatures earlier and later than the deep, cold lakes further north. The honest full answer has a bit more texture to it—where you swim matters—so here’s what the water is actually like, from a cottage that sits right on it.

The Short Version

• Swimmable? Yes. Warm by mid-June, warmest late July through August, comfortable into early September.
• Best swimming: maintained swim areas with sandy, gradual entry—like the resort beach at Bellmere Winds, where Mildred’s guests swim.
• The catch: Rice Lake is a naturally weedy lake. Along undeveloped stretches of shoreline, you’ll find the aquatic plants the lake is famous for (it’s named for the wild rice beds that once covered it). Maintained beaches are a different experience entirely.
• Backup plan: the resort’s heated saltwater pool and splash pad, a short walk from the cottage.

Why Rice Lake Swims Warmer Than Most of Cottage Country

Rice Lake is long—about 32 km—but shallow for most of its area, averaging only about 3 metres (9 feet) deep with a maximum around 8–10 metres. Shallow water heats up fast. While the deep Muskoka and Haliburton lakes are still bracing in June, Rice Lake is already comfortable, and by late July it can feel closer to bathwater at the shallow edges. That’s the trade Kawartha lakes make: you give up the cold, clear, deep-lake feel and get a long, warm swimming season instead.

The same shallowness is why the lake grows weeds. Sunlight reaches the bottom across huge areas, so aquatic plants thrive—the wild rice beds that gave the lake its name, plus the milfoil and pondweed that make it one of Ontario’s best bass and walleye fisheries. Great for fish. Less great if you wade in off a random natural shoreline in August expecting open sand.

Where You Actually Swim

The practical answer for anyone staying at a cottage: you swim where the shoreline is maintained. At Bellmere Winds, the resort keeps a sandy beach with a gradual, shallow entry—the bottom near shore is mostly sand, the swim area stays clear, and it’s shallow enough that kids can stand and play well out from the waterline. The beach and the multi-slip dock are steps from Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage, and many guests swim right off the dock in the deeper water.

A few practical notes from the water:

• Water shoes help for kids with sensitive feet—sand near shore, but the odd pebble and shell happens on any natural lake bottom.
• Mornings are glass. The lake is usually calmest before mid-morning—the nicest swim of the day, before boat traffic picks up.
• Stay inside the swim area with kids. Rice Lake is a busy boating lake in July and August; the designated area keeps swimmers and boats separated.
• Late-summer honesty: like most warm, shallow Ontario lakes, water clarity dips in August compared to early July. It’s still swimmable and busy every warm day—it’s just a warm lake, not a spring-fed quarry.

Where the Swim Areas Are

Most Rice Lake swimming happens at cottages and resorts with their own maintained waterfronts — the public access points are small village beaches, and none of them are lifeguarded. If you’re deciding where to go in, our guide to Rice Lake beaches covers Harwood, Gores Landing and Bewdley in detail, along with the resort waterfront at Bellmere Winds.

Rice Lake Water Temperature by Month

Here’s what the water actually runs, month by month. These are typical surface temperatures from water-temperature tracking services — treat them as a guide rather than a reading off your own dock, since shallow nearshore water on a sunny afternoon often sits a few degrees warmer than the open-lake figure, and a windy stretch can pull it the other way.

• May — around 11°C. Open water, but cold. Wetsuit weather or a quick dare.
• June — around 17°C, climbing fast. Comfortable for most swimmers by mid-to-late month.
• July — low-to-mid 20s. Prime swimming, and the shallows near shore can feel noticeably warmer than that.
• August — around 22–23°C, the warmest sustained stretch of the year. Mid-July 2026 readings on Rice Lake hit about 25°C.
• September — around 20°C. Still genuinely swimmable, and warmer than June — the reason regulars book September on Rice Lake.
• October — around 16°C and dropping. Brisk; most people are in the heated pool by now.

For context, anything above 20°C is generally considered comfortable for extended swimming without a wetsuit — which puts Rice Lake in that band from roughly early July through late September.

The Pool Option (Because Some Days You Want It)

One genuine advantage of a resort cottage over a private rental: when the lake is choppy, the day is cool, or the kids just want a change, the heated saltwater pool and splash pad are a short walk from Mildred’s front door. Saltwater systems are gentler on eyes than chlorine, the pool is maintained daily, and it stretches the swimming season at both ends. Families staying a week typically end up alternating—lake in the morning, pool in the afternoon. It’s one of the reasons the resort setting works even for groups who came for the lake.

Swimming Season, Month by Month

• May: too cold for most—the lake is open but brisk. Pool weather (it’s heated).
• June: warms fast; comfortable swimming by mid-month most years.
• July: prime. Warm water, long days, busiest boat traffic.
• August: warmest water of the year; clarity dips a little, weeds peak along natural shorelines—the maintained beach stays the place to be.
• September: the sleeper. Water holds summer warmth into early September, the lake goes quiet, and the swimming is often the most pleasant of the season — see September on Rice Lake for the full case.

FAQ — Swimming in Rice Lake

Is Rice Lake clean enough to swim in?

Yes—Rice Lake is swum all summer long from cottages, resorts, and camps around its shoreline. It’s a warm, nutrient-rich lake, so it’s not northern-Ontario clear, and clarity dips in late summer—but the maintained swim areas like the Bellmere Winds beach are sandy, shallow, and busy with swimmers every warm day. As with any Ontario lake, if a local advisory is ever posted, the resort follows it.

How warm does Rice Lake get?

Because it’s shallow, Rice Lake is one of the warmer swimming lakes in southern Ontario. It’s comfortable by mid-June and peaks in late July and August, when the shallows can feel bath-warm. The water holds its warmth into early September.

Is Rice Lake weedy?

Naturally, yes—it’s a shallow lake named for its historic wild rice beds, and aquatic plants are why the fishing is so good. But that’s along natural, undeveloped shoreline. Maintained swim areas—like the resort beach at Bellmere Winds—have a sandy bottom and clear entry. Where you swim makes all the difference.

Is the swimming at Bellmere Winds good for young kids?

Yes—this is one of the property’s strengths. The beach has a gradual, sandy, shallow entry where kids can stand and play, plus a splash pad and a heated saltwater pool a short walk away. Guests at Mildred’s use all three, often in the same day.

How deep is Rice Lake?

Shallow—and that’s the secret to its warm water. Rice Lake averages only about 3 metres (9 feet) deep, with a maximum depth around 8–10 metres (27 feet). That shallow profile is why the lake warms early, stays warm through September, and grows the weed beds that feed one of Ontario’s best fisheries.

Is Rice Lake a good lake?

For a cottage vacation, yes—with the right expectations. It’s one of Ontario’s top bass and walleye fisheries, one of its warmest swimmable lakes, and it’s quieter and closer to Toronto than Muskoka. What it isn’t is a deep, crystal-clear Shield lake—Rice Lake is a warm, lively, family-friendly one, best enjoyed from a sandy maintained beach or a boat.

Is Rice Lake man-made?

No—Rice Lake is a natural lake, though its water level was raised in the 19th century by the dam at Hastings, built as part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. The higher water drowned most of the wild-rice beds the lake was originally named for.

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So: can you swim in Rice Lake? All summer, and comfortably. Pick a maintained beach, keep kids in the swim area, and take the calm morning water when you can get it. If you want the lake, the pool, and the splash pad within a two-minute walk of your door, that’s exactly the setup at Mildred’s—check availability on the booking page.

Planning the rest of the trip? The 3-day Rice Lake itinerary covers the off-water highlights, and the fishing and boating guide covers everything happening under the surface.

On Wednesday, July 29, Bellmere Winds Golf Resort hosts the William Memorial Golf Tournament, held once again in celebration of William’s life and memory. Proceeds support Camp Kerry, an organization that provides grief support and resources for children, families, and individuals coping with loss—with a goal this year of raising enough to send several families to camp.

Golfers are encouraged to wear yellow or blue in honour of William’s favourite movie, Minions. After the round, everyone gathers for a potluck-style dinner, along with a raffle and auction. It’s a day of remembrance, community, and support—and one of the most meaningful days on the resort’s calendar.

The Day at a Glance

• When: Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 11:30 AM–3:00 PM
• Where: Bellmere Winds Golf Resort, 1235 Villiers Line, Keene
• Entry: $30 for resort owners and members, $80 for guests
• Tee times: call the Pro Shop at 705-295-3000 ext 1, or email Golf Director Russ DaSilva at [email protected]
• Dress: yellow or blue, for William
• After golf: potluck dinner, raffle, and auction
• Good to know: the day is cash only, and all food purchases go to Camp Kerry on a donation basis

About Camp Kerry

Camp Kerry, a program of the Lumara Society, offers grief support for children, families, and individuals coping with the loss of a loved one—including family camps where bereaved families can heal together. Every dollar raised on July 29 goes toward sending families to camp. You can read more about the program at lumarasociety.org.

Ways to Support

Play. Book a tee time through the Pro Shop and come out on the 29th. The tournament is open to resort owners, members, and guests alike.

Donate online. The official donation page is william-gardner-memorial-fundraiser.raiselysite.com—tax receipts are issued directly through the organization.

Give in person. Donation boxes are at the Pro Shop and Sales Office through Sunday, August 2 for anyone who’d like to make a cash donation—and a week-long 50/50 raffle runs at the Pro Shop, with the draw on August 2. William memorial bracelets will also be available during the event.

Local businesses. Organizers are welcoming contributions of raffle prizes, auction items, gift cards, merchandise, services, or monetary donations. Any support, big or small, helps make the day meaningful for the families it serves. Reach out to the Pro Shop team—Office Manager Gillian Inglis or Golf Director Russ DaSilva—at 705-295-3000 ext 1.

A Community Weekend

The resort has made the whole week of July 27–August 2 a memorial week. A 50/50 raffle runs all week at the Pro Shop with the draw on Sunday, August 2; donation boxes are in the Pro Shop and Sales Office through the weekend; and on Friday, July 31 at 9:30 PM the outdoor movie night on the Sales Deck screens Minions—shown in loving memory of William. All proceeds go to Camp Kerry. If you’re staying on the resort grounds that week, the tournament and the week’s events are steps away—the course itself is an 18-hole championship layout overlooking Rice Lake, and guest entry to the tournament is open at $80.

We’re proud to be part of the Bellmere Winds community, and we hope to see the course full of yellow and blue on the 29th. Together, the community can honour William’s memory and support families who need Camp Kerry’s work.

Mid-July is when Bellmere Winds hits its stride. The pool is warm, Rice Lake is full of kayaks by 10 AM, and the resort’s summer program runs seven days a week—steps from the cottage door at Mildred’s. The week of July 13–19 is “Under the Sea” week: a full slate of family activities ending with live music on the Golf Deck and an outdoor movie night. Every one of these events is free with a cottage stay.

If you’re weighing a Rice Lake cottage rental for late July or August, this week is a good preview of what a summer stay here actually includes—because the resort runs a themed program like this one every week of the season.

What’s On at Bellmere Winds This Week (July 13–19)

• Monday, July 13 — canoe and kayak race at 9:00 AM on the beach. Mildred’s guests don’t need to rent anything: canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are already included with the cottage.
• Tuesday, July 14 — Kids’ Club at 10:00 AM at the Phase 1 pool, pickleball at noon on the Phase 1 court, and a guess-the-seashells contest running all day at the Pro Shop.
• Wednesday, July 15 — colouring sheets at the Pro Shop all day, and the seashell contest winner gets announced.
• Thursday, July 16 — Kids’ Club at 10:00 AM. This session is paper-plate jellyfish, if you’re wondering.
• Friday, July 17 — the Dive-for-Treasure challenge at 10:00 AM in the Phase 2 pool—billed as treasure for all ages—then bingo on the Golf Deck at 7:00 PM.
• Saturday, July 18 — the big one. Zumba at 9:30 AM, pickleball at noon, a rubber duck race on the beach at 2:00 PM, live music from Brandon Gregory on the Golf Deck from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, and an outdoor screening of The Little Mermaid at 9:30 PM.
• Sunday, July 19 — Kids’ Club at 10:00 AM (handprint fish puppets), then a community shoreline clean-up at 11:00 AM for anyone who wants to give the lake a hand.

Pickleball repeats every Tuesday and Saturday at noon through July. All levels, drop in.

Why the Weekly Program Is the Point

Here’s the math every parent does at a private cottage rental: the lake fills a few hours a day. Then what? At a standalone cottage, “then what” is your job—every afternoon, all week.

A resort cottage flips that. This one week alone covers a kayak race, three Kids’ Club mornings, two pickleball sessions, a pool challenge, a duck race, bingo, live music, and a movie under the stars—without anyone getting in a car or buying a ticket. Compare that to a week of day camps or paid attractions and the value shows up fast. It’s the reason we call the resort setting the fix for the family cottage weekend problem—and it’s one of the ten reasons Bellmere Winds works even for groups that never touch a golf club.

Where You Stay: Steps From All of It

Mildred’s Lakefront Resort Cottage sits directly on Rice Lake inside the resort grounds—3 bedrooms, sleeps 6, full kitchen, private porch, and a dock on the water. The heated saltwater pool, splash pad, and beach are a short walk. Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are included, and the 19th Hole Grill is on-site when nobody feels like cooking.

Early mornings before the program starts are for the dock: Rice Lake is one of southern Ontario’s better fishing lakes—walleye, smallmouth, muskie, crappie—and the Rice Lake fishing guide covers what’s biting and where.

Late July and August Are Booking Now

The themed weeks run all summer—a different program every week through the season. Peak weeks at Bellmere Winds book out early; the resort holds roughly 25 stay-and-play cottages, and July–August demand takes them fast. Mildred’s starts from $375/night and sleeps six, which splits to a reasonable rate for a waterfront cottage with the whole resort program included.

Check availability and book directly through Great Blue Resorts: Book Mildred’s Lakefront Cottage. Or see full details and availability on the booking page.

FAQ — Summer Weeks at Bellmere Winds

Are Bellmere Winds resort activities included with a cottage stay?

Yes. The weekly events program—Kids’ Club, pool challenges, beach races, bingo, live music, movie nights—is part of staying on the resort grounds, at no extra cost. Guests at Mildred’s also get the heated saltwater pool, splash pad, beach, and complimentary canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.

What is there for kids to do at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort?

A lot, and most of it is scheduled for you: Kids’ Club runs several mornings a week at the pool, the splash pad and beach are open daily, and each summer week has themed events—the July 13–19 lineup includes a kayak race, a dive-for-treasure pool challenge, a rubber duck race, and an outdoor screening of The Little Mermaid. Off the grounds, the Canadian Canoe Museum and the Peterborough Lift Lock are about 25 minutes away.

Can I still book a Rice Lake cottage for summer 2026?

Late July and August weeks were still open at the time of writing, but they’re the first to go—the resort has roughly 25 bookable stay-and-play cottages, not hundreds. Shoulder season (September, October, Thanksgiving weekend) stays flexible longer and the Kawarthas in fall colour is worth the trip on its own. Book through Great Blue Resorts or check the booking page for current availability.

Do I need to register for the weekly resort events?

Most events are drop-in—show up at the posted time and place. A few contests (like the Pro Shop seashell guess) run all day so you can swing by whenever. The resort posts each week’s schedule on the grounds, and staff at the Pro Shop have the current lineup.

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A July week at a Kawarthas cottage doesn’t need an itinerary when the resort runs one for you. The lake in the morning, the program in the afternoon, the Golf Deck at night—and Toronto is only 90 minutes away when it’s over.

Planning further out? See the 3-day Rice Lake itinerary for the off-resort highlights, or the Kawarthas cottage rental guide if you’re still comparing properties.

Here for the long weekend? The August long weekend guide (Civic Holiday, August 1–3) covers the warmest-water weekend of the Rice Lake summer.