Thursday, 23 June 2016

Guidelines to Book the Perfect Wasaga Beach Hotel

Wasaga beach is a perfect holiday destination for families and groups of youngsters. It is the longest freshwater beach in the world and certainly among the cleanest ones. The natural beauty and richness of Wasaga beach need no introduction. The Wasaga Beach Provincial Park has won acclaim and recognition for maintaining high environmental protection and preservation standards.

Apart from the natural beauty, the Wasaga beach community has much more to offer. Various festivals are organized throughout the year, with the best ones during the peak summer season. These festivals are based on different themes and serve the interests of all kinds of tourists, visitors, and locals. A kite festival, for instance, is a great place for some quality family time. The Blues and other music festival attract artists and music lovers from around the country and abroad. Many events also take place multiple times a year. These include the food festivals.

In Wasaga Beach, hotels and cottages are available in a wide range of price and service categories. Cottage inns are not your typical holiday experience. Instead, you get a chance to explore yourself. But there are some important things that should be kept in mind while booking a hotel or cottage in Wasaga beach.

Planning: A holiday becomes memorable when it is planned in advance for the simple reason that you have to deal with a lot less last minute hiccups. Before you book a hotel in Wasaga Beach, you should do your research. Consider aspects like budget, timings, mode of travel, etc. These things matter a lot and putting them off could ruin your holiday. Planning also avoids wastage of time and money. You should decide your budget to include your expenses for travel, food, lodging, and spare some for overheads. You should also keep aside some money for various small expenses such as tickets for a musical concert or snacks. Food and lodging expenses are something that you can easily keep a record of. Small expenses do not seem like much but by the end of your trip, they can make a big difference to your budget.

Check for Hotels:  You should check for the availability of hotel rooms and cottages. For services, do not just rely on the hotel staff’s promises. Check the hotel out on numerous travel websites. Here you can read reviews and ratings from previous guests. You can also compare prices and find special offers provide by the hotels and inns.

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Wasaga Under Siege: Relive the History of Wasaga Beach

The location of Wasaga Beach was once a part of the Upper Canada Province created in 1791. At the turn of the century, Upper Canada was drawn into the War or 1812 between the USA and Great Britain. It was in no small part due to the strategic location of Fort Michilimackinac or Mackinac on Lake Huron. The fort was captured by the British in the first few days of the war. The tides soon turned for the Americans in the battle of Lake Erie on September 10th, 1813 and all British armed vessels on the upper great lakes were captured. The HMS Nancy, however, proved elusive. Originally a trading schooner, the Nancy had been pressed into service during the war and outfitted with heavy guns and cannons. After the rout on Lake Erie, it was the last British ship of any military significance. With winter approaching, any further American plans to retake the fort had to be abandoned.

The ship had suffered some damage from gunfire and storms, and laid low over the winter of 1813-1814 when she was refitted by her crew. In early 1814, the British set up a supply line from York to the fort. Nottawasaga was chosen as the post as it provided an advantageous location. The following summer, the Americans moved to recapture Fort Mackinac, landing troops with five ships. The date was 26th July, 1814. The attacking force was held off, and the Americans lost the Battle of Mackinaw Island, suffering heavy casualties. However, they learned of the location of the Nottawasaga Landing post. On August 13th, 1814, they approached the post with three ships under the command of Captain A. Sinclair. Lt. Miller Worsley of the Royal Navy surveyed the approaching ships with some despair, realizing he was vastly outnumbered. He had only 53 men under his command with nothing more than a crudely built blockhouse for defending the HMS Nancy hidden upriver.  The Americans believed the Nancy was still out on the lake and were preparing an ambush. However, after American scouts discovered the Nancy and battle broke out, the ship was scuttled.

Over the years, silt deposited around the hull’s wreckage, forming an island. The Hull was discovered in 1911 and subsequently recovered in 1924. Today, it is the Nancy Island Museum. Two centuries later, a historical reenactment of the battle and the war takes place during the annual ‘Wasaga Under Siege’ event. Scheduled for August 15th-16th, over 500 re-enactors playing soldiers, merchants, artisans, etc will take part this year. The event also features a period music festival.

Wasaga Under Siege gives both residents and tourists a chance to acquaint themselves with an important part of the history of the region and the town itself. Such events promote cultural understanding and preserve the memories of great sacrifices for posterity.


Monday, 25 April 2016

The Various Events Held in Wasaga Beach

With warmth and energy in the environment, a vacation in Wasaga Beach feels like a festival in itself. The beach is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. People come here to enjoy fresh water beaches, various watersports, and several exciting events held throughout the year. In the peak season, some event or the other takes place almost every day.

The popular events in the town include the famous musical festivals. People come from all over the world to enjoy the Blues and Jazz Music Festival. Some of the biggest names in the genre have performed here. Wasaga Beach is becoming a second home to contemporary Blues artists and they perform here frequently. The festival is accompanied by special programs where schoolchildren are introduced to Blues. The community actively takes part in the festival, and a large number of visiting volunteers help organize the event. The event is accompanied by film festivals and radio shows that are usually centered on an influential artist from the past.

Among the various beach festivals, the kite festival has assumed special status. It involves visiting families and allows the parents to share quality time with their children. The adults love to relive their own childhood and pass on the skills of flying a kite to the next generation. The children love the free open areas often denied to them in modern cities as the skies are filled with hundreds of colorful dots.

Wasaga beach also hosts bike rallies. These rallies attract all types of bikes including choppers, baggers, and sports bikes. Enthusiastic bikers show off their bikes and stunts as they astonish the gathered crowd with their tricks and stunts.

The community also organizes various shopping events, where tourists can avail the benefits of sales and discounts. These shopping events are run on different occasions, often centered on a theme. There a number of other non-annual and one-off events. Air shows, horse-riding performances, vintage car rallies, and many other festivals are regularly announced every summer.

People who love excitement, appreciate culture, and have respect for natural beauty must visit Wasaga Beach. It is not just a great tourist spot, but also teaches us how we can preserve our environment and cherish our culture.


Thursday, 17 March 2016

Blues Festival at Wasaga Beach and Its Major Highlights



Blues originated in African-American communities in the "Deep South" of the United States around the end of the 19th century. The genre developed from roots in traditional African music, combined with elements of European-American folk music. 

Blues musical styles, forms, melodies, and the blues scale have influenced many other genres of music, such as rock and roll, jazz, and popular music. Prominent jazz, folk or rock performers, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Bob Dylan have performed significant blues recordings. Blues in many ways, is a precursor to modern musical genres like hip hop. It is one of the few genres that have stood the test of time, and the crowds at blues festivals around the world attest to the fact.

Wasaga Beach has always been a home for blues artists, and the townspeople and visitors from near and far have always participated with great enthusiasm in these events. In 2016, the town is organising its biggest blues festival yet, the Wasaga Beach Blues on 17th and 18th September. 

Last year, the fifth iteration of the festival honoured the great BB King. There was even a programme to introduce schoolchildren to the blues, which was well received. Festivities started several days early with Tributes to Elvis concerts, street shuffles, and radio shows.

The event saw performances by numerous bands, from international to local. All Night Mule, The Blues Bros, The Lisa Hutchinson Band, The Groove Project, The Mackenzie Blues Band, Tommy Fyfe and the Whiskey River Blues Band, Tamica Herod, The Oh Chays, The Sensations, and Jake Chisholm. This year is expected to draw an ever longer roster.

The festival’s organizers depend on their tireless team of volunteers, called the Blues Crew. Volunteer registration for the 2016 event is already underway, and this gives blues enthusiasts a great opportunity to enjoy great music and enjoy a beach holiday at the world’s longest freshwater beach. Clean, comfortable and affordable accommodation is readily available in Wasaga Beach’s many cottage inns. The venue is in the heart of town, no more than a few minutes’ walk. The beautiful properties are great places to relax and enjoy, and the beach is right across the road as well.

Every year more and more artists of Blues genre come to the Wasaga beach blues festival and add a new edition to their role in Blues music history.


Source URL: http://www.hollywoodcottages.ca/#!Blues-Festival-at-Wasaga-Beach-and-Its-Major-Highlights/q1pst/56eb8c0a0cf27d89644e5f0b
 

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Major Attractions of Motels in Wasaga Beach: Family Picnic & BBQ

Motels are a popular choice when one is vacationing in Wasaga Beach, the longest freshwater beach in the world. The motels often have wide-open spaces where you can park your rented vehicle or your personal car. Besides that, the motels in Wasaga Beach provide their guests with scenic views of the beach and the Nottawasaga River. Most of the motels are nestled right near the beach and you can easily reach the shore on foot. Most motels in Wasaga have the free Wi-Fi, outdoor pools, basketball or volleyball courts, spacious terraces and much more for you to enjoy a great holiday with your family.

The motels in Wasaga Beach also provide air conditioning, cable TV with numerous national and international channels, coffee vending machines, and a kitchenette in each of the rooms. Also, every room has its private bathroom with proper toiletries and shower. The hotels provide all the amenities for you to have a relaxed holiday with your family.

If you are on a holiday, then motels are a good choice as they have plenty of options for you, your spouse and your children. The spacious and beautiful gardens provide a nice backdrop for you to spend some quality time with your loved ones. The motels make your vacation memorable, providing beautiful backdrops for photography and offering a great variety of outdoor activities for the entire group. Family picnics are common in most of the motels. They also arrange trips to nearby museums and recreation centres. You can have nice outdoor recreational activities in the motels itself as most of them have playgrounds for kids, basketball and volley courts for teenagers, and pools and golf clubs for the adults.

A campfire in the evening is another great way to spend quality time with your family. With BBQ facilities available, an afternoon, evening or night BBQ party is just the thing to do. The pleasant waves and mesmerising skies add a sense of serenity and warmth to the whole event. Whether you are on a holiday with friends or family, a BBQ by the beachside is one thing you should not miss. You can also make the most of the terraces that the motels have to arrange a nice BBQ night with friends and enjoy the food and drinks with a panoramic view of the Wasaga beach. The staff at the motels takes all necessary steps to ensure you enjoy your holiday to the full.

Thursday, 21 January 2016

Rental Cottages in Wasaga Beach: Best Place to Relax



When it comes to holidaying in Wasaga Beach, there are a lot of things to do. Be it any time of the year, summer or winter, Wasaga Beach has a lot to offer. During the summer, people come from all over the place to enjoy the world’s largest freshwater beach. Besides that, there are a lot of hiking and cycling trails. During the winter, snowmobile trails and cross-country skiing are also available. There are educational tours at the Nancy Island historical site, mini and regular golf courses, a go-kart track, fishing, canoeing, paintball, and other fun activities that are open all year.

Wasaga beach is famous for cheap but comfortable lodging and accommodation available in rental cottages. Many of these beautiful cottages often come with exotic views, owing to their scenic locations. Being a small town, major attractions are usually close by, often within a minute or two of walking. The cottages are clean, comfortable and have several amenities for their guests. The air conditioned rooms will also have an LCD flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, coffee maker, cooking utensils and more. There is usually more than one picnic table and outdoor barbecue on the premises that you can enjoy with your family. Usually, more advanced cooking appliances like microwave ovens are arranged on request. The cottages are meant to provide guests a relaxing and comfortable environment that they can enjoy. They are not for the finicky traveler who would want round the clock room service. These cottages are perfect for people who appreciate being close to nature and want to enjoy the peaceful and quiet ambiance.

The lack of frivolous bells and whistles is a blessing that most tourists can appreciate. They get to have the cottage to themselves and follow their routine. Sometimes guests get together and organize a barbecue on the premises, offering a chance to socialize and make new friends. This allows Wasaga Beach to maintain a small town charm despite attracting over two million tourists every year.

Wasaga beach has some of the best cottages that offer excellent accommodation and a comfortable bed to get back to after a full day of activities. The cottages in Wasaga beach are focused on offering the tourists a warm and relaxed stay.

Thursday, 24 December 2015

5 Special Things One Must Know About Cottages at Wasaga Beach



Tourists visiting Wasaga Beach have a lot to look forward to. Apart from the world’s largest freshwater beach, there are a number of hiking trails and options for cycling. During the winter, snowmobile trails and cross country skiing are also available. There are educational tours at the Nancy Island historical site, mini and regular golf courses, a Go Kart track, fishing, canoeing, paintball, and much more.

With so many options and things to do, it is little wonder that most tourists extend their trips by several days. An important factor that allows people to do this is the excellent but cheap accommodation available at cottages throughout Wasaga Beach. They can almost be described as a boutique or motel resorts. They offer a wide range of amenities while also cutting back many of the pointless embellishments and extras commonly associated with hotels in other popular tourist destinations. This allows Wasaga Beach to maintain a small town charm despite attracting over two million tourists every year.

The top five things that set these Wasaga Beach cottages apart are outlined here.

Amenities: Cottages are designed in a way that will make you feel as if you are in a home away from home. These cottages offer clean rooms with an air conditioner, LCD TV, Wi-Fi (usually free), and a coffee maker. Some appliances like hair dryers, ovens, mixers etc. are usually available on request. Housekeeping and other facilities like towels and toiletries are provided on request. Light housekeeping and extra towels are usually available at a small charge.

No Pets: Most cottage establishments have a ‘no-pets-allowed’ policy. So you can walk in the lawns without stepping on something you wish you didn’t.  But still be careful if you do decide to take your morning walk barefoot, as spiders are quite common in the town and nearby areas, though none are dangerous to humans.

Non-Smoking Rooms: Most cottages do not allow smoking inside the rooms and thus ensures   clean and pollution free rooms

Picnic and BBQ: Barbeque rentals are free, and most cottage establishments have several shared barbeque and designated areas for picnic and BBQ parties. Enjoy them with your family, friends or socialize with other guests.

Booking and Cancelations:  Cottages in Wasaga Beach are small family run operations. As such, their booking and cancellation policies may seem stricter than large hotels. They will charge a small booking fee, usually the cost of one night’s stay as an advance. Cancelations also need to be done several days. In case of a no-show or a late cancelation, the booking fee may be non-refundable.