Something some folks don’t consider when visiting Canada is cottaging. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a secluded forest hideaway in British Columbia, a lake-side cabin in Ontario, or a cottage with an ocean-view in Nova Scotia, you are bound to find a spot that suits your cottaging desires. While finding cottages to rent is easy, knowing what you may need is not necessarily as simple. To help fill in the blanks of a cottage check list, I spoke with JustFly, an online travel agency. They gave me a pretty comprehensive list of what you should bring with you.

BBQ and Food

No brainer here. At the cottage, food is spelled with three letters, and they are B-B-Q. In addition to your BBQ you’ll need a healthy supply of propane or charcoal to make sure you don’t run out of fuel for your fire. Of course you’ll also need to bring food. Meat is best transported in a cooler. Why? Because it keeps your food cold dumbie. Lets also take a moment to realize a full cooler will float, so if you have a mishap on the water your ribs, and your appetite, will be safe. JustFly’s review also made a special note. That note reads loud and clear, don’t forget your s’more supplies!

Outdoor Gear

You near a body of water? You owe it to yourself to make sure you get your hands on a canoe before you head into the wilderness. If water isn’t your thing, hiking gear is a good start, but make sure you take proper precautions. Bear spray may be a must based on your location. Other outdoor activities include archery, and biking. Want to feel like a boss? Maybe bring along a driver and some golf balls and crush some drives of the deck.

Safety Equipment and First Aid

Taking part in these outdoor activities I mentioned? It is crucial that you overpack on the safety gear. Don’t worry about scoring cool points for biking without a helmet, JustFly recommends putting on a full body suit of padding. Why so cautious? Because breaking your leg sucks, but breaking your leg in the middle of the woods where the closest hospital away could be deadly. A fully stocked first aid kit is also necessary. Make sure you also include basic medicines as the last thing you want to do is spend your cottage weekend wishing that pesky headache would go away.