Your cottage vacation packing list will most likely have a bathing suit or two at the top of the list.
But unlike an all inclusive beach vacation packing list you will need some warmer clothes, even socks!
Ontario Cottage Vacations often involve heading north to where the temperatures are 10 – 15 degrees cooler. Which means you should consider packing easy to layer pieces, even in the summer.
tee//shorts//bathing suit//tunic top//romper//jeans//jacket//sweater//sandals//sneakers
What to Pack; Your Cottage Vacation Packing List
- Swimsuits
- Cover-up
- Dinner outfits (only if you are going out and not BBQing every night!)
- Sporty/adventure outfits
- Shoes for day & evening
- layering items for cool evenings
- sunglasses & hat
- Pajamas
- underwear
- toiletries
- Beach towel
When packing for vacation pick at least 2 swimsuits, but take as many as 7! Swimwear takes up very little room in the suitcase and it is more hygienic to switch out of a wet suit.
Pack a cover-up or sun-dress that can go over your suit for running back to the cottage from the beach, or if you are going for a walk and plan to stop for a swim.
Dinner appropriate outfits are less important on a cottage holidays. It is likely that you will spend most of your time barbecuing rather than eating out. That said take at least one dressier outfit just in case.
A sun dress, skirts and a fancy top or light trousers are all appropriate options. Jeans are fine too as long as you dress them up. No need to be the worst dressed, even at the cottage!
Pack shorts, tees and tank tops enough for the week. It is easy to rewear bottoms so plan to pack 3-4 pairs of pants or shorts. Pack a mixture of tanks, tees and long sleeved tops to round out your wardrobe.
Remember that most modern cottages will have laundry or you can use the laundromat in town in a pinch.
Don’t forget to bring a sweater or hoodie for the evenings. You never know when you might have cooler weather!
Remember to bring shoes that you can walk around in, you don’t want to be nursing any blisters. Pack one pair of beach shoes, one pair of walking shoes and at least one dress shoe for evening.
If you are planning on doing any sports pack appropriately for this as well!
Pick neutral shoes that will go with all your outfits so that you don’t fill your suitcase with shoes alone.
Remember to add pjs, underwear and toiletries to cottage vacation packing list! Consider bringing your own bedding as well, especially if you are staying at a rental property as it may not be provided. Plus you know your bedding is CLEAN.
If you are staying an extra week you don’t necessarily need to double what you are taking. Many things like dresses and pants can be worn more than once.
Take care packing the car for the long drive to the cottage. Especially if everything you are taking won’t fit in the trunk. Ensure that you can still check blind spots and that you can still see out the back window!
Is this everything in your Cottage Vacation Packing List?