The Cardinal Cottage is well named as it offers a panoramic view of East Lake with its waterfowl and resident wetland birds, and backs on to a mature coniferous and deciduous woods of Sandbanks Provincial Park. It is here where everyone’s favourite bird, the cardinal, begins its chorus of rich whistled notes at the break of dawn. They nest here at Sandbanks as do a host of others, including the mourning dove, great crested flycatcher and eastern screech owl. What finer location to spend a few days where excellent birding is right in your backyard, and access to the park itself is within walking distance. In the spring, the woods abound with trilliums, Jack-in the-pulpits, toothworts, spring beauties and hepaticas. Autumn is the time for the sweet scented goldenrods, butter and eggs, New England asters, and the fall migration of warblers and shorebirds.
Within the Park, there are campground roads on which to take a hike, or explore the sand dune habitat of the Cedar Sands Trail. If it’s a longer trail you are seeking, the 4-km Woodland Trail runs from the Main entrance of the park, west to the famous sand dunes. This interesting trail offers a rich variety of habitat from open meadows to dark deciduous forests. The 48-km Millennium Trail from Picton to Carrying Place is but 20 minutes away.
Lots To See and Do
The location of The Cardinal Cottage offers no limits to the outdoor enthusiast. Salmon Point is but a few metres away, leading birders to fabulous hawk watching in the fall. East Lake is on your doorstep where loons nest, herons fly in on many mornings, and waterfowl gather during migration. The marshy shallows come alive in the spring with the sound of spring peepers, leopard frogs, green frogs, followed later in the spring by the resonant throaty calls of the mighty bullfrog.
If you are renting the cottage during the summer, and are new to the area, be sure to take advantage of the interpretive programs at Sandbanks; most of them held within walking distance of the cottage. The outdoor amphitheater, located near the mouth of the Outlet River, seats 500 people and hosts regular illustrated interpretive programs including illustrated presentations, guided hikes, and children’s programs. A great place to learn about both the natural and human history of the area. Of course, if you are a winter enthusiast, Cardinal Cottage is fully winterized, with 12 km of cross country skiing trails practically on your doorstep.
The Cottage can accommodate 4 persons. It is equipped with two bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed, the other with bunk beds, the bottom being a double bed. And if you should ever encounter any problems, hosts Gordon and Joan Laurie live right next door!
Visitor Comments:
- "Thanks for the hospitality. Would need at least 2 weeks to discover your beautiful County."
- "We had a great time – We actually saw some wildlife!"
- "A peaceful Haven!"
- "Two falls ago, we were sitting out on the porch looking towards East Lake and the migration started (at about 5:30 a.m.) and flock after flock went by, overhead, just out in front over the marshy part of the lake. This continued for well over 3 hours. I lost count of how many different flocks went by."
- "We came to your pleasant and cozy corner between the Lakes. We liked it very much, we saw the Cardinal. We also enjoyed his singing and we understood the name of this place. Thanks for all your support, your taking care of us and maybe we’ll meet again."
Cardinal Cottage is located at 10 Cowan Road, near the junction of County Road 18 and Salmon Point Road. For more information, or to reserve, click here
