Explorer's Cottage provides a country experience on 150 wooded acres, with a private beach, a botanical park-like forest, bird watching, an orchard, a Japanese meditation garden, library, paved pathways, and a hiking path, all with a refined interior. Included: WiFi, coffee beans and tea, charcoal and propane bbqs, firewood, tv, fishing gear, + canoe. 4.5 star rating by Canada Select.
The space
Explorer's Cottage (Registration # RYA2020-000067) is located in the heart of Cape Breton Island in the middle convenient to sightseeing in all directions on a UNESCO biosphere reserve and waterfront on the Bras d'Or, part of the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Breton Island was voted the 1st Best Island in Canada in 2018 and 2019 and the 8th Best Island in the World by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.
Set on 150 acres of forest and in a botanical-park setting with over 100 specially planted trees, Japanese bridges, a birch forest, and a Japanese garden, Explorer's Cottage is a 4,000 sq foot retreat ideal for multi-generational family groups, friends traveling together, writing or artist workshops, or different families traveling together. Supporting the cottage also helps support the local caretakers.
There is a first floor suite with a private bedroom with a Queen-sized bed, three twin beds, full bathroom with bath and shower, kitchenette with a refrigerator and dish washer, and separate washer and dryer. The first floor suite is perfect for multi-generational guests, different families or friends traveling together, or for guests who keep a different schedule from the rest of the home, such as couples who prefer more privacy, new mothers and fathers, and teens. Guests have a wide range of sleeping arrangements from which to choose throughout the entire home.
For reservations made after May 1, 2019 when the price of the first floor suite began to be included, with smaller groups who do not need the first floor suite will be provided a discount per night reserved.
Guests can create their own experiences with activities, including nature walks with local guides, paddling a canoe or stand up paddleboard from the private beach, fishing, learning about vegetable gardens, picking raspberries, and picking fruits. The property has three outdoor grills and two outdoor picnic tables, so guests can make meals in the gourmet kitchen with produce they pick themselves from the property and fish that they catch themselves in the area with a choice of three cooking locations on the vast property.
Explorer's Cottage is furnished as a European country escape, with antiques in a modern way. Walk through a boreal forest, then a birch forest, on a winding asphalt pathway to the waterfront, picking blackberries along the way. There are often grouse sightings along the pathway, as well as woodpeckers, blue jays, hummingbirds, and many other bird and rare moth species.
Guests are provided fresh coffee and tea selections by guest services to welcome them to the cottage.
I also have another cottage on Airbnb, called Raspberry Cottage. Although the cottages are just across the street from each other, they are not visible to each other. Raspberry Cottage is smaller and has a water view from a sunny hill and an orchard: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19358472
Guest access
Guests have all of Explorer's Cottage at their disposal, except for the garage and utility room, including the first floor suite. If guests have a smaller group, then the first floor suite cost can be deducted from the rental price. All the closets are empty. There are hangers, extra feather duvets, extra blankets, extra towels, and luggage racks in each bedroom. There is also included coffee beans, a coffee grinder, a French press, a traditional coffee maker, and included herbal teas.
Other things to note
Electric Vehicles: Please note that electric vehicles are welcome, but please do not plug them into the home. The home has very different circuitry, and plugging electric cars into the home has caused entire panels of appliances on different floors to fail. Please let me know in advance if you will be bringing an electric car, and I can guide you to a place to plug in the vehicle/s.
First Floor Suite: There is a first floor suite now available for guests who book the entire property, consisting of the upper two main floors. The first floor suite has one Queen sized bed and three twin beds, sleeping a total of five additional guests. The space also has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, and separate clothes washer and dryer. The space is now included with the main reservation and has been surprisingly multi-generational families traveling together, for separate families traveling together, and for writing workshop groups. The space is also ideal for groups with individuals who have a different schedule than the rest of the house, such as groups traveling with babies or teens.
Accessibility: There is a ramp to the front door that may be used for luggage or wheelchair access. If the ramp is not used, there are about four steps up to the cottage front door. The master bedroom with a king-sized bed is located on the first floor without any additional stairs, along with a full ensuite bathroom. Two more bedrooms, each with a Queen-sized bed, are located up a flight of stairs. The library, loft area, and a full bathroom are also located upstairs. All bedrooms, the library, and the loft have private balconies.
Housekeeping: Please note that deep clean housekeeping is once a week, where sheets will be laundered and changed. Please note that there is a washer and dryer in the home for sheets, towels, and clothing that guests are welcome to use in between housekeeping services.
Guests have access to children's toys. These toys are in drawers below the microwave in the kitchen and meant to be kept with Explorer's Cottage for other children.
Taxes: Please note that the 15% GST Nova Scotia provincial tax is included in the cost of each booking. Guests do not need to make any additional payments.
Waiver: By accepting this booking, guests are accepting the risk and liability of the use of the cottage, the deck to the water, and the surrounding grounds, as well as agreeing to caution and responsibility in their use. Guests understand that the cottage is located within a forest by accepting this booking.
Registration details
RYA-2023-24-03310213049100023-4895
