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Your Home Away From Home

Photo gallery for Your Home Away From Home

A cozy cabin interior with a stone fireplace, wooden beams, a sofa, and a staircase.
A spacious kitchen with wooden beams, a stone fireplace, and a large island.
living room
A spacious kitchen with wooden beams, a stone wall, and a modern stainless steel refrigerator.
A Weber grill with a digital thermometer, a side burner, and a built-in cooler, set up outdoors with a view of a lake and trees in the background.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Arcade/game room
    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade/game room.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Rideau Canal
Sleeps 8•3 bedrooms•5 beds

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Perth, ON
  • Place, Big Rideau Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Stewart Park
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, Almonte Village
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Garden View

1 Queen Bed

Kids Room

2 Single Beds

Loft

1 Double Futon

Master Lake View

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom Main Floor

Toilet · Outdoor shower

Bathroom Upstairs

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Your Home Away From Home

Rideau Retreat is located on the Big Rideau Lake this cottage is the perfect area for snowshoeing, ice fishing, boating, walking, running, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, fishing.
This beautiful log home was built in 2014. It is a 1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Ottawa.
Enjoy beautiful family fires right on the water with your loved ones.
When I think about this home I think about having my morning coffee on the patio listening to the birds, watching the deer, and going for a morning kayak on the historical Big Rideau Lake.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 4 total
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9573993
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Drummond-North Elmsley

Located in Drummond-North Elmsley, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the waterfront. Port Elmsley Drive-In Theatre and Full Circle Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Lombard Glen Golf and Country Club and Perth Golf Course. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
View more Holiday homes in Drummond-North ElmsleyOpens in a new window
Map
Perth, ON

What's nearby

  • Big Rideau Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Perth Museum - 12 min drive - 13.1 km
  • Stewart Park - 12 min drive - 13.1 km
  • 1000 Islands Mall - 51 min drive - 67.0 km
  • Almonte Village - 52 min drive - 66.6 km

Getting around

  • Smiths Falls Station - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪CC's on the Rideau - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Rocky River Café - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Red Fox - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Your Home Away From Home pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Your Home Away From Home?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Your Home Away From Home?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Where is Your Home Away From Home located?

This family-friendly Drummond-North Elmsley holiday home is located on the waterfront, within a 10-minute walk of Big Rideau Lake and Rideau Canal. Otty Lake is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 35 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Anne-Marie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great cottage, spacious, very relaxing.Thank you
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! ❤️ We’re so happy you enjoyed your stay and would love to welcome you back anytime! 🏡✨
Verified review

8/10 Good

Diane S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Family weekend

Nice place in quiet location with lots of child friendly amenities.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

duncan m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rideau Retreat

Second stay here and will be back again.The cottage is excellent, nice and clean when we arrived, had everything you could need, just a great place to take the family and relax. Shannon was great could not recommend enough absolutely first rate - thank you.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! ❤️ It was a pleasure having you back for a second stay, and we can’t wait to welcome you again! 🏡✨
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

John T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful property and host

Excellent property on very kayakable river! Home away from home with everything you need and a wonderful responsive host Shannon. Great Checkin and so very helpful every step of the way! Highly recommend this property for your family getaway!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Scott A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful retreat

Cozy log home on beautiful property. Hosts are great people and quickly respond to any needs. Highly recommend this getaway!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2024
Thank you Scott. Looking forward to host you again.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Joanne S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely spot!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the log house. It was a perfect location for us for our cycling adventures…close to amenities and yet on a quiet road with peaceful surroundings. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Leah P.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
So many things. This place should not be a Vrbo anything. Shannon blamed all that was missing or in error on the “cleaning staff”, then decided to charge us for a house that was cleaner and put together more than how we found entering it.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We take all guest concerns seriously and are always working to provide a clean, comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone who stays with us. 🏡
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway

Welcome wine and chocolate was appreciated. Fully stocked, comfortable beds, spacious. Relaxing was our top priority and this place did just that.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sandeep G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice fall getaway

Shannon was responsive and the property was great. Only an hour from ottawa will rent again
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2024
Sandeep thank you so much for your stay. We hope to see you again soon.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Roxane C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway

Had a wonderful time. Everything was perfect for us.oved the geese families in the backyard 100% recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2024
Roxane thanks for staying with us at Rideau Retreat. Hope to host you again soon. We love the animals too.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little getaway

Wonderful cottage right on the water. It has everything you need. The host was very communicative and accommodating. There is also lots of things for kids to play with both inside and out. Plus the beds are so comfortable! Would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2024
Lindsay thank you so much for your stay and please come again soon with the family.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Summer getaway

This property was great for our young family. Very spacious, all essential amenities and very close to Perth if you want to go into town. Shannon was very responsive and clearly cares for her property. We would absolutely go back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Brenda F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little piece of country heaven

Cabin was perfect ! Clean cozy welcoming withh all the amenities for staying a short stay or a long while! Plenty of room for a Family ! Peacefull waters and views,friendly community close to town! Shannon was lovely to deal with thank you for making our stay effortless and relaxing! Mark and Brenda
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

NANCY C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Winter Getaway

We had a lovely time at this beautiful cabin for the holidays. It made a perfect base for our adventures. The provincial park close by was great for hiking and the wildlife in the area made for perfect dog TV out the windows.We picked the location due to its proximity to friends that we were visiting and attending the World Juniors in Ottawa with.The house was everything we needed and more. It was such a nice relaxing getaway.
Stayed 16 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! ❤️ We’re so happy you enjoyed your winter getaway and had such a relaxing stay. We’d love to welcome you back anytime! 🏡❄️
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Hazel H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage Feel with Home Convenience

Beautiful log home with a dock, firepit, gazebo with dining table, and play structure for kids. Property is immaculate and has all the amenities of home. Shannon was quick to reply to all queries and gave off "good vibes" through our virtual contact. Property is within 15mins of a main town and all amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Beth G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Log cabin stay

Had a wonderful family holiday together at Christmas . Shannon set up a lovely Christmas tree and decorations for us . There was well stocked pantry in the kitchen with basic cooking essentials . Lovely views of the Rideau Lake . Cozy home with wood burning fireplace. Comfortable beds and furniture . Lots of great kid toys available . Hope to stay there again .
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2024
Thank you so much Beth. Merry Christmas and Hope to see you again soon. Shannon
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Josh B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, As Described

This was the absolute perfect place for our ice fishing weekend. It was about as turn key as you can get. Close proximity to the lake, convenience store, and the towns of Perth and Smiths Falls. The beds and pillows were comfy, the layout was ideal, and the log interior was just beautiful with the fire crackling in the background. The kitchen was very well equipped, and two bathrooms provided lots of privacy for us. We're already talking about next year. Thanks, Shannon!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A stay in the country

We arrived just before sunset and we were so happy to find such a beautiful home . Our dog had a blast getting his zoomies out in the back yard and the kids made themselves at home in the kitchen making dinner . Our night took a great turn when my teenager asked to play scrabble ! Rarely happens. The electronics were all turned off voluntarily and we enjoyed the fire, dinner and scrabble . Couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Andrea D.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
If you are someone who cares about cleanliness, this is not the place for you. I have travelled extensively and I have to say, this place was in the worst condition I have ever seen when I arrived. The floor was not washed, the counter tops and the stove top were not wiped, there were tons of ashes in the fireplace and the couch was sprayed with so much Fabreeze it made me cough every time I sat down on it. Made me wonder why that had to happen. Also, for some reason, the garbage bag from the previous guests was not in the bin but out in the open, so naturally, it was attacked by who knows what animals. The garbage was all over the lawn at the side of the house. I wrote the host and she said she would take care of it once we left. Not the answer I was looking for. If you don't care if a place is clean, you'll have a good stay. The house is lovely, (except for the awkwardly placed stove), and in a good location. There is a great gas BBQ in the backyard and a charcoal one too (which I never used, but it looked good).The lake in the back is pretty and serene. I would imagine it would be good for birdwatchers too, as we saw lots of different birds and we weren't even looking that much!I wish I could recommend this place more, but I felt the host was negligent. I noticed that the property is for sale and couldn't help but wonder if the lack of hospitality had anything to do with that. We'll stay somewhere else next time.I
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. Cleanliness and guest comfort are very important to us, and we always encourage guests to reach out during their stay so we can address any concerns right away. We’re glad you enjoyed the beautiful lake, peaceful surroundings, BBQ area, and location. We truly value all feedback and continue to work hard to provide a wonderful experience for every guest who stays at our cottage. 🏡❤️
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
The evening of our arrival, the home lost power and water due to a wind storm. The host replied to our communications regarding this but offered no help.As a result, we had to purchase 3 last minute hotel rooms for that evening. Fortunately the power was back on by the morning, so we repacked, checked out of the hotel and moved in to this very nice log home. Upon a request for a partial refund, the host declined and instead offered a credit (amount not specified) for a future visit. I would recommend that the host consider having more contingency plans for situations such as a power outage (flashlights, access to bottled water, firewood for the fireplace and even a generator as the neighbours seemed to have given this is a quite rural property. It would also be helpful to have someone nearby who could assist renters in case of difficulties.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2026
Thank you for your feedback and for your understanding during the unexpected area-wide power outage caused by the windstorm. We’re glad power was restored quickly and that you were able to enjoy the rest of your stay in our log home. We truly appreciate your suggestions and hope to welcome you back again! 🏡❤️
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jane Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A log cabin, with everything

This was a great place to unwind. The cabin was very modern and well equipped with everything we needed. A perfect location for families to get away from it all. Close to Perth for easy access to amenities and restaurantes. The owner was available to answer any questions. Highly recommended! 5 stars!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sav C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Well equipped kitchen. Comfortable beds. Shannon answered all my questions in a timely manner. Serene property. Beautiful Fall colours. Perfect get away.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Mark C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage

Stayed here for a wedding in Perth, beautiful place, would highly recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Joan Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely family get-away

Beautiful log home on a wetland. Comfy beds with good linens. Very nice kitchen. Well-appointed, with some nice, thoughtful extras (like bug spray in the gazebo). Very sweet lady who rushed over some things that were forgotten. I wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy the extra goodies, like the kayaks and paddle boat.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dennis M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short Fishing Trip

We stayed 4 nights at this lovely property and were very pleased with just about everything. The cottage/cabin was very clean and well appointed. Water access with a motorized vessel was do-able but a little bit tricky owing to weeds and water grasses. That said, the natural setting was beautiful, tranquil and teeming with wild life (lots of water fowl and a doe that visited daily). Well located for access to the pretty town of Perth (10 minute drive). Shannon was a great host.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Shannon Al

Host profile image
I am from Ottawa and I love being outside and making memories at Rideau Retreat! Ask me anything. I love giving guests all the special things to do during their stay. I love meeting new guests from all around the world.

Why they chose this property

I love the water and being by the water. The big Rideau has so much to offer. From Boating, Kayaking, Hikes, Swimming and more! I love being outside and close to Perth Ontario for shopping, nigh life, and entertainment.

What makes this property unique

The Log is truly magical and something to experience.

Languages:

English, Arabic
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