Falcon’s Nest’s sprawling yet intimate vibe set among rugged cliffs and pines
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The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word cottage as being “a small house for vacation use.”
“Probably more of a lakehouse,” Preet Gill, Falcon’s Nest owner and general manager, said with a laugh when quizzed about her gem of a place being categorized as a cottage.
Despite its size, the property is somehow extremely intimate. It feels homey and approachable — luxurious but not intimidating.
Vrbo’s Vacation Rentals of the Year highlights “the most spectacular, private vacation rentals that represent a variety of vacation destinations and price points.”
The homes are picked from more than two million properties worldwide based on criteria that includes a 4.9 or higher star rating, positive guest reviews, standout amenities and ‘Premier Host’ status.
So far, renters who have left reviews have all given Falcon’s Nest a 10 out of 10.
“It’s a cool honour,” said Gill, who purchased the Lake Muskoka property with her husband, Harp Bajwa, in 2020, with plans to rent it to guests before one day retiring in the Port Carling-area home.
It will be turn-key ready when they are. For now, guests can enjoy a white-glove treatment that allows them to focus only on the fun stuff. Everything has been carefully curated, from the finer touches such as the welcome charcuterie box, bottle of wine, ample firewood, s’mores kits and supplied linens, to the impossibly beautiful Muskoka Room (a screened-in dining/gathering area), chef’s kitchen, wood-burning red cedar hot tub, and indoor and outdoor fireplace areas.
There is a land acknowledgement at the front entrance, fresh flowers throughout, and even a chalkboard-style sign at the breakfast bar with some suggestions of what to eat, see and do in the area.
The boathouse is a standout at Falcon’s Nest. It’s outfitted with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and a canoe, indoor and outdoor seating, and a kegerator filled with Muskoka Brewery Tread Lightly beer in case a summertime dockside beverage at the cottage is perhaps of interest.
Optional professional chefs, on-site massages and yoga sessions are also available. Gill, who has worked as a luxury travel adviser, will also help create custom itineraries for renters who wish to get out and explore the surrounding area during their stay.
“Everyone loves to be pampered,” said Gill, who has travelled the world and considers Muskoka her favourite destination.
“I wanted it to feel like you’re living in luxury, but it’s accessible. It doesn’t feel like a museum or something you can’t get comfortable in,” she added.
The property’s expansiveness allows for equal moments of privacy (I snuck down to the boathouse for a solo coffee one morning) and coming together (our group dined under twinkle lights while perched over the Canadian Shield in the Muskoka Room, went for a frigid dip in the lake, cooked up s’mores, and even watched a hockey game in the basement).
Small weddings and corporate and wellness retreats can be accommodated.
In highlighting the listing, Vrbo describes Falcon’s Nest as “a professionally designed and decorated modern farmhouse situated on a calm cove with clear waters, towering pines, and the rugged rock landscape of the Canadian Shield. The mindful-forward retreat blends style and comfort with premium amenities like the cozy stone fireplace, gorgeous wood-burning red cedar hot tub and large Muskoka firepit.”
This is to say that this probably isn’t your grandparent’s cottage.
“It’s more of a boutique hotel experience,” said Gill, who describes the vibe as “cozy chic.”
Upon arrival, guests at the Falcon’s Nest will notice a sign on the garage suggesting it’s the “perfect getaway.” We’ll agree with that assessment and wish the sign could instead read “stay forever.”
Vrbo, short for Vacation Rentals By Owner and part of the Expedia Group family of brands, named six other Canadian Vacation Rentals of the Year, including a ‘Rocky Mountain Getaway’ in Kimberley, B.C., ‘Bushel Ridge’ in Carpender, Sask., ‘Cabin on the Creek’ in Lac du Bonnet, Man., a chalet in Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., ‘Cedar Cottage’ in Chimney Corner, N.S., and a coastal farmhouse in North Rustico, P.E.I.
