Hi folks! This is a long shot - but y'all are super knowledgeable, so I'm going to give it a try!
Myself and about 6-8 other families are looking for a cottage rental for next summer. Our parameters are:
-within 3 hrs of Toronto
-walkable to a sandy beach (ie walkable for little kids, so close!)
-central area among the cottages for kids to play
-at least one large cottage or common area to have meals and hang out in the evenings when the littles go to bed
We found this at Wasaga, and just got home today from a week there. But, the cottages are pretty run down and the management isn't ideal. So we were hoping to find something similar for next year.
Any gems you've found?
Thanks!!

A cottage resort may be what you need. Many of the resorts up north have cottages so each family could have their own. You would then be able to either do your own thing or join in on the resort activities. Search cottage resorts and find one that doesn't include food (as many do) if you want to keep costs down. I would look on Lake Huron. So beautiful and the beach is gorgeous.

Take a look at Colonial Bay cottages in Huntsville. Right on the lake, they have 6 or 7 cottages plus a bunch of motel rooms. Stayed in a cottage there before and it was great. The owners are wonderful too.

Ogopogo resort

I second this

Check out rentals at Balm Beach. It's on the same bay as Wasage but it's less busy. My parents have a cottage there and the beach is great.

Sandbanks summer village located in Prince Edward County.. you rent out little cottages in a resort type setting. Great for families and minutes away from Sandbanks

I second Sandbanks, did a week there and it was awesome! The beach is incredible too!

Love going to Miner's Bay Lodge!!

Killarney Lodge in the town of Killarney just past the provincial park!

My family did this for a few years at Pine Vista, it meets pretty much all your requirements!

Safe Haven Cottage Resort near Haliburton. Checks all those boxes. We were there in multiple cottages for a week in July - great times!

Memquisit Lodge in Monetville, Ontario. Check it out....they have a Facebook page.

Alexandra Horwood

Camp walleye

Following.

Try Pickwick Cottages in Sauble Beach

https://abnb.me/KPdcF63xXO
ABNB.ME
Cayala Cottage, Lion's Head

Try Clearview Cottages north of Huntsville.
https://clearviewcottages.com
CLEARVIEWCOTTAGES.COM
Clearview Cottages | Just a little North of Huntsville ON Canada

OOPS - maybe not enough cottages for everyone. Sorry.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

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Billie Bear Huntsville

https://limberlostforest.com/.../wildern.../solitaire-lodge/
my family and i stayed here a number of years ago for a family reunion and it was awesome!
LIMBERLOSTFOREST.COM
Solitaire Lodge

Tiny, Ontario. Not far from Wasaga. Lots of cottages, many through airbnb

Sandy Lane Resort, Haliburton, ON (on FB)

<https://www.cottagesincanada.com/dickeylakebeachfront>
COTTAGESINCANADA.COM
NO RENTALS FOR SUMMER 2018 SEASON - Bancroft Cottage Rental | DI-24244 | CottagesInCanada

There was a place we used to go towards Ottawa called Chippewa cottages. Went there for years with a number of families. It is near Barry’s bay.

Check out Viamede in the Kawarthas. I was there for a weekend this summer and loved it. Lots of families!

Claude Breault

Try lake on mountain. Picton

How about Kincardine.......

www.buttermilkfallsresort.com
BUTTERMILKFALLSRESORT.COM
Buttermilk Falls Resort - Ontario Waterfront Resort

Try Dean Lea Beach.
Not far from Wasaga.Tiny township. Private beach.
Had a family cottage there many years ago. Perfect for young families.

*

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Try airbnb, we just did a rental at Rice Lake with 3 families. Start early so you have more choices.

Neil Motilal?

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Following. Great question

Dyer-Wolff den in Bloomfield prince Edward county. 6 min drive to sandbanks provincial park, walking distance to restaurant and shops, accommodates 6 people and big backyard with bonfire pit

I've stayed here https://abnb.me/6boS1CrZWP. Full disclosure I rented it from a friend. It's houses lots of ppl AND kid x dog friendly.
ABNB.ME
Check out this great place to stay in Consecon

Love consecon
my dads cottage is there

For those of u who oppose the Fram development notice how everyone is directing them away from wasaga ? Especially since our accommodation selection is run down.. hmmm...

Long Point Ontario has a few great beachfront cottages. Long Point Cottage Rentals

Long Point on Lake Erie is a great area.

Sandbanks Summer Village is fabulous! A bit on the pricey side, but totally family friendly. Lots to do on site and only a short drive to the provincial park and the dunes

Cottages in Port Dover on Lake Erie are good too.

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Sauble Beach

Agree—-Sauble Beach!

We loved this one https://abnb.me/kUhcXav3WP
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Lagoon City Villa Hot Tub

Also, the beach is a 9 min walk, the the living room and kitchen are big enough for 10 people, kitchen also fully equipped.

Camp Charl'Bro southeast of Wiarton on the shores of Georgian Bay. Individual cabins, plus main kitchen/eating area.
http://www.cosccamps.ca/co/co_campingm.asp
COSCCAMPS.CA
On-line Camp Booking

Tiny Beaches at Georgian Bay or Laontaine

We stayed at the Ironman cottage in kawartha lakes. It’s perfect!!!!

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/13564326
AIRBNB.CA
IRONMAN - Cottages for Rent in Harcourt, Ontario, Canada

Shalom by the lake
Algonquin highlands

Sandy Lane Resort, perfect For families on Halls Lake, Haliburton Highlands. Has everything you asked for.

Birch Cliff Lodge, Baptiste Lake - The North House plus others might suit your needs. Beautiful spot and beach for swimming. Sunset view.

try Grand Bend. It's beautiful there

CP harbour house, just outside of Wiarton, Ontario

.

Parkway cottage resort and trading post near Algonquin

Port Stanley

Sauble is one of my favourite beaches

Jason Brown

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Goderich!

http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sandlake.on.ca%2F&h=AT2MYxBy4gpLsoSKcrP522z8Bt_1_1Xzu7fXM_jKNFFi-1EEwxd2b0DlbGvMqaOnuCegCo4GgpH7ZpS8DFfYO99EbVlPSX9J2kDn1LbXltn0E8XeeQTUEg
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North Muskoka Cottage Rentals

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Aisling Lakehouse - Parry Sound. We went there this summer - 16 of us. Fabulous place

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Check out Serenity Vacation Rentals, we are renting a gorgeous 5 bedroom for Thanksgiving weekend. Many properties to choose from .

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Glengarrian Cottage Resort

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Terrine we need to follow this

My in-laws have a trailer at Sherkston Shores in Port Colborne (close to Niagara), and it's a great resort! The park has tons of house-like trailers that they rent out and the beach is beautiful here. There are also 2 pools, hot tub, splash pads , water slides, parks with new jungle gyms, tennis, basketball, an arcade, the list goes on. I'd say it's worth checking out

Pleasant cove resort in pointe au Barill

Palatium Muskoka Rachelle Atrache

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I've stayed at both Four Winds Retreat (near Cherry Valley), and Tornados Canadian Resort (near Port Loring), and they were great.

If you liked Wasaga then you'll really like Grand Bends. It's further to go nut still on Lake Huron. The beaches are awesome and there's tons to do. You can even day trip it London ON or Stratford ON. The rental cottages are usually well kept and some even have private beach access. Check it out.

Check out cottages on Golden Lake through Cottages in Canada! We had an incredible time and the beaches are impeccable!

Have you considered Lake Erie, e.g. Port Dover etc? Rents must be way less than Muskoka, summer season at least a month longer being further south

Easy to get to (no Friday/Sunday traffic messes), lake is kid friendly being shallow for quite a way out.

Myers cave resort. amazing please check it out

Mona Gupta for next year.

I second Sherkston Shores. Great place and local trip in and out of Niagara Falls

McFaddens cottages, Wasaga Beach

Afshan Hassan