The water’s warm and the leaves are green, but it won’t be this way for much longer. By October, our forests will be ablaze with vibrant yellow, orange and red hues, drawing countless cars to Muskoka’s best scenic overlooks.
While you could join the pack of vehicles, driving bumper to bumper to Huckleberry Rock, Limberlost Trail, Huntsville’s Lions Lookout, the Dorset Tower, or Algonquin Park, the best way to take in the region’s colour show is by private float plane tour.
“Muskoka is home to so much breathtaking scenery, particularly in the fall. Let us help you experience it all from the comfort of your dock,” says Chris Hogue, owner of Cottage Air.
Sightsee from the dock
With Cottage Air, you can immerse your family and guests in an experience of a lifetime, aboard a secure and private charter flight with the best fall colour view available.
The beauty of this service is it can be tailored entirely to you. Chris’s team can pick you up at Muskoka Airport, your dock, or your favourite resort before guiding you on a private tour of the best sights. In the autumn the Fall Leaves Tour is the most popular offering, but the company also offers scenic tours of Georgian Bay, the Muskoka Lakes, or anywhere else you desire to go.
The beauty of private charters is that your flight is waiting for you, not the other way around. When your flight arrives, simply board their luxuriously upgraded DeHavilland Beaver or Cessna Turbo 206 and enjoy the state-of-the-art avionics, comfortable leather interiors, and Sirius XM Radio – available to each passenger.
“We want our clients to be able to board the plane, reach for a cold complimentary beverage, sit back, relax, and enjoy the view,” says Chris.
Experience fine dining flights
If you have a special occasion or anniversary on the horizon, Cottage Air’s resort and fine dining tours offer a memorable way to celebrate.
“Muskoka is home to so many amazing resorts and restaurants. We can fly you directly to them for a romantic dinner or weekend getaway,” says Chris. “Or treat your guests to one of the more remote culinary gems in Algonquin Park, or on San Souci Island in Georgian Bay.”
Cut the commute
In addition to their picturesque scenic tours, Cottage Air is well known for their door-to-dock cottage commute service, taking you from Billy Bishop Airport to Muskoka Airport – or your dock – in as little as 45 minutes.
While the most popular flight path runs Toronto-to-Muskoka and back, the flight plan can be tailored to you. You can fly in and out of communities such as London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Niagara Falls, or to more distant cities like Montreal, Quebec City, Timmins, or even Detroit or Teterboro, NJ.
“We like to say, ‘If you flew Cottage Air, you’d already be there.’”
Save with packages
To make flying even more affordable Chris offers two different flight packages for frequent flyers.
“If you’re flying to and from the same location more than 10 times throughout a summer, our multi-trip packages are ideal,” he says. The 10- and 20-trip packages never expire, so you can use them throughout this season or into the next. Use them however you choose – whether to commute to and from the cottage with your family, attend regular meetings in another city, fly clients up for a round of golf, or fly your guests home after a stay at the cottage. The beauty of these packages is their versatility – use them when and how you want and save more than if you booked each flight individually.
For short sightseeing ventures or commuting to different locations, Chris suggests buying an hourly flight package. These packages allow you to buy a block of flying time that can be used to fly anywhere at any time. These plans are ideal for those who want the convenience of flying, without a set flight plan in place. Use this package for commuting to the city, sightseeing tours, and attending occasional business meetings, whenever they come up.
“Flying by float plane is fast, easy and one of the safest ways to travel,” says Chris. “Whether it’s a round-trip or one-way flight, you can trust that we’ll protect your privacy as we fly you to your destination, quickly and safely.”
Embrace the beauty of Muskoka’s colours this fall and give your guests an experience they’ll never forget.
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
