Great Cottage Gift Ideas

16 Nov 2011 Cool Stuff

gift idea: cottage hammock
Are you searching for the ultimate gift ideas for people who love spending time at a cottage or cabin?

Every cottage is different and people use their lakeside properties in a variety of ways. The best gifts for a cabin owner who hosts family, friends, and neighbours every weekend might not be ideal for the person who heads to the cabin for quiet time.

You want to buy something unique and personal that every cottage needs, while also choosing a must-have gift that is functional or adds to the cabin decor.

The following list of cottage gift ideas covers the classic essentials, as well as some gift options that might not be top of mind.

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1. Cottage Journals and Guest Books for the cabin

A journal or personalized guest book is a fantastic gift idea for new and seasoned cottage owners. Some of our most memorable life experiences occur at the cabin. Sitting by the fire and reading through the years of journal entries by guests, friends and family brings back all the great memories of the time we have spent together at the lake.

Top Cottage Journals

2. Cabin welcome mat or rug

A warm welcome mat is a great idea to remind cabin owners and guests that they have finally arrived in paradise. Forget the city! It is time to relax and enjoy the lake.

Top Cabin Welcome Mats

3. Boot, shoe and glove dryer

Boots and shoes always get wet at the cabin. Here is a fantastic gift that will make sure Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and the kids always have dry feet in the morning.

Top Boot and Glove Dryers for a Cabin

4. Cast iron key keeper

A cast iron turtle makes a cool addition to the cottage indoor or outdoor decor and also serves as an awesome idea for a place to hide the spare key!

Top Cast Iron Key Hiders for the Cottage

5. Cabin sign

Grandpa built the cabin with his own bare hands and Grandma made it the cozy place we all know and love. A personalized sign makes a wonderful cottage gift to remind them how much we appreciate the little chalet in the woods.

Popular Cabin Outdoor Signs

6. Birch candle holders

Attractive and handy, these birch candle holders suit every cottage, guest cabin, chalet, or lakehouse. If you want something that is simple and special, this is a great gift idea.

Popular Cabin Outdoor Signs

7. Cottage clock

A stylish cabin clock is not only essential, but it serves as a practical gift idea that adds to the decor of the cottage and keeps everyone on time for happy hour.

Unique Rustic Cabin Clocks

8. Relaxing at the lake

A wonderful way to relax at the lake is to kick back and read the latest popular novel in a luxurious and comfortable hammock.

Every cottage needs a good hammock and if you want to get romantic, go for one that has capacity for two people. An easy-to-store hammock is a great gift to take when you visit your friends at the cabin this summer. Hammocks are also perfect cottage gift ideas for Mom at Christmas or on Mother’s Day.

Great Hammocks for a Cottage

9. Colouring book for adults

Spending time at the lake house is all about relieving stress. We all need something to take our minds off the daily pressures of city life. Grab the pencil crayons and lose yourself for hours in one of the activities you always loved as a care-free kid.

Popular Adult Colouring Books

10. Cooler backpack and wireless waterproof sound system

If you want to impress your cottage hosts with a thoughtful gift, these two ideas will do the trick and are very affordable.
A cooler backpack is essential for easy transport of food and refreshments to a water-access cottage. A rugged wireless sound system is the ideal cabin solution when playing outdoor games, sitting on the dock, or having a picnic on the local islands.

Waterproof Cooler Backpacks

Coolers With Bluetooth Speakers

11. Picnic backpack

You might want to head off in the boat or canoe and find a nice quiet island for a luxury shore lunch. A picnic backpack is an ideal gift for the cottage. Choose the romantic kit for two or the family kit for four.

Awesome Picnic Backpacks

12.

Imagine letting automated machines do your cabin chores while you sit and read your favourite book!

Smart Cleaning Devices for the Cottage

13. Wildlife drink coasters

Cabin-themed coasters are perfect gifts for cottager friends who love to entertain. They are well suited for the gazebo, veranda or cottage bar.

Cool Wildlife Drink Coasters for the Cabin

14. Cabin dinner bell

A dinner bell is a nifty gift for any cottage owner who entertains family and friends on a regular basis. Whether sitting on the dock, working in the tool shed or exploring the woods, the family is always spread out all over the property. Using the dinner bell is a clever way to save your voice when you need to round up the gang at meal times.

Rustic and Chic Dinner Bells for the Cabin

15. Mariner cheese board and boat salad bowl

How often do you find a unique gift that is both decorative and useful? A stylish mariner cheese board and boat salad bowl are perfect for cottage owners who love to entertain. Whoever came up with this idea is a genius.

Cheese Boards With Tool Sets

Boat Salad Bowls and Serving Bowls

16. Aluminum can crusher or cap remover

Many cottages have a “cans only” policy. This popular device is easy to install and speeds up the process of crushing all the cans at the end of the cottage weekend. If bottles are allowed, a cabin-themed cap remover is handy.

Aluminum Can Crushers

17. Wine bottle holder

If you are looking for gifts and fun ideas for wine lovers, a wildlife-themed wine bottle holder certainly makes a practical cabin present and serves as an interesting conversation item when friends visit.

Wildlife Wine Bottle Holders for the Cottage

18. Cabin jigsaw puzzles

Every cabin needs a jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle is great activity for grandma, grandpa, and the kids to enjoy during those rainy afternoons at the lake. Once the puzzle is done you can frame it and hang it on the wall.

Cabin Jigsaw Puzzles

19. Toilet paper holder

Spruce up the cottage bathroom or cabin outhouse with a new toilet paper holder. These make great “cheeky” conversation-piece gifts and are also very useful.

Cabin Themed Toilet Paper Holders

20. Toilet care

A wonderful little invention that seems to solve a common problem in the cottage and guest cabin.

Toilet Spray for the Cottage and Outhouse

21. Communication devices

If you want something to surprise your hosts, a set of Two-Way Radios will do the trick.
When the gang is down on the dock, the Walkee Talkees are a great way to check if someone needs a refill. The neighbours will also appreciate not having to listen to everyone yell to each other all summer.
These are also ideal for a cottage Mom who needs to stay in touch with the kids or a puttering husband.

Good Walkie Talkies for a Cottage

A Trail Camera is great for catching videos of wildlife or nosy neighbours that visit the property when you are away.

Top Trail Cameras for a Cabin

22. Water-proof phone case

A waterproof phone case and a rain-resistant solar charger are essential gifts for cottage guests, renters, and owners. The case is great for use on the dock or boat, and the charger is perfect for off-grid properties.

Waterproof Phone Cases for Cottagers

Best Waterproof Solar Phone Chargers for a Cabin or Camp

23. Waterproof solar radio with built-in light and phone charger

This little gadget is a great idea for the cottage. The unit is solar-powered but also comes with a hand crank and a USB connection to ensure you always have power. It’s a perfect gift for use at a remote cabin or on canoe trips.

Best Waterproof Solar Radios With Phone Chargers

24. Barometer

A barometer is ideal for monitoring the changing weather conditions in real time when you are at the cottage. It not only serves a practical function, it is also an awesome idea for decorating the cabin wall and is a fantastic conversation piece.

Rustic Barometers for a Cabin

You can also go hi-tech with a very affordable cottage weather station. Sometimes the weather at the lake is a lot different than the forecast you hear on the radio. If you must get accurate updates right from the cottage before you leave the house in the city, this item should have all the information.

Top Weather Stations for a Cottage

25. Portable hand-held depth finder

This handy device gives you instant water depth off the dock, below the boat, or even through the ice.

Popular Handheld Depthfinders

26. Fishing knots and boating knots

Does your favourite cottager have a tough time remembering how to tie all those important fishing or boating knots?
Here are some handy waterproof Knot-Cards that fit nicely in the tackle box or glove box of the boat. Why not make them stocking stuffers?

Great Waterproof Knot Cards and Guides

27. Knife and tool sharpener for a cottage Dad or Grandpa

Knives, shovels, axes, and even fish hooks can can get dull very quickly at the cabin. Every cottage handyman needs to keep all the great tools and equipment blades sharp without having to haul them back to the city.

Top Knife and Tool Sharpeners

28. Firewood gear

This fire bowl is great for an evening gathering beside the lake. It makes the cleanup easy and is a must-have item for cottage owners who want to protect the shoreline rocks from cracking under the intense heat of a traditional bonfire.

Best Firewood Pits

Popular Fire Bowls

Check out these Firewood Racks and heavy-duty dump carts. It’s time to give the back a break and let the toys do the work. These are great gift ideas for a cottager boyfriend, father, grandfather or husband on his birthday. They are also ideal for Christmas or even Father’s Day.

Top Firewood Racks

Heavy-Duty Dump Carts for a Cabin

29. Kindling splitter

Tired of searching through the woods looking for sticks, or risking a finger when trying to split kindling? This handy device solves the problem.

Top Cabin Kindling Splitters

30. Wood bellows

It’s important to get the fire going quickly on those cold cottage mornings. This wood bellows is both useful and stylish, adding to any cabin decor.

Stylish Fireplace Bellows

31. Multi-function wheelbarrow and dolly combo

This contraption is ideal for cottage and cabin owners. The front part of the barrow folds out to become a dolly that can be used for hauling heavy loads up the dock. You can also use straps to move rocks, logs, or trees. Definitely worth checking out!

Multifunction Wheelbarrows

32. Laser measure

Are you planing to build a new dock, deck, outhouse, or gazebo? If your favourite cottage Dad or Grandpa is a regular handyman, this little device is a great gift for Father’s day. The time saved by using the laser instead of the old tape measure can be the difference between getting a cottage project done in a weekend and having to wait for the next trip to the lake.

Best Laser Measures

33. Magnetic wrist band

Nuts, bolts, and nails always fall in the water, grass, or between the deck boards. This simple little invention is a perfect accessory for a cabin handyman.

Magnetic Wristbands for Tools

34. Pocket knife and whittling book

This “old timer” whittling knife is a classic and a great pick for a Dad or Grandpa who likes to sit on the deck and whittle in his spare time.

Whittling Kits for Beginners

Top Whittling Books

35. Metal detector for the cottage

A metal detector is a unique and extremely useful cottage gift to help find lost keys, bolts, and bracelets.

Best Metal Detectors

36. Binoculars and a book of birds

Powerful waterproof binoculars come in handy for a variety of situations at the cabin. The most popular use is to watch the birds and wildlife around the property, but they also help with security, such as identifying an unknown boat or visitor at a neighbour’s cottage.

Good Binoculars for a Cabin

37. Popular games for the cabin in 2024

Games are a traditional part of every cottage experience.
Top Cabin Games is our full list with detailed profiles of the most popular group games being played at cabins these days.

Our Fishing Equipment for Beginners page lists everything the family needs to start catching fish at the cottage.

38. Fishing gear

Our Cool Stuff for Walleye Anglers page is a great source of gift ideas for the passionate pickerel and walleye fisherman.

Our Great Ice Fishing Gadgets page has the latest and greatest stuff for serious ice fishing fans.

39. Cottage Decor, Furniture, Clothing, Games and Gardening Gifts

Our specialty tips pages have a ton of other fantastic gift ideas for you to consider.

Cabin Furniture Ideas has some great furniture suggestions that will help you set up the cabin, gazebo, veranda or guesthouse.

Cottage Decorating Ideas has all the top cabin decorating gift options, such as budget-friendly candles, curtains, cushions and throws.

Cabin Clothing Tips has important suggestions on the best clothes to wear when spending time at a cottage.

Cottage Composting and Gardening have some fantastic ideas for composting vegetable waste at the cabin and comfortable bug-free cottage gardening.

Pets At The Cottage has tips and gift items for keeping your family pet happy and safe at the cottage.

If you are new to the cottaging experience and will be a guest of friends or family at the lake, please also take a look at the Being a Cottage Guest page for more ideas on things you can bring.

40. Gift baskets for cottage owners

A cottage gift basket can be filled with fun things, useful things, or both. If you have the time and imagination, you can make one up yourself.

What should you put in a cottage gift basket?
Practical items are always appreciated. Insect repellents and citronella sticks, sun block, organic soaps, air fresheners, batteries, fishing lures, puzzle books and magazines are always in need and will be put to quick use. Even toilet paper and tissues are good gift basket items for a cottage.

If your favourite cottager is a hunter, angler or just likes cabin snacks and goodies, a food-and-fun gift basket for the cottage or cabin is a great idea.

We hope these ideas help you find the perfect gifts for your cottage, cabin or cottager family and friends.

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