Family Vacation: Sherkston Shores Cozy in the Quarry Cottage

Sherkston Shores is a popular family vacation destination, and one we hadn’t been to before 2023! It is a spot that I’ve had recommended to me many times by annual visitors, and I’m so glad I got to visit. It’s a family-friendly resort located on Lake Erie in the town of Sherkston, near Port Colbourne, Ontario which is a quick 90 minute drive from Burlington. Read on to learn more, and hear my thoughts on our visit.

Where To Stay at Sherkston Shores

Sherkston Shores by Sun Retreats offers a variety of ways to stay and enjoy a few days or weeks on the grounds. My family was invited to spend a September weekend at Cozy in the Quarry, an AirBnb available for you to book all year long. It was modern and offer us the ideal amount of space. Cozy in the Quarry has 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom has a double bed and ensuite washroom with shower. There was lots of storage in the closet and drawers.

My kids has the second bedroom with bunk beds. The bottom bunk was a double and the top a single, with a very cool staircase to the bunk. The stairs doubled as drawers which the kids loved. The girls has their own washroom as well – another perk! I don’t wan tto share a bathroom with two teenagers!

The cottage living spaces were clean and minimal which made for a lovely calmness while we were there. The house came with lots of board games and TVs in almost every space. My kids were in paradise. The kitchen came with those essentials you always forget, like salt and paper and cooking spray. Again, everything was clean and minimal, so even though we cooked all of our meals there, clean up was so quick and easy. Perfect for a vacation.

My favourite part of the cottage, and where I spent the majority of my time when at home, was the backyard. There is a large covered deck with comfortable patio furniture and an outdoor TV. It also had a cozy hanging chair that my girls claimed as their own. Walking down the steps is the outdoor dining area, a BBQ (that comes with propane!) and a campfire pit. We played some cornhole while were barbequed our meals and soaked up some sun on the grass.

I enjoyed this rental so much, I’ll be checking my calendar for 2024!

Beaches and Water Activities

Mother Nature gifted us another beautiful late summer weekend so we took in all of the water fun Sherkston Shores offers. We swam in Lake Erie and laughed non stop as the waves tried to take us out. It was a windy day, so normally it’s not rought. The sand was light and warm and the beach was so clean.

After the lake swimming, we dipped into the waterpark – which was amazing! Multiple pools, water slides, wading pools and a massive splash pad. There is a beach bar, lots of loungers and shuffle board to play between swims.

My one regret is that we didn’t make time to swim in the quarry. The 27-acre spring fed Quarry is a popular spots for swimming, water sports, fishing (catch-and-release), and has sandy beaches for a relaxing warm summer day. The quarry is almost 70ft deep in the deepest part (the middle) and offers great snorkeling I’m told. Scuba Divers can explore the remains of a 100-year-old mining operation on the quarry floor. If you have scuba gear make sure to pack it for your visit to Sherkston Shores.

If you want to add more excitement to your water adventures, you can rent these items for an additional cost: (https://www.sherkstonadventuresports.com/ )

Kayaks and canoes
Water balloons
Aqua trikes
Paddle and surf boards
And fishing equipment

Family Fun Is Front and Centre

Sherkston Shores and Cozy in the Quarry were build for families. Everything from the rentals to the grounds to the amenities have family fun as their goal. I mentioned before that I have multiple friends who have been going for years and who have recommended it every summer.

Kids scooter and bike everywhere when they’re not riding shotgun in golf carts driven by their parents. Didn’t I mention the GOLF CART?! Yes, renting with Cozy in the Quarry includes a golf cart for booting from one attraction to another. This was no doubt my husband’s favourite part.

Lots of kids were playing soccer on their fields, zooming around of wheels and having a great time at the multiple playgrounds dotted through the huge resort.

More Fun on Dry Land

When you want to take a break from swimming in the lake and the pools, your fun is only beginning! We played many rounds of mini golf in our short stay. We also spent more than a few quarters in the arcade because who can resist an arcade?! It’s like Las Vegas to us. There are also tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts and a ball hockey arena, too. Bring your sports equipment and you will never be bored.

For an additional fee you can also jump into some thrilling activities including:

Aerial ropes challenge and rock climbing
Bungee tampoline
Axe throwing
Archery

You can find more info and current pricing details here.

Dining and Restaurants:

You can make this an official vacation by skipping the kitchen and dining at on-resort restaurants. There are two to choose from, one being a casual family spot and the other is a poolside patio bar that offers small nibbles to enjoy throughout the day.

Seasonal Highlights:

There’s no doubting that you will get the biggest bang for your vacation buck if you visit Sherston Shores during the hot summer months. We stayed in mid September and still enjoyed everything the resort had to offer, so don’t count out the end of summer weeks.

Tips for Staying at Cozy in the Quarry at Sherkston Shores:

Bring all of your own food, but if you forget something, no need to stress because Sherkston has a grocery store in site. They really have thought of everything.
Pack everyone’s favourite pillow and blanket. Linens aren’t included, but you’ll get a packing list when you book.
Bring a friend! Cozy in the Quarry sleeps 7 people, so next time my kids can each bring a friend.
Do everything! We should have brought scooters and more sports equipment because the amount of FREE fun is unmatched.

Contact Information and Booking Details:

Learn more about Cozy in the Quarry and other properties available at Sherkston Shores to rent.

Cozy in the Quarry

Guest House Properties in Niagara https://www.guesthouseproperties.com/

Sherkston Shores https://www.sunoutdoors.com/ontario/sun-retreats-sherkston-shores

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