Where Celebrities Vacation in Canada Over the Summer

Long considered the “Hamptons of the North,” the Muskoka region has become a hotspot for celebrities looking to forgo the typical tropical vacations and indulge in something a little more rustic and a lot more private.

Celebrities who consider themselves summertime locals include Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Cindy Crawford (along with the rest of the Gerber clan, including model-daughter Kaia) and Justin Bieber, who’s rented out luxury cottages in the area in previous summers.

Another in the “Muskoka mix,” Lake Rosseau has also been coined “Millionaire’s Row” – not to be confused with “Billionaire’s Row” in Lake Joseph (read on for that one) – and is considered one of the most prestigious areas of cottage-country for the elite and wealthy.

A-lister fans who have summer properties on this lake include Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who enjoy spending time in their home away from home, situated close by to Goldie’s daughter Kate Hudson’s own vacation spot. And who wouldn’t want to be neighbours with Canadian-born comedy icon Martin Short, who also owns a home on the lake?

Shark Tank alum and mega-successful businessman Kevin O’Leary and his wife Linda own their own slice of cottage heaven in what’s known as the “Billionaire’s Row” of Lake Joseph in the Muskoka region. Residents since 1998, the couple own prime shoreline real estate with a home rumoured to be just under 10,000 square feet!

Situated near Bancroft, Baptiste Lake is home to Canadian funnyman Jim Carrey, who enjoys flying in on his private jet before holing up at his rustic waterfront oasis.

New Brunswick-born Donald Sutherland doesn’t need to cross the border to get in his vacation fix. The actor has a summer cottage in Georgeville, Quebec, where he and fellow actor and son Kiefer Sutherland can often be spotted doing their shopping in town.

This may seem like a wintertime-only destination, but resorts like the upscale Fairmont Chateau play host to countless celebrities year-round, including those famous faces who like to get away and get pampered in the luxurious hotel after a day of hiking or just taking in a swim in the summer months.

If you manage to book a room this summer, look our for famous guests like Justin Timberlake and family or Reese Witherspoon, who’ve been known to frequent the hotel and take in the sights in town.

For celebrities looking for a little less rest and a little more adventure, the Canadian Rockies has become a hot spot for A-listers like Alec Baldwin, who filmed his 1997 thriller The Edge around some of the treacherous peaks of the area and has since spent time there hosting the Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational. An environmental advocate, it’s no surprise Alec keeps coming back to the Rockies, where the beauty and abundance of nature is all around. A little-known old favourite of Marilyn Monroe, the destination may not feel as “Hamptons” as Muskoka, but for some celebrities, the unique experience and awe-inspiring trails trump any day on the dock.

Besides taking credit as the province which gifted us with Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Reynolds, Van city has a lot to offer celebrities looking for a place to spend their summer breaks. Vancouver knows how to cater to celebrities off-duty, offering up luxury hotels, hidden rustic hideaways and even gated mansions available for rent in the north shore. And since Vancouver’s become such a popular destination for filming, celebrities working over the summer can get the best of both worlds with accommodations that have them feeling completely at home.

Some celebrities who’ve mixed work and play while on set over the summer in recent years are Matt Damon, who stayed over the summer of 2011 with his family while filming and George Clooney, who called Vancouver home while shooting the blockbuster Tomorrowland.