Let’s settle this once and for all—or at least stir the pot a little.

I’ve been vacationing at my family’s cottage for as long as I can remember. My dad’s side of the family owns a little slice of land in Ingolsby, Ontario, known as The Hilltop. Picture this: outhouses, rain barrels, and just enough creature comforts to make it a getaway, not a survival test. It was the kind of place where you earned your s’mores by hauling water from the lake.

I spent my early summers up there before my parents upgraded (loosely speaking) to a tiny-but-mighty cottage down at the other end of Lake Kashagawigamog—where I still escape to today. And yes, I call it a cottage, but apparently, that’s up for debate. Some say cottages are fancy, cabins are rustic, and camps are all about fishing and beer.

So, what do you call your lakeside retreat the place you escape to whether its on water, in the woods or mountains or even on a farm? Let’s dig into the great cottage vs. cabin vs. camp debate.

Cottage, Cabin, or Camp? It Depends on Where You Live

If you’re from Ontario, you probably go “up to the cottage” every weekend. Whether it’s a Muskoka mansion or a one-room shack with a barely-holding-it-together dock, it’s a cottage. No further questions.

Out west, especially in British Columbia and Alberta, cabin is the word of choice. Maybe it’s the whole log cabin, pioneer-days vibe, or maybe it just sounds cozier. Cabins tend to have fireplaces, wood paneling, and possibly a set of antlers somewhere on the wall (faux or otherwise).

And then there’s camp, the preferred term in Northern Ontario, Manitoba, and much of Atlantic Canada. If someone tells you they’re “heading to camp,” they don’t mean summer camp. They mean a no-frills getaway with fishing rods, a propane fridge, and a cooler full of beer. It’s practical, it’s rugged, and it’s very Canadian.

Why Do Some Say Cottage, Others Say Cabin, and Some Say Camp?

The names we use for our lakeside retreats go way back:

• In the late 1800s, wealthy Brits summering in Muskoka called their grand vacation homes cottages, and the term stuck.
• Scandinavian and Ukrainian settlers in the prairies—used to log homes—called their getaways cabins.
• Hunting and fishing lodges in the north? They were simply camps. Because, well… that’s where you set up camp.

Is a Cottage Fancier Than a Cabin? And Is Camp the Most Rustic?

Some say that cottages have running water and electricity, while cabins are more off-the-grid, but is that really true? I’ve seen million-dollar cabins and very rustic cottages that make you wish you’d brought a solar shower. And camps? Well, let’s just say if it has plumbing, it’s probably not a camp.

At the end of the day, the name is less about luxury level and more about location and tradition.

Cottage, Cabin, or Camp—One Thing We Can Agree On

No matter what you call it, nothing beats a lakeside meal cooked over an open fire. Bonus points if you can roast the perfect marshmallow without it spontaneously combusting (a true skill).

Oh, and speaking of cottage-friendly meals, The Essential Cottage Cookbook is coming this April—packed with simple, delicious recipes perfect for cottage (or cabin… or camp) life. Because no matter what you call it, great food just makes it better.

So tell me—what do you call it? Drop your best argument in the comments. And if you say “lake house,” we might have to have words.