Most people know Algonquin Outfitters as the legendary canoe-trip outfitter of Algonquin Park, but the Port Carling store shows the company’s playful summer side. Sitting in Steamboat Bay between Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph, this seasonal shop trades portage packs for surfboards: it is stocked head to toe with the active cottage-country lifestyle, from surfwear, swimwear and footwear for all ages to stand-up paddleboards, wakeboards, water skis and towables, plus sunglasses, sunscreen, bags and souvenirs.
The company has been kitting out outdoor adventures since 1961 and now runs eleven locations across cottage country and Algonquin Park, each with its own personality. Port Carling is the fun-in-the-sun one, aimed squarely at cottagers looking to gear up for a day on the water rather than a week in the backcountry. Note that unlike some of its sister stores, this location is retail only, so you will buy your paddleboard here rather than rent it.
What carries across every Algonquin Outfitters store is the staff’s genuine love of the outdoors and the quality of the advice. Whether you are choosing your first paddleboard, replacing a worn-out life jacket or just browsing for a great pair of sandals, you will be served by people who actually use this stuff on these lakes. For anyone furnishing a summer of swimming, surfing and towing the kids around the bay, this cheerful waterfront shop is the natural first stop.