It's time to pack up the gear and head to the cottage with the arrival of the warm weather. The Calgary beaches are calling and all you need to do is decide whether you want to rent a cottage again this year or whether it's time to make a purchase. Either way, the warm waters are awaiting your arrival and it's time to pack up the car and head out.

Buying a cottage

When you buy a cottage you'll have a lot more freedom. You'll be able to find the right style, perfect location and then you can fix it up to make it your own. If you're the type that absolutely needs to leave the city to get away from it all every weekend, buying a cottage would definitely be the right choice to make. Besides having the flexibility of working on the cottage to make it a dream getaway, you'll be owning an appreciating asset.

Renting a cottage

This option is less expensive and better for people that only want to head out of the city for their one or two week vacation. If you don't plan on scheduling regular visits to the country you're better off renting. You won't want to have the burden of maintaining the property if you're only going to see it once a year.

Here are a few of the popular cottage areas around Calgary

Pigeon Lake - This area is home to 2300 privately owned cottages, 9 hamlets and 10 summer villages. Here you can rent a cabin, set up a permanent home, find a camping spot or just plan a day trip to spend around the water.

Pine Lake - This is about an hour away from Calgary and offers various recreational opportunities such as swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. In the winter you can partake in cross-country skiing and ice fishing.

Glennifer Lake - This is approximately 1.5 hours away from Calgary and has clear water for swimming, boating and fishing. It is one of the newer Canadian reservoirs with a lake size of 17.6 km².

The cost of cottage ownership

While the 2012 average pricing for recreational property in Alberta ranges wildly from $224,900 all the way up to $650,000, you can find a nice cottage in the $100,000 range by taking a look at properties that are a bit further away from the city in less popular areas. There are some hidden gems available out there that are priced right and offer all of the amenities that you would need and want to find in the perfect cottage getaway.