The homes and cottages that dot the Georgian Bay shoreline are magnificent. Many on the mainland are used year-round while others, particularly those on the islands, are used only as grand summer retreats and rustic getaways. Nowadays, most of these island retreats have electricity and running water. The value of many of these homes and cottages continues to rise, often into the millions, as a result of a government freeze on the sale of Crown land on Georgian Bay.