A trendy travel phenomenon known as “set-jetting” is making its way to our region, specifically, Muskoka. “Set-jetting,” a play on “jet-setting,” means travelling to filming locations that exist in real life. The popular Prime Video summer drama, Sterling Point, is the most recent show putting Muskoka on the international map and making people want to visit those locations. While the island itself where the show is set is fictional, the filming locations are real. Companies, like Vrbo, are leveraging the trend by offering travel enthusiasts by creating lineups of properties that are featured in popular shows. Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a platform that allows travellers to book properties directly from the owners. The platform is currently highlighting four listings located in Muskoka where filming for Sterling Point took place. It offers Sutton Lakehouse in Utterson, which was one of the platform’s Vacation Rentals of the Year. It’s also recommending Wilderness Cottage in Windermere, All Seasons Retreat in Sparrow Lake and Lake cottage in Lake Joseph. With filming becoming more prominent in Muskoka, there is a growing interest for people to go check out what they’re seeing on screen in real life. Companies are jumping on the Sterling Point by creating promotional campaigns and videos. Crave’s hit hockey drama Heated Rivalry got quite a bit of hype when “The Cottage” that symbolized a turning point in the characters’ relationship, officially went up on Airbnb. There’s already another show in the works – Summer House Canada will take place in Muskoka as well. It’s a reality show that follows a group of friends who trade in the city for the country and spend their summer together in a shared cottage. It’s scheduled to stream next summer on Hayu.
