Guest Book

We’ve been fortunate to stay in a number of wonderful rental homes over the years, but this house was unquestionably our favorite. The space worked beautifully for our group of 10 (two families with kids ranging in age from 6-14). It’s a real home, filled with a diverse array of fascinating books and comfortable furnishings, and dotted with bits of local, house, and family history. There’s tons of indoor space with multiple areas for groups to hang out – from the large screened in porch, to the comfy living room, to the dining room with a table that comfortably seats 10 (with plenty of elbow room), to a kitchen where four or five people could collaborate on cooking projects without stepping on each others’ toes. Outdoor social areas were similarly delightful, including the outdoor dining/grill area, seating and a swing under the huge tree next to the house, and the out-sized dock with umbrella-covered table and deck chairs. The master bedroom is truly luxurious, with its attached terrace, in-room jacuzzi, and a shower in the master bathroom that did double duty as a serious steam room. Fast wifi was also a boon, since several of us were often working on video conferences simultaneously.

We’re a pretty food-obsessed group and the kitchen was an absolute joy. Filled with windows overlooking the backyard and pond, it had all the basic kitchen tools, including respectable knives (a rarity in vacation rentals) and first rate appliances. Highlights include: the 6-burner gas stove with dual ovens and a commercial-grade griddle, a large island with a second sink and marble countertop, an oversized and wonderfully designed fridge, quick access from the kitchen to a large outdoor gas grill, and a garden full of herbs and vegetables. There were also small surprises like a milk frother that worked so well that we bought one when we returned home.

The kids spent the summer running around the enormous backyard, climbing around the treehouse, exploring the woods and swimming, canoeing, and rafting around the pond. The pond was warm enough for even the most cold-averse of us to swim comfortably all summer long. At porbably 40 or 50 meters long, several of us used it for regular lap swimming too. The trail around the pond (probably ~150 meters), was also terrific for morning runs. The size of the property meant that we only saw or heard neighbors if we went out to the road.

While it almost pains us to write this review because we want the house all to ourselves, we feel compelled to honesty in light of our lovely host. Esther was wonderful to deal with and highly responsive. She made the rental administratively painless. Any maintenance needs were addressed quickly and thoroughly. Our deposit was returned promptly. Esther, unsolicited, even looked into whether changes in local taxes due to COVID might result in a refund for us.

This is truly our idea of an ideal country house. We hope to return soon!