Location: Jamaica, Stratton Mountain, Vermont, USA (11 Minutes from Stratton, 1 from Village, 4 from State Park) View Map
Accommodations: Home, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 7-10)
By Louis Postel (Valery's husband)
Tucked closely into the quiet Village of Jamaica, our place is an easy walk to the grocery store, two interesting restaurants, the coffee shop, and the two art galleries in town. You're somewhere near civilization, but you are not right in thick of it.
Stratton Ski Resort is a straight shot up Rt 30. About 11 minutes to the base.
The West River running through the Jamaica State Park is a joy. Many people learned to cross-country ski there. In any case, there are wonderful walks and short hikes all through the park.
Twice a year the United States government releases the dam and there's a kayak festival. There is also a sheep-shearing festival in the spring. Watch a 250 pound sheep get sheared in a minute and a half without a knick!
It's near enough to Manchester to do some outlet shopping but that can be easily avoided. Stratton Resort is about eight minutes away.
About the house: Everyone loves the floors. All we did is have them sanded by experts. We had a lot of fun collecting furniture, mainly antiques, as well as working in the garden. Nothing is of museum quality value, but it is not the place for rough-housing. Our caretaker, and yours, worked on the whole place as a labor of love, creating the big screened porch and a new bath in the master.
Across from the master is a large bedroom with a bad step; it's not appropriate for small children or sleepwalkers!
Now here's the disclaimer... Even though I have written professionally about interior design for many years, I can't take much credit for the Jamaica house which is really to my wife's credit... a graceful balance between rustic and city.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Gas Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed: With memory foam topper
- Queen Bed: Also with memory foam topper
- Twin/Single Bed
- Bunk Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Direct TV Dish. Watch/record 100's of stations. Wide screen Local and New York Channels.
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library (2) : Two boxes full...and the terrific Jamaica general store down the street has more current titles.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Jetted Tub in Bath
- Ping Pong/Table Tennis
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio: Large screened in porch on the East side for early morning coffee. View of stream, birdbath, hummingbirds, chickadees, tiny frogpond, wild flowers, Rte 30, and fire station.
- View/Location
- Water View: It's just a brook running along the edge of the property. In Spring it makes a wonderful rushing sound which is especially soothing at night with the windows open.
- Mountain View: There aren't craggy Himalyan mountains by any stretch. Their more like large rounded hills. One author compared them to the terrain in the US that looks most like Italy.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Computer: It's an IBM Thinkpad
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Eclectic library voluntarily added onto by guests (from Phillip Roth to Perricone Diet book)Some CDs, kids' videos. But best of all: Radiant heat in first floor bath.Garden furniture, swings, hammock.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations)
- Wheelchair Accessible (may have limitations)
- Kid Friendly: It's a great place for most kids but not for rough-housing indoors or chocolate ice cream on the $4,000 Roche Bobois sofa in the living room. There's a lot of antiques but nothing so perfect and priceless it can't be touched.
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: Let's say 25.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Rock Climbing
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Overflow guests? Invite your friends to camp at Jamaica State Park, or (fancier) the Jamaica House or Three MTN Inn in the Village. Another very basic activity for us: Reading and reading in the hammock. I have some of my best books there -- WS Merwin's new collected poems which are great by the way and hundreds of other tomes.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$1,000/wk, $3,200/mo or $10,000 seasonal rental
Available Nov, 1 through Mar 31, 20010
A 9% Vermont Meals tax will apply on short term rentals
Ask about utilities surcharges. Premium cable not included
Security Deposit % of total rental & Cleaning Fee $150.
Ask about Off-Season Rates
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2005
Why the Owner Chose Jamaica
When we started looking for a second home my wife said there was only one condition: "It has to be on the water." And by "on the water" she meant Winslow Homer-esque sea-tossed rocky cliffs and a little sail boat to toot around in. Well, to we drove and drove, finding nothing. Finally I said "How about Vermont? After all, it's where I went to school and where you were born." I'm not sure what happened to the "On the Water" caveat. The first thing we found was an enormous barn which we actually did a "P&S" on only to find that some critical beams had been severed. Finally, we found a Greek Revival farmhouse and fell in love right away. The stream flowing in the back counts as "on the water" at least for me.
The Unique Benefits at this Home
I like talking over the fence to our neighbors. One neighbor is a very talented interior designer. We love picking his brain. Why stew about what color to paint the Greek Revival pilasters you've got an expert right next door?
We all like the State Park and now my wife and I joined the Stratton Health Club. It's a little hard to wake early but it's beautiful to see the sun rise on your way there. I've also discovered the Ball Mountain Dam about 2 minutes from us up RTE 30 -- What huge vistas! (And a back entrance to the Park -- no charge)
Owner's Map of Jamaica
Sometimes I feel a resistance to going up on weekends to VT. I think Well, it's so nice here where we live, why drive 2 1/2 miles? But then when I am there I just become so happy and so much calmer -- We have come to love the little village, our neighbors, the State Park with its cross country ski trail along the river. The notion that I'm able to plant an orchard on the property just amazes me for some reason. Seeing our daughters swim down the road -- I could wax pretty lyrical... so I will stop while I am ahead
Property Photos
- As seen from the road. Back door through screened porch on left - Stratton Mountain, Vermont Vacation Home
- A Roman matron makes herself at home in the master suite - Stratton Mountain, Vermont Vacation Home
- Time for coffee around the fire - Stratton Mountain, Vermont Vacation Home
- The gas fireplace in the living room is easy to operate
- The master suite has a whirlpool bath in the next room behind the camera
- The kitchen with view of babbling brook and even (once) a moose in the drive
- The deck looking out to the hummingbird feeder and stream
- We love having coffee on this screened-in deck furnished in mid-century modern
- The North Lawn with stream to left and firehouse in background
- The West River down the street in a peaceful mood
- South Lawn with apple trees and rose arbor
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #121533
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This listing was first published here in 2007.
Date last modified - November 06, 2009
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