Rest and relaxation in a stunning location

Guest: Sue (Rochester, Minnesota, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/16/12

Cedar Cliff retreat is a very special place. I can't remember the last time I cried when I had to leave a holiday home but I shed a few tears last Friday. We spent New Year here with family from England and made lots of precious memories, from sitting around the vast dining table, to playing games and watching DVDs by a log fire, to listening to the waves breaking on the shore round the firepit. I agree with a previous reviewer that the photos don't do it justice. The whole house is charming and comfortable, with beautiful quilts and fascinating original artwork. The beds are wonderfully comfortable. This is also the best equiped house I have ever stayed in - we cooked some wonderful meals. Two bedrooms on the ground floor meant that my elderly parents (in their 80s) didn't have to cope with stairs. Don't expect too many mod cons - I was dreading the lack of a dish-washer, but in fact it was fun to wash up together with a beautiful view of Lake Superior from the kitchen window. It was also wonderful to be without cable TV (although Wifi is available and works beautifully). The heating system is effective but noisy - make sure you take dressing gowns and slippers in the Winter as the mornings can be chilly. The location is stunning. We arrived in the dark so to watch the sun come up and see the lake 30 feet below the window was amazing. The house is easily accessible (just off 61) but set back from the main road. Lutsen (great skiiing!) is five minutes away and Grand Marais (lovely shops and harbor plus good supermarkets) about 20 minutes drive. Cathy and Doug were helpful and informative and responded to our questions fully and promptly. I can't wait to go back in the Summer with my girlfriends.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

The ultimate getaway

Guest: Lindsay (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 08/03/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Make no mistake, this is a huge and rustic home. It's like going back in time. You are secluded in a wonderful craftsman house surrounded by trees and the lake. The house is built around the "great room" and its massive stone fireplace. It is perfect for a family reunion! There is no air conditioning, no microwave, no washer/dryer, no dishwasher, no cable TV. Cell service is spotty. (Ironically, there is wi-fi!) This is not a 2010 home. And that's the whole point. It harkens back to a simpler era when people passed time by reading books on the porches and sitting by the lake listening to the water and sipping wine by the fireplace. It is for seclusion. It is for conversation. It is for sleeping late in luxurious beds. At night, the darkness is total and deep sleep is virtually guaranteed. The dishes and glasses are plentiful. So, too, will be the food you make and the laughter shared around the huge dining room table. You are minutes from virtually every kind of business you could imagine in a lakeside setting like restaurants, markets and bike rentals. There are numerous hiking trails a short drive away. This home is where you go to get away from the turmoil and noise of modern life. We can't recommend it enough!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

Guest: Diane and Eric Storvick (Mankato, MN)
Date of Stay: 01/14/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/10

We spent New Years at Cedar Cliff along with 3 other families. It was a wonderful way to welcome 2010. The view of Lake Superior was mesmerizing. The steam whisps and towers were facinating to watch and the sunsets were spectacular. Even with 20 of us, we slept comfortably and had a great time making meals together and playing games. It was a relaxing adventure and we hope to return next winter or maybe before!

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Guest: Kathy and Charlie1 (Mpls. MN)
Date of Stay: 07/29/08 Review Submitted: 07/29/08

We loved that the TV was in a closet. We loved that there was no dishwasher to make noise. We let nature entertain us...along with the most beautiful native art work throughout this most spacious yet cozy home. We chose our dearest friends to spend the weekend and witness our wedding ceremony down on the rocks with the ocean lake behind us. We went kayaking, swimming, rock hunting, we cooked, we lazed, we ate, we wandered, we snuggled under down comforters, we built magnificent fires, played drums,guitars, we did dishes and enjoyed each others company, conversation and quiet. We are ever so grateful to have had the gift of this magical place.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/03/08 Review Submitted: 04/03/08

Our family had a wonderful Easter weekend at Cedar Cliff. It is an absolutely fantastic home, and your setting on the Lake is sensational. We all found ourselves walking over to the windows or the doors to watch the ice/no ice conditions change throughout the day and night. Loved your beautiful bed linens (and the quilts - oh my!), interesting books, beautiful and unique decor, leaded glass lamps, and a very well appointed kitchen. Thank you so much for allowing our family to enjoy your home. It was even better than what we had anticipated. We will have so many great memories of this time on the north shore with our children and grandchildren.

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Guest: Lonni S. (-)
Date of Stay: 09/14/07 Review Submitted: 09/14/07

Our book club had a grand time - great wine, chocolate, massages and book discussion of Ivan Doig's The Whistling Season. Lots of wind and waves along with shopping in Grand Marais made it a true "Superior Weekend". The decor and ambiance of Cedar Cliff made our stay exquisite!

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Guest: Kathy L. (-)
Date of Stay: 09/12/07 Review Submitted: 09/12/07

We have had such a wonderful weekend! And Cedar Cliff played a huge part in making that happen. Everyone was touched by this beautiful place - both the house itself and all the furnishings - and - the lake! Especially, "the rock". We are definitely coming back next year!

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Guest: Kelly106 (-)
Date of Stay: 09/10/07 Review Submitted: 09/10/07

I visited this wonderful house this summer. Although only looking through the windows I was totally enchanted. Now I am organizing my girlfriends to spend a weekend as soon as possible! The pictures do not do it justice. Unlike other houses I have rented, this one is elegant, comfortable and beautifully furnished. Can't wait to cook in that kitchen!

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Guest: Kelly F. (-)
Date of Stay: 08/19/07 Review Submitted: 08/19/07

What a beautiful home and stunning location on the Lake - a perfect setting for my Mom's 70th birthday party. The whole family was able to congregate there - good food, good fun.

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Guest: Kristi W. (-)
Date of Stay: 02/11/06 Review Submitted: 02/11/06

Came up with 11 co-workers... What a beautiful place - a wonderful find for you to have and share with those that need a retreat - a time to get away, relax and renew. May all that come here be blessed by this magical land, go back to their lives a little lighter, more in touch with spirit. I know I will. Thank you for your attention to detail, decoration, comfy blankets, non-toxic cleaning supplies - it's so comfortable here. There's a feeling of being welcomed.

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