Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful Get-Away!

Guest: Mindy (Russiaville, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/12

We stayed at Dreamwold for a week with our 3 small girls, and could've not asked for a more family-friendly vacation rental. The cottage is so charming and comfortable- it truly felt like home-away-from-home. Ian & Mariya were exactly as others have described- present but not intrusive- and so friendly. My husband and I have decided that staying at Dreamwold is so much easier, comfortable, and affordable than any Florida trip! We were sad to leave, and the girls are still asking (8 months later) when we'll go back. Thank you, Ian & Mariya, for a truly relaxing week for two tired parents. :)

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

What a wonderful vacation!!

Guest: Happy Vacationer (Midwest)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

My family and I spent a week at Dreamwold and could not have been happier!! The cottage was fantastic. To call it a cottage may imply it is smallish in size, but that is not the case. Beautifully decorated, so clean and tucked in a wooded area. We played cards on the screened in porch when the weather did not allow us to enjoy Lake Michigan. Ian and Mariya provided for everything and anything we could have needed. They were available but not at all intrusive...and so friendly!! We were so sad to leave!! Thank you Ian and Mariya!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Awesome Place

Guest: pg (Detroit, MI)
Date of Stay: 07/20/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

My family and I spent three wonderful days at this lovely cottage. I would highly recommend it!!! Clean, cozy and comfortable.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Lake Michigan vacation

Guest: Elevenacres (Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

We decide to try Lake Michigan as a beach vacation, not sure what to expect, but was was very pleased. Most people in the lower Midwest might not think to go north for a beach, but I highly recommend it. No salt, no crowds, no excessive heat, easier to swim, not overly commercialized. The Dreamwold Cottage was a very short walk to a very nice white sand beach. Very comfortable, had all the right amenities and the hosts were very attentive. I would recommend this for families and singles. The village of Michiana Shores is very relaxed, complete walking biking neighborhood, very quite and private. The cottages are amazingly maintained with beautiful gardens.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Another restful, relaxing week at Dreamwold!

Guest: Roscoe (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We had a lovely time with friends who spent the week with us at Dreamwold this year! We love coming to the Michiana Shores area each summer, and particularly staying at cozy, comfortable Dreamwold Cottage! We always look forward to spending a quiet, restful week at this delightful, homey cottage, surrounded by woods and wildlife. The rooms are all large, spotlessly clean and vey nicely appointed; the kitchen is fully equipped and we even took advantage of the gas grill and had a great barbeque! We spent time in the spacious screen porch putting together one of the 1,000-piece puzzles provided by the owners. We love the fact that there are many restaurants and wonderful beaches so nearby. This year, in addition to spending time at Michiana Shores Beach, we went to New Buffalo Beach and Weko Beach at Bridgman. It was amazing to spend the day at these pristine beaches, which are never very crowded, even on holidays. We went to the Saturday morning Michigan City Farmer's Market for fresh produce and flowers; we visited the antique shops on the Red Arrow Highway; we had a delicious cherry pie from the Whistle Stop Grocery. We enjoyed freshly made wood-fired pizza at Stop 50; we indulged in a delicious burger from Redamak's, followed by an ice cream from Oink's! The guys had a great time at the Hesston Steam Museum, and we stopped in at quaint Three Oaks for a great afternoon. These and many other enjoyable experiences are becoming traditions for us, and we will definitely be returning to Dreamwold soon to make more happy memories!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming cottage in woods, very nice owner, but....black mold spotted in 2 rooms

Guest: L (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 07/01/11

First impressions of the house were good. Mariya was welcoming and greeted us with a big smile and showed us what we had access to in the garage which included beach toys, a wagon and grill. The house was clean, furnishings were antique-looking and it was decorated nicely. You enter the house on the back porch which is screened and sort of dark but nice. Off the porch is the kitchen and the living area with a sliding glass door which if left open can make your living space quite large. This house could easily sleep 6 (if 2 don't mind twin beds). The kitchen is a decent size and the bedrooms are comfortable. The house had everything you would need for a vacation very close to the beach. It took us about 10 minutes to walk to the beach which was quite pretty and private. Now onto the negative part of my review: The house needs some renovating due to black mold. I noticed the mold that first night in the upstairs bedroom with the 2 twin beds. It was a very large black area about 8 inches by 5 inches and above it, it looked like the wall had been repainted at one point. There were more black spots where the wall met the ceiling and there were additional spots downstairs above the fireplace, where the wall met the ceiling....which looked to be directly below the bedroom. Now my daughter was supposed to sleep in that bedroom while my husband and I slept in the other upstairs bedroom and after seeing this, I couldn't possibly let her sleep in that room. So....my daughter and I slept in the downstairs bedroom while my husband slept in the other upstairs bedroom, not quite what we wanted for romantic evenings. My daughter is 3 and I didn't want her sleeping on a different floor. Also, after seeing the mold, I wanted the windows open to bring the outside air in, for air circulation...to lessen breathing in possible toxic mold spores. Now I don't know if the mold was toxic but it was black and scary looking. For the way this house was kept, with the care and attention to detail, there is no way that the owners didn't know about these areas. These "spots" were not just markings on the wall. Doors within the house had little decorative sacs of potpourri hanging from them, possibly to disguise a musty odor and there was a dehumidifier running constantly in the basement. We had already paid for the few days we were there, kept the window open to ventilate and stayed out of the house as long as possible. Can't recommend unless issue resolved.

Owner response:CHIMNEY PATCHED AND ONE SQUARE FOOT OF WALL REPLACED IN BEDROOM We are aware of rain damage around the chimney which produced seepage of water. When winds blow a certain way on this north wall rain would seep in at the halfway point of the chimney.This caused puffing of the wall at the base of the wall ( one square foot) in the upstairs bedroom and a four inch (looks like a caterpillar) stain on the ceiling above the fireplace in the living room. The living room is below the bedroom. *A roofing contractor inspected the damage and agreed to come during a week of dry weather to caulk along the chimney area while a contractor replaced one sqauare foot of the wall to repair the water damage at the base of the bedroom wall. The bedroom wall ispainted a pearl gray so the area that was damp appeared as a lighter color. from the wetness. *We did not view the four inch stain above the fireplace as hazardous and knew the repair would be done as soon as dry weather allowed. We have experienced significant rain this June. * Since we had a period of heavy storms, work was scheduled for the first week of consecutive dry days. Contractors are arriving July 6 as this whole week has sunny dry weather. * As for the dehumidifier in the basement, it runs year round to keep the basement fresh. * The potpourri hung on door knobs is "Seascape" which is a light fresh scent. The house is surrounded by trees and woods which allows for a cool shady screened in porch. When you open the sliding door to the living room a breeze comes in that is refreshing. The potpourri adds to the scent. It is not there to disguise any musty smell as there is none. We have rented our home for ten years. This is our first complaint. It is unfortunate that the rains have been significant causing a delay in repair. However, the prolem has been identified and repaired with no significant damage.

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Guest: Cindy, Jessica, Kayla, Phyllis, Michelle
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

Thank you so much for providing such a warm and cozy environment to enjoy a weekend of family and friends. Your cottage was perfect to celebrate a bridal shower and create many wonderful memories. We enjoyed the amazing fall weather, beautiful views, and trips to the beach and dunes. Thanks again for a weekend of laughter, love and family. Many blessings to you!

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Guest: Vonnie and Brian Ontario Canada
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

What an enjoyable stay we had in your beautiful cottage. We hate to leave but know that is the only way we wil be able to come back. Our "short" walks turned into fabulous adventures lasting nearly two hours. We loved looking at the deer and trying to sneak up for some good close ups. We surely did get our exercise while biking around the streets and on our day trip to the dunes. Thanks for sharing your place with us;it was more than we could have imagined.

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Guest: Howie,Mary,Celia,Sarah,Genesis
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

Eight years! Hard to believe. Our first entry in this journal was August 2003. So many years. So many changes. Some happy some sad...the ebb and flow of life. Sarah will always remember this as her childhood vacation spot. As for Mary, my mom , and myself it is our yearly place of respite and escape well earned from the business of life. Thanks Ian and Mariya for your graciousness and kindness. Your house lovely as always, truly a home away from home. We feel rested and refreshed and will return again and again. See you soon.

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Ryan and Becky

Guest: Di (Crystal Lake, Il)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

Mariya and Ian are attentive and gracious hosts. We had great weather and few mosquitoes!??? My son said this was the best vacation ever! There is a kids camp close by - one day ($12) or up to 8 weeks; you choose. Playground and beach walking distance. We went to the dunes, Capt Mike's fun park, and St. Josephs has a splash park and carousel right on the beach. The house is charming and clean,clean. This was our second year and we hope to come back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Ralph,Diane,Justin,Aaron,Valerie,Kristy,Elijah
Date of Stay: 08/02/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

We were very busy the first week with children and grandchildren. Great times and wonderful memories were made. It's great to spend the dog days of August so near Lake Michigan. The water was so perfect. Some days big waves and other days as calm as could be. Your house is so comfortable and we very much enjoyed all the amenities. We hope to see you both next year! Thanks.

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Guest: Robin,Chuck,Dan,Cherilynn,Mikala
Date of Stay: 07/26/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

We had a busy but wonderful week at Dreamwold. Your cottage lends itself to peaceful moments with the sounds of the woods. The family reunion we attended with 150 people went well. The weather could not have been better all week. We had time to bike,walk,and explore the beach,read and relax. Thanks again for sharing your home and being a help with questions and suggestions. We wish you a good year and success with the cabin you are remodeling.

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Guest: Michael,Inna,Arkady,Anastasia, and Anna
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

It's been wonderful to come back once again to your comfy and welcoming house! This time around we shared our week here with friends down the road who bought a house after we reminded them to spend some time here, at your place. Michiana Shores is an enchanting place and we will be coming here for years to come. Thank you for sharing your house and we wish you many long happy years here!

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Guest: Elvin and Lisa
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

Thanks for your kindness and wonderful hospitality! We enjoyed another long,relaxing weekend at Dreamwold- a much needed respite from the troubles and trials of our work-a-day lives. This peaceful,tranquil,haven always restores and nourishes us! We look forward to our next visit which will hopefully be very soon! Take care Ian and Mariya.

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Guest: Annie, Patrick and Charlie
Date of Stay: 07/04/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

This couldn't have worked out better-- a last minute surprise turned into a most memorable trip! Thank you for your graciousnes. We had relaxing and fun filled weekend!

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Guest: Tom,Amy,Emma
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

We are so sad to be leaving this beautiful place. We had wonderful beach weather every day, and Emma loved our daily wagon rides to the beach. We absolutely love this cottage and the beauty of Michiana Shores. What a hidden treasure! We spent lots of time exploring New Buffalo and hiked Mt. Baldy. This has truly felt like "home" to us this week, and we look forward to making this an annual tradition. Thank you Ian and Mariya!

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Guest: Michael & Lisa Valente
Date of Stay: 01/02/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/10

Ian and Mariya Michael and I needed a getaway and your cottage has been lovely. We enjoyed winter in all it's glory. Our friends joined us New Year's Eve and agree this is a magical place. Thank you for making it so with your home baked cookies,all the tourist information and the accomodations made for gracious living. Thanks again! Michael and Ilke

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Guest: Ken & Joanna Sharp
Date of Stay: 10/09/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

Ian & Mariya It was a pleasure to meet you and we truly enjoyed our weekend here. Your place is exactly what we needed. The area is so peaceful and beautiful. The locals were eager to share why they love living here. We understand completely! The beautiful sunset last night was breathtaking. We will be back. Ken and Joanna

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Guest: Elvin & Lisa Plank
Date of Stay: 09/07/09 Review Submitted: 09/06/09

Ian Thank you again for a wonderful experience at Dreamwold Cottage. We were able to do several nice bike rides,including a trip to Michigan City to the Farmer's Market. We bought back fruit, cheese, and flowers to grace the cottage during our stay. Our friends fell in love with this place and regretted having to leave on Sunday. They will want to return sometime soon. As for us, we will return next summer for an extended stay. This is our fifth visit in one year! We will be in touch. Thank you. Elvin and Lisa

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Guest: Howie,Mary,Sarah
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

Ian, Here it is our 7TH year at your wonderful escape from the reality of the workaday world. Last night the waves at the beach were wild,crashing,higher than I 've ever seen before with the mist splashing our faces. The sunset a rich red which showcased the Chicago skyline. The lake is variety: calm our first day, mirrorlike allowing us to swim to the buoys. Thanks and until next time God bless us all!

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Guest: Genesis
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

Ian, Hi! I am Sarah's friend. It is my first time being up here and it is awesome. We went to the zoo, the mall, and to the beach a whole lot of times. We had a bonfire but it got rained out!! The restaurants are awesome and I loved OINKS ice cream shop!!!! Thanks again. Genesis

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Guest: Kondrikan & Wolf Family
Date of Stay: 01/02/09 Review Submitted: 01/01/09

Ian, How lucky we are to find such a comfortable, relaxing place for our family reunion.It has been a while since we laughed together so much and enjoyed each other. We did crafts, painted,read, took walks,and shared meals in your wonderful kitchen. Thanks for letting us stay in this beautiful house. I would find my daughter looking out the window from her bed every morning at the trees in the woods. Masha, Chris,Nina,Mila, and Nikolay thank you.

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Guest: Dauber Family
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/31/07

Barb & Ian, We spent many sunny afternoons at the beach & always looked forward to return to the cozy cottage in the woods. We had a wonderful week and hope to return next year. Thank you and warm regards.

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Guest: Stewart Family
Date of Stay: 06/02/07 Review Submitted: 06/01/07

Barb and Ian We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your beautiful cottage. It exceeded our expectations in every way. The location is beautiful and there is so much to do here. Next time we must come and stay for a week. Thanks for your hospitality and allowing us to stay in your cottage.

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Guest: Ekerns
Date of Stay: 08/12/06 Review Submitted: 08/11/06

Thank you for a wonderful place to stay. We enjoyed the beautiful weather at the beach, all day and some evenings. We used the bikes, wagons, and the sand toys - -thank you. We loved the cottage. It was perfect for our family. Thanks again for all your help and wealth of information.

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Guest: Waninger Family
Date of Stay: 08/12/06 Review Submitted: 08/11/06

Barb & Ian What a wonderful week we had in your lovely little cottage. The house was comfortable, homey, and contained everything we need. We loved and used the bikes several times a day - -thank you so much for making them available. Golfed at Michigan City Municipal course; $17 for 9 holes, including carts. Nice course. Enjoyed the restaurants in New Buffalo and Oinks ice cream was a favorite. Screened in porch was a nice place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and an evening of Pictionary (one of the games thoughtfully placed in the bookcase). We hope to return to your lovely little cottage in the woods. Bless you both.

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Guest: Howie, Mary, Sarah, & Celia
Date of Stay: 09/03/05 Review Submitted: 09/02/05

Back again for our third time! Already a tradition... Our stay was as always, an island of serenity in the hectic world. The lake in all its majesty, lazy afternoons on the beach, the tennis courts, the tire swings, the lovely gardens (our day trip - thanks Barb), your splendid house that we have come to love, the peace that it brings to our lives during these end-of-summer sojourns that have come to be a yearly occurrence....Peace be with you until we meet again. Thanks.

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Guest: Dawn, Alberto, & Children
Date of Stay: 08/28/05 Review Submitted: 08/27/05

We have had a wonderful time here at Dreamwold Cottage and Michiana Shores. What a treasure you have here and we're so lucky to have experienced it for at least two weeks!! We look forward to coming back another year! Thanks for the relaxing visit!

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Guest: Judy, Richard, Ben & Gabbie
Date of Stay: 08/14/05 Review Submitted: 08/13/05

We have greatly enjoyed the two weeks we have spent here and we are very sorry to be leaving. We have found the cottage peaceful and relaxing and we have loved the time we spent at the beach. We have taken the opportunity to explore Chicago and have appreciated its impressive art and architecture, the Museum of Science & Industry, the aquarium and the zoo. Thank you very much for all that you have done to make our stay so memorable.

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Guest: Stacey S. Thompson
Date of Stay: 07/22/05 Review Submitted: 07/21/05

Barb & Ian: What a wonderful time I had at DreamwoldCottage. Thanks for all your hospitality and making this such an incredible experience. I think I may be able to use some of the setting in my next sci-fi novel, "Alien Summer". Stacey S. Thompson, Author, "Pilgrim's Moon." "Like the 400 other passengers traveling on the space freighter Argo, Scott Thorne expected the two-year voyage to Terranova to pass quickly while he slumbered in biostatis. Little did he know that the Argo would pass through a mysterious space-time anomaly and emerge 500 years later....with no hope of ever returning to Earth.

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Guest: The Reece's
Date of Stay: 07/15/05 Review Submitted: 07/14/05

You have a beautiful cottage! We were so comfortable and felt right at home...Being here was the highlight of our summer and we have made some wonderful memories. We will see you next year.

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Guest: The Cullens
Date of Stay: 07/06/05 Review Submitted: 07/05/05

Thanks so much for making our stay enjoyable. We've been coming to Long Beach forever and had no idea how quaint and wonderful Michiana was. Your place is relaxing and charming.

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Guest: Jeff, Kathy & Children
Date of Stay: 06/12/05 Review Submitted: 06/11/05

We had a wonderful week and we thank you for your hospitality. We appreciated all the things you had to make our children feel welcome. We used the wagon every day and they loved the legos and toys in the basket. Our daughter enjoyed coloring at the desk in her room! Thanks for having the crib for the baby, too!

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Guest: Brady Family
Date of Stay: 08/14/04 Review Submitted: 08/13/04

We returned a second time and are most grateful that we did. Thanks for a week of splendid tranquility and peace. Your cottage was, as usual, magnificent, the facilities accommodating for an easy stay. We got to witness the lake in all its infinite variety and majesty. The fireplace came in handy during the cold dips in temperture and added a coziness to our stay. Sarah said this was her "best vacation ever;" she had a wonderful time...Once again thanks, until next time.

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Guest: The Benjamins
Date of Stay: 08/07/04 Review Submitted: 08/06/04

When we decided at the last minute to take a mini-vacation before the school/football season begins, we never thought such a terrific place would still be available. But to our surprise, it was! We had such a relaxing stay..The porch is extra special in the early morning, the bedrooms comfy, the kitchen is FANTASTIC (stocked to perfection- I especially loved the green dishes, and the wagon & bikes a nice treat. We look forward to our return!

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Guest: The Heider Family
Date of Stay: 04/26/03 Review Submitted: 04/25/03

We had such a lovely vacation in this house! It's beautiful! It was always like coming home when we came back right after a long trip! So hopefully we come again!

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Guest: J. Driscoll
Date of Stay: 04/10/03 Review Submitted: 04/09/03

It is 4:30 a.m. and I cannot sleep. It most certainly isn't the comfortable bed that wakes me. I am so happy being here that I want to stay awake and not miss one minute of this familiar place. I am thinking of my grandmother and all the wonderful times I had in her house. The Dreamwold Cottage is much like Grandma's. The creak of the wood floors, the narrow stairways, etc. Barb and Ian have surpassed our expectations with their attention to detail... I love the large kitchen and cozy bedrooms. We all look forward to visiting again in the summer.

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Guest: The Klaus Family
Date of Stay: 02/16/03 Review Submitted: 02/15/03

We completely fell in love with Michiana Shores - it reminds us so much of the places in Russia where we used to have vacations. You've done such a wonderful job decorating the house and putting all the needed things in it. My mother admired your kitchen arrangement. Thanks for giving us the chance to share this house - We hope to come back during next summer.

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Guest: Kathy & Den
Date of Stay: 10/27/02 Review Submitted: 10/26/02

Dreamwold Cottage is an enchanting retreat tucked so cozely into its wooded surrounding that we at once felt removed from the stresses of every day and the "outside world". This is a true "retreat" that renews the spirit. We will return. Barb & Ian, you are very special. Thank you for the opportunity to share your world here.

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