Location: Williamsburg, Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA ((Williamsburg Area, Surry, Virginia)) View Map
Accommodations: Cottage, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 4-6)
Keywords: Cottage
After a fun drive down a curvy forest flanked road, you emerge into the sunlight with expansive fields on either side of you. You turn left down a dirt path that takes you by an old farmhouse. You dogleg around another field and enter the woods on a gravel road. When you get to the gate you step out. Through the trees, you can vaguely see the vastness of the James River and you hear the sound of a light breeze as it tumbles amid the leaves. Back in your vehicle you steer right, around the driveway loop and notice that you are at the peak of a hill that drops deeply into a great wooded ravine on either side.
Straight in front of you is the cottage which sits at the tip of the peninsula surrounded by views of the River. You shut off the vehicle and step outside. There is not another home or person in sight. NOW....You are officially on vacation. You stroll down the brown pebble path and past the shed that was built by boy scouts in the early 1900's. The breeze from the river feels stronger now and you can see the detail of the water and the white sandy beach below.
Just as you step onto the entry deck you notice two adult bald eagles soaring above the beach looking for prey. You didn't have to look up to see them they were at eye level with you. You are 70' above the river and the surrounding forest floor. The experience is like being in a treehouse; Albeit, a treehouse with a 4 acre yard, and parking for 20. The breeze is loud in the trees now and gives you the feeling of being blanketed by nature.
You jiggle the knob and are inside. Looking around there's nothing fancy, yet everything is special and somehow comforting. Hand made arts and crafts, Americana, books and furnishings you could only find in an “authentic” cottage. You want to settle in but looking out the window you see an inviting path that winds down the hill and dissipates into the woods. You think, “I bet that leads to the river” and with that you are out the door on your first of many adventures.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Wood Fireplace : There is an exterior fire pit with seating and a commanding view of the river. S'mores galore!!
- Beds
- Queen Bed : Queen bed in one of the bedrooms
- Twin/Single Bed (3) : 2 twins in one of the bedrooms. A daybed in the living room.
- Convertible Bed : Queen sleeper sofa in the living room
- Entertainment
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Beachfront : Private white sandy beach with shells and Shark's teeth.
- Beach View : Amazing views of the river from the house and grounds.
- Water View : Amazing views of the river from the house and grounds.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Other Amenities
- 4 ACRES OF WOODED PRIVACY!!! Loads of parking and a loop for easy trailering of boats and campers. Great views from approx. 70' above the James River. Path brings you to your own private white sandy beach. TONS OF SHARKS TEETH mixed in with the shells. Very quiet and romantic. Great for couples or for families. Beach area and river bottom is clean, safe and great for swimming. TWO KAYAKS with paddles and "high-end" life-vests, sized from toddler to He-Man. Lots of books and games. Watch out, you can loose/find yourself here! Cottage has been a family gathering place for 30 years and is as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans. CONTACT US FOR MORE PHOTOS..
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : Dogs are welcome. There are 2 large dog beds and dog bowls.
- Kid Friendly : Lots of toys and games. The forest and the beach are great for children to explore. Plenty of room for riding bikes and walking.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Shelling
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Other Activities
- Acres of privacy. TWO KAYAKS with paddles and "high-end" life-vests, sized from toddler to He-Man. Historic plantation tours. Private sitting area away from the house with amazing views of the river. Fire pit and seating on 70' hilltop overlooking the river.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
January-March $185/night .. $925/week
April-December $269/night .. $1450/week
*FALL SPECIAL - Labor Day-New Years receive 20% OFF* (excludes holiday stays)
$100 Cleaning Fee (waived for stays of a week or more)
Check-in at 4pm, Check-out at 11am
Check in/out times may be flexible depending on adjacent bookings
$200 Refundable Damage Deposit
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Private Beach! Cottage on the High Banks of the James River
Year Purchased: 1905
Why the Owner Chose Williamsburg
This property has been in the family since the early 1900's. The area's rich history and the tranquility and privacy of this property make it a family heirloom.
The Unique Benefits at this Cottage
The connection to America's historic native americans, colonists and explorers is profound. Proof of this area's active past is evident in the fossils and other historic items that over the years have been found along the beachfront. A robust kayak paddle up or down the river provides views of several historic waterfront plantation homes. I enjoy putting myself in the shoes of an early american as I navigate the property. This helps me to appreciate the preservation of this area and it offers me a different perspective when viewing the modern world. A walk on the beach and the challenge of finding the smallest and largest of shark teeth is very therapeutic and is a must do on every visit. The "missing" electronic devices like TV and internet provide us with the "missing" time we never seem to have.
Owner's Map of Williamsburg
The Riverhouse is located 10 minutes from the ferry. The ferry is free and you simply drive aboard. The ferries run continuously, so there is one every 20 minutes or so. The ferry ride itself is is a pleasant 15 minute site-see on the James River. There is an observation deck and Historic Jamestown is right next to the dock. Merchants Square and Busch Gardens/Water Country is only 10 minutes from there.
Property Photos
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- Your adventure begins! - Williamsburg, Virginia Cottage Great for the Family
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- An all seasons destination. - Williamsburg, Virginia Cottage Great for the Family
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- Sun, Sand & Great Swimming. - Williamsburg, Virginia Cottage Great for the Family
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- Bring a warm cup of coffee for an early morning treat.
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- Gather around the fire pit and let the aromas and the view inspire conversation.
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- The IMAX seat to a wonderful view
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- Walking paths, loads of parking, and acres of total privacy.
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- The Welcome is authentic.
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- Americana, books, fossils and history add to the experience.
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- The quintessential vacation image!
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- Cozy Twin Bedroom
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- Sand, Shells and Sharks Teeth
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- Queen Bedroom
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- Bathroom sink
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- Landside
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- Riverside
Traveler Reviews (39)
Great Stay at the James River House!
Guest: JNU3
(Maryland)
Date of Stay: 11/25/11
Review Submitted: 11/28/11
The pictures do not even do this house justice! It seems some of the furnishings have been updated a bit since the pictures on VRBO were taken and it looks great. The second bedroom with the two twin beds is decorated beautifully as is the room with the queen bed. The living room is cozy with plenty of seating space and has tons of games, books, and puzzles. The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you need...dishes, pots, pans, coffee maker, toaster, etc. As soon as we contacted Jeff about the house, he was very responsive, always answered my e-mails quickly, and provided lots of useful information about the area. The house is definitely out there and you take a series of back roads to find it, but once you arrive, the trip is worth it. We loved that we were able to bring our dog. She had so much fun swimming in the river. The private beach was incredible. We found only 3 shark's teeth, but collected lots of pretty shells too. It was so relaxing to just unplug and relax at the River House. I was shocked when my husband said "Who needs TV when you have all of this?!". We were visiting family in the area over Thanksgiving weekend, but we hope to return in the summer for more beach time and a visit to Williamsburg/Jamestown. If you want a unique vacation, forgo the usual hotel and book the River House. You won't regret it.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.
30 Sharks Teeth!!
Guest: The Duncan family
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
Had a great time. Together we found 30 sharks teeth. Never saw the dogs. Beach was great. Had a wonderful time down there. Had a lot of good times with the game, apples to apples. Thank you so much for letting us stay at your house.
Recommended for:
Thanks for everything.
Guest: The Brown family
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
We had a wonderful visit. We really enjoyed swimming on the beach and kayaking, we also had some excellent visits to Williamsburg and Jamestown settlement. Thanks for everything.
Recommended for:
We absolutely loved every minute we spent here.
Guest: The Cheuring Family
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/31/10
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
What an incredibly beautiful home you have. We absolutely loved every minute we spend here. When you look around the house, you see a lifetime of family experiences. Your book and game collections, wallhangings you can feel the spirit of and love here and the natural beauty of the woods and river are most enjoyable. We intend to return again. Thanks for allowing us to stay here!
Recommended for:
Great beach house!
Guest: Melody and Chris
(-)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
We were here for work so we didn't get to use the kayaks. We went down the beach a few times, beautiful view! Found a great shark tooth as soon as I stepped on the beach! Wonderful wildlife in the area! Thank you for letting us in your home!
Recommended for:
We LOVE this place!
Guest: The Mills family
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/27/10
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
Thank you! This vacation was wonderful! We love the little cottage, and how we weren't always near people. We had a lot more time to relax! The kids went kayaking for the first time! They are both 11 years old. Rob caught tons of catfish on the beach and found 44 shark teeth!! We had fun playing the games here too! Mostly mad gab! And we like to cross the ferry! Thanks for letting us stay here! PS we saw a bald eagle go in and catch a fish!
Recommended for:
Catfish and Bass galore
Guest: The Hosain family
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
This was our first time to this area and absolutely loved it. The house was perfect for us and completely enjoyed the beach and river. Our boys caught over 30 fish during the week. Catfish and bass and ended the week by catching the biggest they've ever caught. 18-20 inches and 3 to 4 pounds. More smiles than you'll ever know. Thank you so much for allowing us this experience. We have great pictures and memories to last us for years. Thank you!
Recommended for:
Peaceful and beautiful
Guest: The Hawkins family
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
We had a wonderful time. We saw eagles, dear, hummingbirds, snakes! And lots of butterflies. Everything was as advertised but you didn't explain how peaceful and beautiful it is here! We hope to be back!!
Recommended for:
Coming back soon!!!
Guest: Firmender family
(-)
Date of Stay: 04/25/09
Review Submitted: 11/16/11
We had a great time. Sadly we didn't find any shark teeth but we did find some clams. We liked playing the board games, swimming and kayaking we will come back sometime soon.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #182375
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This listing was first published here in 2008.
Date last modified - Friday, December 30, 2011
