Vacation Rentals by Owner

Return to the Dunes

Guest: cs2 (chgo)
Date of Stay: 04/26/12 Review Submitted: 05/05/12

Mary and Mary, Thank you for a relaxing R&R in the dunes. Your cozy home, especially the spectacular fireplace, was such a great place to escape the city. Close to the beach, and nestled in the natural dunes park, such a peaceful locale. Your certainly provide for, and anticipate the needs of your guests! We look forward to another get-away to @theshores in the future! Caryn

Owner response:Caryn, Thanks for your super comments. We'd love to have you back... m & m

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Great Time at The Shores

Guest: Terry & Kathleen
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/23/12

Dear Mary and Mary, > > We had a great time in spite of the weather. That landscape is impressive no matter what the weather is like and, as you two know, the hot tub works fine in any weather conditions also! We will definitely be back. Thank you. > > Sincerely,

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Great place to relax

Guest: Gosia (Des Moines, IA)
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

We stayed at the cottage the last weekend in March and enjoyed ourselves very much. It's located a short walk from the beach where we spent many hours (it has been such a nice Spring this year), as well as a short walk from the train station (we took a morning train to downtown Chicago, visited Shedd Aquarium, and made it back to cottage by dinner time). Our evenings were spent in the hot tub or playing many board games available in the cottage. Kitchen is well equipped and helped reduce the cost of eating out. Very peaceful and relaxing place. We will try to come back again.

Owner response:Thank you. Sounds like you had a lot of vacation in a short time. I look forward to hearing from you again.

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

Our Visit

Guest: Gosia
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/03/12

Dear Mary and Mary, Thank you for letting us stay in your house. We had a blast, including great time on the beach (would you believe it - in March/April?!?!?!), taking a train trip to Chicago to visit Shadd Aquarium, and soaking in the hot tub. I hope we left the house in a satisfactory condition. We love your house and our 2 families plan on coming back in the future.

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Great vacation!

Guest: Karen Firnbach (Lake Zurich IL)
Date of Stay: 03/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/30/12

Thank you very much for letting us rent your place! The house was beautiful, the hot tub was amazing! And the beach was so nice to have so close! Will be back soon.

Owner response:Thank you for choosing at The Shores. I am glad you had a great time and Thanks for leaving the property in such great shape. We barely had to clean after your stay. I look forward to hearing from you in the future. Mary & Mary

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Retreat

Guest: Zach
Date of Stay: 02/06/12 Review Submitted: 02/12/12

The cabin at Beverly Shores was great! The perfect size for a small group (5 of us), and very cozy. We made full use of the fireplace and enjoyed an easy walk to the beachfront. Mary was also helpful to us about a few questions when we first arrived. A great experience!

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Our ninth stay!!

Guest: Judy Brawner & Diane King (Hudson, IL & Albion, MI)
Date of Stay: 12/29/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

So many great family memories have been made at "our" cabin!! It feels like home every time we enter. It's half way between our Michigan and Illinois homes ~ couldn't be more convenient. Thanks to the two Mary's who own it! Very easy and pleasant to work with.

Owner response:Thank you Judy and Gang. Glad you had a great reunion again. I looke forward to hearing from you in the future. Happy New Year

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

Everything a chef could want!!

Guest: Gwen and Tango (Oak Forest IL)
Date of Stay: 11/20/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

Our way too short stay was amazing. I cooked an entire Thanksgiving Dinner and there was everything I needed to prepare the feast. Most places I've stayed in the past have had limited kitchen supplies. The house was stocked with everything I could of wanted. Very quaint cozy and warm home. The fireplace and hot tub are the obvious special amenities, but the entire place was filled with all the comforts of home!!

Owner response:If I had known you were cooking I would have stopped by. Thank you for the great review and I hope you'll choose our property again. Happy Holidays. Mary & Mary

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

@The Shores

Guest: Janet
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/23/11

HI Mary, We had a fabulous time - even with the iffy weather. It was a great space and the kids loved it. They even had good naps each day, which is an achievement! LOL. We found everything we needed. We would definitely love to come back again - maybe even in late Spring or Summer. Thanks again for everything. I'll be in touch when the time comes for travels again. cheers, Janet

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Great Anniversary!!!

Guest: Nathandg (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 09/28/11

My wife and I needed a place near Chicago to spend our 6th anniversary. We lucked out with this great house in the Indiana Dunes! The house is seriously comfy. The hot tub was great, even if the weather wasn't perfect (rain...a lot). But we still were able to hike the dunes, cook a dinner, and enjoy our time together. We also got to bring our dog, which was a key to this vacation. Michigan City is nearby and allowed us some quick shopping and a great dinner and brew at the Shoreline Brewery. Our only problem was the gas grill either didn't seem to be working properly, or we were too stupid to start all the burners. Maybe the gas was low. Other than that, the weekend was great and we certainly hope to stay there in the future again! It's a clean, well stocked cabin. Fantastic!

Owner response:Nathan, Thank you for the review. I will check on the grill. It is an electric start so perhaps the battery needs replacement. I appreciate you letting us know. I hope you will return to our property and I appreciate the great review. Happy Anniversary.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

@The Shores

Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 09/21/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

To The Two Marys, A great getaway for four ladies aged in their 40's to 70's. Had a wonderful time exploring the area. Agreed by all that Beverly Shores had the most homelike feel to it. Not as touristy or as much traffic as other areas. The house was perfect. Now want to come back when its a little warmer so we can really enjoy the beach. Would recommend The Shores to anyone who is wanting a pleasant place to stay in the Dunes area. Nancy, Illinois

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Wonderful

Guest: Nancy
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

Mary, Everything was wonderful. We considered the heat situation a slight 'hiccup'. Mary T called me soon after talking with you. She had me go into the garage to see if I could hear the furnace running. While there she let me know where everything was to set the fireplace up. (I hope we did everything correctly.) She then let me know that Bill would be coming by to see what he could do. When Bill arrived we had gotten a fire started and it was starting to take the chill off. Bill then told us that Mary T was trying to get the HVAC man to come out. Mary T called to let us know that John would be coming and soon after he showed up and fixed the problem. We could not be happier with the way the situation was addressed. We enjoyed the fire and it had warmed up in time for bed. We will definitely come to The Shores when we return to the area. We traveled around the area and we felt the most at home in Beverly Shores. We greatly enjoyed all the information on Beverly Shores that was available at the house.

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Peaceful

Guest: Linda Warren
Date of Stay: 09/05/11 Review Submitted: 09/06/11

Mary, It was absolutely what both of us needed. We even got to see a family of deer in your front yard. Twice! Your vacation cottage is very clean and has a lot of peacefulness surrounding it! Thank you for asking. Linda

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Repeat client renting again.

Guest: Mary Lavanholi (Vernon Hills)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/21/11

Thanks Mary....I'm sure we will have a great time....I have referred your cottage to several friends of mine...it is a wonderful place to relax...thanks again!!! Joyce

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

Guest: Ed
Date of Stay: 04/08/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

Hi, we had a wonderful time! The house is perfect! Such a great location, nice yard, just very comfy and welcoming! Thanks!

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love this place

Guest: TandR (Crawfordsville In)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

The house was VERY clean. We had a wonderful time. Especially enjoyed the fireplace (and wood provided) and the LARGE hottub. Description of the house was right on track.Very well stocked with every thing needed in a home. (bring your own food and toiletries) We will make it a point to visit this property again. 4 blocks to the beach. A very quiet and relaxing vacation. I will always remember what I was doing during the Royal Wedding!! There are lots of beautiful birds around. Loved to hear them singing. Our two dogs LOVED their vacation.

Owner response: Thank you for staying with us and the great comments. We would love to have you back.

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

Guest: Del & Dawn
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/04/11

Mary & Mary: We have been VRBO for more than 10 years now and we wanted thank you for being one of those owners who actually deliver on their rental description. Everything was as you said it was girls! Thank you, we did enjoy a walk to the beach, a relaxing environment, a real wood burning fireplace, hot tub and some great cooking in a fully equipped kitchen. It was one of our best VRBO stays yet...because it was just as described, thank you again for making our short anniversary trip memorable. March 27, 2011 Del and Dawn ----Rockford, IL

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Anniversary Get-a-way

Guest: Bright Eyes (Livonia, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/07/10

This was an awesome place for our 25th year anniversary! My husband and I had a great time. The home was better than expected. We had perfect weather and everything we needed was supplied at the house. The location was great and the beach was spectular! Wish we could have stayed longer!

Owner response:Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you again.

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

Guest: JT
Date of Stay: 05/04/10 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

Our stay was so fun! The weather was perfect, way better than expected. Absolutely can't wait to come back in July! Thank you so much for everything.

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Best time ever!!

Guest: Karen Sue (United States)
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

I have been visiting the Shores numerous times always with friends. This time was the best because I was with my husband. The new skylights and kitchen updates really lightened up the place. We had great meals, lots of fires and a very relaxing time for us. It really was the best vacation Tom and I have ever enjoyed. We will be back!! Thank you!

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

Guest: Jane
Date of Stay: 03/08/10 Review Submitted: 03/07/10

This is a great house that has all the amenities. The hot tub and fireplace were great! We enjoyed our stay here. Thank you.

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Guest: Mellissa
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/28/10

hi maryjust wanted to say thank you for a wonderful weekend- everyone loved your place!! we had PERFECT weather- beautiful, gentle snowfall and mild hiking temps...just wonderful!

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Guest: Melissssa
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 02/28/10

hi mary just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful weekend- everyone loved your place!! we had PERFECT weather- beautiful, gentle snowfall and mild hiking temps...just wonderful!

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Not So Secluded

Guest: Tfab (Elgin)
Date of Stay: 02/05/10 Review Submitted: 04/09/10

The inside of the house was well equipped and immaculate. The house was very cozy. However, the pictures of the rental are deceiving. The rental is nearly on top another house to one side. The Jacuzzi is in clear view of many houses. It was not too private at all. Some lattice could fix that.

Owner response:Thank you for staying at our “Duneland Vacation Rental - Spacious and Comfortable”. We are pleased that you found our house “well equipped and immaculate“. This comment is one of 143 (all of them glowing!) reviews. We were confused about the “pictures are deceiving” comment. We have never used the word, “secluded”, but for the most part it is. Yes, there is another house to the south of us, however, it is adequately shielded by trees and a fence. On the north side all you see are woods. The hot tub is in view of a house about 150 yards away that was built after we installed it and with a winter rental, sorry to say, there won’t be the foliage from our ¾ acre of woods that will completely block the view. We're working on that tho, and appreciate your input. Again, thank you for choosing @The Shores and we hope to see you again.

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Guest: Cathleen4 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/25/10 Review Submitted: 01/25/10

A warm getaway in these cold months. Cozy fire and relaxing outdoor spa!

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Wheelers
Date of Stay: 01/10/10 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Thank you very much for letting us stay at the cottage. We had a great time. We took a walk to the lake and had a fire going every night. Kids loved the games and videos. We will be in touch later in the Fall - we would like to stay a couple of nights and take kids to Chicago on the train. Thank you

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Guest: Wheeler
Date of Stay: 01/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

Thank you very much for letting us stay at the cottage. We had a great time. We took a walk to the lake and had a fire going every night. Kids loved the games and videos. We will be in touch later in the Fall - we would like to stay a couple of nights and take kids to Chicago on the train. Thank you

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: McGrath
Date of Stay: 12/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Had a great time, House is fantastic and very easy to get comfortable in. We didnt want to leave! Also loved the hidden Beverly Shores Song which all guests should search for. We are looking forward to a time when we can go back!

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Guest: Tom McGrath1 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 12/07/09 Review Submitted: 12/07/09

Had a great time, House is fantastic and very easy to get comfortable in. We didnt want to leave! Also loved the hidden Beverly Shores Song which all guests should search for. We are looking forward to a time when we can go back!

Owner response:Thanks Tom. I hope to hear from you soon. You really let the cat out of the bag with the announcement of the Beverly Shores Song. You are only the second guest to comment on it and the first one had found it after many trip to The Shores. Thanks again and have a great holiday season. M & M

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: M & M
Date of Stay: 11/18/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Mary & Mary, We had a wonderful time at your cottage this week! Our dog, Cotti, loved it too!It was comfortable, charming and cozy. Having a fire we so comforting! And the hot tub was a real treat after hiking all day.

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Beth
Date of Stay: 11/09/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

2M's: Beth and I (and the dog) really enjoyed the weather, lake and bogs. Loved your backyard. Saturday afternoon we sat up on the deck for a couple of hours and watched the many different birds. Thanks for sharing your house. PS: Built a fire, but never cold enough to light it, so hope you don't mind if I just left it for the next visitor.

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Guest: Mike & Beth
Date of Stay: 11/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/08/09

2M's: Beth and I (and the dog) really enjoyed the weather, lake and bogs. Loved your backyard. Saturday afternoon we sat up on the deck for a couple of hours and watched the many different birds. Thanks for sharing your house. PS: Built a fire, but never cold enough to light it, so hope you don't mind if I just left it for the next visitor.

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Karen
Date of Stay: 10/22/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Dear Mary & Mary, once again a fabulous week at the Shores! Silence was golden reading in front of the fire, meals were delicious, laughter was often, CLR was addicting! You have a great place and always seem to be fixing it up more and more everytime I visit. Went to the bog this trip which was really a lot of fun along with antique stores and Four Winds. Hoping to be back soon!! Thank you again.

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Guest: Karen Firnbach (Lake Zurich IL)
Date of Stay: 10/22/09 Review Submitted: 10/22/09

Dear Mary & Mary, once again a fabulous week at the Shores! Silence was golden reading in front of the fire, meals were delicious, laughter was often, CLR was addicting! You have a great place and always seem to be fixing it up more and more everytime I visit. Went to the bog this trip which was really a lot of fun along with antique stores and Four Winds. Hoping to be back soon!! Thank you again.

Owner response:Karen, it is always a pleasure to have our repeat clients back at The Shores. Thank you for the wonderful comment and I know I'll be talking to you in the future. Mary & Mary

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Guest: M & M1 (-)
Date of Stay: 10/22/09 Review Submitted: 10/22/09

Mary & Mary, We had a wonderful time at your cottage this week! Our dog, Cotti, loved it too!It was comfortable, charming and cozy. Having a fire we so comforting! And the hot tub was a real treat after hiking all day.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/20/09 Review Submitted: 10/20/09

This was our second stay in this rental. Both times we've used it as a reunion location for our group of college friends who are now spread across the US. It provides the perfect location for us and we can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our time at the house. We definitely plan on staying again. Thanks so much for making this such a relaxing and enjoyable retreat!

Owner response:I look forward to hearing from you next year. Thank you.

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Heather
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

This was our second stay in this rental. Both times we've used it as a reunion location for our group of college friends who are now spread across the US. It provides the perfect location for us and we can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our time at the house. We definitely plan on staying again. Thanks so much for making this such a relaxing and enjoyable retreat!

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Guest: Terry
Date of Stay: 10/07/09 Review Submitted: 10/06/09

Mary: Ev and I really enjoyed your place. Had a nice quiet stay walking and using the fireplace. Glad we found you. Have a good week, Terry

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Terry
Date of Stay: 10/02/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Mary: Ev and I really enjoyed your place. Had a nice quiet stay walking and using the fireplace. Glad we found you. Have a good week, Terry

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Shirley
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

September '09 - The stay at this lovely cottage was very enjoyable. Everything we thought we needed was supplied. The accommodations were very clean and inviting. We look forward to our next visit!

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Guest: Dan & Shirley1 (Indianapolis, IN)
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 09/24/09

September '09 - The stay at this lovely cottage was very enjoyable. Everything we thought we needed was supplied. The accommodations were very clean and inviting. We look forward to our next visit!

Owner response:Dan & Shirley, thank you for choosing The Shores and we look forward to your next visit. Mary & Mary

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Guest: The Cooley Family (Milwaukee, WI)
Date of Stay: 09/23/09 Review Submitted: 09/23/09

Hi Mary's, We had our family reunion and stayed a week after in Spet. The cottage is just the place to reconnect and heal w/family and friends. This was our 4th or fifth vist and it just keeps getting better and better. The dunes are an adventure for hikers and dog lovers...See you nect year...The Cooley girls

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Lynda
Date of Stay: 09/18/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Hi Mary's, We had our family reunion and stayed a week after in Spet. The cottage is just the place to reconnect and heal w/family and friends. This was our 4th or fifth vist and it just keeps getting better and better. The dunes are an adventure for hikers and dog lovers...See you nect year...The Cooley girls

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Lowell
Date of Stay: 07/31/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Mary, our visit to your cottage was perfect for us - we brought our daughter, son-in-law and grandson from July 11-18, 2009. The kitchen was very well equipped, the hottub was a favorite and we grilled out almost every night. Your walls are extremely well insulated, which made naptime a breeze. We loved the access to the beach, the whole neighborhood feel, and the access to the train to Chicago. We visited the Shedd Aquarium there - such an easy trip. There were also so many other things to do. Thanks again. Lowell & Don

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Guest: Lowell Bookman (Cincinnati, OH )
Date of Stay: 07/31/09 Review Submitted: 07/31/09

Mary, our visit to your cottage was perfect for us - we brought our daughter, son-in-law and grandson from July 11-18, 2009. The kitchen was very well equipped, the hottub was a favorite and we grilled out almost every night. Your walls are extremely well insulated, which made naptime a breeze. We loved the access to the beach, the whole neighborhood feel, and the access to the train to Chicago. We visited the Shedd Aquarium there - such an easy trip. There were also so many other things to do. Thanks again. Lowell & Don

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Mary Lee
Date of Stay: 07/19/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

Our family had a wonderful time at your cottage June 21 -23. It was everything that we viewed on the website. Sometimes the pictures on a website are enhanced, and you don't get what you were expecting. Your cottage exceeded our expectations. Your cottage had EVERYTHING that we needed. It was amazing! We have told many friends about our positive experience. Providing our schedules allow it we will definitely return.

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Guest: Mary Lee
Date of Stay: 07/19/09 Review Submitted: 07/18/09

Our family had a wonderful time at your cottage June 21 -23. It was everything that we viewed on the website. Sometimes the pictures on a website are enhanced, and you don't get what you were expecting. Your cottage exceeded our expectations. Your cottage had EVERYTHING that we needed. It was amazing! We have told many friends about our positive experience. Providing our schedules allow it we will definitely return.

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@The Shores Guestbook

Guest: Michele
Date of Stay: 07/03/09 Review Submitted: 02/10/10

We had an awesome time. The house and the beach were fantastic! Am looking forward to a return visit!

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Guest: Michele61 (Geneva Il)
Date of Stay: 07/03/09 Review Submitted: 07/03/09

We had an awesome time. The house and the beach were fantastic! Am looking forward to a return visit!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/22/09 Review Submitted: 05/22/09

i really loved the place too! just wish it was my house! hahha i will be back!!

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