Thanksgiving at the cabin

Guest: Brandy (southern MN)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

We brought three couples to spend Thanksgiving at this amazing retreat. We were pleasantly surprised that the place surpassed the description in spaciousness, beauty and scenery. There was plenty of space for everyone to crowd in the kitchen and snack while others were cooking. There were more than adequate kitchen utensils and cookware for our Thanksgiving meal. We enjoyed the several separate living spaces and private bathrooms for each couple. On Friday, we gathered on the porch to watch the Nisswa fireworks display across the lake. Although many summer birds had moved on, we saw hooded mergansers, tundra swans, adult and juvenile bald eagles, blue jays, crows, downy woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees, and white breasted nuthatches. We loved watching the mergansers and some muskrats swam in front of the cabin daily. The owners were most helpful. We highly recommend a visit!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect Getaway

Guest: Up from the Cities (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 10/19/11 Review Submitted: 10/30/11

We've stayed twice now and each time we've been nothing but satisfied. If the weather is nice you have TWO porch areas (one screened) that over look a beautiful lake. If the weather doesn't cooperate there's a pool table, big screen TV and a nice kitchen for a big cooking project. There's a nice big yard for playing football or soccer. The Paul Bunyan trail is a short drive away for those who want to bike. Also, people who bring their boats should be more than happy with Lower Cullen Lake. (The only complaint is for those looking to walk or run. You're pretty much confined to the main road and while it's not busy, there are enough cars that you end up being more on alert than you'd like.) As for the town experience, Nisswa is minutes away. There's an old fashioned candy shop for the kids, a handful of restaurant options (including a pretty good scratch bakery and a solid take-and-bake pizza place) and a great small-town vibe. The grocery store and liquor stores are good enough and if you don't find what you need in Nisswa, nearby Baxter has more (and bigger name) shopping choices. All in all a nice, clean, comfortable property that's well maintained by nice owners who seem to really want you to enjoy your stay. We'll be back.

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

Wonderful Week on the Lake

Guest: Pete (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 09/23/11

My family (wife, 4 y.o. girl and 18 month boy, me) just returned from the cabin on Winderness Road after spending a relaxing and worry free week up there. Weather was a little chilly for September but we kept busy with a bike ride from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes (rented bikes at Trailblazer Bikes right on the Paul Bunyon Trail), a nature hike with a trailhead walking distance from the cabin, and rented a fishing boat from the resort just down the road. We had a great time. The cabin was perfect. Everything we needed was supplied and was either new or extremely well cared for. The cabin has a great floor plan with a large open living area and loft with a gas fireplace where we all congregated and kept warm when the temperatures dipped outside. The new outdoor grill was great and the kitchen perfectly integrates with the family room. Overall, this is exactly what we had hoped for -- simple luxury in the Brainerd lakes area. The owners were extremely helpful and welcoming. The entire experience was a pleasure. We can't wait to rent again next summer.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great house and great lake

Guest: tony (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

We had a great experience renting this house! There were 9 in our group and we had PLENTY of space. All of the ammenities are very clean, very nice and well maintained. We had a few questions about the property prior to our trip and the owners responded quickly. The lake is the perfect size for water skiing, fishing, and swimming. The golf courses in the area are outstanding, and plenty of great shopping with in a few miles. Looking forward to booking this place again next year!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Very Nice Family Vacation Destination

Guest: Jack (Waseca, Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 07/03/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

Our family, consisting of our adult children and two grandkids aged 3 and 6, thoroughly enjoyed or stay. We brought our boat as the kids enjoy water skiing and tubing. This home is in like new condition and equipped with top quality furnishings. It is definitely as advertised and more. Joel and Shelly are very accommodating and provided everything we needed for a great week. The sand beach at the next door resort was a popular place for the grandkids, and the boat launch saved a long trip around the lake to the public landing. The lake was very nice with none of the thick weeds and algea common in southern Minnesota lakes. There are lots of quiet bays where the water is smooth even on windy days. We all brought bicycles which we hauled back to the Paul Bunyan trail for safety purposes with little kids since the road has several blind curves. We also especially enjoyed the covered screened porch, and at night the high speed wireless internet and DVR equipped satellite TV. In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed or stay and hope to return again next summer.

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

A Great Family Vacation Site

Guest: Gary (Cannon Falls,Mn)
Date of Stay: 07/10/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

Our family stayed at this beautiful house the 2nd week of July. and the owners were great and they thought of every convenience.The pictures don't even begin to show the excellent facility-alot more than advertised.The Beach nearby was great for the kids-sandy and safe and easy for the adults to keep an eye on them.The fishing was good also with the lake having many varieties of fish.The house is great for a family vacation!

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

Amazing Family Retreat

Guest: cowboy miss (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

We can't say enough about how wonderful this experience was. My parents (79 & 80 years old), and sisters and I stayed for 3 nights. Joel and Shelley were super-accommodating, the house was spacious, homey, sparkling clean, and everything was as promised, if not better, than described. The location was superb--off the beaten path, but not secluded. The weather was overcast, mixed with rain, so we were inside more than we had hoped. This gave us an opportunity to chat or read by the fireplace, challenge each other at billiards, and check out the charming shops in Nisswa. We rented the pontoon boat, from the neighbors across the lake (suggested by Joel) and took it out a couple of times when the rain let up. The lake was peaceful except for the sounds of loons! The very low-key "resort" down the road rents kayaks, but we didn't take advantage of that. The whole family was thrilled with this gem of a vacation home, and the wonderful new memories we made there. We will definitely be back!

Owner response:Hi Bonnie, Thank you for the wonderful review! I'm delighted your family enjoyed their stay. And glad to see the loons performed their magical calls for you. Thank you for the opportunity to host your stay, when the magnificent sounds of the loons summons you please pass by this way again. Sincerely, Joel

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Family Vacation Heaven!!!

Guest: MedinaMom (Medina, MN)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/02/11

What a lovely home. We were so happy and comfortable. The house is very warm, inviting and WELL-STOCKED with everything you need to cook, clean and feel like you are home. The beds are comfy and the house just feels brand new b/c it is so well maintained. I think the description of the property by the owner is an understatement! It is truly a retreat for the renter. My boys (3 and 7) were very sad to leave! I will be highly recommending this property to my friends (as long as it is not a weekend we want to rent). Our praises for the house, property and small thoughtful touches of the owner started from the minute we walked in the door and haven't stopped yet! Thank you Joel and Shelley for a memorable weekend!!!! We'll be there again soon!!

Owner response:Hi Cathy, Thank you so much for the warm review! I know I've said this before in reply to many of our past guests and those that have also taken the time to share a review about our retreat. I enjoy seeing everyone's stay get off to a fabulous start! Its makes it all worth while for Shelley and I. Many of us can relate to those vacations that have gotten off to a poor start, either the accommodations were not what you were told or pictures advertising property didn't live up to the billing. You digest what's happened and work through it doing your best to get your vacation on track....Cathy you know first hand that's not the way Shelley and I roll. I will however heed your advise and have my wife pump up our property description just a bit. But I still want that Wow when new guests walk in the door. Thanks again, Joel

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

Better than the pictures!

Guest: Jean (Alexandria MN)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 05/30/11

The pictures can barely do justice to this property; it is as beautiful (if not more) than it shows on the website! Very spacious and extremely well decorated, clean, and comfortable. 8 women on a 3 day golf outing - fit our needs perfectly! Would highly recommend. Plenty of room - kitchen well stocked. I hope to rent again if we return to the Brainerd area! Owners were extremely accomodating and easy to reach.

Owner response:Hi Jean, Thank you for the excellent review! I agree with you the pictures we have on vrbo don't seem to do our place total justice. But surprising our guests in a good way when they arrive is part of the fun for us. I'm very pleased your group chose our retreat in the Nisswa area for your mid-week golfing getaway. As you know our retreat is in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes area and a stones throw from Nisswa but its also central to all the world class golf courses this area has to offer. Please thank all the gals for signing our guest book and we do hope to see you again! Thanks, Joel

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, girls getaway, age 55+.

This was the perfect place for our family gathering.

Guest: Deta (Maine)
Date of Stay: 08/26/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/10

My husband and I could not have been more pleased with our choice of this lovely house for our summer visit to Minnesota. We traveled from Maine to be with our our son, daughter-in-law and their three children (9, 6, and 3 years old) who live in the Minneapolis area. The house had everything we needed to make our stay relaxing and entertaining. The pool table was a huge hit. The spacious decks were wonderful - nice views, lots of sunlight and breezes. The kitchen was very well equiped which was much appreciated. (We have rented other places on VRBO where there was no soap, toilet tissue or dish detergent). The house is immaculate and very nicely furnished and decorated. The beds were very comfortable. Most of all, the owner was a pleasure to work with - accommodating and very helpful. We will definitely plan to return to this house on Middle Cullen Lake. Many thanks!!

Owner response:Hi Deta, Thank you for the kind words! I can't tell you how much we enjoy hosting family gatherings like yours. Now we can add the great state of Maine to the families that have come and enjoyed the heart of Minnesota's Northern Lakes Region. Our retreat has been a meeting place for many families from around the country and the last thing our guests need not worry about is basic home supplies. My wife and I are mindful of this and keep the retreat well stocked with all the basic essentials. Our motto has always been; just bring your attire, favorite foods, fishing and golfing gear and make yourselves at home. Thank you very much for letting us host your stay, we hope you pass this way again. Sincerely, Joel

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.