Vacation Rentals by Owner

A wonderful week

Guest: MtlFamily (Montreal, QC)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 02/27/12

We (2 adults and 2 kids 8-6) spent a wonderful week at Hawk's house just after new year's eve. We really enjoyed relaxing in the house, enjoying the fireplace and the view. We loved walking and snowshoeing in Mary and Mark's woods. There are plenty of brochures in the house about things to do in the area, but we were feeling so great in the house and in the woods around that we stayed there most of the time. We received good recommendations for shopping (Buffalo Mountain Coop) and restaurant (Claire's) in Hardwick. Mary and Mark are wonderful guests, they even let me split wood to make the experience more complete (but don't worry if you are not so inclined, it's optional!). The house is very comfortable, with all the amenities you (well, at least we!) would need including high-speed internet - but chances are you won't use it much, who needs DSL when you have a fireplace, a great view, books and board games? We have very fond memories of our stay at Hawk's house, and we definitely hope to be back!

Owner response:Dear Michael and Marie: We are so pleased that you enjoyed your family time relaxing at Hawk House - and we had fun seeing all your snowshoe and sled tracks in our woods. We're glad you are coming back next week!

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

Great Spot!

Guest: randy s. (Princeton, MA)
Date of Stay: 11/25/11 Review Submitted: 01/12/12

My wife, I and beagle Hoser stayed at the Hawk House the weekend after Thanksgiving. We had a great stay. The house was perfect. Lounging by the fireplace with a fresh growler from Hill Farmstead Brewery (located a stone's throw away) made for 2 nice nights. Highly recommend the brewery if you enjoy good beer. The hops they use are fantastic! Hoser loved the nearby field and woods. He got great excercise hopping through the snow and exploring around the maples. Willey's provided an excellent nearby spot for dinner supplies and during the day on Sat we took a little excursion to the Crafsbury Outdoor Center and to Cabot for some cheese. The view out the kitchen window can't be beat. I highly recomment this rental.

Owner response:Hello Randy, Glad you enjoyed your stay at Hawk House, and hope you will return soon for a longer one. Just as a clarification, Hill Farmstead Brewery is about one and one half miles from Hawk House, on another gravel road (Hill Road). Best, Mark and Mary

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So Good to Be Back

Guest: Susan
Date of Stay: 08/20/11 Review Submitted: 01/19/12

So good to be back at Hawk House. The views still strike me as some of the most beautiful there are. Can't wait to explore the area once again. Thanks for the coffee grinder!

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Private Park - Nature Lover's Paradise

Guest: marty_HAC97887 (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 01/01/12

We loved our week at Hawk House, especially spending evenings watching sunsets from the porch of the amazing views of distant mountains and rolling hills. The house is a pleasantly surprisingly well-laid out retreat with room for two couples or a small family and dog friendly. Everything in the house is oriented toward the view which can be enjoyed from every room. We also loved having access to the 480 acres - our own wilderness trails and our dog loved running through the tall grass fields. The location is great. We'd never visited the Northern Kingdom before but Greensboro is a great small town central launching point to visit Cabot Cheese Factory, Ben and Jerry's, Stowe, the White Mountains, Putnam State Forest, and Lake Memphremamog. Nice restaurants in the nearby towns of Hardwick and St. Johnsbury. If you like gardening visit the Day Lilly farm in Greensboro - the owner is very friendly and they have hundreds of amazing varieties of bulbs you can bring home. All in all a wonderful way to escape for a magical week!

Owner response:Thank you, Marty. We live 3/4 of a mile beyond Hawk House, and we too think we live in a paradise.

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

Breathtaking View, Incredible Grounds

Guest: Lev and Kaila
Date of Stay: 05/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/19/12

What a beautiful place! The house is lovely, the grounds are incredible, and the view is breathtaking. Thanks for a great weekend!

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Beautiful space

Guest: Karen and Blair
Date of Stay: 03/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/08/12

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful space with us - it has everything you could need. And the view! Wow. The only regret I have is it was too cold to truly enjoy the porches!

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Guest: Tim and Julie, Charlestown, MA
Date of Stay: 11/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

Your photos on the web don't do Hawk House justice. It is gorgeous here. We had such a relaxing time. Lots of hikes and walks with our 3-year-old Lab who just loved being in the woods instead of the city streets of Boston.

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Guest: Ashok and Family
Date of Stay: 02/13/10 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

Hawk House provides a perfect respite from the fast-paced modern world. Here the mind and soul come to a perfect rest. The silence and beauty surrounding the environs helped us all to reach the silence within us. For some of us seeing this vast expanse of virgin snow was a novelty - and unreal beautiful sight. Our stay at Hawk House was truly memorable, and extremely comfortable.

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Guest: Mary and Kurt
Date of Stay: 01/10/10 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

As indicated by the date, the Hawk House, your hospitality and Greensboro shared "10's" all-round. It was swell that you arranged 20" of snowfall prior to our arrival; well-done. The fresh powder (and additional inches each night) made for perfect snow-shoeing. We covered miles of cross-country terrain in addition to your marked trails. Hawk House provided the ideal get-away, hide-away.

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Guest: Todd and Linsey
Date of Stay: 12/07/09 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

The closer we got to Hawk House the bigger the smile. The transition from Rt 91 to Vermont country roads was a beautiful thing to behold! Whilst driving, the mountains were almost always in view, but upon arrival and standing on the back porch, the awe completely took over! With the sun retiring behind the majesty of rounded peaks, all we could do was stand there in the profound silence of the coming night. Truth be told, we never once left the house after arriving. Until the time we left we wrapped ourselves in the seclusion of Hawk House and the surrounding snow-covered pines. Often we would step out on that porch only to be reminded of the peace surrounding us. So thanks to the magic of the place, a kitchen that served us very well, and a DVD player, the time was passed. The only bad part is leaving, knowing the time we spent is being chased by the ever-harrassing Monday morning!

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Guest: Ivy and JP and family
Date of Stay: 11/28/09 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

Thank you for sharing this amazing property with all of us. Waking up to the view of endless mountains and treetops, watching the clouds float by, soaking in the foggy mornings and blazing sunsets, was truly an unforgettable experience. We especially enjoyed having breakfast in the sunlight, following the many trails in an early winter wonderland and having the most relaxing Thanksgiving dinner ever! Thank you for the views, seclusion, and your warm hospitality.

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Guest: Tim, Julie and Family
Date of Stay: 08/29/09 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

We've enjoyed an amazing week here at Hawk House. The inspiring views and quiet woods are a welcome respite from our "normal" life in Brooklyn NY. A great staging ground for hikes and explorations of the NEK. Great vacation library - who knew The Exorcist was actually pretty good? Hiked to Highland Lodge and back for dinner via Barr Hill trails - awesome. Sadly, we must leave, but hope to be back!

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Guest: Rob and Catharine and Family
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

We watched a very active bat scooping up bugs just off the back deck for almost 30 minutes. A hummingbird jousted with his own reflection in the big window. We also saw woodpeckers, toads, big green beetles and lots of wildflowers. It was a beautiful week to be here. Nearby attractions we enjoyed included a walk up Elmore Mountain, swimming in Caspian Lake, a visit to the Cabot dairy and a day out around the shore of Lake Memphremagog. Also did the Barr Hill Nature Walk for the good views. We were able to eat local food for almost every meal, which was a real treat. We also managed to do a jigsaw or two, play games and read. Thank you for a wonderful week!

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Guest: John and Ellen
Date of Stay: 08/30/08 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

We have had a lovely 2 weeks at Hawk House - a wonderful, peaceful respite from daily life and a chance to really recharge our batteries. Recovering from knee surgery, I was unable to do any "real" hiking, so the trails in your woods and fields were perfect for daily walks. Some favorite things: our dogs bounding through woods and fields being real dogs, not suburban prisoners! The view, in all weather and every time of day. Great produce, cheese, meat, and bread from Hazendale and farmers' markets. Pure, clean air to breathe. Swims in the clear waters of Caspian. The husband appreciated the technology; I was thrilled to take a break from the computer. Starry sky. Silence. Thank you, Mary and Mark!

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Paradise Found

Guest: JackandEllen (Toano, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 08/02/08 Review Submitted: 09/03/08

If you are looking for an opportunity to surround yourself with nature, in a quiet, peaceful mountain setting with a spectacular view, this is it. Set at about 1600 feet, amongst tall evergreens and mature sugar maples, the cabin is clean and well maintained. The cabin is cozy, too, but you will want to spend most of your time on the balcony, feeding the birds and a semi-tame red squirrel, cooking on the grill provided, and enjoying that long range view. The owners are very friendly, willing to answer your questions, and offer suggestions. A beautiful arrangement of fresh local flowers greeted us and we enjoyed a bowl of fresh raspberries the owners picked for us.There are hours of easy to moderate hiking trails on the property, with two very private picnic settings with great views. Check out the nearby Barr Hill Nature Preserve, just on the other side of the property. It provides an easy self-guided educational hike with some good views. This place is perfect for those who just want to get away from it all, but great too for those who can’t stay away from civilization. The Willey’s General Store and the beach on Caspian Lake are just minutes away. This is a good jumping off spot for those who want to explore the back roads of the Northeast Kingdom. If you are looking for moose, we suggest traveling the Essex County loop of Routes 114, 102, and 105, in the evening. We saw one east of Island Pond. Some good restaurants include The Highland Lodge just down hill from the cabin, Claire’s in Hardwick, Foxfire Inn (Italian) just North of Stowe, the East Side Restaurant in Newport, and the Main Street Restaurant in Jeffersonville. For those who must contact the outside world, the wireless internet connection worked perfectly, and the satellite TV is available so you won’t miss those Red Sox. My wife and I have been vacationing in Vermont for 30 years and this is the best place yet. Wish it was ours.

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

Get away from it all!

Guest: Dog Lovers (MA)
Date of Stay: 04/19/08 Review Submitted: 04/29/08

We had the most relaxing, rejuvenating experience of any vacation home we have rented! The dogs were able to safely run free. We were able to hike on the many trails of this property. I would recommend this rental home to anyone that desires a real getaway.

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

Peaceful retreat, warm and comfortable

Guest: EriktheV (Concord, NH)
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/18/07

We stayed for the three days of Thanksgiving, Thursday through Sunday, and, of course, picked one of the years when it snowed. We had checked in advance about access issues as we were traveling in a sedan and not an SUV or other 4WD but the fates still conspired to thwart us. The owners did actually call us the night before we left to describe the weather conditions, which was much appreciated. We reached the driveway without issue, thanks to excellent step-by-step directions provided by the owners but the driveway proved to be a little treacherous due to fresh snow on a slippery icy base. I walked up the driveway to check the house and found a helpful note left for us offering help to get up the driveway if we needed it so called for backup. Within 10 minutes aid appeared and with the help of the owner and three other locals, we managed to get the car up to the cabin. Suffice to say that we didn't go anywhere for the three days and on departure suffered no problems heading down to the main road. The property is exactly as described and very comfortable with a large fireplace and all wood provided. The beds are fine and the kitchen, though a little small, is fully equipped for our stay. The living room has a fine high ceiling and superb views (when the weather cleared) and we made friends with a local red squirrel and a couple of the local feathered residents. The house is very warm and comfortable and I would certainly recommend it to those who seek a peaceful time away from neighbors and especially if you enjoy birdwatching, based on the numerous sightings listed in the guest book. The owners couldn't have been more helpful and for those who can't do without their online daily fix there is wireless internet access and free domestic phone service. My only concern is the driveway under bad weather conditions and would certainly recommend a good 4WD in late fall and through the winter. My wife and I had a wonderfully relaxing time and the lack of access for trips out was not an issue as we wanted to relax and rest. Highly recommended.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Liz and Howard
Date of Stay: 08/25/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

What a great view!! Just what we all needed...and the quiet! Thanks so much for maintaining Hawk House - it's a treat. Best wishes.

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Guest: Lynn
Date of Stay: 05/26/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

The best possible room with a view for meditation and appreciation. Wordsworth would have loved it here and so do I! Thanks.

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Guest: Margot and Nick
Date of Stay: 05/12/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

We came to see spring arrive - and it was glorious. The most spectacular weather we've ever had - and we've come here, on occasion, for 15 years! Blue Cohosh stumped us until the flowers came out - our guide book stated that we'd last seen it here - in August '93. Blue berries then. Oven birds arrived one night. Hermit Thrush, Chipping sparrows, turkey vultures here already. Revisited the 60's at Bee's Knees in Morrisville for a wonderful lunch.

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Guest: Karl and Kathy and Family
Date of Stay: 02/24/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

Another wonderful week at Hawk House! Skiing at Burke was fantastic! Great snowshoeing at Highland Lodge - cozy nights by the fire playing games, jigsaw puzzles and books. So relaxing. Will be back! Oh - we recommend the tour at Cabot (especially if you have kids) The cheeses are great!

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Guest: Mary
Date of Stay: 06/24/06 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

I have been reminded this week that my ordinary life is full of city noise. Silence is a rare gift that Hawk House offers generously. Many thanks, McGraths, for your kindness and hospitality. I hope to visit soon again.

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