great location and great views

Guest: abc (Snohomish, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

We had a great time. The views were great, the house really nice and the owners went above and beyond to make our stay very comfortable and at ease, like home. They thought about anything you may need and went above that. There area bunch of games that are available, kayaks you can use, coffee and hot chocolate and wine to be had. Would definitely recommend, especially for summer stays.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A fabulous visit to the west coast

Guest: Len B.
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/31/11

My wife and I truly enjoyed our first extended visit to the northwest coast, thanks primarily to your warm and thoughtful hospitality. From the welcoming bottle of wine and bouquet of flowers, we were greeted to a wonderful home. The accommodations were superb, as was the home and its location. From the hot tub we observed an Orca as well as a Bald Eagle, truly highlights to our stay! But even simply lounging and sleeping were a joy thanks to the comforts of your home. We truly hope to one day have to opportunity to return for another visit. Len and Susan Bolton Plymouth, MA

Recommended for:

Exactly what we were looking for...just as described

Guest: T (Bellevue, WA)
Date of Stay: 10/19/11 Review Submitted: 10/28/11

This beautiful home exceeded all expectations. It lived up to its description perfectly, and provided us a nice and needed break of quiet relaxation. Our stay was mid-week, so it can't speak if this changes on the weekend, but even with other homes close-by (within eyeshot), there was a complete feeling of solitude. The only life we ran into on beach walks were birds. If you time your walks with the tides (tide books provided) you can stroll as far as you want. It would be difficult to imagine what more you'd add to the home if it were your own -- all that's provided is essentially all that you need, with added bonuses that give you reason to smile and fully appreciate its attention to detail (like the Williams Sonoma soap in the bathroom...yum). Unexpected fun additions to our stay was stumbling upon a tremendous winemakers dinner at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock, and watching submarines twice being escorted through the canal -- that's quite a sight (which you can view with the home's binoculars). We thank the home's thoughtful and generous hosts and fully endorse it as a high-quality rental.

Recommended for:

Exceeded Our Expectations!

Guest: Janet B.
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/11/11

We had an absolutely delightful stay at this home. The location is gorgeous and the home is everything we could have desired. The owners clearly take pride in providing a stellar experience to everyone who stays here. The extra touches and thoughtful surprises were very much appreciated. If you're looking for a peaceful getaway to enjoy your vacation, this is the place for you!

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

SIX STARS WOULD BE BETTER

Guest: Elaine N. (N. Georgia)
Date of Stay: 08/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

Escaping the muggy hot summer in GA to the fresh, sunny 70's of Olympic Peninsula Washington is my idea of a vacation!! Our week's weather couldn't have been better and even today's rain can't dampen the beauty of this view and comfortable home. The owners decorated in a modern, uncluttered style and the house was so clean my bare feet sang a happy song! The photos don't lie. We took advantage of the hot tub and the kayaks - with his fly rod, my husband caught (and released) more than the three 17-18" cutthroat trout - just north of our shoreline! Driving 20 minutes to the fabulous Central Market in Poulsbo was nothing to us. The store is a Happy Place for foodies and fresh Pacific NW seafood abounds there. Not to mention Gulliver-sized produce! This is a luxurious property in an unbeatable location with top notch views. I hope we can return.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

30th Anniversary getaway

Guest: John N. (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 08/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/20/11

We loved our stay at the Garden Cottage. The place was so clean and the views from every window were incredible. It was relaxing to sit on the deck and watch the birds, especially the osprey and eagle, swooping by. The hot tub was so relaxing and the fireplace added a romantic ambiance on a couple of cool evenings. Port Ludlow was centrally located to many of the sites we wanted to see and although we did a lot of driving (learn how to use the ferry system!) we had a very nice place to relax, recharge, and rest between excursions. And I loved all the plants surrounding the cottage. It is aptly named.

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

Lovely, relaxing vacation

Guest: jilb57 (Mission Hills, KS)
Date of Stay: 07/06/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

My husband, 20 yr old daughter and I spent several days at this lovely home in mid July. The house is an architectural gem. We enjoyed breathtaking views of the canal and sky from almost every room. The house is clean, well maintained, and offers every amenity for a comfortable, relaxing vacation. The deck, garden, and beach were wonderful. We loved having acess to the kayaks. We had fun biking and exploring in Port Townsend, and hiking in the ONP and on Dungeness spit, and cooking fresh seafood at the house. When we continued our vacation in Seattle, we missed the Hood Canal and wished we had stayed a few more days! Thanks for sharing a very special vacation spot!

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

A tranquil getaway not far from Seattle

Guest: Lee K. (Highland Park, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We -- my wife, 4-year-old son, and I -- enjoyed our stay here very much. The house was perfect for our needs -- plenty of room; a full kitchen will everything we could possibly need; a gorgeous view; comfortable furnishings; a comfortable bed; and more. Had the weather been a little nicer during our stay, we would have eaten every meal outside on the lovely deck. As it was, the hot tub was a relaxing way to enjoy the cool summer weather. The private beach is beautiful and completely isolated. The steps leading down to it are borderline treacherous -- almost steep enough to be considered a ladder. Guests less cautious than us will not have a problem with this, but we were reluctant to go down there more than once with our young child. The location is very peaceful and relaxing. This location is ideal if you plan to buy fresh food and eat in. There are attractive towns in the area, but plan to spend a fair amount of time in the car, as there is very little within a short drive. This is part of the house's charm -- its remoteness at the end of a residential street -- but be prepared for this.

Owner response:We're pleased that you enjoyed your stay at our home. Our goal is to make everyone's visit as comfortable as possible. Not only do we provide all sorts of activities to do while you're staying at our guest house, we also include many amenities, including breakfast items, so that you don't have to shop right away (although there are several wonderful large grocery stores within a 25-minute drive, and a well-equipped convenience store that is only 5 minutes away). For guests who would like to eat out, there are a fine dining, high-end restaurant, casual cafe, pizza/Italian restaurant, coffee shop, golf course cafe, BBQ restaurant, tearoom and general store cafe nearby, all within a 10-minute drive. Additional shopping, restaurants and entertainment can be found in several charming towns within a 30-minute drive. We recently made arrangements to provide access to our beach via a community driveway, in addition to our stairs. While a bit less convenient than just popping down the stairs, it will provide an additional means to walk to the beach for our guests. As indicated above, our house has wonderful 180 degree views of the water and mountains and is a perfect site for unwinding with a book, spending the evening paddling on the bay in the kayaks we provide, or even watching osprey building their nest. Our central location makes getting to those charming towns mentioned and to world-class hiking trails easy. And, in the evening you can settle down by the fire to watch satellite tv or surround-sound movies, or just relax in the water-view hot tub. A plush get-away with the conveniences of home!

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

July Vacation 2011

Guest: Bill W. (Parker, CO)
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We had a wonderful time at this property. The place was very clean and well stocked with all the items you need. Betty was great to work with and very responsive and helpful with all of our questions about the area and what to do. Most of all it was very quiet and peaceful. We enjoyed the cool mornings and not to hot days as we spent our time whale watching, fishing, kayaking and sight seeing. I would highly recommend this property to anyone wanted to visit the Puget Sound area.

Owner response:We're so glad that you were able to enjoy many of the wonderful activities that this area has to offer. We try to provide as much information as possible to help make your stay on the Olympic Peninsula enjoyable, including a large notebook filled with ideas and guidebooks to help plan your vacation. And, with our cool evenings and perfect daytime temperatures, summer is a wonderful time to visit Port Ludlow.

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

Garden Cottage

Guest: AODEM (Indianapolis, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

our stay at the garden cottage was unbeatable. The home is beautiful, with a perfect view of Puget Sound right outside the window. The hot tub on the deck was perfect after a full day of hiking, and the heated floors in the kitchen and bathrooms added extra pampering. We loved sea kayaking on Puget Sound, and hanging out in the fish market and brewery in Port Townsend. The running and hiking trails nearby made it a perfect outdoor getaway during the day, and the house made for a comfortable evening. I would highly recommend this cottage for your vacation!

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