Relaxing Christmas on Cape Cod

Guest: Laurie & Ed (Marshfield, MA)
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

We were looking to spend a quiet relaxing Christmas away from the stress of running from one house to another so decided, at the dismay of our families, to "run away" this year. We could not have found a more serene picturesque place to escape than Nick's wonderful cozy house. Myself and our 2 pups (Betty and Jerry) arrived earlier than my husband and despite it being dark out and in a somewhat secluded area I immediatley felt welcomed and safe as soon as I entered the house. The house is clean, tastefully decorated with plenty of room for 2 dogs to roam around and not be under foot. I love the art work and the handcrafted clocks that are on display throughout the house. The gas stoves in the master bedroom and living room along with our little table top Christmas tree added a perfect holiday winter feel. The only thing missing was the snow. I love to cook and the kitchen had everything that you could possibly need to create a gourmet meal. We picked up some lobster meat on Christmas Eve and had a wonderful lazy man lobster pie with salad on Christmas. Before dinner, we took a walk over Uncle Tom's bridge where my husband (a biology major in college) was very excited to see a porpoise skull at the edge of the water. The dogs had a great time taking walks and visiting the nearby dog park in Provincetown where they met some new doggy friends. All in all we had such a great time that we have decided to book a week this fall. Thanks Nick for making available such a wonderful place to escape from reality and relax!!!!

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

Quiet Charm

Guest: Brad (Vermont)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

My wife and I spent a delightful week here in July with our two young children. We'll definitely be back. We were attracted to the house for its privacy and bygone appeal. Nick calls it "greek revival", mostly because of the front door pediment I suppose. I say it's just a large, antique, cape style cottage, full of detail, history, and charm. As old as it is, the house has been fitted with all the modern conveniences. Everything was in perfect working order. The kitchen features large new appliances. The washer/dryer, outside shower, newer gas grill, wireless internet and cable were all great. We didn't use them, but there are multiple televisions, and AC units in a couple rooms. We didn't hang out around the back yard either, although the hammock was a cool retreat for me a couple times. By far, the biggest asset is the privacy and setting there at the end of the sandy track. You feel like something out of history, or at least harkening back to the way the Cape used to be. The grassy cove in front and views of the marina and town make for quite a panorama from the front lawn chairs. Then you have what amounts to your own harbor beach 50 yards to the side, where the road meets the water. It is a town put-in, but we only saw a handful of people the whole week. You wouldn't spend the day there, but it's a great place for the kids to splash and run around between trips to the real beaches. I'd say the house is a little too intimate for a big family, or if you wanted to do entertaining, but for a couple with two or three kids, it's perfect. We did see a few of the tiny ants mentioned in a prior review, but we didn't think anything of it. Much ado about nothing. Nick was easy to deal with and most genial. He gave us a nice fresh striper filet one evening, which we promptly grilled and ate with a couple pounds of steamers from Hatch's. I wish I back there now.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children.

All year long we talk about how much we love this place.

Guest: Nutmegger (Connecticut)
Date of Stay: 07/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

Our kids are young adults now, but memory of their childhood holidays here spurs them to come back with us whenever they can. If that's not testimony to a wonderful experience, I don't know what is. This is a home, not just a house, with the sense of many lives passed within. Its age and character offer a complete change from antiseptic hotels and airbrushed condos. Scrupulously kept, it offers all the necessary amenities, while serving as the window on beautiful sunsets, and the lives of birds, wildfowl and fish visiting the cove. (Young children will love watching the hermit crabs scrabbling on the sand near the water.) The kind owners have been quick to respond to any minor problem. We've never had a reason to complain in the many years spent vacationing here. Key local pleasures include any number of walking trails in and around Wellfleet, as well as Cape Cod National Seashore's White Cedar Swamp, and Audubon Preserve in nearby Eastham. Various local beaches within short driving distance offer distinct personae. We enjoy debating which one we'll visit each day. Wellfleet Center is a low-key town that offers good restaurants, quirky shops, and art galleries. Shorts and a t-shirt are the only dress code required. Don't forget to have some local oysters during your stay.

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

White House - Wonderful!

Guest: chip (unionville, CT, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/22/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

This is a lovely property with a view of the harbor that is breathtaking, especially at sunsets. The premises are very clean, and everything you need to cook or care for a family is there already. A fully appointed kitchen, washing machine, dryer, patio, grill -- all in a historic property. The harbor is a two-minute walk and the area is frequented by ospreys on the hunt, hermit crabs galore, fish, heron, etc. It is a nature experience and beautiful accommodations rolled into one. We have been happy visitors for five years now and the Nicholson's always take good care of us. If we could, we would buy the place!

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

Private gem in hidden cove but close to everything!

Guest: Jon & Ashley MacCallum (duxbury, ma USA)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

We spent our April vacation here with our two young children and cannot wait to return again. The house is a complete gem tucked at the end of a lane right on the water. The pictures on the website dont begin to do it justice! The interior is immaculate, you can tell the owners take pride in the home and invest in the property to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. you had the best of both worlds with modern conviences like a dishwasher and cable tv mixed with all the charm of a historic house. The house was perfect and Every care was taken and you truly felt like you were staying in your own little piece of heaven!The house is in such a beautiful quiet spot, with such privacy and views it truly was a treat to stay there. It is right near the heart of Wellfleet center which is a perfect spot for enjoying all the upper cape has to offer. We highly recommend this house for anyone, it was perfect for us and our two young children and we cannot wait to book our next stay there!

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

Another wonderful vacation at The White House! July15,2011

Guest: Nana (Sunset,SC)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/15/11

Every year for the past ten years we've eagerly anticipated our two-three weeks in your historic home. Each year we've been rewarded with birds at the feeder, fabulous sunsets and tranquility at the end of Old Pier Rd. With marsh views in front, Hydrangias and Yuccas in the yard and Chipman's Cove at the end of the road, three minutes from the front door; we can ask for no better location to launch our kayaks. The W.H.A.T. Theater is located 10 minutes away with live performances, and we also enjoy taking in a show. This home is always immaculatley clean when we arrive. The photos shown on the website are accurate. We would highly recommend this home to our friends and relatives. The town of Wellfleet provides many opportunities to savor locally caught fish with it's top notch restaurants. There are many fine galleries and shops to satisfy any art lover or shopper and it's possible to walk to town. The National Seashore is perfect with both ocean and bay beaches just a few minutes away. The Jetty Beach off Cove Rd.is perfect for young children, enjoying a good book and for clamming. Great Island is part of the view from this beach. We look forward to our stay next year. In the meantime, the slide show on my computer will remind me of our good times.

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

gk

Guest: cubfan (washington,dc)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 07/15/11

this is a wonderful spot. stayed here a few times. the owner is a dream. totally helpful and kind and unobtrusive.the description is accurate but doesnt do justice to how beautiful/how quaint/how comfortable/how safe this place is.the pics are pretty but the place is far prettier. there is original artwork throughout and it is almost nicer than home.the owner is very attentive so the place is immaculate and very finely maintained.the owner is the best i have ever dealt with.he is responsive. he even caught some fish and gave us some. beat that!he answered all questions and provided information to allow us to feel at home in the area.i would enthusiastically recommend to anyone i know. wellfleet/provincetown have so much to do. sand and beach during the day.good restaurants at night. you cant beat this place!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Wonderful Escape to Serene House on Harbor

Guest: Ocean (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 07/14/11

We have stayed at this beautiful house several times and it never disappoints. Extremely well cared for, it is located on a quiet lane, away from traffic,and it feels light years away from the stress of urban life. A perfect place to relax, go for walks, see the stars, and observe nature. Plus, a short drive to the ocean and ponds for watching the seals or going for a swim. Highly recommend!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Welfleet Nightmare

Guest: MAC (Bos)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

My family stayed in this property recently. I feel the need to make any other potential renters aware our experience. The house is infested with insects. Forget about the fact that the outside of the house is like a science fiction film at all times of the day. I assumed that perhaps in the evening there would be bugs, but you could not be outside at all-anytime. However, the inside problem is one that the landlord has some control over. There were ants in the kitchen, crawling all over the bathroom (including our toothbrushes). There were Earwigs & Millipedes. There were also Cockroaches on the shower curtain, and in the bedrooms. There is a cabinet in the house which contained multiple ant traps, and various bug sprays for roaches etc..therefore there is no way the owner is not aware of the problem. Now I understand why he never called us or stopped by to see how everything was. It was absolutely disgusting. We are now washing everything that was in the house as I do not want to bring any insects into my home. We live in the countryside and have bugs-therefore we have a pest control contract to take care of it. We had to stay and make the best of it, but did consider going to a hotel and sending him the bill. Shame on you for taking people's hard earned money to live in a bug infested house!

Owner response:In over 20 years of renting we have never had an unhappy guest. This party seemed determined from the start to have a bad time. They haggled over the price, tried to hide the fact they were bringing their dog and then balked about our mandatory pet cleaning fee. We waived that in return for their promise to leave the house spotless. We went in with our cleaning crew to find the place a wreck. We were upset to find the slip cover on the love seat with a 6" hole torn out. It looked like the dog had shredded it. The shower was left full of hair. No attempt to honor our agreement. I don't understand why they never called us. We left flowers and a nice note for their arrival, stating that if they had any problems or questions to feel free to call anytime. We live nearby and would have seen to it immediately. We also provided them with beach chairs per their request and set up the volleyball net. As for the bugs we had a very wet spring and thus more gnats and mosquitoes, not just at our home, but everywhere. This is not something we can control. We have had a few little sugar ants in the kitchen in years past so we leave supplies to deal with them should they bother anyone. I don't understand the science experiment comment. Maybe they have no appreciation for the yuccas, day lilies and may other flowers that were in their glory? The roaches they saw came from outside and are known as wood roaches. Our exterminator who only treats for spiders in the cellar, confirms that they are totally harmless. They kindly provided a fact sheet which said, "Type of damage: Do not infest houses- they are simply casual or accidental invaders. Control: Control of these infrequent insects can be achieved with a fly swatter or a nudge out the door! An aerosol insecticide can be used if considered necessary. This insect will not take up residence in structures, so chemical control is usually not necessary. I also stopped by to say hello and when I turned in the driveway their two little girls ran off as if frightened so I decided not to intrude. We like to allow our guests to quietly enjoy their privacy without being intrusive. Why they left the house in such sad condition and never said word one about any problem, we cannot explain. And why they are so vindictive is beyond us. We put a lot of care into making our guests feel welcome and comfortable and this was personally hurtful.

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