Vacation Rentals by Owner

Winter Wonderland

Guest: Jeff (Wausau, WI)
Date of Stay: 03/02/12 Review Submitted: 03/12/12

What a wonderful experience! The home was perfect for our multi-family gathering. Plenty of room for sleeping quarters and indoor activities. The home is laid out in a fashion that also provides a great deal of private space. The views and access to Connors Lake are outstanding. This is an awesome location for outdoor recreation in any season with lakes, rivers and state park recreation areas minutes away. Should you have the urge to have dinner out, there is an excellent restaurant within minutes located on highway W. I definitely recommend this property for a family gathering or a multi-family get away.

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

40 birthday return

Guest: wendy (cedarburg, wi)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 09/21/11

My husband and his grandfather spent one week every year for about 20 years coming to fish on Connors Lake. Times have changed and my husband had not been back for about 15 years. I decided to celebrate his 40th back on Connors with our family and a few extended family members. We found Helen and Lee's cabin and thought it would be great. It was that and more. They were wonderful to work with (I have only rented one other place on vrbo so it is still new to me and I was not sure how it would go). They responded promptly and answered all my questions very clearly. Everything was as they said it would be and we had no surprises. The cabin was spacious yet cozy. The deck was awesome! There was a place for play or quiet conversation indoors and out. The kitchen had everything we needed... very well stocked. The laundary room had plenty of extra,s if needed, as well. The dock was a wonderful place to sit morning, noon or evening. We enjoyed the peacefulness so much and did not need any entertainment. If you want a great place to relax, catch up on life, enjoy the beauties of nature, look no further!!! Thanks for the memories! Hope to return next year. (The kids are pushing hard for that too:) )

Owner response:Wendy and family: Thanks for your sweet comments regarding your recent trip to our cabin. It is always music to our ears when we know our cabin has been used to make a difference in lives, even if for a short time. We look forward and welcome a return visit! Helen and Lee Rades

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

AWESOME,ENTERTAINING,RELAXING

Guest: Curt/Jill (Harrodsburg, Kentucky)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

Many thanks for sharing your wonderful cabin with us. The cabin is quite roomy. the added features of large screen TV's were good for the teenagers. The fully equipped kitchen was a bonus and thrilled our cooks. We took advantage of the easy access to the private dock to fish, (hope we left some for others) and to view the magnificient sunsets we were fortunate to see. The availability of the canoe, kayak and paddle boat was a plus for all of us. We also enjoyed the outdoor firepits, gathering for fish tales and smores. there was also Beautiful scenery for leisurely walks . Thank you for a most memorable, relaxing and beautiful vacation.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Family Fun in the Northwoods

Guest: Laura G.
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/14/11

Overall planning and communication w/ rental owners was excellent prior to arrival and check-in during stay. Four families w/ young children had plenty of space and the three levels allowed the adults to enjoy themselves as well. Fully furnished including kitchen (two full fridges) and laundry came in handy. Basement bar / rec room was a bonus we didn't expect. Swimming and fishing off the dock was great and a nice beach/park was located across the lake. Minimal lake traffic allowed for fishing and recreational boating/tubing. The walk from cabin to lake was steep although kids as young as three were able to manage. Overall, the vacation exceeded expectations primarily due to large size and amenities of vacation home. **We strongly recommend visiting the Cabin at Connor's Lake and the Flambeau Forrest Inn!

Owner response:Thanks for your positive words regarding our cabin! It is ALWAYS a joy for us to hear that the "fruits of our labor of love" at the cabin are enjoyed by our renters. We have been diligent to try and think of everything we could do to make our cabin a place for families and friends to make memories for a lifetime. It has been our desire to make it attractive, cozy, and a retreat for all who visit. It is especially rewarding to have our guests let us know how meaningful their trip was as we cannot be there to enjoy the cabin as often as we would like. Thanks again for taking the time to share your positive experience with our cabin, and us. We try to be very hands-on and involved with our rentals and want to ensure our guests needs are met. Lee and Helen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Our Couples January getaway!

Guest: Vaassen (Kieler, WI)
Date of Stay: 01/13/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

Our group takes 2 snowmobile trips each year to Northern Wisconsin. We usually have 10-12 people & after switching cabins every couple years, we have found our 2nd home for our yearly January trip. Everything was just as Lee & Helen stated it would be and the whole process is smooth every year. I could tell the first time I talked to Lee that he was a man of his word & the cabin would be just as he said. It is difficult to find a place where you can sleep 12 comfortably but not at this cabin. The 3 full bathrooms are great & I like that the beds are spread from the top floor to the basement. We have a lot of memories made in this spacious house, whether it be sitting at the bar in the basement or 12 of us around the gigantic dining room table at night laughing & sharing stories over cards or other games. Mark at the Log Cabin restaurant is a great guy. They have excellent food, service and always have gas. We love to ride this area of the state because it is not congested w/ all the traffic of many areas near Eagle River & the other popular areas & the trails offer great scenery. This is the first year we aren't heading back to the cabin simply due to there not being enough snow there right now. Lee & Helen were great to work with on this too... they said no worries, if there isn't snow, we will send you your $ right back. Helen/Lee, we will miss the cabin & always appreciate the ease of our trip planning with you. Consider us booked for next year and we can't wait to get back!!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Skinny Skiers (Charlie,Michelle,Joe,Leanne)

Guest: skiinyski (Plymouth, MN)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/11

We spent 3 nights at this wonderful Cabin on Conners Lake over the long New Years Weekend. We came to this area for some Cross country skiing with the flambeau hills trail just about 2 miles away in the Flambeau State Park. Unfortunately we had a full day of rain and then the temps drop and turn the trails into an icy mess but no problem because we just headed back to our wonderful retreat on the lake. We did venture out for a hike to Bass Lake in the state park. It was a great work out blazing a trail thru the snow. With just the four of us we had plenty of room. The kitchen table was the place for the puzzel and the big screen tv was perfect for watching the Rose Bowl ( TCU beats Wisconsin) We made one dinner in and went out to two great restruarant, cabin on Conners Lake and the Flambeau Inn. We received a call from Lee making sure everything was OK with our stay. This was a great place with every detail in place. We look forward to our return to this little slice of Heaven.

Owner response:Thanks "Skinny Skiers"! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime! Lee and Helen Rades, Owners

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

Excitement for vacation turns to disappointment

Guest: Diana29 (Rockford, IL )
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We thought the property would be a great place for our grandchildren and us to enjoy the lake and time together. Unfortunatly we found the place not suitable for little children. We were told it was safe for the little ones to swim. They couldn't get into the water at the property because of the weeds. There are also stairs in the house that are dangerous for little ones. The owner didn't get back with us right away when we presented the issues we had with the property. I had to wait until the next day after I e-mailed to get a response. We left a day early (would have left sooner had we not spend all our finances on this week) and went to a nice hotel. In fairness to the owner the house was clean and comfortable just not suitable for little ones.

Owner response:We decided to wait some time before addressing this particular review out of TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT! We TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND CONCERN in our rental process! We are professional business owners and would NEVER see any purpose to advertise or state UNTRUE promises for our guests! In conversations with this guest, we had talked about the grandchildren and 3 levels with stairs, and that much oversight would be needed! As well, we were clear that there is no air-conditioning. Our guests wanted to LEAVE upon arrival and receive FULL refund during our PEAK SEASONl which went against our cancellation policy that is clearly stated. There was no proof of emergency or danger! Our cabin is inspected EACH JUNE by the State Health Department under the motel guidelines and we must undergo their scrutiny/approval to receive licensure which we have posted on the refrigerator in the cabin. We are VERY FAIR, reputable people who will do the right thing. Last year, we refunded FULL PAYMENT to a family who had a grandchild with cancer diagnosis w/i 3 weeks of their arrival. We believe that COMMUNICATION, and what our guest heard was an issue! As you REVIEW our other guest responses, we believe you will see a pattern of our guests receiving what they expected per our on-site listing and personal conversations. We are thrilled for the opportunity to share our cabin, and want to assure many memorable moments can be made in our lovely setting! Our cabin lay-out might not be perfect for all families, but we believe there is enough information posted, and enough pictures that folks can pretty much know what the cabin lay-out is like. We were, of course, devastated about this review as we DO take pride and want all 5 stars! Thanks for your open-mindedness as you read this guest review.

Recommended for:

Experience the north woods w/modern day amenities

Guest: DJ (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 02/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

This rental property has the charm of a small quaint getaway, and all the amenities of a city home. Nestled in the national forest area on a quiet, clear Connor's Lake, this property is fit for a king. A huge kitchen and dining area keep everyone together, and the basement bar and rec area make for great socializing and relaxation. A walk out basement, and beautiful fire pit and sitting area near the water, and a dock overlooking a westward facing daily sunset will put you at ease. The interior of the cabin has a warm feel with beautiful wood character and plenty of room to spread out. For all you hard wired, fast paced professionals, there is even a small office area with printer, desk, WiFi, phone (bring calling card), and spot for you to touch base with those not so fortunate to be up north. The local area has plenty of recreational offerings from canoeing to fishing to guided hunting and miles of trails to snowshoe or cross country ski. The actual lake is in the top five clearest, cleanest lakes in the state and the fishing is spectacular. Friendly neighbors and access to recreational ATV & Snowmobile trails make this property a true gem. A fully furnished kitchen, satellite TV, lower rec room and bar, beach area fire pit, and gigantic wrap around deck truly make give you everything you could ask for. This property needs to be on your list for future visits and annual get togethers. Enjoy!

Owner response:Thanks for your enlightening/informational review of our cabin, and the area! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime!

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

Connors Lake Cabin

Guest: Gilly_upnort (St. Germain, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 11/20/09 Review Submitted: 12/06/09

We have a large group and this rental fit us all and offered something for everyone. The wireless internet, direct TV, and big screen TV's were a big hit with the kids. The modern appliances in the kitchen and laundry room made us feel like we never left home. We stayed here for over a week and still did not get a chance to take advantage of all this rental had to offer. Located in the middle of the state forest we had easy access to a wide range of outdoor activities. The owners were very concerned that everything about our stay went well and kept in contact before, during, and after our stay. We plan to rent it again next year. .

Owner response:Thanks for taking the time to give our cabin a review. We are thrilled you are coming back this year! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Steve Helriegel

Guest: father of 4 (Chicago IL)
Date of Stay: 12/26/08 Review Submitted: 01/07/09

Had a fantastic time during the Christmas/New Years Holiday. Clean and well equipped house with all the comforts of home. Snowmobile trail access at the end of the road tied into hundreds of miles of trainls in Sawyer and Price counties. Great local places to eat yet far enough away from town to make it remote. I would highly recommend this property for a winter rental and will consider it myself for the summer!

Owner response:Steve, we appreciate your taking the time to write a review of our cabin! Thanks! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime!

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

Remote North Woods

Guest: Top (Stanley, KS)
Date of Stay: 07/12/08 Review Submitted: 07/26/08

The property and amenties were as disscribed in the Home Away Web Site. Even though the property is remote it is easily accessable on good roads. The property inside and out is clean and well maintained. The owner was available via e-mail and phone pior to our visit and called while we were there to make sure everything was ok. The lake and dock along with the canoe and paddle boat were great for the kids. The older set enjoyed the deck and the sunsets. I would recommend this property to anyone wanting to experience the North Woods.

Owner response:We appreciate your review of our cabin and glad you enjoyed your stay! Remember us for future trips! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime! Helen and Lee Rades, Owners

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

Comfortable living in a beautiful setting

Guest: Seasoned Vacation Home Renters (St. Charles, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/14/08 Review Submitted: 07/12/08

Upon entering, we found the cabin immediately comfortable, clean, and roomy. The dining room is big enough to seat a large family, and the kitchen well-equipped. The bedrooms are spacious and well-separated for anyone seeking solitude, and the mattresses are all very comfortable (a rare find in many rentals). The lake is a nice size, clear, with a sandy bottom. We had plenty of good fishing. The pier was comfortable with built-in benches--a nice place to sit and view the wildlife. We saw eagles, otters, loons, deer, turtles, a fox, and a variety of ducks. It is hard to find a downside; however, the area appears to have once been a resort, so while it's not a problem up at the cabin, the docks are close at the lakefront, which is not a big problem unless you're looking for complete solitude. Overall, we highly recommend this place; it's one you'll want to return to.

Owner response:Your review is so appreciated! Thanks so much for taking the time to enlighten future guests! We look forward to your return and trust you will be able to make memories that can last a lifetime!

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

Our experience at the lodge!

Guest: Cubs fans..... (Rockford, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/06/08 Review Submitted: 06/13/08

Well, our week at the lodge is almost over and we are all going to hate leaving! Everything at the lodge was as described on the website and the owners emails. It was clean, plenty big, and had all the amentities that you need. The big plasmas came in handy on the rainy days and also for the Cubs games. The lower rec room was a favorite for all of the kids and poker players. The owners called us on the 1st day to make sure everything was going OK. The lodge location is 18 miles from any type of "shopping", so you need to plan accordingly. It wasn't a big deal for us, as the weather wasn't the greatest and it was fun to just take a drive to town! We did have some luck fishing, catching bluegill, bass, Northern Pike, and a 36 inch Musky. The Musky was caught right off the dock. The lake was absolutely perfect. Just the right size, very quiet and clear water. My son and I had a great canoe ride at 5AM one morning. Other items that came in very handy were the central vac and all the kitchen supplies. One other thing that was "interesting"..There is no cell service at the cabin! You can drive about 1 mile and park next to the large tower and get some reception, so it wasn't that big of a deal. It was actually kind of nice. The cabin does have internet service, which was a BIG plus. I couldn't get the wireless going, but there is an office area with a hard line connection that worked great. The only opportunities that the group came up with were the garbage situation, and the view of the lake/dock. You have to take your full garbage 17 miles to a dumpster. If you leave it outside, it will attract the bears. We would recommend garage access or a small lockable shed to store the garbage cans. We also thought that some clearing is needed on the hillside down to the lake. It's difficult to see down to the dock area. Neither of these was a big problem, just thought we had to come up with some opportunities!! Overall, a great family vacation and one that will be remembered forever!

Owner response:We appreciated the review and kind comments related to our cabin. We take all suggestions seriously as we want our vacation experience to be the best possible! It was great to know the fish were biting for our guests! We are constantly striving to make quality improvements to our cabin. Lee and Helen

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

Snowmobile trip '08

Guest: Sue33 (Boone, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/27/08

When we got there we were amazed with the cabin. We liked the homey feeling and all of the amenities. It was hard to control the temperature and we had a problem with the TV (I believe this was due to Dish Network, not the actual TV). Besides that we were very happy. If you are going to snowmobile, the trails are great and the locals are nice. Make sure you either get a good trail map or map out your trip before you come (the trail maps need a little work). Also, map out gas as it is easy to get stuck in the middle of no where with no gas. The cabin also is right on the lake so if you are going to fish, I'm sure this would be an excellent choice. The cabin was very clean and ready for us. The owner called 2-3 times to make sure everything was going good for us. There is a very nice resturant (upscale) and bar just across the lake (3-4 miles by road) with excellent service and awesome food. There is not a lot of other attractions/resturants/pubs/people within 20 miles so make sure you have some sort of transportation. I would have like to have seen more supplies in the kitchen such as seasonings, ziplock baggies, cooking oil, the things you always forget. The utensils and cooking ware and dishes were fully furnished, that was not a problem. There was also plenty of towels for bathing. I really liked the heated floors and claw foot bath tub in the master bedroom. There was a fire place on the main floor and in the master bedroom but the one in the master did not work (user error?). Overall it was a great experience and now I know what to be prepared for. I would definetly recomemend this to a friend and we may even look into it for next year.

Owner response:Thanks too Sue,and Group.... We are glad they had a Great Time.....This is really our first letter like this online...we have a logbook at Cabin that we have for each year w/ many letters like Sue's... Thank You....Lee/Helen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.