Family Time

Guest: RayClay (Bowie, MD)
Date of Stay: 08/01/06 Review Submitted: 08/22/06

Sandy Pines is a home away from home. All amenities are exact with many additional comforts on the property. The kitchen is a gourmet treat with spices and extras already stocked. The private pool was just right for all six children ages 7-14. With beach and pool toys already on-site, the children found fun at the end of their finger tips. Daily sunset watching from the hammocks and the screened-in porches provided the adults with unbelievable relaxed moments. We were impressed with every aspect of Sandy Pines including the bar-b-que pit that we used to grill and roast marshmallows for s'mores one evening. If you enjoy bird-watching or gazing once in awhile at the wild-turkey and deer which pass in the distance, then you will love this property. If you enjoy beautiful landscapes with colorful crape myrtle, hydrangea bushes, black-eyed susans, mature vinca and bold and beautiful pines, then this is it! Kayakking, canoeing, crabbing and fishing were all in abundance. The kids took full advantage of every activity including a game of badminton with everything already provided. The owners truly thought of a retreat center for families and small groups when furnishing Sandy Pines. From the furniture on the inside to the furniture on the outside, every piece is appropriately placed to maximize your stay. It is minutes away from "downtown" St. Michael's and the town of Neavitt. If antiquing and casual window shopping is what you enjoy, then this too tops the activity list. All and all, I would recommend this piece of heaven to anyone searching for quiet and peace in their daily life. Joy and tranquility is Sandy Pine's middle name!

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Sandy Pines

Guest: Vinod P.
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/12

We enjoyed yet another fabulous memorial Weekend stay at Sandy Pines in 2011! Being repeat visitors, it was easy to take things for granted, but we come back every year and are surprised yet again by this fabulous experience. The great house and property is always there of course, but so is the excellent service provided by the owners - no surprises whatsoever, with everything stated upfront in clear language and to great detail. No issues ever with cleanliness, functionality, etc. And every time we go we some nice little upgrades that make our stay even better. The place is at the right distance away from the town, so there is peace and quiet around you but anything you need is a short drive away. We have been raving about the place and recommending it all our friends, and hope to make it back there for a long time!

Owner response:It's always a pleasure to welcome returning families back to Sandy Pines!

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Family, Fun, and Great Memories

Guest: S W.
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/29/11

We completely enjoyed our stay at Sandy Pines and wished we could have stayed longer. In fact, we wish we could stay there forever! What a wonderful, quiet, peaceful place to relax and enjoy family. We had a family reunion here with 3 generations ranging from 8 to 78. The kids enjoyed the crab traps, swimming in the pool, kayaking, canoeing, and looking for the animals (frogs, stingrays, crabs, butterflies, pray mantis, etc). The adults enjoyed the comfortable chairs and hammocks down by the water with the wonderful breeze, the beautiful and clean house, biking along the road, eating fresh crab caught off the dock, and shopping in town. It was like going back in time where roads are not filled with cars, stores are friendly and small and close at 5pm, and people just take their time and enjoy the day. Food shopping was not an issue. Only 10 minutes in town or 5 minutes more for a bigger store. The house had everything you would need to feel right at home: games for kids, paper products, candles, bed sheets, lanterns for night time crab fishing, crab traps, pool toys, beach toys, postcards and stamps, books for leisure reading, plenty of dishes/cups, wifi, radio, washer/dryer, piano, etc. The house is spotless when you arrive and the caretakers and owners were wonderful when the air conditioner broke during a heat wave. We wouldn't recommend ordering pizza from Ava's if you are use to larger pies that can feed a family (too pricey and too small). We did find great food/service at reasonable prices at Rusticana's just outside of town. We also went into Easton (about 20 min) away for Chilis, food shopping at a bigger Acme, and movies (on one of the hot days). We also drove around to Tilghman Island to see the drawbridge (which you can see from the dock) and to see the Chesapeake Bay. I would definitely return back to Sandy Pines in the future and would highly recommend this place to others. I miss it already!

Owner response:Thank you for your kind words and great detail. We welcome you and your family back anytime!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Getaway Spot

Guest: JR (Hoboken, NJ)
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

A bunch of friends and I rented this house for a celebration and a weekend away. We were really really pleased with our experience. The house was very large, roomy and clean. At no point did we feel like we were on top of each other. The pool was perfect for lounging around and in good condition. Also the views from the house and out near the water were great...perfect way to watch the sunset. Only advice is bring some bug spray. It is about a 10 min drive into town for activities, but if you want some peace and quiet this is a great place to get it.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children.

Beautiful home in a perfect spot

Guest: alexfamily (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 11/24/10 Review Submitted: 12/07/10

Sandy Pines is a beautiful, well-maintained home perfectly laid out for several families to stay in at a time, everyone with their own space. The fireplace/yellow room is a delight - comfy sitting spots all with views of the water, including sunset views every single night. The kitchen is well-appointed and well-situated. The only drawback: the nearest grocery store is 20 minute away. Plan to stop on your way to the house. We loved our stay and will be back.

Owner response:There are two grocery stores, and the ACME, in town, is just 10 minutes away, and our renters may not have located that one. The second grocery, Graul's Market, is about 15 minutes away. We let our guests know that they may want to stop en route to Sandy Pines, so they don't have to backtrack. There is also a fruit/vegetable stand five minutes away in Bozman center in summertime. And there is a seafood market with beverages and snacks up the road as well.

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

Perfect getaway

Guest: 8Kayakers (Montpelier, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/30/10 Review Submitted: 05/07/10

As part of a continuing celebration of my 50th birthday, we rented Sandy PInes along with 3 other couples. We are all enthusiastic kayakers, so the sandy beach was perfect for launching and there are many options for long and short paddles...all in beautiful surroundings. The house is beautifully decorated, the kitchen is well-stocked, and everything is roomy and comfortable. We enjoyed the screened porch in the evenings, watching the sunset over the water and behind the stately pines. We visited the first weekend of May, so the pool was not open, but the pool area is lovely and I'm certain that, like the rest of the property, it is in top condition and well-maintained. We did visit Chesapeake Landing restaurant, just past the end of the road, for fresh seafood one night and there are some great restaurants in St. Michaels, along with a good brewery and some nice shops. The only negative (which is completely out of the control of the owners) is that the mosquito population seems to be thriving, so bring bug spray for the evenings. This is a common problem wherever there is water, so be prepared. The best way to sum up our experience at Sandy Pines is simply to say that we all wanted to move right in and never leave! It is lovely.

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

We love Sandy Pines!

Guest: Donne (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/16/08 Review Submitted: 11/11/08

Your house was perfect for eight adults looking for a relaxing Fall getaway weekend. We enjoyed lively conversation over good wine and cheese around the big dining room table, and cooked up a storm in your well-appointed kitchen. We had coffee in the mornings in the Adirondacks down by the beach and again after dinner on the screened in porch. We paddled kayaks down along the shoreline at sunset and rode bikes to the little village of Neavit just down the road (where we descended on the potter and bought everything in his shop!). We were lucky to be there when the Audubon bird sanctuary across the street was open, and hiked lazily one afternoon through the fields and woods and shoreline. At dawn, my friends stepped out the back door of your house and startled a mature male bald eagle on the ground next to the pool! And at dusk we stood quietly in the yard and watched deer and wild turkeys in the field next to the house. I read an entire book in three days, a record for me, sitting in the comfortable and quiet sun room. Four of us played golf just down the road at Harbourtowne one day, and we sent a contingent into St. Michaels to shop, eat lunch, and buy fresh fish for grilling back at your house. Your house is so comfortable, and the setting is so pretty and quiet, that it would be impossible not to get relaxed and happy just hanging around. We love it there. We enjoyed the books and maps and wi-fi (at one point there were three lap-tops fired up around the table--we were slightly obsessed with the pre-election coverage). And the bedrooms provided both privacy and beautiful views. Thanks for sharing your house. We'll be back!

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Guest Comment

Guest: SandyPinesFan (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 06/14/08 Review Submitted: 06/23/08

We first stayed at Sandy Pines four years ago and have returned every summer since. My family has stayed in many vacation rentals both in Europe and the US and it is rare to find a home like Sandy Pines. What makes Sandy Pines unique is it feels like you are staying at a friend's home. The house is stocked with games, books, videos, pool toys, badminton set, and an excellent kitchen. We love being able to use the two kayaks and canoe. The house even has 3 bikes for guests to use. I have stayed at 2 other rentals in St. Michaels and neither compare with what Sandy Pines offers guests. We have already contacted the owners to inform them we will be returning again next summer.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/01/04 Review Submitted: 12/07/04

We had such an enjoyable and relaxing time at Sandy Pines. The house is like new on the inside and we felt very at home. The views on the water both from the shore and the dock are wonderful and its less than 10 minutes driving to the quaint shops and restaurants in St. Michaels. We will be back!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/04 Review Submitted: 11/18/04

My husband Tim and I spent the most delightful fall week at Sandy Pines. In fact we so thoroughly enjoyed the property, that it was a struggle to tear ourselves away for dinner in St. Michaels. The home is sensitively appointed and carefully maintained...the early morning and sunset hours are peaceful and inspirational... you come away inspired and refreshed. We are looking forward to returning and hope it will become a tradition for us.

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