Vacation Rentals by Owner

Good time!

Guest: kristin l.
Date of Stay: 03/23/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

My husband and I really enjoyed our trip to the Caboose! The property was absolutely gorgeous, and we loved how our phones got no service. We were allowed to bring our dogs, and they loved roaming the area. The steep stairs were a trick at first four our large dog, but once she got the hang of it, she had a blast. We are certainly hoping for a return trip!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Bimo

Guest: Bimo (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 01/28/12 Review Submitted: 02/02/12

First off, the surrounding scenery is simply exquisite. Tucked in a quaint nook in the woods, the adorable caboose cabin is nestled amongst a landscape of rolling bluffs past whose horizon the mighty Mississippi River lies. About three miles from the cabin is a designated State Natural Area, Rush Creek, with a pull-out to fit a couple cars and trail head that takes you up to a bluff summit some 500' high with a gorgeous view of the beautiful river and Iowa on the other side. Any season of the year -- even winter, with snowshoes, the picture is spectacular. The cabin is well accommodated and tastefully decorated. The kitchen had two small flaws though: the gas stove is tricky to light and invites tiny "explosions" you need to be mindful of, and there is no oven. But we were able to improvise with several fine meals, so it's not much of a nuisance. The water pressure in the shower was a little finicky, too, but after a few attempts and tinkering, it worked fine. The pull-out futon is the bed, which while not romantic per se, was nonetheless much more comfortable than most futons I've slept on. The cabin is best geared toward a couple with either no children, one child, or a dog. It's very quaint, but could become a bit claustrophobic if too many bodies are rubbing elbows. Finally, the hot tub was wonderful! A separate local tax and cleaning fee were attached to the original price only after matters were squared away with the owner, which initially irked me. I asked that the cleaning fee be waived so long as I left the place ship-shape, to give me the benefit of the doubt. The owner accommodated this request, which I appreciated. Still though, it would be beneficial to post that info in the ad so that future interested parties know upfront what the total cost will be. I would definitely stay here again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Awesome quiet retreat! Railroad buffs will love this place!

Guest: Train Buff (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

Had a great stay over New Years and fell in love with the whole place and its location. Owners saw to our every need. Furnishing fit perfectly and the place was very clean when we arrived. Thanks

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

Very disappointed

Guest: molliras (Milwaukee)
Date of Stay: 12/29/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

My husband and 6-month-old stayed here over the New Year holiday. We found the bathroom and kitchen drawers with mouse urine and feces. One of the kitchen drawers had a mouse nest on top of the coffee filters. I understand that mice is common at places in the country so a couple of turds don't bother me and neither does spotting or hearing mice in the caboose (which we did), but I expect the place to be vacuumed and wiped down before our arrival and it is highly unlikely mice could have done all that in one day. Joel told us there were guests just the day before, so the place was "cleaned" before our arrival. Some of the sheets were stained and ripped. We let Joel know all of this and he refunded our cleaning fee which was fair and appreciated. On our last night the pipes froze and we did not have water for food, dishes, shower, toilet, etc. We informed Joel about this as well. He, at first, told us that this was an act of God and that he cannot control mother nature. He later informed us that his maintenance person found the heat tape unplugged. We asked for a refund of our last night and he refused saying that we unplugged it. He also berated us for using more linens and towels than he thought we should have used. We selected this place based on all the excellent reviews, but was very disappointed not only in the condition of the caboose, but the awful management as well. I recommend that you find other accommodations in the area.

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Very Unique but a few hitches

Guest: Tony (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 12/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

The place was very cool and we enjoyed our stay but..... A few things that could be better explained and divulged is the extra 45$ cleaning fee. It seems odd not to include all costs that are associated with the rental in the main description. We were not notified of the fee until we had sifted through a lot of other cabins and decided on this one based on all information we had. Also, they then asked us to clean up after ourselves (I.e. sweep, etc.) When we arrived the place had obviously not been swept due to around 30 dead flies on the ground along with mouse dropping throughout the surfaces and drawers. Also, they state that there is a double bed. This is true however it is a fold down lumpy futon in the middle of the living room. All in all the place is so unique that it is very easy to overlook some of its faults. I really hope in the future they are more transparent with all the fees associated and are more clear with the descriptions. Last thing, if you have a older pet be aware that the height and steepness of the steps into the caboose is very hard on older animals.

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Great Time and escape

Guest: D. Tomi N.
Date of Stay: 10/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/20/12

Very nice, different stay. Well done job on the transformation. Cozy, clean, quite, the hot tube is VERY hot, perfect to work out the kinks and the stars are very bright... Well equip kitchen and heats well in the colder days. Great Restaurants near by and beautiful area surrounds by the Mississippi. Bathroom has flushing toilet, shower, and large sink cabinet for your toiletries. Kitchen has everything but stove, No big deal. There is a BBQ grill outside. and great fire pit. (buy your own wood). Now the cons, which should NOT stop you from checking out this great experience. It is Wisconsin and any cabin owning person will tell you bugs can be a problem and the ladybugs did get revived by the heat. So they were hanging out, Maybe if we fired up a bug bomb it may have worked. The futon, well its a futon if you ever sleep on one you know what it's like. I've had two knee replacements and shoulder surgery and made I it work. There are also two bunk beds With small mattresses for Kids or snoring husband or just for reading. The hot tub is not private it can be seen from the road, so we did get some beeps by passing cars. If your not afraid of the dark just turn off the deck light and don't forget a robe and flip-flops. The steps up to the caboose hurt bare feet, but are fine with something on your feet. One last thing, Could be big but not for us, there is nor reception for cell phone or TV or radio. I have verizon(that usually works everywhere) so had to walk up hill about a mile for it to work a little. BUT hey your here to GET AWAY. remember? So all in all a great get away to be checked out and should be. If you used to WI. cabins and getaways you will love this place we did! I work in Surgery and my Husband works in sales we are average Joes with average incomes. We like to check out new and different places with hot tubs and this one was well worth the price of admission!

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Highly recommended!

Guest: D H.
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

On our way from New York to Northern Minnesota, my husband and I were looking for a nice stop-over to rest for a couple days and break-up the trip. The Coulee Junction Caboose was the perfect solution! The caboose was a blast to stay in, was very well appointed and easily accommodated 2 adults + 2 dogs. It was fun learning about the caboose and we had a good time exploring the area too. Joel was a good host and a pleasure to work with from beginning to end.

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

Nov 26/28

Guest: vezo99 (wood dale)
Date of Stay: 11/26/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

Wonderfull place...We spend weekend without TV,phone or kids.Caboose has everything you need,just bring you food or check local restoraunt like we did.Best pizza in River Roadhouse in De Soto,had lunch in La Croise.Hot tub is clean,already hot for you when you arrive.So many places to see around,we even cross to Iowa and Minnessota. We'll be back in spring Thank you for great service and we'll recommend this to all our friends

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

October 16-17th, 2010

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 11/05/10

Really beautiful setting on remote, isolated road. Everything you need for a simple, comfortable getaway with good eats nearby and groceries available in Lansing. Apple orchards, cheese curds and the Mississippi river all very close. Great bonfire area, hot tub and a spectacular view of the starts. Lots of fun for my husband and I and our teenage daughter. Our boxer dog Dexter had a bit of difficulty getting on and off the platform to get into the caboose but eventually he figured it out. Give yourself plenty of time to slow down to the pace of things and enjoy the peace and quiet.

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

Fun little get-a-way!

Guest: LJJ (Madison, WI USA)
Date of Stay: 10/14/10 Review Submitted: 10/29/10

My husband and I wanted a place not too far from Madison since we only had two nights away to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary - this was perfect! Very quiet, secluded, and a great little spot. We loved the train atmosphere, especially the "reading nook" in the cupola. The hot tub was also fantastic - it was perfect for the cool nights and cool early mornings in the fall. The only reason I marked good instead of excellent is because the main sleeping place is a futon. My husband did not have a problem with it at all, but I was hoping for a bed. It wasn't bad, though....It was a great spot, and I have already recommended it to a couple friends. We had a great dinner at the local bar, had time for some antiquing in Viroqua, and hit up the Gays Mills apple orchards - a great get-away at a great price.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

family vacation

Guest: ask why 63 (dallas tx)
Date of Stay: 07/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

we took our niece and nephew to the caboose and had a great time. it was quiet and secluded. the stars were bright in the darkness of night. it was wonderful not to have a tv or phone for once. the hot tub was relaxing and we had fun grilling out. the kids loved, ( and fought over ), the bunk beds. we are going to go back the next time i am in town.

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

Lots of fun

Guest: BFamily1285 (Naperville, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

My toddler son is really into trains, so he was totally thrilled when we pulled up to this caboose and told him he'd be sleeping in it! Very cute place; great for a small family who enjoys the outdoors. There's not a lot of room inside but it does the job--we spent most of our time hiking and exploring the area. I would recommend Blackhawk Park in DeSoto for fishing and spending a relaxing day (they had a couple playgrounds for the kids); we also enjoyed the Bright Spot Cafe in DeSoto--great prices and the best fish fry I've had in years. If you are a real trout fisherman (we aren't, so we didn't catch anything)--be sure to check out the great fishing area within walking distance of the caboose. As you leave the property, turn right and head up the road near the bridge. We found some excellent trout areas just bursting with big fish. All in all, it was a really relaxing time!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Relaxation!

Guest: AML15 (Baxter, IA)
Date of Stay: 04/09/10 Review Submitted: 04/23/10

We really enjoyed our stay at the caboose, in fact, spent an extra night. We were not sure what to plan for so, basically, plan for camping and the caboose is your camper. Beautiful outdoor setting, trout streams, rivers and lakes all around. Great accomodations with everything you need to enjoy the surroundings. There is such great scenery all around; quaint little towns nestled right on the river, bluffs, caverns...just so much to see if you like. Of course, there is also a good warm campfire in the "backyard" and a nice, long soak in the hot tub to make your evening!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Chelsea Tate (Hortonville, WI)
Date of Stay: 11/02/09 Review Submitted: 11/02/09

Had a great time at the caboose. Is the perfect getaway if you're looking to relax!!

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Guest: Nisha2 (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/04/09 Review Submitted: 08/04/09

My husband and I just got married the weekend before we stayed in the caboose, and we just needed to get away. We truly enjoyed staying in the caboose...it was great to have COMPLETE privacy! Everything was easily available for us to use. We loved the hot tub, firepit, and grilling under the stars! We definitely hope to return in the future :)

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Guest: Amanda97 (Iowa)
Date of Stay: 08/03/09 Review Submitted: 08/03/09

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend at the caboose early August. What a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The weekend was spent having nice talks on the deck, grilling, sitting around the bonfire, relaxing and the hot tub, and watching some of our favorite movies. Be sure to visit Great River Roadhouse if you don't have a meal planned. We went there for lunch and they do have amazing pizza! Thanks so much for such a great experience and we hope to visit again!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/07/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

Excellent place to get away from it all. We will be visiting again soon.

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Guest: Jim109 (Edgerton, WI)
Date of Stay: 07/01/09 Review Submitted: 07/01/09

We enjoyed our couple days in the caboose. The quiet was very nice. We used the hot tub both evenings after it cooled down outside, no mosquitoes either! Great relaxation.

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Guest: Kathleen43 (Round Lake Beach, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/28/09 Review Submitted: 04/28/09

We now have stayed at the Caboose 2x's. Once last October '08 and this year March '09. My fiance and I had a great time! The caboose is a great place to go for relaxation and to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The hot tub was perfect for the cool days and we enjoyed the fire in the evening. We highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for time away from all the hustle and bustle! ~Kathleen

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Guest: Lacey5 (St Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 10/16/08 Review Submitted: 10/16/08

My husband and I spent a relaxing 2 days at the caboose. Most of the time was spent in the hot tub!!!!! It was a wonderful place to get away from it all. The caboose is equipt with everthing you need. Just make sure you do your grocery shopping before you get there because the nearest store is 30 min. away. The views were breath taking because of all the fall colors. Would recommend this place to everyone.

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Guest: Ginger
Date of Stay: 10/04/08 Review Submitted: 10/03/08

Hi Joel, Our stay was unbelievably relaxing. Everything was very clean and prepared when we arrived, and we enjoyed walking around, looking at trees and leaves and just feeling not so city-fied. Someone had also mowed all the areas nicely just before arrival. Took a lot of pictures of us hanging off the ladders on the end, sitting on the little platforms on the top, and holding the wheels on both ends of the caboose. We really enjoyed the hot tub, but chose to use it mostly in the mornings. There was something so nice about getting up when the fall mist was heavy, having a quick shower and slipping into a hot tub - while the trees were still all misty and soft and gray, and the birds flew around. A beautiful drive down to Gays Mills(Apple Fest)on Saturday, some pizza at the Great River Roadhouse. Your directions for finding the cabin were excellent, btw - the ones we downloaded from Google not so much. Grilled out one night, enjoyed the fire pit and all the well set up seating options, watched some movies. Overall it was exactly the getaway we were hoping for. Thanks so much, Ginger

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/08/08

We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary at the caboose. It was great!! It is peaceful and quiet, really cute and private. The hot tub was wonderful! We totally enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it to anyone. We never did find the trout stream, though.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/30/08

Whether you are a train buff or not, you will love your stay at the Caboose vacation cabin. A great way to get away from all those communication devices that rule our lives for a week. And as the Lansing IA library (across the river) has free Wifi, checking ones email every few days was not a problem in any case. [6/20-27/08] K & P Beine

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/29/08

This was a cozy, unique place to spend our first anniversary together. We enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub and watching the fireflies under the stars. The Great River Roadhouse had the best steaks we've ever tasted! The drive along the bluffs was beautiful. Wish we had more time to explore the area.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/17/08

NICE LITTLE HIDEAWAY. BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.HOT TUB WAS GREAT. ABUNDANT WILDLIFE IN AREA. WOULD GO AGAIN.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/08/07

Perfect little getaway! My husband and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary at the caboose and it could'nt have been more perfect. The trout stream was amazing, just a short walk from the caboose. Everything was clean and tidy, very cozy hideaway. Good job renovating the caboose! And the hot tub was a perfect addition! We almost felt bad we didn't take our girls! Definitely will next time!! Thank you for such a great escape!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/07 Review Submitted: 05/30/07

My two boys (5 and 3yrs.), my six year old mini-dachshund, and myself had a fabulous time in the caboose! It was a perfect setting for our Memorial Day Vacation. I took over one hundred pictures on our four day excursion. My children are still talking about the caboose and want to go back. I told them that I would like to take them during the winter or fall months next time- when the leaves are changing color or when we could go sledding or skiing. I recommend this place to any one who loves nature and old time charm.

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Guestbook Comment

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

We had a great time, it's such a great place to get away with a loved one for a couple of days. The hot tub was perfect, everything was very clean and comfortable. thanks

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 10/24/06

Absolutely fabulous! It's amazing the amount of work that went into the Caboose! Very, very cozy and well equipped for any / all your needs. The pictures don't show it but there is a great little fire pit area off the porch to enjoy as well. My wife and I fell in love with it the moment we opened the door, and you will too! A perfect little getaway for two anytime! We didn't make it out to the River Road house so we'll be doing that next time around. The Sportsman's Bar in Ferryville serves the biggest basket of delicious cheese curds that you'll ever have, I mean huge! All the local people are friendly as well. We were married in the Smoky Mountains and the area East of the river where the Caboose is at is very similar to Tennessee. Very hilly with bluffs and beautiful scenery everywhere. Very secluded, just perfect. If you didn't know you were in Wisconsin you'd swear you were in the foothills of the Smokies! Highly recommended ( just don't book when we want too! . Thanks a million for the opportunity, we look forward to staying at the Caboose again soon! --- Mike and Graza Shust Palatine, Il

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 10/23/06

Greg and I and our little dog Fred stayed in the caboose this past weekend. It rained all day Saturday and it was cold, and we had a marvelous time. They really have got the caboose set up nicely with absolutely everything thought of (a toaster, a DVD/CD player, scissors, salt & pepper, chopping boards, measuring cups etc.) We had a couple of very nice full meals cooked right there in the caboose and out on the grill. With the hot tub right there, it didn't matter how cold it was outside. The hot tub is under a nice fairy-lit gazebo. Very comfy at night. The caboose was clean, comfortable, and so cozy with the fire going. We ventured out to the highly recommended Great River Roadhouse and were pleased to bits that Michigan beat Iowa and the pizza was every bit as good as its reputation. If peace and quiet and seclusion is what you are after, I highly recommend this caboose. We loved it.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/19/06

We had a great time at the caboose with our 6 mo. old daughter. It had all the amenities we needed for a relaxing couple of days away. The caboose itself is very charming and the deck and hot tub outside are great! Very private!

Owner response:Thanks- This place is GREAT for KIDS!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/08/06

The caboose was a lovely get away. Our first Christmas turned into a cozy, romantic retreat. Thank you.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/05 Review Submitted: 10/21/05

Thanks for the wonderful weekend. It was a beautiful fall weekend and the area was wonderful. Highly recommend the Great River Roadhouse to eat. Will visit again in the future as well as pass the info on to friends and family for a great weekend away.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/05 Review Submitted: 09/06/05

The caboose was a great place to get away for the weekend. There's a ton to do in the area - I highly recommend a day on the Mississippi River (we rented a pontoon boat). The caboose was perfect - well equiped, designed, etc. (although, it might be a little crowded with more than two people). All it left to be desired: a hammock for nap time! :)

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 08/29/05

The caboose was a great place to stay. The price was right for what we got. It is very quite. The caboose is tucked away in the woods and very private. The one best thing I can say is your cell phones don't work there.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 08/11/05

Wonderful place in the woods! Very relaxing and the hot tub was great! We would highly reccomend for a weekend or more to get away from it all. Very quiet and great alter. to camping. The AC was cold and a hot show is always a plus! We would visit again in a second!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/05 Review Submitted: 07/10/05

The caboose is located in a secluded wooded area that is extremely peaceful and relaxing. The caboose is comfortable, and it is an amazing retreat. We stayed for three nights and wanted to stay longer. We had a wonderful time.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/05 Review Submitted: 05/05/05

We thought this was wonderfully renovated with excellent space utilization. For 2 people the size was just right. The surrounding area is gorgeous and the hot tub was just what we needed for the cold spring nights.

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Guest: Andrew and Pamela
Date of Stay: 04/05/05 Review Submitted: 04/04/05

Hi Joel, Just wanted to drop a quick note about our stay at the caboose. First of all, that place is awesome. You did a great job setting it up. Very private and nature like - hearing the wild turkeys in the morning beats cars & trucks anytime. Andrew

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/05 Review Submitted: 02/03/05

This was a nice, clean, cozy little place to get away for the weekend. We stayed here for two nights but we wish we could have stayed longer. It is in a location that is easy to find and not too far away from a couple little towns which is also convenient. It is great relaxing out in the hot tub on a private deck also :) Everything is available for cooking, watching movies, and listening to music also- very nice.

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