Once in a Lifetime Vacation

Guest: Peggy (Georgia)
Date of Stay: 07/02/09 Review Submitted: 01/22/11

The whole family agrees that this experience at Sadie Cove Cabin has been a once in a lifetime vacation. The view was breathtaking and just knowing we were so far removed from the city and it's business made it so much more enjoyable. The people here are all so friendly and so interesting. We admire your talent and craft! Thank you for sharing this special place with us. I especially appreciate your looking after us and rescuing the girls! I also need to thank you for your patience with my many, many questions. You are welcome to our home anytime if you ever make it to Georgia. Peggy, Randy, Becky, Jackson and Beth Anne

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

Peaceful and Serene

Guest: Ed (Riverton, UT)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

Our first trip is coming to an end. What a peaceful and serene cove. The scenic views and abundance of wildlife is incredible, not to mention our successful Halibut fishing trip with Dick. We will be eating Halibut until Christmas. This place is major "R&R!" I can't remember the last time that I've slept for nine hours. Thanks Jim for providing us the opportunity to stay here. Until next time. Ed and Karen Riverton, Utah

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

High Praise

Guest: Tia (Anchorage)
Date of Stay: 07/19/08 Review Submitted: 10/24/10

What can we say? Four days, 3 young boys and not once did they mention the words "bored," "TV," or "Nintendo." They all have asked to come back again. That is high praise in our house. Thanks for your hospitality. What a terrific cabin (personally, I loved the hot shower!) and a beautiful spot.

Recommended for:Families with young children.

Perfect for our Honeymoon

Guest: Ken (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 08/04/07 Review Submitted: 10/17/10

Jim, thank you so much for your hospitality. The cabin was so comfortable and we really appreciated the care, skill and attention to detail in creating such a special retreat. This feels like a very sacred place. We could not have asked for a more perfect place for our honeymoon.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway.

Perfect Trip

Guest: Ken (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 07/15/08 Review Submitted: 10/17/10

Our first time in this part of Alaska. A perfect trip. Thanks to Jim for the great lodging and suggestions for things to do. We'll be back, and for a longer stay next time we hope.

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

A Truely Remote Location

Guest: Harley (Linden,Michigan)
Date of Stay: 07/22/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

I wish there were reviews when I booked the trip, but there was not a reference until recently. As per the people who visited this cabin in June (we were there in July of 2010), I was in shock to learn that there was no electricity and that the shower and toilet were outside. The host, who was very nice and lived next door, failed to mention these attributes...he stated he mentioned it to me, but I would have remembered this! In really looking at the pictures, (after the fact, of course), I noticed that there were none of the "half kitchen", "beds" and "bathroom with shower". The reason is that the half kitchen does not include a frig or stove (you cook over a propane grill) with very old, rusty utensils, the beds consist of foam on the floor, and the bathroom and shower are outside!!! You only get a hot shower when you ask the host to turn the hot water. He also rented a double kayak for us (at a cost of $65 plus tax), but the winds did not permit us to kayak upstream to the trail head. We had to pay anyway....You can not really walk on the beach, as there is not much of one. The mosquitos eat you alive if you are outside...there is really nothing to do. (I learned to play cards). The only great thing about this place is the wood stove...and he does supply wood. The view is magnificent and made the trip worth it..

Owner response:I don't have many unhappy customers, so this is a new experience for me. This is a cabin in the wilderness, so it does not have all the ammenities that city people are accustomed to. Of course there is no electricity, but there are gas lights and most people who stay here are happy to leave all their electronic gadgets behind. Bringing ice in a cooler with your food is standard practice In Alaska. I have a refridgerator next door and happily accomadate anyone who needs to keep food longer than their ice supply allows, and can supply additional ice too. The hot shower and the flush toilet are an attraction for most people who have stayed in remote cabins, as out houses and no bathing facilities are the norm, and the bathroom is attached to the outside of the cabin, not "outside" as stated. I turn off the shower when it is not being used because of fire danger--anyone who has lived out in the bush knows that fire is our biggest fear and there are no fire departments to help us put them out. The beds are very nice foam pads on the floor of the loft, and are very comfortable! This is not camping. I have two single kayaks that I rent on an as used basis, but when I arrange a double at the request of a customer, I have to rent it from somebody else. This means the customer has to pay whether they use it or not, and everyone is fully aware of this arrangement before they come. There are great hikes on the beach in Sadie Cove as well as two state park trail heads, but they are tidal dependent: you cannot hike very far at high tide, you have to time your hikes around the tide cycle. Then you can hike and beachcomb all the way to the head of the cove and back, a distance of eight miles. I make sure everyone has access to the tide book and is aware of the tidal limitations. There are mosquitos in Alaska, but if you have done any traveling at all here, you would realize that Sadie Cove is virtually bug free compared to most places. I think this was a case of people from the city who hit some bad weather in their Alaska trip, stayed in the cabin for most of their stay in Sadie Cove, and let it ruin the experience. It is not the normal response from my customers.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

Glamping in the wilderness

Guest: Bacchusridge (Northern California)
Date of Stay: 06/23/10 Review Submitted: 07/14/10

This is camping, with hard walls, a little less schlepping of gear, and a kind host. After the shock of realizing there is no electricity (thus no fridge, no computers, no lights), we had a great time. A sturdy cabin in a fabulous location, with a wood stove for heat, a propane burner for cooking, and a walk to the (attached) outhouse/shower. (You bag the used toilet paper.) BYO towels, ice, sleeping bags, and canned food, and enjoy a gorgeous place and "subsistence living" like the original Sadie Cove inhabitants. Say hi to the sea otters and the bald eagles. Pick mussels and steam them instantly. The afternoon wind makes kayaking tricky, but you can plan ahead, and Jim arranged for kayaks for us. Bring a few books and some binoculars. Maybe you will finish the Yosemite puzzle we started. Relax.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, families with teenagers.