Same time next year

Guest: Henry M.
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 12/01/11

Staying at this house has become a yearly tradition for family and friends when we come down for the Waterfowl Festival in Easton. It is perfectly located on the beautiful Miles River between St Michael's and Easton. Beautiful views, privacy and a great kitchen are some of the things that make this the perfect Eastern Shore retreat.

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Wonderful Weekend at Cranford

Guest: Jeffrey J.
Date of Stay: 05/12/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

We spent a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing weekend at Cranford on the Miles in May 2011 to celebrate my mother’s birthday. Our party included six adults and my three-month-old daughter, and there was more than enough room in the house to accommodate all of us quite comfortably. The home is large, clean, well-appointed, and absolutely beautiful, and the surroundings are even more impressive. The views of the Miles River from inside the home, from its two decks, and from the dock, are simply breathtaking. Cranford is right down the street from St. Michaels and is just a short drive from Easton. Although we had dinner in St. Michaels twice and made a couple of trips to Easton for groceries, we spent most of our time just enjoying the property. I cannot remember the last time my wife and I had such a relaxing weekend. Whether we were playing board games or watching movies in the house, drinking our morning coffee on one of the decks, or having evening cocktails on the dock, it would be hard to imagine a better way to spend a few days away from our normal routine. It was a much needed respite from our very busy lives. The property is about a ninety-minute drive from our home in Washington, DC. The other members of our family traveled from Chicago (my parents) and Los Angeles (my brother and his wife), and they were unanimous in their assessment that Cranford was well worth the trip to Maryland. In fact, my parents proposed that we start meeting there every year, and my brother and his wife quickly endorsed that proposal. Lisa was extraordinarily accommodating and made every effort to ensure that our stay was a pleasant one. In fact, she attempted to call us a number of times during the weekend to ask if we needed anything, but we were having such a great time that I never bothered to take my phone out of my suitcase. I tend to monitor my e-mail obsessively, so spending an entire weekend without doing so was quite an achievement. We would recommend Cranford on the Miles to anybody planning a trip to the area. Thank you so much, Lisa, for sharing your beautiful home with us. It was a very special experience, and one that we hope to repeat again in the future.

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A Perfect Place

Guest: philip s.
Date of Stay: 07/31/11 Review Submitted: 10/03/11

We are a group of men who go away for 4 or 5 days every summer to play sports and games -- tennis, golf, croquet, basketball, badminton, biking, whatever. For 15 years we never settled on a place to go until we found Cranford on the Miles. The location just outside of St. Michaels with all it has to offer, the relatively nearby tennis courts and golf courses, the setting besides the wide expanse of the Miles River, the beautiful house so full of character, the lawn, trees and view, and the relative privacy make it a perfect place not only to stay and vacation but to enjoy in and of itself. It has changed our habits as well. Formerly, at the end of the day we rushed back to our lodgings, showered, and went out to eat at a restaurant. Now, after showering, we sit out on the lawn, drink our beer, cook out, eat, and thoroughly enjoy the evening. Additionally, it would be difficult to find a friendlier, more accomodating owner than Lisa. Philip Sorensen

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Relaxing vacation in charming house

Guest: Amy G.
Date of Stay: 08/21/11 Review Submitted: 09/20/11

My family just got back from two whole weeks at Cranford on Miles - a lovely old house with lots of charm and more than enough room for our young daughter and dog. Lisa was a pleasure to work with and eager to accommodate all of us, including the Labrador. The house is well supplied, spacious, and has one of the best views going. We still miss waking up to the beautiful Miles river and the crab boats every morning. The private beach is a real plus if you have small kids and/or dogs. I had originally wanted to rent a house with a pool, but the wading beach was perfect, and we found the most beautiful community pool right down the road from the house. We probably enjoyed the dock more than anything. It was brilliant for just sitting back and relaxing with a drink and a good book. We do regret not renting a boat of some sort. Cranford on Miles is conveniently located between Easton and St. Michaels, and we got out to eat at good local restaurants a lot. We also had great success with the crabbing, and Lisa makes sure there are all the pots and cooking utensils you need to produce your very own Maryland crab fest. Aside from not renting a boat, our only other regret was that we didn't get a chance to share the house with our friends. It is the absolute perfect house for entertaining large groups - lots of open plan living space, great outdoor space, nice sized bedrooms, and linens are provided. We had planned to have some visitors while we were there, but Hurricane Irene caused everyone to cancel their weekend plans with us at Cranford. Even through the craziness of planning for a hurricane (who knew we would be dealing with that on our summer holiday), Lisa and John were totally supportive and helpful. All came through unscathed (including the house, thank goodness), and we would definitely consider renting the house again - maybe this time the weather will cooperate and we can have everyone over!

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

Wonderful Weekend Getaway

Guest: J H.
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 09/18/11

Cranford is a wonderful historic home with spectacular views of the Miles River. It is an easy drive from Metro DC making it perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer week stay. Waking up to such a beautiful view ensures a relaxing getaway. Lots of areas to shop and explore are quickly accessible, but partaking of the front yard and dock located on the River makes you wonder why you would want to leave. The home has all of the amenities you need to enjoy yourself - so it is easy to quickly pack up your personal items, take a quick drive to St. Michael's and relax. We had a wonderful time and look forward to returning soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Spring Weekend at Cranford on Miles

Guest: Lezlee E. (Vienna, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

I experienced a delightful girls weekend getaway at Cranford on Miles in May 2011. The property is a lovely 1840s historic county 'river house' (with all the current amenities). Just outside the back windows is the stunningly beautiful Miles river, and the springtime tidal riverfront views were so restorative, soothing and peaceful, I did not want to get out of my porch chair (nor put my camera down when I finally did). It being a girls weekend, we expected to be spending a great deal of time catching up and just hanging out in & around the house, and we were pleased to see the property's kitchen/bar area had a huge refridgerator, a big gas stove, dishwasher, and all the cookware and appliances and bar ware that we'd ever need for cooking up brunches, happy hour goodies, and spur of the moment midnight snacks (many of which we consumed on the dock!) The property was very clean and well maintained; all the beds had been made up for us before we arrived, and there were plenty of shower towels and beach towels too. The property is well back off the road, and the area is extremely quiet all the time. Because there are no street lights and very little other light source/light pollution, we even got to do a little stars-Milky Way gazing one night. The house's great room has a large TV with cable and a DVD player, but we did not need it. The owner, Lisa Sanders, was terrific to work with, and she went to great effort to make our time at Cranford seem like it was our own private B&B! I would recommend this property to anyone wishing to get away and/or take a spring or fall break with friends for a few days of quiet comfort on the river.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Learned to Relax on Cranford

Guest: Beth F.
Date of Stay: 08/05/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

Every year my husband and I take the family on vacation. Our kids are adults now and still enjoy the week we all spend together. This year was extra special because it included our first grandaughter! We were so please when we came down the drive to see that we had some much space to ourselves. No sharing decks or docks. We brought our boat and really enjoyed tubing and wake boarding like never before. So much open space in the Miles river without the stress of worrying about lots of other boats...perfect. We also enjoyed visiting St. Michaels and especially eating at Ava's Pizzeria and Wine bar. They have great outdoor seating too. The best part of the week was how easy it was to relax. We all agreed it was the most relaxing week we ever had while on vacation and exactly what we needed. I would recommend Cranford on the Miles to anyone looking for a peaceful place to spend quality time with those they love. One last thing, crabbing on the dock was fun and delicious!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Wonderful!

Guest: Marybeth W.
Date of Stay: 08/19/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

Wonderful! We couldn’t have asked for more. Everything from the space to the décor, the house was exquisite! The rooms were spacious and lovely with lots of windows for the sun to shine in, the balconies made for the perfect spot to have a morning coffee and lookout on the water. The grounds were kept perfectly, and the kitchen had everything we needed to plan a meal. The screened in porch was just brilliant for one of the rainy nights we had. Our group was able to all sit together and chat over some wine while feeling the breeze and watching the waves. It was so serene all weekend. Just what the doctor ordered. We were a group of ladies between the ages of 29-34 just looking to escape the city for a girls get-a-way… THIS WAS THE PERFECT PLACE! ? There was more than enough space and bedrooms for all as well as bathrooms… Every morning we would walk out on the dock and check to see if we caught any crabs, Apparently the trick is chicken legs. We had some success in that area, but more in finishing off a few bottles of wine and just enjoying each others company. Along with the fact that the children were home. I would STRONGLY recommend this wonderful spot for anyone looking to get away from life for the weekend or even a whole summer. There’s lots of beautiful little small stores in town to pick up nick nacks and jewelry, also the restaurants on the water are superb! Lisa Sanders was fantastic, she was so accommodating and enthusiastic about our trip. Her recommendations were spot on and her pleasant and lovely personality made the business transactions as if we were old friends. I am so glad we found this diamond of a spot. We all look forward to returning soon!

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

Guys Trip to "Cranford on the Miles"

Guest: Guy's Weekend Tour Guide (Columbia)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

I had the pleasure of renting "Cranford on the Miles" for a "guy’s weekend" and could not be more pleased with the property. As soon as you turn down the long wooded driveway, you know you are in for a treat. The home is quite unique and is certainly is as advertised in the listing. It was clean, well appointed, lovingly maintained, & roomy. We had six guys for the weekend, and between the living room, dining room, sitting area, screen porch, 4 bedrooms upstairs, & 3 acres of land with dock, there was plenty of space to stretch out. We spent most of the time catching up by the fire pit, hanging out on the screen porch, or using the dock and yard for games, football, and fishing. It was a very private location! Yes, there are homes nearby, but this property has many more trees than the surrounding homes providing more privacy. We were there the weekend after Memorial Day & I did not see any other neighbors during our stay. The town of St. Michaels was only 1 mile away. We did head out for dinner about 9:30 one night and realized rather belatedly that the town rolls up its red carpet at about 10 pm. We had to settle for drinks at the saloon instead, but no one was too disappointed. Golf was also close by. The owner, Lisa Sanders, went out of her way to ensure the entire experience was pleasant. She accurately described the property in advance of our stay, offering suggestions for activities and information about the area. She had a very reasonable deposit requirement and was flexible with payment arrangements and the checkout time. She also checked in with us during the weekend to ensure all was well and to clarify any questions or solve any issues we had. She even provided a fresh bowl of fruit for our arrival! I have never met Lisa before, but with such a positive experience, I will say that I am certain I will rent from her again. At the end of our weekend, she inquired if our experience could be improved in any way. I had a hard time coming up with any improvements. The only problem we encountered was the satellite tv which appeared to only have a small handful of channels. Some of the guys were disappointed about this. I personally did not spend more than 1 minute worrying about it. Anyway most of the time they walked away from the TV to enjoy the rest of the beautiful property going back to the dock, porches, or fire pit and enjoying the great outdoors. What a great spot!

Owner response:Whoops! The TV was still in off-season mode. Typically, our guests have over 100 channels of programming and movies. Next time I will leave you home made chocolate cookies with the fruit bowl to make up for my error.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Relaxing Spring Break Family Getaway

Guest: Debbie (Virginia Beach)
Date of Stay: 04/18/11 Review Submitted: 04/21/11

My husband and I were looking for a relaxing family getaway with our 4 children on our way from our home in Virginia Beach to visit the grandparents in NJ for Easter. Cranford on the Miles was the perfect respite! We spent 3 days together playing board games, sitting on the dock searching for the elusive crabs... And had a wonderful time! The house was beautifully decorated and painstakingly restored. The owner could not have been more attentive and accommodating.

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