Great House. Great Location.

Guest: Ron (Ellicott City, MD)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

My wife and I hosted our two grown sons and a friend and Pura Vida was a truly great choice for us. The house is large, with four bedrooms plus the bunk bed room. It worked out great for us because there was plenty of space for us to each have some privacy, yet we could easily see how this house could easily accommodate 16, or more, people. Not only are there plenty of beds, but there's a family room on the first floor, and another in the basement. And, there's also a game room in the basement. Fully equipped kitchen on the main level, plus a small kitchen in the basement. It was great for the five of us, but would be great for 15, or more, as well. Not only is the house large, but it's gorgeous. It's in excellent condition and beautifully decorated....yet, you didn't feel like there were fragile, easily broken decorations everywhere that would be at risk with young kids running around. We also loved the location. It was our first trip to Lake Gaston, and we loved this spot. It's located directly on the main lake, which provided a beautiful, expansive view. We rented kayaks (Konvenient Kayak, LLC), which gave us opportunities to see many other lake houses (from the water). We were very thankful that we'd picked a place directly overlooking the lake, rather than a house tucked inside one of the many coves. The coves were pretty, but your view was limited to a small slip of water and a lot of trees. Nice, I suppose, but not nearly as beautiful as overlooking the main lake. By the way, the house sits above the water (like most of the houses we saw there), so there are sturdy wooden stairs leading down to the dock. We easily hauled our two-man kayaks up and down without a problem. Finally, the owner (Sharon) was great to deal with via email. She was very responsive and patient with our questions prior to our visit. This is the kind of place that folks love to return to over and over.

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

Pura Vida is Beautiful Lake Home

Guest: Gladelle (South Riding, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

We have just returned from a wonderful week staying at Pura Vida. The house and grounds were impeccably kept. The pictures really do not do it justice. We took one family, daughter, son and daughter in law with little ones, ages 2 and 4 months, the first weekend and the house and grounds were wonderful for a 2 yr. old to explore. The downstairs den and game room were perfect for evening fun and games. The second weekend we had 2 daughters and 4 and 6 yr old granddaughters. Once again it was perfect for scavenger hunts and lots of games. The kitchen was stocked so well that we easily found anything we had forgotten. The view is so very nice and tranquil. We used the fire pit for a roast and everyone loved the double swing. Flowers bloomed in every direction and the house decor kept us all fascinated with guessing it's origin. We even got in some strenuous walks up and down the hills on the entry roads. This is a vacation home I would highly recommend to any family looking to get away and do some wonderful bonding with their families. It was the perfect choice for us.

Owner response:This wonderful renter captured the essence of how we wanted Pura Vida to be enjoyed when we purchased and refurbished it a few years ago. We tried to create a warm and inviting atmosphere by providing very nice furnishings and fun and interesting decorations which we have collected in our travels over the years, mostly from Spanish-speaking countries. We bought Pura Vida mainly for use with our extended family, including grown children and grandchildren, and enjoy sharing it with our friends as well. With the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it is rare to find a serene and beautiful place to spend special times with family and close friends. We have tried to think of everything for our guests comfort and enjoyment! Perhaps it is the perfect place for your next Lake vacation. Carlos and Sharon Perez

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

Pura Vida is Beautiful Lake Home

Guest: Gladelle (South Riding, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

We have just returned from a wonderful week staying at Pura Vida. The house and grounds were impeccably kept. The pictures really do not do it justice. We took one family, daughter, son and daughter in law with little ones, ages 2 and 4 months, the first weekend and the house and grounds were wonderful for a 2 yr. old to explore. The downstairs den and game room were perfect for evening fun and games. The second weekend we had 2 daughters and 4 and 6 yr old granddaughters. Once again it was perfect for scavenger hunts and lots of games. The kitchen was stocked so well that we easily found anything we had forgotten. The view is so very nice and tranquil. We used the fire pit for a roast and everyone loved the double swing. Flowers bloomed in every direction and the house decor kept us all fascinated with guessing it's origin. We even got in some strenuous walks up and down the hills on the entry roads. This is a vacation home I would highly recommend to any family looking to get away and do some wonderful bonding with their families. It was the perfect choice for us.

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

We loved this place!

Guest: Jim and Linden (Wilmington, NC)
Date of Stay: 09/09/10 Review Submitted: 09/14/10

This house oozes serenity, South American style; if anything, the pictures do not do it justice! The scenery is perfect -- and every feature in the house was designed to make a family's stay stress free. There are plenty of things for children and adults to do, and there is lots of space for peace and quiet when that's a priority. We highly recommend this property.

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

Guest: John Portlock (Smithfield, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 08/26/08 Review Submitted: 08/26/08

Beautiful place. My brothers, sister and I rented Pura Vida for our parents 50th annivesary. Having the whole family together for a week under one roof was great. Even with the crowd of people you could always find a quite place inside or outside to unwind. Thoughtfully landscaped the fire pit at night, and the sun deck during the day were the most popular gathering spots. And of course the kitchen was favorite inside gathering spot. Very relaxing week. Highly recommended.

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Guest: J. Beasley (Winston-Salem, NC)
Date of Stay: 02/08/08 Review Submitted: 02/08/08

We loved Pura Vida! My extended family spent a great week there, and everything was perfect. The furnishings were ideal, the appliances and electronics all worked perfectly, and there were lots of games and puzzles handy. We're looking forward to lots of future visits to this great house.

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Guest: Kim Rhodes1 (Virginia Beach Virginia)
Date of Stay: 01/13/08 Review Submitted: 01/13/08

We have stayed at Pura Vida twice and absolutely loved it. It is a beautiful home where we were able to relax at a time when our family needed some serenity. Pura Vida met our needs completely....lovely furnishings and a beautiful view.

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