This was our 3rd visit to Xanadu. We knew the Coopers had been planning to make some upgrades, but the photos don't begin to do them justice! We are a family of 12 (7 adults and 5 children ranging in age from 1-15yrs.) and we loved all of the changes and little touches that make Xanadu even more special. The kitchen is now open plan with 2 refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers. This really cut down on the time we needed to spend in there - despite how beautiful it is! The island and nearby dining room table for 14 mean that everyone can socialize while preparing meals.

We loved the new bedroom arrangements and how attention was paid to places for children to sleep.

The deck has 3 tables and enough chairs for everyone to enjoy the incredible view of the bay and the bluffs of the State Park. The new firepit has chairs for 14 people and a nice concrete patio that seemed to help keep the mosquitoes away. We enjoyed our s'mores in comfort!

There is a small boathouse next to the dock that houses 2 kayaks that may be our favorite addition to the property! Everyone had fun paddling out to Grassy Island to discover there is no grass at all - it is a shoal that is home to several turtles! The boathouse was perfect for storing our fishing gear and floats overnight.

We were so happy the bench was put out at the end of the dock this year. We took our morning coffee out or enjoyed the beautiful sunsets as we sat there.

The Coopers are excellent hosts - available whenever they may be needed, but respectful of our space while we are staying. I cannot recommend Xanadu highly enough! We have already booked our week for 2017 - that speaks louder than words.