First, we had a great time, but it was because of the people, not the property. Although the pictures adequately show the property as an "up north cabin with character," it's what you don't see in the pictures that is a problem. There is a sandy area for the kids to play but it is separated from the water by a seawall, so there is no beach. Swimming was off the dock and although the kids didn't mind, it was a little trickier to watch them than had they been able to swim from shore. The sandy area is also fairly narrow which made it nerve racking to have a toddler play so close to the drop-off into the water. However, the 2 main issues we had which caused me to give this only 2 stars:
• NEEDS A GOOD THOROUGH DEEP CLEANING. There were huge cobwebs hanging in the kitchen and there was a large cobweb filled with insects in the corner of the master bedroom. The bedroom fans had dozens of 1/2 inch dust bunnies hanging from the blades and cover screen. The curtains were thick with dust and cobwebs. The "white" leather couches in the living area were so disgustingly filthy that we kept them covered with blankets and sheets all week. I pulled the cushions off the couches when we were leaving to check for missing toys and the smell just about knocked me over and the treasure of old food (not anything that we brought) that I found was quite colorful. The living room and master bedroom are carpeted but are covered with throw rugs. The throw rugs were there to cover-up the disgustingly dirty and stained carpet....made me wonder if the rugs had ever been cleaned!
• NEEDS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP. The oven does not work, you are stuck using a 1980's toaster oven for both baking and toast (no toaster) -- hard to bake a pizza in a toaster oven; pots, pans and serving dishes were a hit and miss adventure (only one large mixing/serving bowl); only 2 wash clothes for the 2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms; the shed which stores some of the outdoor equipment and toys smells so strongly of rodent urine that it makes your eyes water; screens on both the side door and the sliding patio door had large rips; sliding patio door fell off the track daily; the screws actually pulled out of the side door and it was hanging by a single hinge (we repaired).
All and all, it would have been fine if it were just clean and well-maintained. The kicker to the story is that the owners never returned my security deposit check and I had to put a "stop payment" on the check.