Shakey Jakes is a delightful retreat on the shore of Vermont's most beautiful lake. The cabin is clean and well-maintained and, although conveniently located on Route 5A, set far back enough from the road that noise from passing vehicles is unnoticeable. Others have described is many charms so I will focus on things I believe make it truly unique.
There's plenty of room. Between the large living room and bright, cheery sun room, both bedrooms have ample space unlike the closet-like quarters of typical cabins. Having that kind of indoor space is welcome when Willoughby's fickle weather throws a sudden, pop-up thunderstorm your way. The yard is SPECTACULAR. If a larger lot exists on the lake shore, I've never seen it. As I mentioned, the big front yard provides a great buffer from Route 5A. The back yard is expansive and flat, with an outdoor fireplace and an amazingly wide waterfront, resulting in a level of privacy unique to this popular lake. With the large boathouse, it takes about 30 seconds to launch your kayaks (we brought our own) on a whim.
Finally, Shakey Jakes is on a particularly warm part of the lake, making swimming more practical there than in some other parts of Willoughby's notoriously arctic waters :-)
Great experience, we'll be returning.