Scandia Forest Lodge - Near State Parks, Stillwater, and Taylors Falls

Our cozy home sits on 5 forested acres in Scandia, Minnesota (15 miles north of Stillwater and 15 miles south of Taylors Falls) offering a peaceful escape with lots of outdoor space. The front deck is spacious with seating for 12. Enjoy your morning coffee on the screened-in porch, surrounded by perennial gardens. A large fire pit across the driveway includes chairs for 10, and additional chairs may be moved from the deck.

Our home is architect-designed with lots of cozy nooks in the spirit of the Not So Big House book by Sarah Susanka. The main level has a large kitchen with gas stove, two dining tables, a kitchen counter that seats 5, and a cozy family room with a wood-burning fireplace. The basement is designed in an Old World European/Scandinavian theme and has a pool table, wet bar, game table, big-screen TV and a gas fireplace styled like a wood-burning stove.

Scandia is a great place for biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. We are 5 minutes from William O'Brien State Park on the St Croix River and 15 minutes from Interstate Park in Taylors Falls. Several lovely wineries are within a 1-20 minute drive, including the beautiful Rustic Roots Winery in Scandia. Our village is also home to a charming Swedish settlers' museum called Gammelgarden, and we highly recommend a tour of the museum and a visit to their gift shop. Our local farmers market is Wednesday afternoon/evening. We love to get ice cream in charming Marine on St Croix, 5 minutes south of us, and it's a 15-minute drive to Stillwater with its charming shops and amazing restaurants.

ADDITIONAL RENTAL AVAILABLE: Two vacation rentals are located on our forested 5-acre property with a shared driveway. Each feels quite private and is separated by forest from the other. Each rental has its own fire pit and yard area. You can view the second rental space -- called Björnskog Stuga -- on VRBO at www.vrbo.com/4165870.

PLEASE NOTE: Although our pets will not be here during your stay, guests with allergies should be aware that we have a cat and a dog.