Lakefront retreat with huge screened-in porch

Lovely, light-filled three-level house with beautiful lake views from almost every room. The two-story living room flows into a dining room and well-equipped kitchen. Sliding glass doors open onto a large screened-in porch that overlooks the lake and spans the entire house, with plenty of room for dining and relaxing. Skylights in the living room and windows everywhere bring in the light.

About a 90-minute drive from DC, the house is perfect for weekend or week-long getaways (10% discount for week-long stays). It has 3 bedrooms with queen beds, all of which have lake views, and 1 bedroom with twin beds and a street/woods view. For your indoor entertainment, we have excellent wi-fi throughout the house, two TVs with Roku and access to your own streaming services, as well as books, games, puzzles, and a pool table. On cool nights, cozy up to the wood-burning fireplace in the living room.

Hang out on the huge screened-in porch that faces the lake. Outside, swim in the lake, and paddle our kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Our house is on Keaton Lake, also known as the “small lake” – no motorboats allowed, which adds to the serenity. Enjoy the dock, picnic table, fire pit, Adirondack chairs, and birdsong in the wooded surroundings. At night, step onto the dock or even the front porch to see a million stars.

The lake house is located in a development called Lake of the Woods, a gated community with a diverse population of about 7,000 and a wealth of amenities that guests can enjoy. These include an 18-hole, par 71 PGA golf course, 2 lakes, 8 beaches of varying sizes, outdoor swimming pool, horseback riding (including trail and pony rides), walking and hiking trails, parks and playgrounds. (Some activities require a modest fee; golf is about $20-$40.) There’s a café where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a clubhouse that offers Sunday brunch, dinner five nights a week, and drinks, all with a fabulous view of the 3-mile long, 550-acre “big lake.”

Dining and grocery-shopping options are within a few minutes' drive. Farther away (30 minutes) to the east is Fredericksburg, and to the west is Culpeper. Both offer local restaurants and art galleries, and Fredericksburg has a wide array of big-box stores and chain restaurants. For history buffs, the area is rich in Civil War history and battlefields. Local wineries offer tastings and live music.