ABOUT THE AREA:
Situated in the small rural hamlet of White Creek, NY, the Crik House is a fully wired, but bucolic retreat. Located 8 minutes from Bennington College, 15 minutes from SWVT Medical Center, and is adjacent to world-class cultural hotspots spanning 3 states, ski slopes, and fabulous hikes, walks, bikes, and runs right from your doorstep (check out our visitors guidebook for more info). It is the perfect base for exploring the cultural treasures and outdoor recreation opportunities of western Berkshire County (Williamstown Theater Festival, Mass MoCA), Southern Vermont (Bennington Museum, Hildene, Stratton Mountain), and upstate New York (tubing on the Battenkill, Saratoga racetrack). Or, relax in place and enjoy the simple charm of this farming community.

The Crik House is perfect for Bennington College parents' weekend, visiting nurses from the hospital, a remote worker looking for some outdoor time, a writer on retreat, city escapees, low-key adventurers, families looking for fresh air, or anyone who is interested in experiencing pastoral upstate New York/Southern Vermont in all its raw and uncurated glory.

MUST DO:
It also is walking distance from the local White Creek Country Store, which has great to-go breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and ice cream!

ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
The Crik House is located in the "historic district" of White Creek. There are many beautiful houses dating to the 1800s, but there are also some historic structures in disrepair- including the massive White Creek Tavern directly across the street. We have big plans for this in the not too distant future, but for now we ask that our guests appreciate it for its possibilities, rather than judge its current state!

Guest manual
PANTRY: We stock the house with salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar, flour, honey, maple syrup, and sugar. Enjoy your complementary (hard) cider! Guests have access to a coffee grinder and a French Press. The tea drawer is fully stocked, but we do not provide coffee beans.

AMENITIES:
We offer shampoo/conditioner/bodywash and have extras of almost any item you might have forgotten at home. Toiletpaer/paper towels and cleaning supplies are provided.

Sheets and towels are provided.
Please use the black towels for any makeup removal etc...

FIRE SIREN: Do not be alarmed (pun intended), but as part of your rural Americana experience, you may be treated the special fire siren that sounds most days at noon- provided the volunteer fire department has remembered to set the timer. Think of it as an new-age version of the town crier- 12 o'clock and all is well! If you have a dog, we encourage you to howl along with them. Other than the noon shoutout, the siren sounds about every other month on average for actual fire calls, so you may or may not be treated to an unexpected alert.

GARBAGE:
We ask that you recycle (glass, plastic, cans, cardboard), and compost. For short term stays we will handle the garbage after you leave, however you can always take your waste to the large bins out front. For longer term guests, trash pick up is on Monday mornings, so just have it to the curb the night before. You may empty your compost in the small bin behind the house.

Please only flush toilet paper in the toilets ;)

SOME REQUESTS:
Please take your shoes off at the door (it gets muddy!) AND we suggest you bring rainboots if you plan on walking anywhere not on a road.

Please keep the front door shut and the screen drawn on the slider if you leave it open. We live in farm country, and so do flies!

PETS:
This area is great for dogs, however, as you can imagine, we are concerned for the well-being of our house. If you opt to bring a dog, we will be asking you a lot of questions beforehand to ensure it can behave itself in our home. Also, we will expect that you keep it leashed while in the (unfenced) yard, clean up after it, hose it off outside if it is muddy after a walk (and dry it). Please keep your pup off the couch and the bed, and do not leave your pet alone uncrated in the house. Finally, be realistic about your animal. If you have any doubts about its behavior, consider leaving it at home.

Note: we have sheepskin floor coverings in the living room and bedrooms.

Service animals are more than welcome, but we still want to know about your certified companion in advance so that we can prepare appropriately!