Would like to stay all summer!

happywanderer (St. Louis Region)
Review submitted: September 30, 2012   Date of arrival: September 9, 2012

We were very sorry to have to leave. We have stayed in many cabins and appreciate a real cabin feel. This one is called "rustic" but is much more comfortable and equipped than other rustic cabins we have rented (which had higher rental fees!) The kitchen was well furnished for cooking our own meals and there was a nice outdoor grill to use, as well. It was better furnished than any cabin we have ever rented so if we forgot to pack anything chances were that it could be found (coffee, shampoo, conditioner,etc.) This has never been our experience before with a cabin rental! It was nice to sit out on the deck and have coffee in the morning and look at the beautiful lake and nice to sit out at night and just hear the sounds of fish jumping. We love being able to enjoy the outdoors and what nature has to offer. We were disappointed that we didn't see any snakes! We live in an area with quite a few poisonous water snakes and knowing that there are no poisonous snakes in the area of the cabin there is no reason to feel threatened! We did have a friendly duck swim up to greet us and hang out with us, saw a kingfisher, four loons swim and feed off the end of the dock, lots of hummingbirds, and jumping fish. Great for nature lovers! There is plenty to do in the area and it can be hard to have to decide between staying at the cabin and enjoying the lake or going sight seeing. I wish we'd had more time to do both!!! Twice we went to a local 9 hole golf course that was beautiful and friendly. We also visited local wineries and farms (goat cheese and craft cheese) and nearby towns. The nearby Amish Store was our favorite for wine tasting and buying. We really didn't have enough time to enjoy everything the area offers. The steps to the cabin can be a challenge but good exercise. I recommend keeping this in mind when packing. The beach at the cabin beckons you to skip stones or look for fossils, "lucky stones", beach glass or other interesting things. Although we didn't take our pets it's nice to know that there is a pet-friendly nice place to stay. The owners were very friendly and accommodating and treated us just like we were family!!!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

Quiet restful time on Lake Cayuga

Toronto Jay (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Review submitted: September 4, 2012   Date of arrival: August 25, 2012

A very pleasant stay at a rustic cottage. The owners are a very gracious couple that are very helpful, easy to talk with and interesting. I was somewhat disappointed to not see the previously mentioned watersnakes, (and believe me we searched), I gather that the woman who freaked out must be outdoors averse. We visited one of the wineries and sampled the local vineyard. We also visited some of the local sites and shopped at a discount mall. All in all it was a great time had by all, young and old.

Recommended for: families with young children, pet-friendly, sight seeing

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1

great week

S. family (Ocean View NJ)
Review submitted: August 30, 2012   Date of arrival: August 18, 2012

Our recent stay at Cayuga Lake was great. The owner was available when we needed, but was not intrusive at all. The house was definitely older but for the most part was clean and well-kept. The kitchen was equipped well enough to cook every day, and of course the house location can't be beat. The views are great, especially the sunrises. We used the canoes and kayak, caught some fish but not the 'big one'. You must be in fairly good shape for the steps to and from the house, however. It was a good place for older kids, and we took our dog, too. Our kids especially enjoyed the piano and we played alot of cards in the evenings. We recommend renting a boat from Finger Lakes Boat Rental, if you don't have one. It was our best day, boating on the lake but able to dock at the house for lunch. The nearby state parks were beautiful, too.

Recommended for: families with teenagers, pet-friendly

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Helpful votes: 2 / 2

One... two... slithery problems.

justrun (Vestal, NY)
Review submitted: August 26, 2012   Date of arrival: August 4, 2012

The cottage is exactly as described, and I appreciated all of the water stuff - kayak and plenty of flotation equipment; the charcoal grill was a nice new one; one equipment issue was that the DVD player in the living room wasn't working. It was relaxing sitting on the dock having coffee in the morning and watching the sun come up. However, as my girlfriend's review noted, the water snakes were a major problem. I am used to the outdoors, hiking, camping, etc. and I have run across all sorts of wildlife, including snakes. I'm not a big fan of them, but that's part of nature. However, seeing them in the water and having one swim up to my 7 year old son is just not acceptable for me. We saw 4 of them in 2 days, and 2 literally swam right up to our kids! Just keep this in mind - there is a family of them living in/around the dock are. It might not be an issue for all, but it was for us.

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

wisteria falls

sharon (syracuse ny usa)
Review submitted: August 20, 2012   Date of arrival: August 11, 2012

Best of weeks. So uch was supplied, usually we have totake everything, It was so large we were all easily accomodated. Some days there were a dozen of us. We loved the loons and the resident water snake that visited us each day, and left in disgust with all the fun we were having. The beach area is great for all ages and easy to get the water toys in and out of the water. Lovely views and close to alot of things. I would do this again in a heartbeat, knees be damned. The owners wer so nice and helppful and we all had the mosot wonderful time. The stairs are to be contended with however any decent place on the lake has alot of steps. I had no need to leave the cottage, read see eat play in the water canoe etc etc . If there was a drawback it was because it was too short.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet-friendly, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

Enjoyable stay

m. (Ithaca, NY, USA)
Review submitted: August 17, 2012   Date of arrival: August 11, 2012

I sadly just said goodbye to this cottage as tonight was the last night my in-laws were renting it. The location of this cottage is perfect, quiet and nestled right down next to the lake (so, yes, there are 3 flights of stairs to get down to the cottage but what's a little exercise?). I have lived in Ithaca for 30 years and have a deeper love for Cayuga Lake after staying at this cottage this past week. I did not want to leave. The view up and down the lake is astounding and large and beautiful. The house is old and rustic and does not sport the sterility of a new house. It has definite character that may not appeal to those who need brand new houses with right angles but it felt clean, warm and unpretentious and welcoming the minute I entered. I must say that, as the last reviewer commented, nature is right there at your feet. Yes, I saw a couple of water snakes but I have seen snakes in every water hole I have ever visited in Ithaca and I spend much of my time outdoors hiking in the woods and swimming at the Ithaca Falls, Flat Rock, Six Mile Creek, Monkey Run, most of the creeks, and streams that grace our region. I am saddened and a bit horrified that the last reviewer killed one of the snakes. I have not, nor have my children, ever had one aggressively approach us. I had my 2 children and 2 nephews with me this week and we had such a great time spending most of our time on the dock fishing and in the water swimming, kayaking and canoeing. We did not fear the wildlife, the fish, the snakes, the birds. All are an opportunity to slow down and watch and be with nature. Thank you to the owners for providing such a cozy, peaceful space.

Recommended for: adventure seekers

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Helpful votes: 0 / 0

Water Snakes!!!

chef76 (Binghamton, NY)
Review submitted: August 15, 2012   Date of arrival: August 4, 2012

We rented this cottage for our 4 young children to be able to swim, play, and enjoy the lake for the week. Much of what the cottage provided was adequate. First, understand that there are 74 steps to get down to the cottage. Keep this in mind when you are packing and if you have young children or bad knees! Everything you pack needs to be carried down those 74 steps when you get there, and back up those 74 steps when you leave! The owners were both very helpful in getting our stuff down the stairs when we arrived. There was plenty of space inside for all of us, and even though there is no yard space, the decking provided enough outdoor places to play. The kitchen, while functional and decently stocked with pots, pans, and dishes, was extremely outdated. There are 3 TV with a DVD or VCR player, but we couldn't get the one in the family room to work. A screen on the bathroom window would really help keep the bugs out. The dock and swimming area are perfect, except for on thing. Water snakes. We first saw a water snake from up on the dock when the kids were in swimming the first AM we were there. It came right up to our 7 yr old son! We called the owners and they told us that they had seen snakes living in the railroad ties by the dock, and that they weren't poisonous. We thought this may be a one-time stroke of bad luck, but that wasn't the case. By Monday AM, we had seen snakes 4 times. One of which was 2 feet long, and came up onto the beach. We again called the owners who told us where a shovel was. We were able to kill that snake, thought it was finally over. Ten minutes after the kids went back swimming, another snake swam up to my 5 yr old daughter. At this point we decided after 4 snake encounters in a matter of 48 hours, we were packing up and leaving. We did not feel it was safe to allow our children to swim with water snakes, even if they were not poisonous. Surprisingly, these snakes were not afraid of people and would swim in an aggressive manner towards the kids. While I do not think the owners are responsible for nature, I do feel that if they were aware that there were snakes living around their dock that they would do what they could to eliminate the issue. They are after all, renting their cottage out to people, many of which who have children. I don't know any moms that would think it was OK to let their children swim with snakes. This was a scary and very dissapointing experience for our family. Never again!!

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Helpful votes: 1 / 1