How is the Beach?
Best in Town: Since Beaches vary so widely, I will try to point out the main differences you should ask about.
First is the Powder Sand. The Chautauqua’s sand is like powder-not coarse ground up shells like some. Great for drip castles!
Second, at The Chautauqua the ocean is right At Your Door Step. There is no long raised boardwalk with a 5 minute walk across the dunes to navigate with the cooler & chairs before you ever get to the water. The ocean is right there.
Third, there are No Cars. This is a major distinction. Imagine trying to play paddle ball with cars continually passing by & having to be on constant baby alert. Not while you are on vacation!
Next, the beach is wide, level & private - Some beaches are very narrow & steep. It's almost impossible to ride the waves whereas the locals consider The Chautauqua the Best Surfing around. There 's a Surf shop with lessons & rentals at the end of our block but you can have loads of fun with the toys provide fee. No High Rise condos either!
How Is The House?
The Chatauqua Is A Classic: It starts with the Great room - 24 foot long – which acts as the main focal point from which the 4 Bedrooms flow.... plus a Huge Loft that houses w/4 Sleeping Berths (the Kids favorite part of the vacation with their own TV), Pool Table & Wet Bar.... and 2 Ocean View Porches. I fell in love the minute I saw it & spent over a year restoring it to its former glory. Everything was replaced in 2005 w/Top Of The Line materials. I designed it to be the Ultimate beach experience. A place where friends & family could come together & enjoy each other- Recharge their batteries.
BED ARRANGEMENT
Main House Sleeps 15 - 5 Bedroom 4.5 Bath
- Oceanfront Queen w/private stone bath, jetted Tub/Shower combo & sliders onto a Covered Porch
- Second Oceanfront Queen w/private stone bath, Rain Shower, Separate Claw Foot Tub & slider to Porch
- Third Queen Bedroom w/private stone bath, regular Tub/Shower combo & a Day bed that folds down to a Single
- Fourth Queen Bedroom uses Powder room & upstairs Loft shower/tub with a roll-out Trundle
- Upstairs Loft 3 Single Bed berths & 1 Double Bed berth with full Tub/Shower Bath
First Floor sleeps 6-7 (Rents Separately) - 2 Bedroom 2 Bath
- Oceanfront Queen Bedroom
- King Bedroom w/ roll out Single Trundle w/Private Bath
- Queen Sleeper Sofa in Greatroom + Fold out Single Ottoman
- Shared Full bath with a jetted tub/shower combo
How is the House?
THE CHATAUQUA - the name we took from the legal description which we loved once we learned how to pronounce it. It is a CLASSIC Cedar Shake 1926 CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW. It starts with the Great room - 24 foot long – which acts as the main focal point of the house from which the 4 Bedrooms flow. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it and knew I had to restore it to is former glory. I think we even surpass it. We kept the original 1926 quarried Coquina fireplace. It is REAL Coquina - not what they make houses of now - Just like the Fort you will see in Old St Augustine! The Bead board wainscoted is also from the original house, carefully removed and replaned. The floors are Heart of Pine, sanded back to their original glory. They don’t even grow wood like that any more. Even the interior doors, all 8 foot, were patterned after the originals. There is loads of molding, all “in period”, specially milled. We even found the old picture mold with hooks for hanging photos instead of nails.
Then we started adding the NEW touches. A state of the art Gourmet Kitchen. Full wood Cherry Mission cabinets with tumbled marble backsplash and gorgeous sea scape metallic tile accents. The most unusual Granite I had ever seen. It is wonderful. Looks like sand. Black Glass Jennaire Double Ovens and matching Refrigerator, Microwave. Full array of cooking tools, dishes, pots and pans. Stainless Farm Sink and eating bar. Honed Chisel edged Stone floor. Large Laundry room with ironing facilities.
There are 2 OCEAN FRONT MASTERS both with full Stone Bathrooms. The first with West Indies style canopy bed features a Coral Stone Bathroom. Off-white shell stone floors and walls with black stone accents and cabinets. It includes an antique CLAWFOOT Tub complete with new Nickel fixtures and hand shower. Plus a RAIN SHOWER with BODY SPRAY, Two vanities with granite tops storage shelves and gorgeous Kohler farm sink faucets, wonderful Nickel light fixtures and private water closet.
The other Master with Cherry Sleigh Bed and matching Armoire features a bath of taupe colored stone with inset blue glass, a JETTED SOAKING TUB/SHOWER combo, White Cottage Vanity with matching Storage Cabinet, Granite tops and Stone Vessel Bowl sink. Also done in Nickel fixtures.
The 3rd Bedroom can function as a 3rd Master with Day Bed or a children’s room. The walls are Bead Board with the bath done in an old fashion mosaic stone rug pattern and subway stone shower and wainscot. Unique circular white vanity with stainless accents and matching mirror plus White Storage Cabinet. Room for loads of Towels and everyone’s tooth brush no matter the number.
Bedroom 4 is also Bead Board wainscot with a Queen and a rollout Single Trundle. It uses the Powder room and the Loft Bath.
The Chautauqua of course has all the latest ELECTRONICS New AC's, Built-in Entertainment Center with TV/DVD and Stereo - TWO of those actually -TVs in each bedroom - Even the 3 Sleeping Berths come complete with TV and DVD players - Wireless Internet - FAX/printer provided
Plus ENTERTAINMENT - A PIANO. You have to have a Piano at a beach house. Guitar and Game Tables. I am big on games so there are lots of Board Games. Upstairs is the POOL TABLE – and Wet Bar
PORCHES - The front porch is probably one of the best assets. This is where you will spend most of your time so there is LOTS of seating - All Teak Wood. We have 4 Rockers, 4 Adirondacks with stools, 2 benches, 2 sets of table and chairs – one on the porch and the other on the Patio. There is also an outdoor shower there and a stainless grill.
Yes, we tried to think of everything BUT…… as good as the main level is, most would agree the LOFT is the show place of it all.
The VIEW IS UNSURPASSED. With an arched Covered Porch recessed into the house for sun and wind protection, you can enjoy the view from another teak table and chair set or take some quite time to read a book from The Chautauqua’s LIBRARY. Or simply relax and take a nap in the ocean breeze on one of the Sling Chairs.
Where as the adults will enjoy the loft for the view - for the children it is the SLEEPING BERTHS they will be fighting over. There are 3 Single compartments complete with individual reading lights, TVs and DVDs, and under bed Storage Drawers for all their “stuff”.
A separate Full size alcove serves double duty as a bed and extra couch/play area. It comes with loads of shelves to store all the board games that are provided for your enjoyment. But the loft is more than just a place to sleep. There is a comfortable double recliner leather couch for lounging - A full size POOL table. Brand new. - A full WET BAR with antique corner sink, frig and extra microwave for late night popcorn. Even a PUSH BUTTON drink dispenser the children (or beer drinkers) will love.
The bath is a classic. All white Subway tile with mosaic floor and glass tile inlay band. The sink looks like a piece of furniture with Granite top, white Vessel Sink, and recessed lighted mirror niche.
That about does it for the house but if this is not enough space for your family or if it is too much........There is another option. You can always rent the bottom. Find the link to my Website for photos.
It is a separate unit with its own Greatroom, Kitchen, Garage, Laundry, Oceanside Decks & Outdoor shower. It has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. The Master is Ocean side with Queen bed and sliders out to a Covered Porch. The Second Bedroom has a King size bed with a Rollout Single and there is an Ottoman in the Great room that amazingly converts to a single. It is an amazing thing to watch.
The look is different but charming in its own way. All STONE FLOORS, even the walls on the Porch. The Kitchen is actually larger than the main house. All Stainless with a long Glass Block under cabinet window. Great light! The bath is white Subway tile with Pedestal sink and blue glass accents - Jetted Soaking Tub. There is Flat Screen Plasma TV that hangs on the wall. 2 Game tables - one with a Texas Hold'em Table. Again everything is NEW!
Just call if you think you would like to rent it at the same time or if it is large enough to cover your group rent it instead. It will save you lots of money. It runs 1450/wk off season. It works great for a longer month stay during off season which we could do at a reduced fee (4 weeks for the price of 3). Just call to talk about the options.
What's TO DO:
Several great restaurants within walking distance. Plenty within minutes by car
The Pier has a new SPLSH POOL for the kids & FREE CONCERTS on Wed nights in Summer
Annastasia State Park is a few blocks w/Wind Surf Rentals
YMCA w/pool & gym has daily or weekly rates
Alligator Farm, Miniature Golf & Bowling all minutes away
Great Deep Sea & Intracoastal Fishing
Surf Board rental at the end of the street .Parasailing. Bike rental.
Historic St Austine is 5 minutes w/Horse drawn Carriage rides. Haunted House tours. Historic sites.
Amphitheatre with big names. Lots of Oldies. Plan a Beach Reunion with your old friends.
There are antique shops with reasonable prices. A large outlet mall complex.
Marineland is Old Florida the way it used to be. Not flashy but great fun for the kids and close
Disneyworld makes a great day trip
See lindasbeach.com for detai
