Fantastic vacation home - has everything you need and more!
Review Submitted: January 2, 2012
Date of Stay: December 2011
We just returned from our 2 week vacation - stayed here with family incl. grandparents and small children (toddlers & baby). This house was exactly what we we looking for - listing and photos provided are very representative of the home. Pam has stocked the house with everything you'd need including paper goods, toiletries, laundry detergent, extra sets of sheets and towels, crib with extra crib sheets. The kitchen is so well equipped that we kept commenting during our stay about how we wished our kitchen could be so organized. The view of the lake is incredibly relaxing and the house is situated so that you can enjoy the view from many places in the house. The sunset over the lake each evening was gorgeous. There is a large lawn between the house and the lake so even with toddlers we felt safe that they wouldn't wander near the lake without an adult. We used the kayaks and a canoe every day - often the only ones out on the water besides the various birds and ducks including coots and a blue heron. There are also parakeets that seem to like to spend their morning in the trees behind the house which was a treat for us and the kids to see and hear. We made some delicious meals using the gas and charcoal grills and enjoyed sitting at the screened in dining area on the porch (with convenient access to the kitchen) and the dining table inside the house. The house is spacious and well designed so that even with 8 people, it never felt crowded or noisy. Lay out of bedrooms was perfect for us and there's an extra door that separates 3 of the bedrooms from the rest of the house which was helpful with the varying bedtimes.
The location was excellent - safe, quiet neighborhood yet easy access by car to nearby parks/gardens, restaurants, coconut grove, downtown miami, south beach, and the everglades. Beautiful area to walk/run - enjoyed morning runs to the marina at mattheson state park. Highly recommend visiting nearby Fairchild botanic garden (the family membership was worth it for our 2 week stay), the farmers market at Pinecrest gardens, and the Everglades (only about a 45 min drive from the house - stop at the "Robert is Here" market right before the park entrance for smoothies) - walked on the Anhinga trail -easy high yield half mile loop where we saw about 25 alligators and crocodiles.
Gary, the property manager, was very responsive when we asked for help with a couple things and he came over promptly.
Stay here - you'll love it!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children
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