Ben's house is truly a hidden gem. It was originally built in 1890. Over years, many renovations were done, adding great characters to this antique home. New Jacuzzi adds modern feeling and romantics to vacationing families, powerful water jets for relaxation and massage, sulphur mineral for healing and skin care. Ben’s home offers us a great combination of modern convenience, cleaning and comfort, as well as time-travel feeling of living in a 130-year old home, and adventures of countryside living and farmer’s home. Owner upgraded the home using as much local material as possible. For example, stair railing was built using two tree trunks very artistically. Sunroom facing backyard is great for family chatting and personal peaceful reading. Great serenity when you look over pond and wild burry bushes and apple trees in backyard from sunroom, and avoiding most bugs. Living room provides a great sofa and rocking chair setting, we had great family Monopoly game time in the living room and was able to leave the game set on the table and to resume several times over our multi-days stay. The little library/reading room allows two people comfortably to read and browse Ben’s book collections, mostly travel books, healthy living, outdoor adventures, woodworks and arts.
Its location is perfect for Fundy National park and Hopewell Provincial park visits, about 20 minutes driving to each park. Crooked Creek falls is the local best kept secret, just 5-6 km away. Waterside beach is worth a short visit for a photo op, just short distance away too. Midway road needs more local government infrastructure investment. But, after 4-5 km bumpy driving on Midway, we can get on highway 114.
All items were provides as described on his posting. We understand this is 130-year old home, and had set up our mindset before adventuring into it. Such expectation helped us a lot to enjoy our vacation in Ben’s home. Of course, a home originally built in 1890 would not provide sound proof, climate control, modern lighting as today’s home. But unpainted wood boards built walls, imperfectly cut wood edges, and corner gaps all add great characters to Ben’s home. Slow draining in main floor bathroom sink, accidentally tripping kitchen electrical braker when using both microwave and toaster at the same, imperfect hot water heater temperature control never bothered us a bit, and just remind us of this antique home and enforce our feeling of time-travelling.
Ben provides great hospitality to guests. He offered to cook home made French fries and brough over ketchup when we ran out of it. Providing food was never a host’s duty. Ben certainly went above and beyond to make our great vacation even more memorable. He brough us frozen wild burry that he collected from his own backyard.
My children were all born and raised up in cities. First time living in a 130-year old home was a challenge to them at the beginning. However at the end of our stay in Ben’s home, they all felt very comfortable and relaxing, and wanted to stay longer. Ben prepared kids games, such as dart game in the backyard. Pond boat and frog catching were all great adventure to kids. Ben even kindly taught kids how to use farmer’s secret to expel bugs.
Grocery stores are located on your way driving to Ben’s home. You need to do homework to prepare your food before you come to Ben’s home, since there is no grocery stores nearby (in the measurement of city living). Ben provided a big fridge to store enough food for a family one-week or longer vacation.