Pros:
- Location is SUPER walkable to Lindstrom shops, coffee, etc. and the house is right on the water. It's also a 5-20 minute drive from lots of other Chisago Lakes attractions (Chisago City, Fawn-Doe-Rosa, Franconia Sculpture Park, St. Croix Scenic Byway, etc.)
- The apartment is impossibly charming. You can tell they put a lot of thought into little touches.
- Loft is stocked with toys, so this is a great place for kids (especially preschool/elementary-age) to stay, especially on inclement-weather days.
- Listing includes lots of amenities incl. wifi, a/c, streamable tv, kitchen items, etc.
Cons:
- We experienced parking DRAMA on our first day (including screaming profanities in earshot of our small children). The neighbors to this home have strong feeling about the owners renting it and made it known. Beware the wrong parking spot.
- The house is on the lake, but the small "beach" area is gravelly and the lake is very weedy. If you're looking for a good swimming spot, you'll probably want to visit a nearby public beach instead.
- The lofted area is adorable and a great feature. The stairs leading up to it, however, are treacherous and you'd not be able to trust a small child or anyone not in excellent health/balance to safely climb up and down them.
Add'l comments - could be considered pro or con!:
- When I booked this place, I remember specifically filtering for 'entire home' so I was surprised when I looked at my itinerary months later that in fact it is the upper level of the owners' home. They were home/around they entire weekend, which can be nice if you need something, but if you are the type of traveler(s) who want privacy and like to keep to yourselves, this is not the place for you.
- The apartment appears to be lived in by maybe other family members or friends in the off-season or off-weekends, as almost all of the drawers/closets/cabinets/fridge/freezer are full of stuff. You definitely feel like this is someone else's house. Not necessarily bad, but came as a bit of a surprise.