INTRO:
A modern utopia complete with everything you might think you'd need or forgot to pack. Christine & Will have executed the perfect second home/airbnb spot to hang at. I travel a lot for work and personal life, and they by far have the most accommodating space I've ever stayed at through Airbnb (even most hotels to be honest).
ACCOMMODATIONS:
This is a place where you can literally pack your clothes and worry about nothing else. Their bathrooms and kitchen are fully stocked with anything you could possibly need + back ups in case you run out (like toilet paper/feminine products/paper towels/garbage bags/K-cups). They have games, puzzles, interesting books + outdoor fun like a bags set and giant Jenga.
There are plenty of places to sleep: 2 bunkbeds (4 twins), 2 beds (2 kings? or maybe 1 king, 1 queen - either way - super comfy), a chaise/couch (upstairs in a nook), a couch and lounger (living room) - and all of the pillows and throw blankets you could possible need.
Plenty of beach towels. 2 yoga mats (because mornings on their upstairs balcony were perfect for yoga and/or coffee (or both)).
Which speaking of, the balcony is amazing for taking in the property from above - 4 lounge chairs and two outdoor spinning chairs (which I had to bribe my daughter to come down from) - great place to spend your mornings or to catch the stars at night.
Back to the kitchen, which has EVERYTHING - you just have to find it lol - but really, all you need is whatever you're going to cook - they have spices, pans, pots, baking pans and dishes, cooling racks, fondue, charcuterie board, legit - E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G... so you will be more than covered.
PET FRIENDLY:
The property is beautiful and pup friendly. We brought our 1.5 year old doggo and were able to easily put a cork-screw anchor in the wood chip/dirt and attach a cable so he could hang with us at all times. They even had dog treats, we which didn't use but were cool to see. There is a hose on the side of the house which 100% came in handy when we got back from the lake, to wash our pup down and dry him off before he came back in the house (we didn't want him tracking lake muck inside).
THINGS TO DO:
While we didn't venture out too much (this was a total relaxed agenda type family trip) - we did need to load up on groceries our first day (there is an Aldi and a Walmart and some other spots for grocery shopping about 20 minutes from the house and easily accessible). If you don't cook there were also many surrounding restaurants both fast-food/drive-thru and sit down. We also did a short hike at the Willow River National Park - complete with a beautiful waterfall. This is a waterfall that you can actually show up to with your swimsuit and walk in. Some people were picnicking and hanging out there - we just popped in to see it. We also passed St. Croix (MN) lake area and were going to rent a boat and explore that lake (not the lake the house is on) for some different scenery - but when we got back to the house, we ended up staying put (again, lazy vacay). I'm sure there were other things to get into - but this property makes it hard to want to leave.
THE LAKE:
The lake the house is on, was great! 110 acre lake I think, very quiet spot. Painted turtle sightings all over it (I spent one morning meditating on their dock and opened my eyes to like 5 of them peeking their heads out of the water, coming to say hello). The water is great for swimming, floating, boating. Don't expect crystal clear or picturesque blue lake water. This lake holds more greenish (algae) water (looks more like river water) - but is totally safe to swim in. Though almost every house on the lake has a boat, we only ever saw maybe one other boater out whenever we where out there (we went everyday) - so it was very quiet (we also went during the week though). There's a tiny island just out of the mouth of the lake bay where the house is situated that we took our pup to and he had a BLAST zooming around the island and jumping in and out of the water. Christine and Will have the Cadillac of paddle boats - fits 4 people + a little platform on the back where our pup had his first lake experience. If your calf and thigh muscles can't hang with the paddle boat though, they do have two individual kayaks and a really dope Lilly pad (which is a long rectangular and durable foam runway of sorts that floats). Our kids are now demanding we purchase one for home (we live on the river). People do own pontoon boats on this lake - so you could look around for a rental spot as there is an access point, but you would have to haul the rental to the lake and if you're going to do that, you might as well drive 20-30 minutes to St. Croix and rent one on that lake (larger too). But if you own your own, you can bring it with and secure it to their private dock (double check with them first).
MORE WILDLIFE:
There are also plenty of toad friends - don't be alarmed if they come hang with you on the patio. My kids had fun catching them and letting them go closer to the lake. And one deer sighting, of a beautiful fur friend who came right through the backyard and carried on their way - so cool!
FIREPIT:
They also have the coolest fire pit set up between the house and the dock, where we spent one night sitting around, telling ghost stories