The house served its basic purpose of providing a sizable place for two couples to base out of while in town for a family wedding. It's on a lovely street with cute houses and beautiful Spring gardens that made me very jealous with what little grows in the Texas heat. Communication was swift and access to the home was easy once I reread the instructions about pulling the door to you to get the lock to work. We were able to get to and from a variety of scenic landmarks by car since the highway was close. We couldn't figure out the TV other than the basic channels but luckily the internet worked well enough for us to stream on our phones. My son and I were also able to get some work done at the same time without noticeably slowing the speed. The kitchen was nicely equipped with what we needed to prepare breakfast each day, pizza for one lunch and we loved the tasty salsa and chocolate that was in our welcome basket. We tried our best to follow the extensive recycling directions and hope we got it right. Here in Texas you dump it all in one bin and they figure it out later I guess. We also enjoyed the firepit, even in the chilly, light rain our last night there. And while I know you aren't supposed to leave items in the refrigerator or pantry, we did have a few items that were unopened and didn't want them to just be thrown out, so we left them in hopes the owner could use them. I hope that wasn't an inconvenience.
With that said, there were a few things that kept me from giving this more stars. First, the house has a weird smell when you first come and go. You get used to it after awhile and we tried to figure out what it was, but ended up just agreeing it smelled like your grandmothers old musty home. The house was visibly clean but the smell really makes you wonder what is unseen. Next, while the clawfoot tub may seem pretty and nostalgic, it's hard to get in and out of without having something to grab. If you have bad knees or you are like me and of the older generation (ie 58), this isn't something to attempt. I was careful not to pull on the shower curtain because it was already sort of precariously dangling to one side and I knew that would not be a good idea.....but after finally getting safely in and getting the water temp adjusted, when I simply opened the curtain to get some shampoo, the entire thing fell! I yelled for help and my husband ended up having to hold the curtain up while I quickly rinsed off. Luckily he was there within earshot and has enough strength to hold it up for the few minutes it took me to finish. (I decided not to take addition time to shave my legs) After I got out, he was able to wedge it back in place, but you could tell it wasn't ever really screwed in to begin with. We found some duct tape and planned to just rig it if we showered again, but decided it wasn't worth the effort and risk. (The rest of the family staying upstairs said they loved their shower in comparison, but I didn't want to intrude into their private space so I just used lots of deodorant for the rest of our stay.) At the last minute, I had also inquired about a hair dryer so I didn't have to pack mine. I was told there was not one there and if I did use one, I had to be careful because the wiring in the house was old. So we brought our own and were petrified the whole time of using it that we were going to blow a fuse or catch the place on fire. (Also just glad I asked at all because every other place I've ever stayed has a hairdryer so plan accordingly. It would have made for interesting wedding photos had I not checked.) Next, the guy next door decided to build the Taj Mahal right outside the bedroom window while we were there, striking up his table saw at very early hours a couple of mornings. The host has no control over that, but people staying here need to know that you might not always get to sleep in..... Next, the concept of "walking distance" is clearly different for different people! In my opinion, it's not walking distance to anything you would want to spend time at unless you want to do karaoke at The Alibi Lounge or visit a couple of herb shops. Mississippi Ave is several blocks away, on the other side of the Interstate, and personally there was not a path between the two that I would want to take walking back after dinner and drinks. (We drove there instead and enjoyed the local flavor). The park is close but let's just say I'm glad my husband insisted on tagging along when my daughter in law and I decided to take a walk to see the view. Next, there isn't plentiful street parking as suggested. at least not close to the home, and especially in the evenings. Luckily there is a driveway but you have to angle in to park unless you are in a very very small car. We were in a regular SUV and worried each time we pulled in and out that we would fall off the ledge that separates the two levels of the driveway. This, coupled with street parked cars on both sides and right up against the driveway, makes for interesting comings and goings. We live in an urban setting ourselves where our driveway is accessed through a narrow alley. The experience we have in doing that no doubt helped my husband maneuver around but for those of you