Isbell and Isbellita were truly wonderful and the oasis we needed for the weekend! Everything was perfect, we spent the whole day on the lake, and it is conveniently located. The house is cozy and warm and has plenty of sleeping options. I slept on the porch which was particularly delightful. Also, Bread and Puppet is a 15 minute drive away â Iâd highly recommend giving them a visit! On the whole, it was so lovely and it was the perfect birthday getaway.
Step back in time and enjoy a quiet get away! We just loved this property and our stay here at Isbell. Willoughby Lake is an amazing clean and quiet lake- our top choice for our granddaughter to swim in! The little slice of beach surrounded by friendly neighbors was perfect for our whole family. We really loved the two porches and spent so much time catching up with family. There were some fierce croquet matches on the front lawn. And the little guest house was perfect for my daughter and hubby to put our little granddaughter in for a nap or down for the night as it was quiet and separate from the main house yet close enough to check on her. We had fun looking through the antiques and trying to figure out their purpose. Our favorite is the kitchen âislandâ- you will be pleasantly surprised to know it has a hidden gem inside! I would revisit but next time stay even longer; 3 nights just wasnât enough!!
Fantastic location. Hose had everything we needed for our family visiting for a family wedding. We enjoyed hanging out on the porch, swimming and relaxing at the dock and gathering together for dinner. Thanks for a lovely stay. Stunning fall foliage too!
We love the charm and layout of the cottage, itâs so welcoming and relaxing with multiple porches and cozy comfy bedrooms. Canât wait to come back next year.
Cute and affordable with plenty of character and lots to do in the area. Outdated electrical, although given the age of the property this shouldnât be a huge surprise. We did have some minor issues with cleanliness: the Isbellita shower had a previous guestâs hair clip/hair in it and there was no laundry detergent available. Minor issues though and we had a lovely time.
We had a wonderful time. The place brought memories of summers at my grandmothers house. We enjoyed sitting on the porch listening to the loons and catching up with reading. Such a relaxing weekend. Wish we could of stayed longer . Thinking of coming back next year.
Thank you Mary
The house is straight out of an antique shop which I absolutely loved! My family and I enjoyed the peace and quiet. The private beach was just that. Perfect. Floats & kayaks were provided which made it even more fun. General store close by made it all the more convenient. Definitely worth the trip!
This was our family's first trip to this part of Vermont and hopefully it will not be the last. The Lake Willoughby area is singular and this cottage is at the heart of it. The cottage is "rustic" in the most positive sense possible of that word; it is not "fancy" and it is maybe even a bit dated, and that is exactly as it should be - the cottage has everything you could possibly need for a pleasant stay, everything works as it should, it is clean and comfy, and there is plenty of space. If you are traveling with kids, the front yard of this property is sizeable and perfect for all manner of activities (and they might not even miss their phones). The lake access is convenient and the neighbors, friendly. We found the property host be easy to reach and very responsive which was appreciated. Highly recommend!
Lake Willoughby is a special place for me and my family and this was a perfect spot to gather together for a lake vacation. Great for families and awesome beach access! We hope to return next year.
Beautiful views and plenty of space in this lakeside house and cottage. There were 6 of us and the space was perfect. Even though the weather didn't cooperate we made the best of it. Lots of games and fun! Loved the porches for our morning coffee. Living area was nice and cozy with plenty of seating. We hope to return in better weather to take advantage of the private dock and firepits. Thanks for sharing with us!
The house has a lovely, old fashioned feel and was clean except for the refrigerator. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting outside on the porch. Considering that the oven doesnât work, it would have been very helpful to have instructions for the convection oven. The water pressure was low. It is a beautiful home and setting.
The property is comprised of two charming cottages -- one is a snug, cosy guest cottage that sleeps three; the second, Isbell Cottage, is a larger cottage that sleep 8-10 with a large living room/dining room, charming kitchen, and double porch. The cottages have access to Willougbhy Lake with a deck, dock and beach front. The cottages have a lovely character harkening back to a simpler time, with unique furniture, eclectic and beautiful artwork, and amenities you need for a relaxing lakeside respite.
My husband and I spent the second week of our honeymoon at Isbell Cottage and it was perfect! We used the snug guest cottage, rose each morning to have coffee on the porch and watched the sun come up. We took amazing hikes, visited museums in Glover, and spent a rainy day making chili, reading and playing cards as the sound of rain kept us cosy. (Don't miss the Bread and Puppet Museum and the amazing and quirky Museum of Everyday Life in Glover!)
At the weekend, ten our best friends joined us to celebrate our marriage and everyone fit perfectly into the two cottages. We kayaked and paddle boarded and we spent most of the days on or near the water. Evenings we watched spectular sunsets, listened to the loons, and sat around a fire on the beach reminiscing and telling stories. It was a magical experience.
Finally, I slept better than I have slept in a long time in the deeply quiet, dark night. I left Isbell Cottage with a deep feeling of peace and restfulness.
We loved the character and amenities of the cottage. The lake access was lovely, as well as walking to ice cream at the Lake Store. The house itself has ample room and is so gracious and charming; like staying at your grandparentsâ home.
We had a fabulous weekend at this property! The house was comfortable and relaxing. Our kids loved the unique feature of the sleeping porch. It was nice to have our own dock across the street and our family enjoyed the use of the kayaks. We hope to return someday!