The Willowbrook Lane Residence
Perks for the Parents
This fabulous countryside retreat with a heated pool, deck, firepit and treehouse is ideal for families, with Catamount Mountain nearby for fun in summer and snow in winter. Inside, the open layout makes it easy to see what is happening all around. A full-sized kitchen with plenty of fun accoutrements such as a slushie machine, fondue pots, and pasta makers, makes family cooking a cinch; the farm table expands to seat 12. The house has a good collection of well-edited board games and puzzles from Battleship to Cards against Humanity. Spend the day in the treehouse or the pool, on deck, or walking around the many areas of the property, including a back trail through the woods. The house is close (8 minutes) to Catamount Mountain for the aerial park in the summer, or skiing in the winter, and near to all the great hikes and private swimming holes of Great Barrington and the Hudson Valley.
Why Kids Love it
Willowbrook is an adventurous place for kids, with plenty of space to play indoors and out. Kids and adults will love the heated pool and floats, hanging out in the treehouse with its rope bridge and making s'mores in the firepit. The deck is great for lounging and stargazing, and cooking up a feast in the kitchen is easy, with amazing produce from the many local farmer's markets nearby easily available. The house has plenty of games for adults and children as well as art supplies for all. There are multiple tree swings and hammocks throughout the expansive lawn areas. It is only a short walk down to the pond to say hello to the local geese and long-horned cows down the road. One of the best ice cream shops, Scoops, is right in Hillsdale Hamlet itself. Hiking and biking trails, fishing streams and ponds, secret swimming holes and local farm stands are all around.
Things to Know
Minimum stay: 7 nights; a 5-night stay may be possible on application. There are no pets allowed. The house does not have air-conditioning but there are fans and it is usually cool in the evenings. Safety notes: the pool is gated and set well away from the house, and there is a set of 3 small steps leading up to the master bedroom in the back, and a set of steps that lead to the basement/laundry room (there is a baby gate in place here). Note that the treehouse steps are steep and we do not recommend it for those aged under 8. Young children will need to be supervised around it. There is limited provision for those with babies and toddlers, but plenty of space for a travel crib. There is also 1 double air bed that may be available on request; note that the full occupancy of the house may not exceed 7 guests. The pool is open for use May through early September.
About the Location
The house is minutes from the charming hamlet of Hillsdale, New York, 2 hours north of Manhattan, and is halfway between the Hudson Valley and The Berkshires in Massachusetts. It is a 10-minute drive to the skiing and aerial park at Catamount Mountain and 25 minutes to the restaurants and shops of Great Barrington, Mass. A little further afield, in Amenia, there is an old fashioned drive-in-theater and there is a great farm-to-table diner in Millerton. Tanglewood and Stockbridge are less than 30 minutes drive away. In Hillsdale, Crossroads Restaurant and Scoops ice cream are recommended by the owners.
Accommodation Details
This 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house is surrounded by 5 wooded acres of pristine forest with views of Catamount Mountain beyond. It has an open floor plan with kitchen, living room and dining area, plus an outdoor deck and sun room. The bedrooms are all on the ground floor of the house and include 1 with California kingsize bed, 1 with queensize bed and a day bed, and 1 with fullsize bed and twin trundle. Additional bed combinations may be possible; note that the house sleeps a maximum of 7 guests. The outdoor space includes wide gardens, a heated swimming pool and a 2-story tree house, which has beds and benches also.
Style Notes
Eclectic countryside. This beautiful house is surrounded by lush countryside and has eclectic, colorful and bohemian influences, from the cane swing chair to the bold wallpaper and vibrant colors of the bedrooms. Living spaces are light, comfortable and welcoming, with part timber walls and wooden floors. Swim in the heated outdoor pool, follow walking paths deep into birch groves, or chill out in the 2-story treehouse. We love the patterned wallpaper, the great green spaces and the opportunities for adventure and outdoor play.
-
Air Conditioning
-
Baby Bath
-
Baby Monitor
-
Babysitter / Nanny
-
Backyard / Garden
-
Balcony
-
Bathtub
-
Bed Rails
-
Bicycles
-
Cabinet Locks
-
Changing Table
-
Chef / Catering
-
Children's Dinnerware
-
Corner Guards
-
DVD Library
-
DVD Player
-
Dishwasher
-
Elevator
-
Fireplace Guards
-
Game Console
-
High Chair
-
Housekeeper
-
Outlet Plugs
-
Parking
-
Pet-friendly
-
Pool
-
Pool Gate
-
Stair Gates
-
Television
-
Toys / Children's Books
-
Washer / Dryer
-
Wifi
-
Window Guards
Hillsdale, Hudson Valley
Ski stations, swimming holes, culture and farms
This hamlet, just under an hour south of Albany and around two hours from New York City, sums up everything that’s great about the New York State countryside. Ski stations that transform into summer playgrounds? Check. Swimming holes, farm stands, hiking trails and fishing streams? Got that too. Set between the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires, this popular weekender spot has an annual folk festival and plenty of culture and dining options for visitors to love. It’s been our little secret...until now.
