Full Description of Rental: "Sweetheart" is a cheerful three-season vacation home just steps away from a private beach shared with neighbors on beautiful East Caroga Lake. The talented owners, a designer/builder and a gourmet cook, have turned "Sweetheart" into a relaxed, informal retreat with a focus on outdoor living. The spacious, level double lot, with its lovely backdrop of mixed woodland, features an outdoor kitchen, hot outdoor shower, six-person jetted spa, picnic table, and a comfortable living area circling a stone fire pit.
The exterior of "Sweetheart" is classic Adirondack - barn red clapboard siding with mullioned windows and shutters painted a golden yellow, the front yard soft with pine needles from stately trees rimming the property, paths and borders carefully edged with native stones. Indoors. white-washed cedar walls and aqua enameled wood floors lend a touch of "beach shack" atmosphere, repeated in seascape oil paintings and shell collections. (An exuberant painting collection also includes landscaped and still-lifes.)
The open living area features a large living room and an eat-in kitchen. Comfortable sofas and lounge chairs are draped in vintage spreads and floral chintz. Sheer window curtains soften the light. The cathedral ceiling is hung with light strands and vintage colored-glass globe chandeliers for an amber glow. A decorative (non-functional) brick fireplace centers one wall. Entertainment options include TV with standard cable, DVD and VCR, a stereo, and board games. High-speed WI-FI internet access is provided for your laptop computer.
The kitchen has large, charmingly old-fashioned "camp" windows that swing open on top-hinges to hook onto the rafters above, white vintage cabinetry, and a 30's vintage sheet linoleum floor in a harlequin pattern of black, red and gray diamonds that we happily uncovered during renovation. The antique wood dining table and painted kitchen chairs seat six.
The fully-equipped kitchen includes refrigerator, electric range, enameled sink with built-in drainboard, microwave, toaster oven, blender, coffee maker, and electric tea kettle. A glass-front china cupboard holds a charming array of vintage dinnerware, while a butcher block unit stores generous serving bowls and platters. Vintage cast iron and enamelware pots and pans hang from the rafters; a hand-crafted plank shelf with its natural raw, curved front edge holds spices and condiments above the range. A large mirror on the range wall reflects beautiful green light from the kitchen's two walls of windows; the windows above the sink serve as a pass-through to the outdoor kitchen.
The master bedroom features the rustic glamour of a queen-size canopy bed hand-crafted by the Amish from twigs and branches painted a dreamy white and swathed in little white string lights. Wall hooks and a vintage painted dresser with a kitsch "Elvis" lamp are tucked into the room for clothes storage. The walls are white with a distressed-finish antique door. Two windows offer circulation of cooling lake breezes.
The second bedroom features a full bed. A window looks out across lawn to lovely evergreen trees. A dresser and wall hooks provide clothes storage. A full sleeper-sofa on the sun porch allows "Sweetheart" to accommodate a total of six guests.
The beds are outfitted with attractive spreads, blankets, and pillows. Guests provide their own linens: sheets, pillowcases, and towels. A port-a-crib and highchair are available for our youngest guests.
The enclosed sun porch, with three walls of multi-paned glass and screened windows that are curtained for privacy, is an ideal den or third bedroom. A suite of luxuriously comfortable beige leather furniture includes a sectional sofa that incorporates two recliners and a full sleeper-sofa, providing plenty of space for hanging out as well as sleeping in. An ivory-enameled Jotul free-standing gas fireplace keeps "Sweetheart" cozy in cool weather.
Next to the bedrooms is a full bath with toilet, console sink, and shower. An outdoor hot shower and hot tub (along with a dip in the lake!) provide summer's best bathing experiences.
The convenient outdoor kitchen features a substantial gas grill, a bank of metal cabinets with granite countertop and enameled sink, and a large picnic table with comfortable benches and chairs. Sets six easily.
Bluestone stepping stones set in a pebble patio lead to the six-person jetted spa offering relaxation under the stars. Next to the spa is an enclosed outdoor shower with dressing area.
In the large, grassy clearing beyond, a collection of comfortable Adirondack furniture, including a rustic swing, encircles a stone fire pit for bonfires and s'mores. Nearby is a horseshoe pit. A little deck in a grove of woods offers another seating area with cafe table and chairs.
A short walk across the quiet road rimming East Caroga Lake brings you to the sandy, protected waterfront shared with a handful of neighbors. In addition to offering good swimming, you may rent kayaks or canoes to launch from here for fishing and exploring East Caroga Lake's many coves and inlets. A channel leads to West Caroga Lake, allowing boaters to paddle to the village center for a meal.
Hiking, mountain biking and ATV trails, trout-fishing streams, state hunting land, and gorgeous views from a mountaintop fire tower are all nearby. The county has seven golf courses and 44 lakes to enjoy, ranging from small hidden lakes on hiking trails to the 26 mile long Great Sacandaga.
The village of Caroga Lake has restaurants, taverns, post office, laundromat, general store, coffee shop, gas, ATM, video rentals, and a chapel. All the amenities of a friendly, small city are 15 minutes away in the historic sister-cities of Gloversville and Johnstown.
Centrally located in the accessible southern Adirondacks, just 30 minutes north of the NY State Thruway, "Sweetheart" is a great location for easy daytrip excursions to Saratoga (Performing Arts Center, Thoroughbred Racing, and much more), Lake George, Great Sacandaga Lake, Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame, Farmer's Museum, Fenimore Museum, Howe Caverns), the Albany capital region, and much of the six million acre Adirondack Park, including Blue Mountain Lake and Tupper Lake, homes of renowned Adirondack regional museums.
It's about an hour to Saratoga, Cooperstown, and Albany; about four hours to New York, Boston, Buffalo, and Montreal.
"Sweetheart" accommodates a maximum of six guests at all times. There is off-street parking for three cars. Sorry, no pets and no smoking. "Sweetheart" has a NO SHOES policy; bring slippers or flip-flops for indoor use.
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