Savor our three-bedroom Cottage in this peaceful western shore spot, enjoy two acres of green space, the pier, kayaks, swings, fire pit, shady lawns & sun-drenched loungers, local waterfront dining or eat in, close to Washington, D.C., Annapolis, & Baltimore at this honeymoon-worthy country-like micro-resort. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, we have offered SPECIAL discounts for longer-term rentals The space We have operated what is affectionately called "The Cottage" (TC) for over five years, and we love it. We connect folks to whatever resources they need to plan a fun, relaxing, and memorable stay. Sleeping / Bathing Info: Three unique bedrooms at The Cottage. Two queen-sized beds and one full-sized bed with a bathroom right outside your door. The third bedroom is a bit separate from the others and has its own small en suite bath -- tasteful tile and fixtures (shower, no tub). There is an L-shaped Ikea couch that easily becomes a third queen-sized bed allowing The Cottage to sleep up to eight if beds are shared and air mattresses can be added. Bedding for the IKEA sofa is in its "L-shaped section." There is a charming main bath with tub/shower. Additional Services: On-site washer/dryer and dishwasher. Common area with extra supplies, games, videos, coffee. BBQ and full galley kitchen, and bright open living and dining spaces complete with morning and afternoon sun, and a tranquil view. Complimentary use of kayaks and other equipment. Please review the house manual for usage and safety instructions. We provide helpful amenities for all seasons like throw blankets for movie nights, extra towels, big floaty things for playing off the pier in summer, and other small touches that can make all the difference in creating your happy, memorable experience. NOTE: PARKING/PLANS CONVERSATION W/HOST REQUIRED IF EXTRA DAYTIME GUESTS EXCEED 3 PEOPLE. HOST APPROVAL/LOGISTICS CONVO & VENUE FEES APPLY FOR LARGE GROUPS. Property Updates: All new HVAC in the Cottage. The system is very quiet and efficient for cooling and heating. This is a huge benefit because many cabins and cottages on the Chesapeake don’t have central HVAC. DOGS: We love and welcome doggies as long as you trust the dog(s) to not soil the inside or chew things. Owner now waives the $250 damage deposit (may be charged in the case of puppies or cats; please notify owner of your circumstances in either case) When you arrive, please give Shawn a check for $18/night/dog as well as the $250 pet deposit check for the $250 if puppy or kitten under one year old. At the end of your visit, your deposit will be returned. BOOKING: Please feel free to contact us by putting in any date you see open (click on the tab above the large photo to see our calendar). Just grab a range of dates if you want a shorter get-away, and write to express your interest in planning a longer stay or need a short-term rental for a few months if you're between houses or in the area for work or family. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, as we love sharing this amazing spot with our guests! OPTIONAL CARRIAGE HOUSE for Added Space/Privacy: Let us know if you need extra space, as we have available our Carriage House (a modern, nicely appointed unplugged space that shares the Cottage bathroom or you can stick to a "Glamping" feel by using only the outdoor shower and camping toilet). It has a super comfy queen bed, desk, coffee, fridge, and microwave, living and dining space, desk, and electric fireplace. It is great for sleeping with its northern exposure and quiet ambiance. We can also supply an air mattress. (See listing by same name Wonder Cottage Plus “Glamping” Carriage House to book it, or write to us). Spend time alone while you’re here or feel supported by me and my super helpful property manager, Alice, who is from a well-known local family. I have been sharing my lovely place next door for over 11 years, and always have the greatest guests, who have been thrilled and are so much fun to host (see reviews below). My team and I are here to support you as much or as little as you need while staying in the Cottage. Top 10 reasons to choose our Waterfront Cottage & a stand-alone Glamping suite as your next place to retreat to: 1. Best kept secret on the Chesapeake, with far more open space and country-like waterfront than the crowded neighborhoods in this area. We are less than 45 minutes from many parts of Washington DC, Baltimore, and Alexandria. 2. The western shore is easy to access. You won't have to fight the Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic getting to the east side of the bay. FREE PARKING ON SIGHT. 3. Explore Local > Less than a three-minute drive to Deale, MD, where you can get groceries, meat, fish, sail, do water sports and more local activities. Sailing destinations Galesville and Rosehaven, with great waterfront restaurants are all close by, and historic Annapolis is just a scenic 20-minute drive from The Cottage. While there, you can stroll streets from another age, poke into the many shops and restaurants, tour the State House, Naval Academy, or Annapolis harbor, as well as enjoy movies, shopping, and some great parks and nature trails. You are also close to Shadyside, Fairhaven/Friendship, West River, and are located in Churchton. 4. Kayaking, fishing, floating/swimming, or catching crabs right off our private pier are all included in summer and enjoy movies, football, indoor games, gorgeous views, and long conversations by the fire in winter. Access to two acres of private green space includes and my private pier. We provide lawn and indoor games, indoor and outdoor cooking, swings, a fire pit, an outdoor shower, other fun amenities. 5. The Cottage itself--just 66 feet from the water--is great for BBQ/crab dinners/picnicking/roasting marshmallows, a lovely view and pleasant breezes. BBQ grill and pots for cooking crabs are provided. Extra sleeping accommodations are also possible for groups staying at The Cottage in our Carriage House Retreat, which is attached to the Cottage garage. 6. If you're a big party, I sometimes even rent out my own home, "Chesapeake Paradise House." If you're a big party, I sometimes even rent out my own home, "Chesapeake Paradise House." 7. The Cottage is your home base for your getaway or retreat in a country-like little neighborhood near the end of a point of land with water on both sides and plenty of off-street parking. Nobody will find you here unless you give them the address, which will be provided to you upon registration. 8. Daytime relaxation and nature-filled fun & nighttime starry wonder. Start your days with amazing sunrises. During the day, enjoy birdsongs, waterfowl, and blinding sparkles near the water or sitting in the shade under our tree. With no city streetlights, the stargazing and our unique “firefly trees” always surprise and delight folks who don’t expect that so close to the city. 9. Some of the amenities are shared with other guests, but don’t worry--you won’t trip over each other with each house on its own separate one-acre property. You have exclusive, private access to your own shady lawn, waterfront lounging and dining indoors or outdoors, firepit, and swings, and of course, your 3 bedroom/2 bath home. 10. Bottom line, Light Landing is the most versatile and consistently enjoyed space in this local area; its country-like open spaces are a far cry from the usually crowded waterfront neighborhoods and tiny lots often found on the western shore. Couples will find the tranquility you seek, and the close-up nature and unique decor will make your special getaway more memorable. Families will smile all day long because there is enough room in the cottage and yards for everyone to have their own personal space to rest and relax; with many natural adventures, movies, and indoor and lawn games/toys to keep kids busy and fascinated. Folks also love it for writing, projects, and rejuvenating retreats from the city because of the beautiful views and the feel of really ‘getting away,’ even though it's so close to DC. Guest access Guests have full access to the shady waterfront lawn at their accommodation, plus the kayaks (2 singles and 1 two-seater ocean), canoe, pier (including crab pots, fishing, or swimming when the season permits). There is one acre of land here and 1 acre at our property next door, gas and grill, outdoor recliner chairs, as well as a dining table and chairs. (The pier, swings, and water craft are sometimes shared with guests at our Cottage next door. So far that has not been a problem). Also, by request, you can book a special session with me of "The Work," (of Byron Katie), an amazing and very simple form of self-inquiry for relieving stress and solving problems. Other things to note FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS [FAQ’s] ACCOMMODATIONS ALL PROPERTIES (OVERVIEW) Q. Will you describe what other rentals are at Light Landing? A. We have a little compound here with two houses as well as other innovative accommodations on two acres in a lovely spot on the water near the end of a point of land with water on both sides. We’re at the end of a dead-end road with no street lights. The main house, Chesapeake Paradise ("The Paradise"), is where Shawn lives on the ground floor level while there are three beautiful suites upstairs. The Paradise can be rented as a whole; optionally, various combinations of parts of the house may better suit your needs. The other house, The Cottage, has three bedrooms and two baths. Its detached garage is where we keep lawn games and extra supplies. Attached to the garage is a small “Glamping” apartment, The Carriage House, which is an option for people who want to bring extra guests. Lastly, there’s a cute self-sufficient Camper. CARRIAGE HOUSE Q. What are the amenities of the Carriage House? A. Because there's no running water at the Carriage House, no bathroom, but there’s a non-odor flushable camping toilet behind a screen that we will empty for you as needed. there's a small free-standing wet-bar kitchen cart with limited food prep tools: drip coffeemaker & Keurig, microwave, toaster, and under-counter fridge. You have access to both gas and charcoal grills, however, so very simple meals may be a possibility. We supply bottled or filtered water for drinking or coffee. There's air conditioning, as well as a quiet fan. The windows of the Carriage House face the "country meadow" part of the property with woods after that, but not the water. However, guests are welcome to relax in chairs with lovely water views from the Carriage House yard, and to enjoy the pier for limited amounts of time, the kayaks and canoe, and hammock. CAMPER Q. Does the Camper have internet or cable? A. There are places on the property or in Shawn’s house where you could use them -- especially on her big porch. COTTAGE: Q: We'll have a toddler with us and I noticed you have a wood burning stove in there. Are there alternative heat sources besides that stove? A: The Cottage has a very quiet, powerful, central heating/air conditioning system in addition to the wood-stove type fireplace, so you don’t have to have the wood stove running. FLAT PLUS: Q. I'm really looking forward to spending a few days away in your waterfront Flat + Solarium! I’m not sure if I’ll be arriving in the afternoon or evening. Do I go straight to the Flat? Will it be unlocked? A. Yes and yes. If Shawn isn’t home, just make yourself at home. Please shoot Shawn a text when you’re at least an hour out, especially if it’s very late at night. Also please call or text so she’ll know you're in, and let her know if you need anything. It’s your home while you’re here, so come and go as you please. Just be mindful of noise if it’s late at night. Q. Is the Flat Plus entirely separate from the downstairs living space? A. The Flat Plus Solarium above Shawn’s dwelling is a completely separate apartment with a separate entrance. It’s not a shared space at all. You’ll have your own front yard and swing, and firepit. Many people have used it for romantic vacations or honeymoons or come back every year for their anniversary. Q. Does the Flat Plus come with crab traps and additional tools to cook and eat the crabs? A. There's neither a stovetop nor an oven in the Flat, but you do have the use of a BBQ grill. We have crab taps & tools for all guests. BEACHES Q. Are there sandy beaches nearby that we can drive or walk to? A. There’s a little beach about a 15 minutes drive south of us at North Beach (community beach for which they charge $15) and another private beach at the Rod and Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. We aren’t near any ocean beaches. Q. Do you have kayaks and canoes available, and is there a charge? Where can we kayak? What other boating options do I have? A. No charge! There are two single kayaks, a single and a double ocean kayak, a nice canoe, paddles, and life jackets. We also have a lot of floaty things for swimming. One guest even installed a fishing rod holder on one of the open kayaks so you can fish further out from the pier or in the bay. We’re very close to the Bay compared to most creeks on the Chesapeake and there’s a little island there that you can kayak to in about 10 minutes and also another creek you can go up in nearby. As you head toward the Bay, you’ll notice a shoal at the outlet of the creek. Locals know how to navigate that, but it would probably make it likely that you would want to watch the tides when you’re planning to go in or out of the creek. If you want to boat in the wintertime, please note that kayaking would be your best bet instead of the canoe which is a little tippier, but either are OK if you’re confident. Often the weather is fairly nice here even in winter. We even had some folks do a very long kayak ride in February. Once in a while we have ice, but not often. IMPORTANT: there is a shoal at the mouth of the creek that may cause boats or motors to get stuck, and you may at least have to pay close attention to the tides, unless it is a flat boat or v-hull that draws very little water. Three minutes away you can join a fishing boat excursion for early morning, serious fishing ventures. South River Boat Rentals is 10 miles away, and has a variety of options. There’s a fun and inexpensive water taxi in Annapolis that takes boaters out to their mooring, and there’s a sunset tour and other boat tours from Annapolis. Someone nearby in Galesville takes people out and teaches about the Chesapeake Bay and local history in an entertaining manner. Franklin Manor (next community over) also has a big fishing pier, basketball hoops, etc. FISHING & SWIMMING Q. Will you tell me more about swimming and fishing at Light Landing? A. Late spring, early fall, and all summer are perfect for swimming and floating around on our big, floaty devices, taking out kayaks, BBQing, or just lounging around outdoors. I love to swim off the pier and have done so with a passion for many years! Many guests enjoy swimming here or floating on the inflatable raft. We provide big, fun floaty things since the bottom is muddy. I swim off the pier many months of the year; however, there are some important caveats, and ALL WATER and BOATING ACTIVITIES are undertaken at your own risk. Please bring your own safety flotation devices (life jackets) for children of all ages or adults who are non-swimmers. We do provide life jackets in various sizes and thickness as the Coast Guard requires that they be with you while in watercrafts; however we cannot guarantee them, especially for children or people who cannot swim. We love that our guests seem to be very careful and use lots of common sense. YAY! No children under 12 on the pier without life jacket or very close supervision of an adult. (Children in the yard at any time must also have adult supervision.) The ladder can be slippery and barnacles can sometimes build up and be sharp, so you may need water shoes. You can expect the bottom to be deep "silky mud" (I like it!). DO NOT GO IN THE WATER WITH A FRESH CUT OR SKIN LACERATION due to bacteria that is sometimes found in the Bay. NO DIVING OFF PIER OR JUMPING OFF SIDES OF PIER!!!! Experienced swimmers may jump off the end with great care if you FIRST TEST WATER DEPTH as it can change with the tides and become very shallow (plus bottom is very muddy and could have glass in it so wear water shoes if you put your feet down). Occasionally there are sea nettles here (mildly stinging jellyfish that show up for a few days or even a few weeks (RARE) in late summer, usually for a day or two in July or August; but they’re definitely gone by mid to late September. Options for swimming: I am the guest of a slipholder at a nearby marina pool and I occasionally bring friends or guests along. The pool can stay open well after Labor Day if the weather in September is nice. There is also a hotel that allows local people to swim for $20 a day from Monday through Thursday between Memorial and Labor Day. Swimming and enjoying the bar there which affords a nice view of the little harbor, would make for a nice day and be worth the $20. It tends to get shady in the mid-late afternoon because there is a big, beautiful tree! The hotel is near a great outdoor covered pub made out of an old boathouse that has an actual boat in the middle of the bar. Sometimes they have music, as do many of the waterfront restaurants around here. And finally, there’s a little beach on the Bay at NORTH BEACH (about 20 minutes away) with a sea nettle net that I think costs $20/day. Kayaks and canoes are leaning against my house and are there for you any time you want to go out - -two single closed kayaks and one double open (ocean) kayak that is a little heavier (the double can also be made into a single). I’d love to help you get set up for kayaking if I’m home, and to know that you're going out and for how long. Feel free to text me when you're planning to go out. Most folks like to go out toward the bay if it's not windy and turn right -- there's a little sand bar/island there and another creek to paddle down, or just take a left and go into the other half of our creek. These kayaks maneuver best if you put the paddle up near the front of the kayak when you want to turn. Don't go far out into the bay. Please drop your kayaks at the end of the pier. Hold rope and go down the ladder which can be slippery or have sharp barnacles (if that's too difficult, you can launch off of the shoreline, but that causes erosion). Be careful and wear water shoes if possible. Q. Can you fish from the dock or the creek/bay from the kayaks or canoe? Q. Can you fish from the dock or the creek/bay from the kayaks or canoe? A. Investigating the legalities of fishing licenses is the responsibility of each party. Our understanding (though by hearsay) is that our guests and I can fish off of the pier, but fishing out in the water (for example from kayak or canoe), may require a license. We are not able to make any guarantees or statements about the laws around fishing in Maryland. Many guests have fished from our pier over the years and it is fine with us as long as you are aware of other guests who may be staying, checking to see if they would like time on the pier… in other words, not monopolizing the space. So far it has worked out very well, although the amount and size of what people catch varies greatly! Crabbing off the pier is a really fun thing to do. We have crab pots, a crab cooker for cooking outdoors, as well as some poles and fishing tackle (we don’t guarantee the condition). DOGS Q. Is there a charge to bring my dog? A.The dog fee is $18 per dog per night. We’ll calculate the nightly fee depending on the number of dogs and request payment via Airbnb five days before your check-in. (Please approve the payment within 72 hours or arrange to bring a check.) There’s also a $250 deposit for doggies who have not been here before. Shawn is very lenient and in eight years of hosting pets she has only withheld $20 for a chewed up blanket. Just bring a check for that deposit and give it to Shawn upon arrival. When you’re checking out, she’ll either return it or tear it up. The $250 damage deposit is not required for Cottage and Cottage Plus guests (may be charged in the case of puppies or cats; please notify Shawn of your circumstances in either case). Thanks and welcome doggies! Q. Can dogs swim off of the pier? A. You're welcome to let your dogs swim, but we do require that you wash them off thoroughly and have them pretty dry before they come back in the house. We have an outdoor shower so you can even bring the dog in the shower with you if that is easiest. Also, I wanted to let you know that the bottom here is very black, silky mud! About six inches deep! I don’t know if your dogs would jump off of a pier or if they want to walk in. It’s not too black right near the edge where there is more sand, but if they get out further they might get that mud on them. There is a neighborhood just a mile from here that has what is known as a doggy park even though it is not fenced. People bring their dogs there to throw a ball, etc. and there is a little, sandy boat launch area into the shallow bay which is a wonderful place to throw a ball or let dogs go in and swim. It is very shallow for almost a half mile out and the bottom is more sandy and firm there. Also I have heard about a doggy beach north of here at Beverly Triton Park. Either way I can support you in having fun with your dogs in the water. It’s just challenging with us already letting people bring dogs to keep our place as pristine as possible and not smelling like dogs -- which it does not. And I am sure you will be totally respectful of my wish to make sure they are clean before they come back in. The bay water can smell fishy so hopping in the shower with them and even using soap will probably make it nicer for you to be around them afterwards as well! (That outdoor shower does have hot water but—FYI— it takes about a full minute or so for the hot water to arrive!!) Q. Are dogs required to remain leashed? What are the general rules for dogs & safety precautions in case of neighborhood cats? A. It’s great that you want to bring your doggie! There’s not a fence, but there’s lots of space for a dog to run around. Dogs are supposed to be on the leash. However, some people trust their dogs completely to stay right near them, and in that case, it’s OK to have them off leash when they’re in certain areas of the property. Shawn’s little dog, Winnie,has a special collar that keeps her on the property, so she’s not always leashed. She gets along well with all the dogs that come here, but she also doesn’t need to play with them if you’d rather keep them separate. Note: Please make sure the dogs do not go into the big field next door, which belongs to a neighbor. The Cottage itself has a one acre field; however there are woods flanking the field, so if you have a dog like Winnie, it might be tempted by squirrels or a deer. There are some elusive, semi-feral cats adopted by the neighbor on the other side of the Cottage. Even though you share a driveway with them, the Cottage is oriented so that you’ll forget those neighbors are even over there. It’s just important to keep the dogs on a leash if they’re near the driveway where the neighbor’s cats might be. These very kind neighbors adopted the feral cats and had them neutered. So the cats pretty much keep to themselves and don’t tend to come wandering around here. Please have no fear of the cats. No one has yet complained about the cats. LOCAL ATTRACTIONS Q. What would you suggest as attractions to visit in the area? A. Annapolis is a fun, historic, waterfront town (the first U.S. Capital which is now the Capital of Maryland), and is famous for housing the U.S. Naval Academy, which is also very interesting to visit. Annapolis is about 13 miles (22 minutes) and it's a really fun, pretty, historic town with lots of shops and restaurants, and has mall/shopping areas as well as a downtown waterfront. Baltimore and its amazing aquarium and the Orioles stadium is fun. The stadium is an easy rural drive of about 30 min. Instead of coming to it around the Beltway from the D.C., VA, or the suburban Maryland side. It's a straight shot coming in from the back side! Of course there’s D.C., our nation’s capital, with the Smithsonian museums, free to visitors. Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick is 40-45 minutes away You can also enjoy local offerings like our own small town and North Beach Pier. The nature walk at Chesapeake Beach is always popular and is a pretty drive (they have a water park with slides and a lazy river). Our Airbnb Guidebook shows a couple of nearby walks (one through woods, one by the water). There are also some hiking trails at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Institute nearby -- also Chesapeake Beach and Brownies Beach. Herrington Bay is about 20 mins drive from our place. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 10 miles away. Local wineries and waterfront dining is in close proximity too. You can click on the Guidebook in Airbnb and see lists of local offerings. GATHERINGS Q. I’d like to organize a weekend get together with my friends. I saw that The Cottage is limited to eight people. We’ll be a party of 15 and some more of our friends might join us during the day. I’m looking for a "big" house where we can enjoy the area. Would this be doable? A. Our place would be absolutely perfect for your gathering – – it really is relaxing, perfect for a country-like picnic with games. With the water right there folks can have water play and a gorgeous view as well! We’ve had many such gatherings here and even small weddings -- folks love it and their guests are very happy and surprised that they found such a perfect place! We have other accommodations in addition to The Cottage. The accommodations are all close together so it's almost like staying in the same house, but plenty of private spaces as well. I hold personal development retreats here and it's really fun to take over all the houses. We can also supply a couple of air mattresses -- and Light Landing has gorgeous grounds where you can camp! Q. Can we host a wedding at Light Landing? A. Here are some guidelines for people holding bigger parties like family reunions and weddings. We have had small, casual weddings of about 20 people The biggest had about 50, and they brought in tables, a karaoke booth, dance floor, and tents in case of rain. Those in attendance loved hanging out on our screened porch or in the yard. We could have handled more people, but at those numbers, we have to make special arrangements for parking. PRIVACY & SHARED AMENITIES Q. Will your other properties at Light Landing be rented while we’re staying here? Also, how do shared amenities work? A. Light Landing has several rental properties on two waterfront acres. In addition to Chesapeake Paradise there’s a free-standing house called The Cottage, a Carriage House, and a Camper. There are 200 feet of shared waterfront and a pier. Each accommodation has its own yard and folks kind of stay apart, or have occasional interactions with each other which seems to add to the fun.There’s kind of a resort-like feeling if there are more people here without it seeming to impinge on anyone’s space. Guests staying at the Cottage (the free-standing property) have their own waterfront yard with a huge tree that creates a nice canopy over the table and chairs out on the lawn. RESTAURANTS Q. Where would you recommend we eat out? A. For seafood, both Skippers and Pirates Cove are good, as well as some places in Annapolis. Skippers is closer and more casual, but everyone likes the food. They even have a dock bar with an upstairs deck for a nice view. Pirates is a little more formal but still casual and has a nice dining room, bar with fireplace, waterfront deck, and a screened porch. They don't sell crabs to crack, but have a good crab soup and a monthly special that always has crab. Yellow Fin (18 minutes away) is very pretty and upscale and has good half-price seafood appetizers for happy hour and has a pretty sunset view of the South River. Nearest store is local, but nice, and has all you would need -- about a mile away. There are also two liquor stores nearby for wine, etc. Registration number 000079