Guest House at Hummingbird Hill

Our small above-garage guesthouse on the New York-Vermont border is a retreat from busy life. The open floor plan, airy apartment has windows on all sides & overlooks woods & meadow. The guesthouse is ideal for those looking to get away from electronics and the internet (note: no Wifi), and hike and bike the area’s trails, and/or paddle the Battenkill River and area lakes. Or just sit on the deck with a book and cup of tea or glass of wine. Pets are welcome (we do charge a small fee for pets)! The space Hosts, Melissa and Dan are quiet, environmentally-minded people, and we are glad to be able to share this beautiful area with others. The Guesthouse The guesthouse, above our garage, is a converted writer’s studio. The previous owners (a writer and an artist) enlarged our house from a small hunting camp, and they built the garage and guesthouse. Three sides of the guesthouse face the woods, and are private. The fourth side faces the main house (about 20 yards away), the meadows and veggie garden. Guests have a parking space on our shared drive, and there is a short walk up steps to get into the guest suite. A deck surrounds two sides of the guesthouse, and there are chairs and a small table perfect for sitting while you enjoy something to eat or drink. The space is best used by two people who do not mind sharing a queen size bed, though we do have an air mattress if needed. The bedroom and living area occupy the same open space. There is no partition between them (similar to a hotel room). The kitchen has a mini fridge (no freezer), full range and oven, 12 cup coffeemaker, toaster oven, small microwave, and is equipped with cutlery, pots/pans, dish soap, towels, etc. There is also olive oil and salt and pepper. The bathroom is small, with a standup shower. There is no sink in the bathroom, but as it abuts the kitchen, you simply walk out the door to use the kitchen sink. Sheets and towels are provided. We launder linens with natural and unscented detergent (usually Biokleen or Bio-Pac). We do use both natural cleaning products and bleach products (in the bathroom) when cleaning the space. The Property Our property is made up of nearly 13 acres of relatively young forest and meadow. Guests are welcome to explore! We have mown walking trails (through woods and meadow). Feel free to explore our veggie garden (which is sometimes more weeds than veggies, sorry). Please respect the area around our house and the farm animals' paddocks (fences are electric!). We do try to rotationally grace our two goats through the meadow, so fences are moved every few days. You may see Dan, Melissa, and/or our kiddo out and about in garden, lawn or trails. We are frequently outside, but we will be respectful of your space around the guesthouse. Note: we do need to access the garage for the lawn mower, garden equipment, and trash bins, but we limit our time in there while guests are present. We have pets (two dogs and one cat) who are outside often. There are also farm animals on property: two goats and free range chickens. Deer, bear, coyote, fox, and other wild animals are frequently around the property. Note about Internet and Cell Service: - There is NO wifi or cable, but we do have a small t.v. with a DVD player so you can watch movies, and there are games and books. - Cell service is spotty, though Verizon is usually good. There is no landline. If there is an emergency, you may ask to use the house phone. Note on pets: We welcome your well-behaved dog or cat (or two) to come along on your getaway. We have pets and know it can be hard to find places that accommodate four-legged friends. Please see Policies/House Rules for more info on bringing a pet. We do charge $15 per pet/trip. Please select the number of pets coming along when you select the number of guests. Trails on Property: There are trails criss-crossing our 13 acres--maybe not enough for a full workout, but enough to walk the dog or go birdwatching! Note on Area: We are in a fairly remote area. While our town is only about 4 minutes away, plan to drive at least 20 minutes to get to the next closest towns (and grocery store), and 40 minutes or an hour to get to larger urban areas. We are an hour from the southern Adirondacks (NY) and northern Berkshires (MA); 40 minutes from Green Mountains (VT). Restaurants are all a drive, there are not many options in Salem. Guest access Access to Our Property We live up a steep dirt road, which is mostly well maintained by the town, but in the case of large rain events, the road can become a little washed out. You may want to consider driving a vehicle to the property that is not super low to the ground. Parking: When you come to stay, please park your car on the drive in front of the blue birdhouse and mulched path up to the guesthouse. Our driveway loops around, so you'll be able to drive around the circle when you exit. We also share the same drive, but park closer to our house. How to Best Get Around the Area: Cars are the best way to get around the area. We are within an hour from Albany, Saratoga Springs, Lake George, NY and Manchester, VT. We are just miles from the Tour of the Battenkill (bike race). Other things to note There is a window AC unit, and fans are provided. There is a heater for the colder days. The heater does have a slight whine to it when it kicks on. As we are located in the great outdoors, guests should come prepared for all sorts of bugs (including ticks). We do have a first aid kit and bug spray for your use as well. Recreation: There is a nearby gravel rail trail (D & H Rail Trail), lakes to swim or paddle, Battenkill River for paddling or tubing, and many hiking options. There are also many breweries and distilleries in the area.