Chesapeake Paradise House-Stunning 6+br4ba Wtrfrnt

This fabulous newly-remodeled waterfront home has spectacular views, shady lawns, sunny pier, breezy open spaces, sparkling views, & wildlife! A fun, relaxing, serene retreat. Couples & groups love our wonderful, hidden, nature-filled spot on the WEST shore of the Chesapeake (close to D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore)! 6-7 bedrm 4-ba on a lush, waterfront point. Crabbing, water, kayaks, fire pit on two country-like acres. The Flat named top Airbnb in MD by TRAVEL + LEISURE magazine. The space Chesapeake Paradise House (affectionately known as “Paradise”) is a gorgeous, recently remodeled two-story 6+ bedroom 4 bath waterfront home with stunning views, shady lawn, deck, balconies, elegant entry foyer with doubled-sided fireplace, leathered granite countertops, & Canadian Ash solid hardwood floors throughout. The downstairs, which is the owner's partial-year residence, has three bedrooms and a glass-flanked "Morning Room" that can be used as a bedroom. The upstairs has two full studio suites, each with a living space, small desk, wetbar kitchen, electric fireplace, and luxurious en suite bath, making it possible for couples within a larger group to still have a private experience. Finally, there is a third upstairs bedroom with that can double as a Solarium/Meditation Room with its spectacular views of both sunrise and sunset. The house has gas and wood fire pits, an amazing screened porch, and whole-house fire safety sprinkler system. Sliding glass door that opens onto a state-of-the-art screened porch, created out of white pillars with expansive, extremely transparent screens. The porch, which has a full couch, gad firepit, rocking and dining chairs/table, exits via screened door onto the deck and via glass slider into the morning room. NOTE: Parking/Plans Conversation w/Host required if extra daytime guests exceed 3 people. Host Approval, Logistics Convo, & Fees apply for large groups. Here is a further description of these accommodations (BASIC nightly rate is for seven occupants--"GRANDE" means $35 extra per night for each additional occupant): The ground floor: - Bedroom: "Soft Swedish Carolina Light” (aka The Green Room), with a double bed, is the closest bedroom to the water, has two waterfront windows and a glass door leading out to the water. Bathroom is two steps outside your door. - Bedroom : “Sweet Memories of Changzhou" (aka Jamie's Room), has a side window water view and a double bed, with the same shared bath two steps outside your door, making this & Soft Swedish Carolina Light a good option for people who want two bedrooms close together. - Bedroom: "Dot's Room" (aka The Mudroom) is smaller and has a twin bed with a pull-out twin mattress underneath. Designed as a mudroom, it has its own separate French door entrance and also houses a washer and dryer in its closet. It can share the same bath at the end of the hall or, alternately, the Mermaid Bath at the top of the steps. - Study/Optional "Bedroom," "The Morning Room," (a glass study off the foyer that can be converted to a bedroom), is a calm, beautiful space with a bar-height glass table and glass coffee table for relaxing in the morning sun or any time, three walls of windows for an intimate view of both creek and bay, a queen-sized sleeper sofa, and a view of the double-sided fireplace in the foyer. It also has a sliding glass door onto the screened porch that could be left open for those who like a natural sleeping space with cricket or bird songs. In the near future (supply chain issues) it will have French doors with cross-reed glass that can be closed off for greater privacy. - An L-shaped Italian leather couch in the Great Room provides a comfortable extra sleeping space. We provide bedding (please let us know in advance if you'd like to use it). - A small, but full, marble tile bathroom accommodates the downstairs. - A fully-equipped "CREEK VIEW" kitchen has leathered granite countertops, bar-height stools, and all the many of the spices, etc., you'll need. - The Great Room has 9' ceilings and a 16-foot sliding glass door that opens onto the screened porch, making it into a LANAI and almost doubling the size of the living room. This same porch opens onto the Morning Room as well, so a very large, fluid space can be created for gatherings. - The gas fireplace in the Great Room is double-sided so it can be viewed also from the Morning Room or from the entry foyer, and has remote control for five levels of flame and heat. The 50" state-of-the-art TV above it is directly wired into the internet (no dependence on WiFi) and there are also speakers for bluetooth-controlled music. - The dining room part of the Great Room has a large Bay view dining table for formal dining, as well as swivel chairs for casual snacks on the water. The sliding doors and windows on both sides can give the feeling of being outside while still indoor and close to the kitchen. The sliding doors also go directly onto the deck making BBQing and outdoor dining easy. - --Sliding glass door opens from the living room onto a state-of-the-art screened porch created out of white pillars with expansive, transparent screens. The porch, which has a full couch, gas firepit, rocking and dining chairs/table leads out to the deck while also opening, via glass slider, to the Morning Room. The upstairs configuration: - Bedroom: "The Sunrise Suite" Master Bedroom has a queen-sized bed, windows galore, a wet-bar kitchen, built in remote-controlled electric wall fireplace and TV, Bluetooth speakers, sitting area, and dining area, as well as outdoor lounging/dining on its balcony. It is adorned with a huge master bath with a "retro" natural teak vanity, large rain shower (w jets, bench, and grab bars) and a roomy 68” ivory soaking tub and toilet with spectacular corner-window views of the Bay (best "toilet view" ever!). - The smaller "Mermaid Bathroom" in the hallway has a “step down” shower and is a common bath that creates a second option to accommodate downstairs guests. While the downstairs will be very clean, some of the owner's private possessions will be present since this is also her private residence for certain times of the year. So far, folks have loved this space and were happy to agree to this special situation. :-) - Bedroom: the" Romantic Modern Chesapeake Waterfront Suite," called "The Flat," has a queen-sized bed and a luxurious, marble bathroom with a deep, freestanding tub and large European shower. The Flat can also be booked as a separate apartment (was named the most wished-for Airbnb in Maryland by Travel + Leisure Magazine). - Bedroom: "The Solarium" is unique in that it has windows on all three sides for both sunrise/moonrise and sunset views. This very peaceful sun-drenched space is attached to The Flat by a glass, sound-dampening door. It has a wonderful, white leather couch and double bed, its own small balcony, and can be made into an ensuite bath bedroom with its own closet by locking off the hallway. - The smaller "Mermaid Bathroom" in that same hallway mentioned above has a “step down” shower, and can serve either the downstairs common space and Morning Room, or can be a private bath for the Solarium. You'll enjoy gorgeous views from the screened porch, decks, balconies, as well as from the upstairs skylights and and upscale sliding glass windows galore....take in the moon and stars, both sunrise and sunset views, and sparkling water, especially dazzling in fall and winter. Enjoy the bbq, firepit, tree swings, double hammock, English "tree gardens," outdoor recliner chairs, outdoor dining table, and the pier for stargazing, crabbing, swimming, sunning yourself, floating, kayaking (two singles and one two-seater ocean), canoe, and bird watching, or just hanging out. 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. Here's another combination for you to consider that might suit you better than the entire house: “The Flat Plus” Modern Romantic Waterfront Studio with Solarium/Bedroom with en-suite bath option. ($35 per extra person + $35 to add second bath and closet). 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. Guest access Guests have full access to the shady waterfront lawn at their accommodation, plus the kayaks (two singles and one two-seater ocean), canoe, pier (including crab pots, fishing, or swimming when the season permits). There is one acre of land here and one acre at our property next door, gas and charcoal 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. NOISE WARNING Just be mindful of noise (using “inside voices” outdoors or on the screened porch after 10 pm). Our neighbors look far away but sound carries easily across the water. Thanks! 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 (using “inside voices” outdoors or on the screened porch after 10 pm). Our neighbors look far away but sound carries easily across the water. Thanks! 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 details 000080