Scandia Forest Lodge-north of Stillwater & Marine

Our cozy home sits on 5 forested acres in Scandia, Minnesota (15 miles north of Stillwater and 15 miles south of Taylors Falls) offering a peaceful escape with lots of outdoor space. The front deck is spacious with seating for 14. Enjoy your morning coffee on the screened-in porch, surrounded by perennial gardens. A large fire pit across the driveway includes chairs for 10, and additional chairs can be moved from the deck. The space Our home is architect-designed with lots of cozy nooks in the spirit of the Not So Big House book by Sarah Susanka. The main level has a large kitchen with gas stove, two dining tables, a kitchen counter that seats 5, and a cozy family room with a wood-burning fireplace. The basement is designed in an Old World European/Scandinavian theme and has a pool table, wet bar, game table, big-screen TV and a gas fireplace styled like a wood burning stove. Outside we have a large firepit area and a big deck that seats 12 or more people. Scandia is a great place for biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. We are 5 minutes from William O'Brian State Park on the St Croix River and 15 minutes from Intetstate Park in Taylors Falls. Several lovely wineries are within a 5-20 minute drive. Scandia is home to a charming Swedish settlers' museum called Gammelgarden, and we highly recommend a tour of the museum and a visit to their giftshop. Our local farmers market is Wednesday afternoon/evening. We love to get ice cream in charming Marine on St Croix, 5 minutes south of us, and it's a 15-minute drive to Stillwater with its charming shops and amazing restaurants. Guest access Guests may use the entire house except the main office (two other desk spaces are available in the house, plus desks in three of the bedrooms). Other things to note Our pets will not be here during your stay, but guests with allergies should be aware that we have two cats and a dog. We have satellite internet due to limited options in our part of Scandia. It works reasonably well but is not as fast as what you will experience in the city. Additionally, satellite internet may become unavailable during thunderstorms, and it may slow down if several people in the house are using it simultaneously. We require that the primary guest be at least 30 years old, and we check the primary guest's driver's license or other government ID upon check-in. Additionally, all guests must be registered with full name and phone number.