Less than five miles from Erin Hills, site of the hugely successful 2017 U.S. Open Golf Championship! Relax and re-energize at this secluded, private estate just two hours north of Chicago and 30 minutes from Milwaukee. Here you'll find acres of breathtaking gardens, ornamental waterfall ponds, a one-acre stocked pond and island, dense woods and walking trails, with an abundance of wildlife. Nature, calm & starlit nights await you! The interior guest space consists of the entire second floor (four large bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a very spacious common entertainment area/library with a queen-sized sofa bed, full sectional and available air beds). Guests also have full and exclusive access to a generously apportioned garden level with fully equipped kitchen/laundry, entertainment area, sectional with pullout sofa, full bathroom, home gym with television, fully appointed wet bar and pool table. The exterior space encompasses lovingly tended shrub and flower gardens, a backdrop of natural hardwoods and glacial (mesic) forest, an organic vegetable garden, an antiquarian apple orchard, two ornamental ponds (one with koi), one large, stocked pond (catch and release) with an island and seating/grilling areas, two sweeping back decks and a front porch with swing. There is also a swing under the old oak tree in front, on which you can almost feel your cares melting away! Guests have exclusive access to all of the second floor and the garden level floor, totaling some 5,000 square feet. The host couple occupies only the first level of the home. Guests are welcome to explore the entire grounds and enjoy all of the facilities. "Traveling light" is not a misnomer at this property; personal toiletries, along with plush robes and towels, (which are laundered regularly during your stay) are provided. There is even a professional massage table in the gym, and local massage therapists can be booked in advance for appointments. Managing the property is the co-host's primary day-to-day responsibility, so she is very able and willing to interact with guests to the extent welcomed; however, she is also mindful that many guests choose this particular space for its privacy and serenity, and always wishes to respect that desire. Our extremely sought-after location in the Town of Erin is only minutes away from the famed Holy Hill Shrine and Basilica of the DesCalced Friars. You can ascend the stairs to the top of the cathedral and see all of Milwaukee! We are less than five miles from Erin Hills Golf Course, site of the very successful 2017 U.S. Open Championship. We are also 15 minutes from Arrowhead Golf Course (private) and Kettle Hills Golf Course (public), both on Highway 167 West. The Washington County Golf Course, in Hartford (public), is six miles away. Scenic View golf course is in the nearby Town of Polk. Our 70-acre paradise is flanked by two of the Ice Age Trail heads, one on Shannon Road and the other on Pleasant Hill Road; the Ice Age Trail spans the entire length of the state, and is always open. In addition to our own walking and hiking trails, there is a newly developed public trail on our road, which is now managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the landowner. Our entire area attracts many cyclists, who need to be in good shape to navigate the many hills and dales! We are less than half an hour away from the recently revitalized Little Switzerland Ski Center in Slinger. The closest town is Hartford, which is six miles away by car. Hartford is the home of the Hartford Auto Museum (Kissel cars), the Schauer Theater Complex and the Pike Lake State Park and Recreation Area. The huge Veteran's Park Aquatic Center, complete with impressive water slides, opened to the public in summer 2016, and has been an unparalleled success with residents and visitors alike. The Washington County seat is West Bend, which has a quaint old downtown district, and historic Cedarburg, in neighboring Ozaukee County, is also a short drive from our home, featuring many festivals throughout the year. We also definitely consider Milwaukee to be within our "neighborhood," and go there often for dining, special events and culture. We can provide up-to-the-minute information about Milwaukee-oriented and other local and regional happenings during the period of your stay. Restaurants with varying price points that have proven very popular with our previous guests include Fox & Hounds, Copper Dock, The Mineshaft, Little Red Inn, Johnny Manhattan's, Sloppy Joe's and Timmers. Last summer, popular Milwaukee eatery Cafe Hollander opened a closer location in Thiensville, with a spacious outside seating area. There is generally one large, secure indoor garage parking spot available for our guests, and there is ample additional and safe exterior parking space for additional vehicles by the main residence and also by the barn. We have previously accommodated day parties/special events of more than 50 vehicles without issue. There is also a state-funded Washington County Shared Ride System that picks up and drops off by appointment for upwards of $2.50 per ride anywhere within the county. We expect the area to be serviced by Uber very soon. You may become so used to the peacefulness and natural beauty that you won't ever want to leave! In that case, long-term and repeat stays can be separately arranged!