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03-222 Cottage at Shark Reef

Name: 03-222 Cottage at Shark Reef
Brand: Northwest Vacations
SKU: 03-222
Rating: 5.0 (18 reviews)

- Lopez Island

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Sleeps: 4

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Overview ↑↓

*** This home is people friendly, and not pet friendly. This home is not suitable for children under 12 years old.***

Welcome to the Cottage at Shark Reef, a beautiful 5 acre waterfront home with expansive water views. Once you step in the front door your eyes go directly to the large windows framing the gorgeous water view and what a site it is! Inside you will find warm toned wood walls and floors along with log poles in the corners of the open floor plan in the living room and kitchen. The house uses a wood burning stove for heat and includes firewood for your stay to keep things warm and cozy. A window seat off the living room beckons you to sit a while, perhaps read a good book or have your morning coffee while taking in the view. Doors lead out onto the deck patio with a table and chairs so you can relax and watch boats go by and gaze upon the south end of San Juan Island.

Off the entryway is the bathroom with a shower/tub combo and across the entryway is the first bedroom with a queen size bed and TV. Along the edge of the kitchen is a spiral staircase leading to the second bedroom with a queen size bed with a TV and DVD player, with windows looking out towards the water.

Picnic anyone? Come take a seat at the water’s edge. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner or how about all three! and view one of the many beautiful sunsets we have in the San Juan Islands. The stairs lead down to the beach.

The home is situated on the southern area of the island where Shark Reef Sanctuary is located. A variety of birds and marine life can be seen here and is a short walk through the woods to a small pebble beach. But, the beach is not the highlight of the Sanctuary. The seals are known to sun themselves on the rocks here so you may see one on your visit. Wonderful beaches are to be explored at Odlin State Park and Spencer Spit State Park where one can launch kayaks. Lopez Village has a charming small town feel with cute shops and restaurants to explore. Don’t forget to bring your bike as the island is the perfect spot for bike riding.

Come and experience all that the Cottage at Shark Reef has to offer; we welcome you to Lopez Island.

Please note: this home's washer and dryer are located in an outbuilding, not in the main house. Also, as you'll note in the pictures, the open floor plan and high vaulted ceilings allow for some sound transmission between the living room and bedrooms. Portable heaters are available in the bedrooms to supplement heat.

SPECIAL NOTES:
-No steps to the entrance of the home.
-No outdoor fires are allowed anywhere on the property due to fire danger and prohibition by County regulation.
-Beach access from the property is shared with other homes in the neighborhood; you may encounter neighbors on the stairs to the beach.

Please note: residential internet speeds, bandwidth and reliability in the San Juan Islands currently lag behind the mainland. Guests who wish to use videoconferencing, streaming services, or multiple simultaneous internet connections should be aware that performance may not meet the levels they are accustomed to. Guests may need to alter their online work and entertainment plans due to service fluctuations or outages.

San Juan County VR Permit #PPROVO-14-0002

Amenities ↑↓

Attractions

Bay

Library

Marina

Pond

Restaurants

Bedroom and Bathroom

Hair Dryer

Shower

Tub

Entertainment

DVD Player

Television

Essentials

Bed Linens

Hair Dryer

Heating

Hot Water

Iron & Ironing Board

Kitchen

Private Entrance

Towels

Wifi Internet

Guest Courtesies

Bathing Soap & Shower Gel

Firewood Not Provided

Laundry Detergent

Paper Products

Salt, Pepper, Dry Spices

Shampoo & Conditioner

Towels and Bed Linens Provided

Trash Bags

Home Notes

No Children Under the Age of 12

No Smoking Allowed

Pets Not Allowed

Home Safety

Carbon Monoxide Detector

Fire Extinguisher

First Aid Kit

Smoke Detector

Kitchen and Laundry

Convenience Refrigerator

Dryer

Microwave

Toaster Oven

Utensils - Cookware - Bakeware

Washer and Dryer

Leisure

Antiquing

Beach Combing

Bird Watching

Boating

Horseback Riding

Photography

Scenic Drives

Shelling

Shopping

Sight Seeing

Walking

Whale Watching

Wildlife Viewing

Living Spaces

Wood Fireplace

Location

Private Acreage

Shoreline Access

Water View

Waterfront

Other Charges

Booking Fee

Checkout Cleaning $230

Nonrefundable Damage Waiver $75

Outdoor

Deck/Patio

Outdoor Dining Table & Chairs

Propane BBQ

Peak Season

4 Night Minimum Peak

Quiet Season

2 Night Minimum Quiet

Shoulder Season

2 Night Minimum Shoulder

Special

Private Beach

Sports

Cycling

Fishing

Fishing - Bay

Fishing - Freshwater

Hiking

Sailing

Themes

Away From It All

Tourist Attractions

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Reviews ↑↓

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Amazing experience

Vacation Date: July 16, 2024

"10/10 would recommend for those wanting to enjoy an amazing view and escape into a peaceful place in the woods, right next to the ocean. We only stayed for about 4 nights which was perfect for us, the fridge can hold enough food for approximately 6 days in our opinion. (if you plan on cooking, bring spices of your own! There are no spices or salts in the house) The house is naturally very warm, perfect for those windy days in the summer, and the steps down to the water did not disappoint. The pictures don't do the property justice, it is WAY better in person and a lot of the outdoor furniture has been updated. Very nice set of towels and sheets, and the driveway leading up to the place made us feel like we were miles from anyone. We only heard our neighbors once, talking can travel far in the woods. But the plus is that we only had one house close to us, as opposed to three or four like other properties. Again, would 100% recommend.

Reviewed By: Michael

Response from Northwest Vacations:
Thank you for staying glad you enjoyed it and do come and visit us again. NW Island Escapes

Nature is the highlight, not the house

Vacation Date: August 1, 2022

The location itself is amazing. Spectacular sunsets, easy steps down to the beach. Feels like a world away but connected to the sea. The house itself leaves a lot to be desired. Very dated appliances, tiny "college dorm" refrigerator, awkward shower that sprays onto the walls and floor, stove that is 30+ years old, washer and dryer requires a quick hike up the driveway to a separate building. It feels like a family cabin that was abandoned, complete with random nicknacks and personal items in the drawers... and just turned into a rental for the money. Again, location maybe makes up for the physical shortfalls if you want privacy and access to the water... but it's a big maybe.

Reviewed By: Kevin

Cottage at Shark Reef

Vacation Date: January 1, 2021

Beautiful home & location, very private.
Downsides: Wood for fire (only source of heat) not provided until 2nd day (after multiple calls to mgmt co), no kindling or paper provided to start fire, wood that was provided was wet/unseasoned (needed store-bought, dry wood to burn with it), flashlight batteries dead, bathroom faucet leaked all over counter when used, windows dirty (we washed ourselves), window in front of kitchen sink had broken seal so blurry & obstructed beautiful view, water heater in bedroom closet noisy, front porch unkept (pine needles, branches, etc.), area under house (clearly seen from yard) messy with tools, buckets, misc. junk.

Reviewed By: Louise B.

Magical

Vacation Date: November 1, 2020

This one one of the more beautiful, memorable places we have ever stayed. I cant believe it exists! Love everything about the place and would highly recommend.

Reviewed By: Meghan D.

Shark Reef!

Vacation Date: November 1, 2020

We love Lopez, and Shark Reef inparticular holds a special place for our family-- so it was awesome to have our reef and beach to enjoy on an unseasonably dry Thanksgiving weekend. The house is well-appointed and the beds are very comfortable and well-dressed. But it's the setting and view that will draw us back to this spot again.

Reviewed By: Jeff B.

Magical retreat

Vacation Date: July 1, 2020

This was one of my favorite rentals from airbnb....cozy, gorgeous and simple. The wrap around view was incredible. The private beach was amazing for the kids to play at. One thing, there is only a wood stove for heat so plan accordingly.

Reviewed By: Ed D.

Nature, comfort and quiet

Vacation Date: July 1, 2020

Spectacular views from every room (but one). Cozy comfort. Privacy. Sunsets. Otters, eagles and seals. Quiet getaway on a bluff over the sound. Walk to the nearby Sharks Reef Park.

Reviewed By: Recent Guest

Amazing location

Vacation Date: February 1, 2020

This rental was amazing! The views, the location, and the peacefulness couldnt have been better. If we head back to Lopez Island for another trip, this will be on our list.

Reviewed By: David C.

Beautiful views

Vacation Date: December 1, 2019

We enjoyed a wonderful week at the Cottage at Shark Reef. The kitchen is full of all of the amenities necessary for cooking meals and the view from the kitchen is out of this world! It was amazing to be doing dishes and observe a seal or trio of river otters playing in the water. Keri, with Northwest Island Escapes, keeps the place sparkling clean and was very responsive when we had trouble initially heating the space, directing us on where to find wood and sending out someone to check the wood stove. The only trouble we had was with the heating. We thankfully had brought our own space heater which helped to make our stay more comfortable. The wood stove is in desperate need of repair or replacement. Again my only advice if you are thinking of staying during the winter months is to inquire on the condition of the wood stove since it really is the only effective way to heat this cabin especially after it has been sitting empty and unheated for some time.

Reviewed By: Maxine M.

Glorious experience.

Vacation Date: November 1, 2019

We stayed at the Cottage at Shark Reef in early November for my birthday. This place was nothing short of perfect. The location is amazing. When we walked into the house the sun was setting and all those windows overlooking the water made it simply magical. We saw eagles, river otters, and sea lions right outside. The wood burning fireplaces and two space heaters keep the place pretty toasty. We barely even needed the fireplace the last day. Of course, it was unusually warm and dry when we were there. The communication and details were all spot on. We had the best time and are already talking about when we can go back and stay at the Cottage again.

Reviewed By: Linda W.

Private and Perfect

Vacation Date: November 1, 2019

We really enjoyed our stay at the Cottage at Shark Reef. The house was rustic and beautiful with lots of windows for amazing views. We watched the sunset every night and felt like we woke up in a forest.

The house and location were perfect for us, though maybe not for everyone. The heat is provided by a wood-burning stove that you need to know how to use. Since that is the main heat source, the bedrooms are not totally closed off, upstairs is open at the spiral staircase and the downstairs bedroom wall does not go up to the ceiling. This was fine for our family of two adults and two teenagers but may not be for everyone.

It was wonderful to make breakfast while looking out the window to see otters, mallard ducks and seagulls. Walking down the lane to the main road was a forest adventure with beautiful sights. Although the property is on 5 acres, there is a house right next door, although we didn't see anyone during our stay.

Lopez Island is friendly and interesting. Much of the town is closed, ie. restaurants, fudge shop etc after the season ends which I am guessing takes place at the end of October so there are very few choices for dining out at this time of year.

As for the management company, we never needed to speak to them. We found everything as described and had no problems getting in or leaving the cottage. The only thing we needed was fire starter and more firewood which we bought easily. My only suggestion would be to cater the information book to each property including things like wifi passcode in the book and what to do upon departure with things like trash.

If you are looking to get away from it all like we were, this is a lovely place to be.

Reviewed By: Tracey V.

Disappointing getaway

Vacation Date: November 1, 2019

While the location and view can not be matched, I would never stay at this rental again. After you pay the fees and taxes, each night costs almost $400. The biggest issue we had was with the wood burning stove. This was the main source of heat (as well as two small space heaters). We could not keep the fire going on one of the coldest weekends this winter and had to buy a couple of start logs to keep it going. While everything was comfortable and clean on the inside, we were unfortunately struck by a bit of bad luck during our stay. During the second night, a very tall pine tree close to the house feel down. If it had fallen the other way, it would have crushed the house and us inside. While the house is situated in a wooded area, I think its reasonable to examine the health of the closest trees every year so that someone doesnt get hurt. It left us all very shaken. There is laundry on the property but it is up in a shed. Overall it wasnt worth the money.

Reviewed By: Katie R.

Wonderful stay!

Vacation Date: October 1, 2019

Great!

Reviewed By: Sophie L.

Great stay

Vacation Date: August 1, 2019

Relaxing and quiet.

Reviewed By: John D.

Great stay

Vacation Date: August 1, 2019

Relaxing and quiet.

Reviewed By: Recent Guest

Escape From Northwest Island Escapes Company!

Vacation Date: July 1, 2019

This lovely cottage is more like a camp. The location is perfect, but prepare yourself for basically really really nice glamping. There is no heat other than a wood stove, little to use in the kitchen (ie. no frying pan, only two knives), no washer and dryer, and just a dorm sized refrigerator.
Our problem was one of expectations. For over $500 a night in July (after you add in service fees, taxes, etc.) it seemed very expensive. The website shows that there was a washer and dryer so we left our previous place with our dirty laundry and a large shopping trip's worth of groceries which absolutely did not fit into the super tiny frig. (The freezer was also completely frozen over and in desperate need for defrosting to make it work.) We made due with the limited kitchen supplies in the house, but really for the price, I would have expected more. These are all things a management company should be watching over. A management company should also not be sending you all sorts of instructions for a hot tub which does not exist. The web site does not mention the size of the beds. Finally it's not clear from the web site that there is no vocal privacy in the bedrooms. Both are open in one way or another to the common area. Although you have visual privacy, if you are a light sleeper, you will be woken quickly as soon as people in the other bedroom talk.
On the positive side, the location is stunning and you can walk up to Shark Reef Sanctuary. We really loved the location and lovely living area which looks over the water. However, we would never again rent a property from Northwest Island Escapes as there's no telling what you will get. We also called the company twice while at the house and never received any call backs as promised.

Manager's Response

General Manager Response - We thank Heidi for her review, but need to respond to some of the concerns she has expressed regarding Cottage at Shark Reef. The Cottage at Shark Reef is an architect design small home in keeping with its waterfront location. Suggesting that visiting this home is in any way glamping is simply wrong. We invite potential guests to look at our website presentation of this very comfortable and charming cottage. There is a centrally located wood stove, with wood provided, which is more than adequate for heating the cottage. But, there are also several portable electric heaters to supplement the wood stove in the morning. Having a wood stove heater is really quite common in Lopez Island homes. As to the comment about no washer and dryer, that is not true. However, they are located in a separate outbuilding, not in the main house. This home uses a standard under-counter refrigerator that is smaller than a full-size unit, which is not terribly unusual in a vacation cottage of similar size and accommodation. As to knives and kitchen utensils we are evaluating the possible need for more kitchen supplies.

Unlike what this guest says, from the excellent photography, there can be no misunderstanding that the two bedrooms have vaulted ceilings with divider walls that do not go to the ceiling. As such sound transmission can occur. However, and noted by the guest, both bedrooms have visual privacy from the common areas. Island cottages are often designed in a similar manner.

Thankfully, this guest did finish her critique acknowledging what a truly extraordinary location and view one has when occupying the Cottage at Shark Reef. As to return calls when requested from Northwest Island Escapes, we do apologize if that oversight occurred. Being responsive to our guests and their needs is the hallmark of our 22 year success.

Reviewed By: Heidi S.

Peaceful

Vacation Date: July 1, 2019

Light filled peaceful spot right on the water. Watched seals play in the morning and saw eagles fly by the deck. Beautiful sunsets.

Reviewed By: Kristi M.

The perfect Lopez rental!

Vacation Date: July 1, 2019

Fantastic rental!!! We loved all the personal touches - artwork, pottery, beach glass. We had two families each with a 10 year old; so the bedrooms with their reading nooks were the perfect sleeping solution. The views were gorgeous, and we all loved the beach access for lots of exploration. Highly recommend this Lopez Island gem <3

Reviewed By: Kevin L.