Feeling at home in the blue cottage

/ August 6, 2015

First-timers that we were, my dear wife Karen, daughter Elisabeth, boyfriend George Three and I did not know what to expect out of anything in Estes Park.

When we pulled the rented SUV into the short, weed-filled driveway of the blue cottage with the white 330 on Virginia Drive a little before check-in time that Thursday afternoon, we all four went, oooooooh.

Feeling blue.

Feeling blue.

A little tired.

Yes, us, having left the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood chauffered by George Two at 5 a.m. for our 7 a.m. flight from Hancock International. And, quite frankly, that was our general opinion of the exterior of the two-story joint Karen had found online.

Then we had a bit of trouble getting into the lock-box for our key. After a short walk to see the neighboring cabin rented by sibiling Steve and his family, cooler heads prevailed, and key was retreived.

We were wrong.

The River Rock Cottages were right on.

My dear wife had done it up for us big time.

Spacious living room to hang.

Spacious living room to hang.

Dining room and kitchen.

Dining room and kitchen.

The entry way was dominated by an open-concept living room/dining room/kitchen space big enough for all four of us to sit and talk, eat breakfast cooked by George Three, watch a little TV … And as it turns out, as you’ve seen with The Thin Air Series these past wo weeks, we did very little TV-watching on the beautiful flat screen, mostly during the very early morning and very late night.

Downstairs bedroom.
Downstairs bathroom.

Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click and hold on any gallery bottom right photo for an enlarged slideshow.

Elisabeth and George had the run of the downstairs sleeping and bathing quarters.

It was hard to get our suitcases up.

It was hard to get our suitcases up.

A space-saving wrought-iron spiral staircase separated the two floors. There was a puzzling half-inch high bottom step that caught my toe several times. And the stairs were narrow and winding. I did have a glass or two of wine one or two evenings … No problem.

A skylight in the upstairs bath.
Raised bed in the master bedroom.
Two can get ready at once upstairs.
A den upstairs, too.
A walk-in closet with the master.

Karen and I got the master spread upstairs. She paid the bill for the joint. We spread out in the big bedroom with a walk-in closet, bathroom with a skylight and double sinks, and a sitting room with a pull-out that was to be son Daryl’s before he decided he could not get off from work.

Off the sitting room.

Off the sitting room.

There was a balcony off that upstairs sitting room.

By Tuesday morning, we were sad to leave. This was way better than two hotel rooms, we sad over and over again. Thank you, my dear wife Karen.

Tomorrow: Friday: An interesting little village

Saturday: Eatin’ and Drinkin’

Where’s the best vacation spot you’ve ever stayed, and why? Where’s the worst vacation spot you’ve ever stayed, and why? What’s your favorite room in the cottage, and why?

Related posts

50 thoughts on “Feeling at home in the blue cottage”

  2. What a cool place–I especially loved the kitchen and saved the pic for future inspiration. Thanks for sharing this, Mark, and glad you had a good time!

    Like

    Reply

  3. Mark, never doubt your wife, my friend! This place looks wonderful and such a great idea, Karen!
    I stayed in an out of the way bed and breakfast in Rhode Island. It was fantastic, hosts were warm and friendly yet professional. They told us where to go to get tickets for the famous “Cliff Walk.” The brunch they served before we left Sunday was scrumptious and of course, we passed their info and card to others heading that direction for an extended weekend.

    Like

    Reply

  4. Renting a home while on vacation is so much better than staying in a hotel room. We rented a house over in Pebble Beach (in the ghetto of Pebble Beach), while on our visit to Carmel and it was wonderful (and no sneaky Room Service bill charges on the boys’ room bill).

    Like

    Reply

      • It was beautiful over there this year. Perfect temperatures. We got out of there right as all the uber rich were descending upon Carmel for the Concours de Elegance (which I guess was starting yesterday). The place was reeking of money.

        Like

      • Wow. On our drive-the-coast trip, we stayed at the Motel Six in Marina, at the start of the Peninsula, and I watched the people jump off the cliffs on the kite surfer things that morning on the beach. Beautiful. But we cut that day short because we stayed extra in LA for ‘The Price Is Right’ and didn’t want to chop Santa Barbara. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  6. If I could get up those stairs I could live there forever bro Mark. I’m not sure there is such a thing as a worst vacation, unless you count the travelling part, the packing and unpacking part, and the laundry when you get home part. I just have to face it, I’ve been a lot of places, but for the most part, I prefer just staying home and looking at the photos someone else takes after they do the travel, packing, unpacking and laundry. Same effect without the bother, and I’m not exhausted when it’s over.

    Like

    Reply

    • I can’t imagine not having to do the packing, unpacking … Have to win that lottery, I guess, sis Angie. 🙂 Yes, those stairs would be problematic for you, walker and chair.

      Like

      Reply

      • When I finally win that lottery I’ll either drop dead of a heart attack from the shock, or have a stroke when they tell me the amount, then buy this building, fire all current management, hire humans, and create the place it was when I moved here 12 years ago bro Mark. After that I’ll take a cruise. I’m going to have to win an awfully huge lottery, but I’ll share it with my friends. New management for this hell hole is first though.

        Like

  8. Such a lovely spot…great choice. I’m sure that fireplace gets a lot of use, the nights can get cool there, even in the warm months. And again…that sky !! Amazingly blue and perfectly clear. What a great vacation experience. ☺

    Like

    Reply

  10. Wow, gorgeous! I love the signs in the kitchen!
    Every year when we make our annual pilgrimage to Lego Land we look for the cheapest hotel for our one night stay there. The first year we lucked out, second year, not so much, but this past year was the worst when we ended up at a Motel 6 that didn’t even provide shampoo!!

    Like

    Reply

  11. I love that blue! The Mister and I have stayed several times in a particular beach cottage on Sanibel Island. Those have got to be my favorite. They’re tiny, clean, cute and close to the shore.
    We’ve considered taking the babies and staying in a family-sized cottage, but no immediate plans.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • MDW Karen and I rent a cottage in Cape Cod every year with Eliie B aka Dogamous Pyle, but this was our first four-person venture. The expanded vista in Colorado was eye-opening, and out of the blue, so to speak, Joey. I have heard that Sanibel Beach is magnificent. You and the Mister are fortunate to have experienced that Florida gem. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. The best vacation I have had was out in the middle of Black Forest In Pennsylvania sleeping on the ground in a tent being chased by a bear in the middle of the night. Yes I got into out pickup safely and yes the bear rambled off. He was just lookin’ for food.
    As for your vacation, I could use one of those right now. Next time you go, give me a holler and I’ll squeeze into one of your suitcases. I don’t take up much room, I promise, and I am toilet trained, that too I promise. LOL Beautiful cottage, cuz!!! Your dear wife Karen certainly did do good!!! I am SO glad you had a good time!!! Love, Amy ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. A trip to the Finger Lakes in NY several years ago. I got the idea to rent a cottage on the lake. Sounded great too us. Upon arrival the setting was simply glorious right up our alley. The cottage small but cute. The funny part is the BED. It looked so inviting. We did our thing that afternoon after checking in roaming around the small town, having dinner etc. Frankly, I was tired. Have you hear of the sinking bed? The mattress curls up on each side and we ended up in the middle of this double bed laughing like crazy. No sleep for the weary that night. We left the next day with a full REFUND! We still sometimes laugh about it..

    Hey Paul- Florida (Orlando) is geared to make everyone happy with most all accommodations-it brings millions of $ to the Florida economy, hospitality rules in Florida! Glad you have fond memories of visiting my State! Terp your pic’s are just getting better every time my friend. The Gatorette.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. That is so cool Mark. It really feels like a home away from home rather than a temporary rental room, doesn’t it? Some years ago my wife and I took our two kids and three of their friends to Disney World in Orlando. We too rented a home with a pool and it was wonderful. It was way cheaper than hotel rooms and felt like home. There was maid service every morning and we could cook our own meals, especially breakfast. We stayed there for two weeks while we explored Disney and the other local attractions. It was a real sanctuary and was only a short distance from Disney. I was impressed and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. When I was young there were no options like that. I think it is a great way to go.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Yes, this cottage won me over to house-style renting, especially with a bigger group, Paul. I liked that this was the gathering place for the whole family one late night, too, and we had enough room for the siblings in the dining room and the cousins in the living room. Yet because it was open concept, we were really all in the same big room and had lots of back and forth between us. It was great. 🙂 Coudn’t do that in separate hotel rooms, that’s for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Hello PM! How’re you?

    The cottage looks soo good and cozy!

    My favourite room is the den upstairs! Maybe the way it’s photographed makes it more attractive. The sunlight streaming in… It’s got a really beautiful effect. I’m guessing it’s the evening sunlight? Sometime during the sunset?

    Like

    Reply

  18. Best vacation spot I’m thinking about right now, Mark, is Edinburgh Scotland, since I’ve visited that wonderful place three years before and I’m heading back there next week. Usually, when I check into my living quarters, I’m disappointed at first (probably because of jet lag), but then I soon feel at home. One exception to that was a basement hotel room in NYC last year, but I my friend Deb and I changed rooms, the very next day. Thanks for the great visit today.

    Like

    Reply

    • I remember reading about your initial disappointments in Edinburgh, Ann, and the subsequent highs. I hope the WiFi is strong this year, my friend. And no basement rooms. What was that Manhattan hotel thinking? 😦

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a reply to markbialczak Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.