We had a fantastic time at the McDonald's farmhouse! Wonderful hiking and exploring around the finger lakes region. Wish we could have stayed longer. The house and grounds are very charming, spacious, comfortable, and relaxing. Joan and Leo are excellent hosts - very thoughtful, generous, and accommodating. I highly recommend!
We enjoyed the property, it accommodated our family while we celebrated my granddaughter's graduation from Cornell. One of the reasons I chose this site was that it advertised an outdoor swimming pool. However, it was clear the pool had not been opened for several years. It was not made clear to me that the pool was not functional. Disappointed there, but overall enjoyed our stay.
It rained our whole visit, but the farmhouse was a perfect place to enjoy indoor time. As a southerner I was concerned with no central air, but the hot muggy days we perfect with the window units and fans. We loved the space, the proximity to my inlaws, we did wedding prep for my niece, it couldn't have been more perfect!
I can't express how much we loved staying here. The house is incredibly spacious, the kitchen has everything anyone could possibly need. The grounds are lovely. We had so much fun that we're already talking about coming back. In this day and age, it's really something when your kids rave about a place with no TV! There is wireless, so you're not off the grid, but it's just so pretty that you spend hours enjoying the outside spaces without even noticing the time passing.
We basically liked our stay. We felt the whole house needed updating without taking away from "country house" setting. Queen size beds would have been nicer. We did not like the shower on the 1st floor. Also a TV would have been appreciated.
Property was exactly as described and pictured in the listing. Kitchen was well stocked with plates/cups/etc, there was plenty of parking in the driveway plus you could easily turnaround in it so you did not need to backup onto the road, bedrooms were comfortable and the yard was larger than I expected which was great since we stayed with our dog. I appreciated that things in the home were labeled (i.e.:which switch is for which lights). I asked for an early check-in if possible and Joan was very quick to grant it. I traveled to upstate NY to attend my step-son's graduation from Ithaca College and this rental was an easy 25-30 minute drive door-to-door. The town is very small but there is a pizza place, ice cream shop, and gas station/convenience store very close-by. Overall we found the house to be very charming and it was large enough that we did not feel at all cramped. A big thank you to Joan who was terrific communicating before and during our stay!
Love the unique style and feel of the house. Comfy beds. It's near all sorts of small towns.
The house itself is beautiful- love the style and all the space. Plenty of beds and they were extremely comfy. I was concerned with the yard, however. There was a lot of old metal items and downed trees or branches all over the yard. I thought I'd be able to let my 2 œ grandson play outdoors and even brought his little drive on motorcycle. I couldn't let him go in the yard at all due to the items in the yard. We went to many places nearby where he and we had so much fun so that the yard disappointing us was not such a big deal. I loved the convenience to nearby small towns and attractions and parks so the house was great for us. We were sad the pinball machine did not work as the description said it did. We were all looking forward to it. A smart tv would have been nice and put in the description so we could have brought some DVDs to keep our grandson happier in the house instead of running around and up and down the steps. (The fact he ran is not the owners' fault - he's 2, almost 3, that's what 2 year olds do). Overall, we enjoyed our stay in the house and, with cleaning up the yard, we would recommend it to friends with young kids or grandkids. Thanks for use of your home.
Top notch rental with plenty of room and historic charm.
Owners were nice people and easy to deal with. Quick to respond with any questions we had.
Would not hesitate to rent this property again. Thanks!
Elegant, comfortable home in the country with all modern conveniences
Joan and Leo were the perfect hosts to our first foray into the post-vaxxed world of vacations! They were flexible and accommodating; their home is elegant and charming, with comfortable beds and a fully modern and stocked kitchen. My teen sons played foosball and swam in the pool. We cooked and also ate at the great restaurants in Ithaca, a 20 minute (beautiful) drive from their historic home. It's an easy drive to Cornell and Ithaca College. This was by far our best vacation home and we recommend it very highly.
We had an amazing time. The house was beautiful and so cozy. There were 10 of us and we all slept comfortably. The kitchen and the house itself had all the supplies and comforts of home. We were able to cook and really relax and enjoy each otherâs company. The trails right behind the house were fun to explore. The ice cream store was great. It wasnât too far to the supermarket and to the winery. The owners were amazing as well. We could not have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend.
My family and I had a great time. The house was a short distance from a lot of nice trails and outdoor activities, and we really enjoyed the property itself
We had a wonderful stay. The house is huge but homey. Our group age range is quite wide, which can make our experience a little different. We travel with my mom (mid 70s) and my three children (5-9). It was a great way for us all to unplug. The place is so well stocked it was an easy transition the first day. The owners leave notes that make the first couple of days so much easier. Plates, glasses, utensils, pots, pans, and baking pans are all provided. The kitchen is great. I loved the stove. And the way it allowed everyone to hang out while cooking. The outdoor space is lovely but can use some updates to make it a little easier to enjoy. This point leads me to some of my suggestions on the house. First I would note that while there is a bedroom on the first floor there is no bathroom that is easy for elderly people with balance issues or prior falls to use for showering. The upstairs bathroom is slightly easier but it isnât perfect for that either. The steps to the second floor are incredibly steep which also made using that bathroom hard for my mom. The rugs were also a concern for my mom. The outdoor and greenhouse space could use additional or updated seating. It is a beautiful space but it is hard to hang out in. The stairs In the greenhouse were an obstacle for my mom as well. As for the kids the game room was perfect and the location was great for them. It is walking distance to the ice cream stand and a short drive to a well maintained park. It is also a great midway point if going to Cortland and Ithaca. The rugs also presented an obstacle for the kids who run and can sometimes trip on them. Even with that said, I loved the stay and look forward to this mode of traveling.
We had an overall wonderful experience at this house! The house was a little farther to Ithaca than I had anticipated, but our stay was really great. The house had more than enough room for six adults and our large dog, and the owners were very responsive to our questions and needs! They did a really great job at having the house stocked with essentials, and all of the beds were extremely comfortable (which was a big bonus after a long day of hiking)! This is definitely an ideal house for a larger family that doesn't mind driving a little extra. :) Highly recommend!
Our family gathered from all over and enjoyed a week at this delightful farmhouse. The layout is great! The high ceilings are amazing. The kitchen is so well stocked with everything you could ask for. Located close to Ithaca, Cortland, Owego, and Whitney Point. We will definitely be back! Owners are very accommodating and friendly. Thank you so much!
We cannot say enough good things about the owners, Joan and Leo. They were so responsive from our initial contact and provided us with such a positive experience!
The house is huge! And charming! The bedrooms have lots of comfy beds and the bathrooms are large and warm. We rented the home for a sistersâ weekend away and it was the perfect backdrop to relaxation and reconnecting. I have never stayed at a home that had such amazing supplies and staples right off the bat- sugar, tea, coffee, herbs, oatmeal, etc.
really a nice touch and so welcome. The common spaces like the dining room, kitchen and living room are all spacious, yet cozy too. We played numerous games of trivial pursuit around the dining room table and we plan on going back for additional tournaments. đ
I would highly recommend the property (great hiking trails right behind) and the lovely owners, the MacDonalds. Perfect distance from Ithaca.
The Old Vintage Farmhouse was a lovely getaway for eight women. The house had a great deal of room and sleeping space for all. The kitchen was large and provided all the amenities. The favorite area was the rustic sunroom that over looked the backyard and all of the wild flowers.
The house did need a little more lighting and a few more mirrors would have helped with our group but we would definitely return.
We are both scientists (a chemist and a geoscientist). We have two daughters and two dogs. We grew up in the Finger Lakes region and really enjoy spending time hiking, wading, swimming, fishing and exploring here. We enjoy being with family in this spacious house and garden and on the trails, and we hope you will too.
This beautiful old farmhouse has a field and a very large forested tract behind it. We originally got it because we wanted the open space, but the house, greenhouse, and garden are really nice to hang out in. There are a lot of old logging/hiking trails to explore and an old cabin that you can access by arrangement. Our property backs up against a wildlife preserve owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Hiking there is also allowed.
Wonderful for family or small group gatherings. Convenient to nearby colleges and university (Cortland, Ithaca College, Cornell, Binghamton), Greek Peak, kayaking/canoeing/fishing, There is a trout stream in walking distance. Finger Lakes waterfalls, trails, wine country ... There are 2 ice cream stores, a local diner, a playground and state land and Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserve all within walking distance.