Vacation Rental Blog – Seattle Duck House

Guestbook

We have a physical guestbook located in the house, and many of our guests have written nice things in it.  I also have an online guestbook via my VRBO account, but that’s not a pretty page, and I’m worried they might accidentally lose the data someday.  So, I have added all the handwritten and online comments in those guestbooks as comments on this page.  There is nothing that keeps this system honest, so you just have to trust that I’ve accurately transcribed the written comments and not deleted anything.  Feel free to check back and see how we’re doing.

37 Comments

37 responses so far ↓

  • Brian // June 9, 2007 at 11:16 am

    We really liked the setting – and the house’s open spaces. Our last night dinner was out on the deck and the lake was like a mirror. Really beautiful. You’ve made a wonderful get-a-way available right in the heart of Seattle. Thanks for all the thoughtful details.

    We think the setting for this sweet house is wonderful. The view of the lake help transport oneself. The large trees help to frame those great views. You definitely have a charming house for Seattle guests.

    P.S. We all especially enjoyed the view from both bathrooms! What better way to wash one’s face and see nature.

    Texas

  • Brian // June 12, 2007 at 11:15 am

    Love the Duck House!

    Particularly as it is so kid and dog friendly – we truly had an opportunity to relax. The setting is fabulous and we enjoyed the lake views from every room.

    Red Tricycle Newsletter, Seattle, WA

  • Brian // June 28, 2007 at 11:01 am

    Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Duck
    House. Besides its obvious charm – the lovely view
    of the pond and the ducks and the squirrels as well
    as its great facilities – it has a wonderful welcoming
    ambience. I’m glad my daughter found it on the
    internet. We were even able to host our relatives
    from the area for a BBQ. Thanks for allowing us to
    be your guests for a few lovely Seattle Duck House
    days.

  • Brian // July 1, 2007 at 11:14 am

    Quack!

    Thanks for such an enjoyable stay. We loved the house and the outside access so easily accessed! The deck is perfect for yoga and BBQs.

    All the best!

    Large group of friends from Boston, MA

  • Brian // July 14, 2007 at 11:13 am

    Our family of 6 loved being here! You home worked so well for us, from high chair and crib for our youngest thru the PS2 for the older ones and lake front for those in the middle.

    Great location and beautiful setting! The best part for Mom was awaking at 5 AM, sipping coffee on the deck and watching a mamma raccoon and her 4 babies come out from under the giant fir tree, settle down the steps at water’s edge and then make their way up the willow tree where they played and groomed for over an hour!

    Of course there were the ducks and squirrels and we also enjoyed getting to know the neighborhood cats! Great fun!

    —-

    Hola!

    Thank you for being so helpful and kind. We loved being able to use the computer, lake and PS2. Thanks again for helping us with the internet.

    —

    Thanks again for being nice and helpful. We really enjoyed our stay. This is a great house. It was really convenient and close to Seattle. We enjoyed everything.

    Thank you so much.

    -Family of 6 from San Diego

  • Brian // July 15, 2007 at 8:34 am

    We loved the Duck House! Swimming in the lake was wonderful and we also loved sitting on the deck in the evening and the morning.

    The hosts were so friendly and helpful and remembered so many details that made our stay relaxing and easy.

    The toys were great for the kids – thanks for the baby gate and high chair, too.

    We hope to be able to return to Seattle so we can stay again.

    -Berkeley, CA and Bellingham, WA

  • Brian // July 19, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    I must say that this house exceeded our expectations in every way. Beautiful, great location, very well stocked and a wonderful lake out the back door. Sometimes it was hard to leave to see Seattle because it was so nice just hanging out here. But the most impressive part was the host. Brian, we appreciate your amazing hospitality. Thank you for going out of your way to help us enjoy this place. We will recommend the “Duck House” to all we know. Oh yeah, the weather is GREAT!

    Family of 6 from Arizona

  • Brian // July 26, 2007 at 11:15 am

    We had a great time in Seattle and at your rental. We enjoyed the following at your rental:

    1. Using the canoe and boat on the lake. Our dog enjoyed it too. We actually bought him a life vest in Kirkland at Moss Bay. By the way, my family enjoyed it there.

    2. Eating dinner in the dining room. Since we had our dog, we ate at the house every night. We even cooked dinner once (seafood, steak and pasta from Pike’s Market).

    3. Having breakfast on your deck.

    4. Taking our dog to the nearby park.

    5. Being close to town. Your rental is in a very good location.

    6. The wireless internet connection.

    Mahalo

    Hawaii

  • Brian // July 28, 2007 at 8:01 am

    We’re so glad you had the “Duck” house on the internet. We all enjoyed our stay here. It is so peaceful and the view is wonderful. My granddaughter loved feeding the ducks. She had as many as 26 begging for bread. Your house is so comfortable and met all of our needs. It was convenient for all of our adventures and close to my son’s place. If we all come again we would certainly stay here if available. Thanks for sharing the “Duck” house with us.

    -M.S.
    Stewartstown, Pennsylvania

  • Brian // July 28, 2007 at 9:53 pm

    What a gem. When you drive off the main road to the house, you don’t know what to expect, but once inside it is amazing. The Lake is delightful, the house is on a dead end street that is next to a Park. Ideal for family and very dog friendly. We visited in late July and swam in the Lake every day. The deck is a wonderful place to relax with your morning coffee. House is very clean, comfortable and well equipped. There are excellent restaurants and shops nearby, don’t miss the Rialto Pasta bar and grill. Amazing grocery market, Central Market 5 minutes from the house. Think Whole Foods, twice the size and selection with no attitude and half the price. Very easy access to downtown without having to get on I-5. 15 minutes to Pikes Market, Pioneer Square, Safeco field etc. An amazing place for a family with a dog. Will visit the Duck House again.

    - Last minute trip from San Francisco

  • Brian // August 3, 2007 at 10:06 pm

    In all our galactic travels we have rarely encountered lodging as cute and charming as the Duck House.

    The deck is most welcoming, and the view pleasant and restful. (one suggestion: an upgrade of the patio furniture would enhance and extend the experience.)

    We found the beds to be very comfortable and your choice of magazines stimulating. However, we couldn’t get the VCR in the living room to work.

    Still, we’ll remember our stay fondly.

    Truly, more than a Duck House, this is a Duck Home.

    -Mesa, AZ

  • Brian // August 12, 2007 at 9:45 am

    Had a great week. House clean & comfortable. Kids even swam. Great water pressure.

    Would return for another stay next time out.

    -Indiana

  • Brian // August 23, 2007 at 10:14 pm

    Dear Brian,

    “The Duck House” will always bring to mind our beautiful time with our children & grandchildren, especially our lovely new grandchild “Summer.”

    Lots of cooking & dinners around the dining room table brought the family together, and our dog loved the park. We all thank you for thinking of everything.

    Best wishes.

  • Brian // September 3, 2007 at 3:11 pm

    We’ve really enjoyed our stay in the Duckhouse.

    We had fun canoeing & lounging on the deck. The amenities including the TV and stereo were put to good use. We even like the metallic blinds which created a great disco effect while we used that stereo.

    We’d like to plan a reunion next year!

    Thanks for everything.

    -Arizona Gang

  • Brian // September 12, 2007 at 10:16 am

    What a great place for our first vacation with our two girls! Grandma and Grandpa came to help out and we had a great time. It was really nice to have a place to cook all of our goodies from Pike’s Market. The Seahawks game was fun for the grandparents & the zoo was fun for us on Sunday. The A’s whopped the M’s on two grand slams Monday night – yeah! The par-3 at Jackson provided the frustrating fun that only golf can on Tuesday. Dinner at the Space Needle was romantic for Mommy and Daddy, too. The ducks are from our hands on our last day and the raccoon family was really cute in the early mornings. Thanks for a great time – we hope to come back again.

    -Nevada

  • Brian // September 16, 2007 at 4:43 pm

    We had a great time at the duck house – all 3 generations. Thanks for the restaurant recommendations – Tutta Bella was the perfect kid and parent friendly spot. Next time we’ll have to come in the summer so we can use the swim suits we brought.

    Thanks,

    Sacramento, California

  • Brian // September 24, 2007 at 3:30 pm

    [several comments from the same party]

    The Duck House worked out perfect for our family – plenty of room including quiet spots like the deck and lake. Our youngest, 4yrs, enjoyed the park next door. I went to the mountains and fished in a small river in Gold Bar – loaded with salmon, brought a few home for supper. Thanks.

    [primary guest]

    ———

    Brian – What a blessing staying in the Duck House – Thank you for your hospitality. Beds were comfortable! My son-in-law said you asked about any suggestions – it would have been handy to have maybe some TV trays or small lightweight tables to set things on in the bedrooms. Other than that this place is excellent you have thought of everything. (We also had 3 generations here!)

    ——-

    Brian, The house was a wonderful place to stay and I enjoyed it a lot! My sister and I stayed downstairs and we liked it a lot, it was like we had our own little space :) . Along with that, high speed internet is always a great thing for us – haha -we love to go online! The house was very home like and made me forget I was living somewhere else besides my own home. I also really liked the couch it was very comfortable. Thanks SO much for letting us stay here.

    [16 yr old daughter]

    ————-

    BRIAN THANK YOU
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV
    THANK YOU

    [3 1/2 yr old daughter]

  • Brian // September 28, 2007 at 4:27 pm

    Dear Brian and Family-

    Your house is absolutely wonderful! We enjoyed all the amenities but mostly the opportunity to stay with all of our family and feel at home!

    We were able to watch the ducks, a full moon on two nights and also a raccoon in the water!!

    We would love the chance to come out again and enjoy your home!

    Sincerely,
    Naples, FL

  • Brian // October 4, 2007 at 4:18 pm

    Brian-

    The Duck hose has been lovely. All of us – from tots to grandmother – enjoyed the house. It has something for all of us. Toys, books, canoe, squirrels, a fat outside cat, and ducks to feed bread. What a mellow place to come following a wedding! I prefer it to the pricey Salish Lodge. In Hawaii, we don’t see changing foliage, so the red and golds were fascinating. We return home with pressed leaves and pinecones and memories.

    We left wedding flowers for the next visitor to enjoy. Also some wine and beer and ice cream.

    Our Aloha,

    family from Molokai, Hawaii and Austin, Texas.

  • Brian // October 8, 2007 at 11:36 am

    Brian,

    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful Duck House with us. You have thought of everything and it made our stay a true pleasure. When in Seattle again, this will certainly be our first choice.

    BC, Canada

  • Brian // November 11, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    Brian,

    Thank you for the use of your cabin. Our family really enjoyed our stay and the beauty of the area. This was a great place for our family to spend time together. You have a great place. We certainly hope to return soon.

    “Quack” out!

  • Brian // November 18, 2007 at 12:03 pm

    Great place for our quick family weekend. Enjoyed the vistas even though the weather kept us indoors.

    We hope the warmth of our stories and laughter linger in the air!

    -Los Angeles
    Bainbridge Island, WA
    Kent, WA

  • Brian // November 18, 2007 at 12:04 pm

    I love the
    duck house
    it was Awesome!
    We had a great
    time I want to
    come again!
    THANKS
    SO MUCH

  • Brian // November 26, 2007 at 11:45 am

    Brian-

    You are doing a great job with this vacation rental – We enjoyed everything about the house – thanks for being pet and kid friendly!

    -Alaska

  • Brian // December 12, 2007 at 3:08 pm

    Dear Brian-

    Thanks for everything! We had a wonderful time. The house is so easy on the kids and we really appreciate all the thoughtfulness.

    :)

    It’s been so fun!

  • Brian // December 12, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    The Duck House was great! We all had a wonderful time. You’ve thought of everything to include. The toys were great for our grandson – thanks so very much!

  • Brian // December 27, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Brian and family,

    Our family loved the Duck House. We gathered here for Xmas with our Seattle Family and friends from Phoenix, Cleveland and California.

    It was so comfortable and cozy. Thank you for all of the little details that made being away from home so easy. The kitchen is set up great and so is the rest of the house.

    We were thrilled to have snow on Xmas day. It was beautiful watching here on the lake. We loved walking here in the area. Our 2 grandsons (6 months and 4 months) had a great time. Our youngest daughter even got engaged at the Space Needle while we were here! Many things to celebrate!

    We will recommend your place to many and hope to be back someday.

    Thanks again.

  • Brian // December 27, 2007 at 8:49 am

    Brian-

    Thank you so much. We had a great stay at the Duck House. It was a great place to stay with our family. It was well equipped, and the view was very enjoyable.

    The directions and places to visit were very helpful.

    Thanks again!

  • Brian // January 4, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    Brian,

    We had lots of fun with the house and ducks. From our opinion we think that you need a coffee table in the front room. We went to the Space Needle, Bainbridge Island, Underground Tour, Museum of Science and Music. On the last day we went to the Museum of Flight. We feed the red plant with water and now very good lookin!

    -Oregon

  • Brian // January 11, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Thanks for the wonderful stay at the duck house! We enjoyed the location and all the wonderful windows. My mom really appreciated having a house this size available so close to everything we need and the city. The amenities were great. The house was the perfect place for a four generation gathering!!

    Happy New Year

  • Brian // February 9, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Brian,

    The Duck House is perfect!! Our five children were thrilled with the videos, the toys and the PS2! The house is so well equipped with everything we need – even a pack-n-play and a highchair! The views are breathtaking, relaxing and restful! Thank you for letting out family enjoy your little bit of paradise!

  • Brian // February 18, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Dear Brian,

    We had a fantastic time at your Duck House! It was perfect for our every need and desire. We will surely recommend your hospitality to friends and family that pops through.

    Thanks for sharing your home!

  • Brian // March 10, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Thank you for everything. We very love this house, we have a lot of memory for our vacation. Everything are perfect, thank you again.

    Family from Thailand

    P.S. If you want information about my country or anything else pls contact ????@hotmail

  • Brian // March 18, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Thank you! The Duck house was perfect for us.

    We enjoyed the rowing boat and the quacking!

    A great place & really cozy with character.

  • Brian // March 29, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    The Duck House is a beautiful place to see Seattle. Our group of 4 kids and dog were able to have lots of choices for being cozy here or going to the Asian Art Museum.

    Thanks!

  • Brian // May 8, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Our family has been here at the Duck House for 2 1/2 months. We’re in my husband’s native Seattle doing some church work and business. We have four kids and are pregnant with our 5th. The Duck House was a great place to spend my first trimester with all my morning sickness :) . Our kids love this place and say it feels like home. In fact, one meal-time prayer, our 2 year old thanked God for the Duck House. Our son loves to climb the tree that leans out over the water – gives me a heart attack. We’ve had picnics and tea parties on the deck on the few sunny days we’ve had here. We played many-a card game & have had lots of spelling tests around the kitchen table. My husband could close himself off in the basement to work while the kids & I did school. We LOVE all the windows & the views. Its great to have so many windows when its cloudy so often.

    If we’re ever back in Seattle on a temporary basis again we’ll definitely look up the Duck House!

    Thanks.

    [from kid]: Thank you Brian I love the duck house.

  • Brian // May 18, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Enjoyed our stay. Peaceful. Wonderful location. Would like to know the history of this house. Obviously, its been here for a long time and has been added onto and remodeled in stages. Like the fact several original items were left or incorporated into it’s present state. From a historical point of view, this area is very interesting.

    Thanks for the experience.

    P.S. The spider’s name is Alfred. He hangs ut on the fireplace mantle.

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