I stayed at the House On Water Street for a week, and I was in love immediately.
The house is wonderful. Perfectly functional and comfortable. Rustic beams and warm furnishings. Large & very clean MODERN bathrooms, with a newly remodeled marble & glass shower on the ground floor AND a claw foot, deep bathtub. The beds were extra luxurious and comfy. The kitchen, well stocked with anything you may need to whip up a meal, and the fresh organic orange juice and organic milk provided in the fridge upon arrival was an extra special touch. And there is a selection of great gourmet coffee in the freezer. The property grounds are large and lush and park-like, resplendent with flowering plants of many species and tons of butterflies. At night, the silence parts to allow the ears to delight on the soothing movement of the creek that is directly across the small road in front of the house. The house is filled with art, and books to read, and Barbara has carefully composed binders full of information about the area and things to do. The Wi-Fi works great. Bring your CDs or MP3 player, because there are players to play them on, or simply enjoy the nice selection of music that is already in the house.
But enough about the house, as wonderful as it is :-)
Barbara and Ray are the most wonderful and graciously accommodating hosts one could ever wish for. Incredibly helpful & friendly without being intrusive at all. They really let you do your thing, and really "live" in the fantastic space that they have created for your pleasure. Communicating with them is easy, from reservation to checkout.
There are many things to do in the area: from yoga at Stonewall Studio a few steps from the house, to beautiful walks in the area, to fine dining at Thornton Grille. The corner store stocks things you wouldn't think to find in a small town. For the adventurer, there is great kayaking on the Shenandoah River, which I HIGHLY recommend! Great peaceful & scenic hikes too. You can't go wrong with this rental. Everything was absolutely perfect. Barbara & Ray have created a truly lovely sanctuary for their guests, and the love & attention to the little details that they put into it shines. I could have stayed forever, and I'll certainly be back, with great anticipation for another wonderful stay. I left feeling that I didn't just have a stay at a nice place, but made some new friends that feel like family. What more could a person wish for? :-) Thank you so much, Barbara & Ray.
The first photo with the Victorian trim next to a parking area is not The House on Water Street, It is a house on Sperryville Pike. The House on Water Street is a two story, four bedrooom white home with teal colored shutters. Look for the sign in front of the house. Attempts to correct this inaccurate photo have been in vain.