Vermont Birch House: North Hero Island Retreat

Relax and recharge at the Birch House, a newly remodeled Vermont bungalow tucked into the trees on beautiful North Hero Island! The Birch House is close to everything Lake Champlain has to offer, but completely secluded, set back from the road, surrounded by greenery in all directions, for total peace and quiet. Enjoy direct lake access, strong Wifi, wood-burning stove, fire pit, and outdoor deck. Come for peak fall foliage, tucking in for a snowy day, or basking in the waters of Lake Champlain.

THE SPACE:
Secluded, peaceful, and comfortable, this cozy bungalow on a tree-covered hilltop is the perfect place to kick back and recharge. Snuggle up in a comfy queen bed in one of the cozy bedrooms, or have a slumber party in the built-in bunk beds under the stairs. In the morning, make a cup of French press coffee and drink it on an Adirondack chair on the deck while listening to the birds in the trees. (Did we mention it's peaceful here?)

COOKING:
When you’re ready to cook up a delicious meal, a brand new galley kitchen with stone countertops and Our Place cookware set awaits you. The Lake Champlain islands are full of great places to buy specialty local food products—Vermont is the ultimate farm-to-table destination. We’ve got a whole list of local shops and sources waiting for you in our Birch House Visitor’s Guide on-site. If you decide you'd like to cook outdoors, there is a gas grill on the deck for your use. Enjoy your meals looking out the huge dining room window, or have an outdoor feast on the deck or around the fire pit!


MAIN LEVEL:
The main level of the home consists of two bedrooms (with queen beds), a dining area, a living room with a super comfy sofa by a wood-burning stove, a wraparound covered porch and deck, a bathroom with a tub, and a bright, cozy galley kitchen with brand new gas stove, dishwasher, side-by-side fridge, and sink with integrated water filter.

LOWER LEVEL:
The lower level of the home is an epic relaxation and group hangout zone perfect for movie nights and slumber party vibes, with three built-in bunk beds under the stairs, a huge snuggly couch and beanbag chair, a 70-inch TV, a full bathroom with shower and laundry, and a private office with French doors and exterior access.

CLIFFSIDE LAKE ACCESS:
Guests at the Birch House have direct, private access to the lake on a seasonal basis. Our property includes a cliff with an incredible view of the lake—you just walk across the street, take a short hike down a wooded path, and you will find a tall wooden stair that brings you down the cliffside to a small shale bank, which is only accessible at low-tide. We highly recommend wearing water shoes in the lake.

We will let you know whether lake access is available at the time of your booking, based on season and weather conditions. Use of the stairs and lake access is at your own risk. For those with mobility challenges or small children, we recommend going to one of the many public lake access points and beaches in the area instead—we’ve provided a list in our Birch House Visitor’s Guide.

EXTRAS:
We want the Birch House to feel like your home away from home. During your visit, please feel free to enjoy the television, board games, cards, and books. And remember: the kitchen is fully equipped for cooking, so whether you’re preparing a meal or creating a Vermont cheese plate, you're all set!

A/C:
During the summer, we have window air conditioning units in the kitchen and upstairs bedroom. The basement stays cooler in the summer naturally!

NOTE TO FAMILIES:
There is no baby/toddler/child-proofing in the house, so please proceed with caution if you are bringing very little ones.

FIREPIT + WOOD-BURNING STOVE:
If you enjoy spending time by the fire, we have provided instructions so that you can use the wood-burning stove and the outdoor fire pit safely. Please leave coals and ash in the fireplace or the woodstove so that we may dispose of them safely. We ask that you not start any fires within the last 12 hours of your stay.

Also: We ask you not to smoke inside the home, but you’re welcome to sit out on the deck and use the provided sand bucket as an ash tray. Just remove all trash when you are done, and please don’t leave cigarette butts around outside.

PET-FRIENDLY:
This is a pet-friendly property. Though the house will of course be clean for your arrival, if you are severely allergic to dogs, this may not be a good fit for you.

GUEST ACCESS:
Guests will have access to the entire house and an exterior shed that houses some equipment for beach days and other excursions. There is a locked storage space in the basement where we keep our cleaning equipment and supplies—please message us if you need to access anything in this space during our stay and we will do our best to accommodate.

COVID-19 SAFETY:
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Update: Please note that we are taking extra precautions to keep the space disinfected, which specifically includes the use of disinfectant on all door knobs, light switches, railings, faucet handles, etc... in addition to all high-use areas.

VISITOR'S GUIDE:
Please be sure to read through the Birch House Visitor’s Guide upon check-in (the binder is in the kitchen). This guide will help you make the most of your stay, as well as remind you of a few requests we make to keep you and our home safe and in good shape. Also, if you have any suggestions for how we can make this even better, we'd love to hear from you. Please leave us a note at the house or private message us. And of course, if you run into any issues during the course of your stay, do not hesitate to contact us.

SUMMER BOOKINGS:
Finally, if you have your heart set on escaping to the Birch House in Summer or Fall we recommend booking sooner rather than later. This area is popular for summer vacationers, and the best places book up fast!

BIRDS, TREES AND WILDLIFE

In the warmer months the scent of whatever is in bloom - lilacs are our favorite - will delicately perfume the air. Birds of dozens of species, but in particular bright red Cardinals and indigo Blue Jays, flood the trees (extra bird feed is in the shed). In the winter the leaves from some trees give way for water glimpses, but continue to protect from gusts of wind, making an outdoor fire pit the perfect activity. Throughout the year wildlife of all shapes and sizes roam the area. It’s just a magnificently beautiful place!

During the warmer months grass grows quickly in Vermont. FYI - we have our grass mowed weekly on Thursday mornings.