The Serenity Zen House is uniquely perched overlooking Seneca Lake. This is the ideal spot for a get-away in the Finger Lakes. There are several excellent wineries within a mile of the house and it is close to all the Finger Lakes attractions. Great for families, couples and groups just looking to get away for a few days of fun. Only 10 minutes from Hobart and William Smith.
There is a large kitchen overlooking the lake. The living room has a gas burning fireplace with a cathedral ceiling and a gorgeous view of the lake.
The master suite features a king size bed and provides an unsurpassed views over the lake. There is a queen size bed in each of the other two guest rooms. Roll-away beds are also available.
There are two modern baths with a tub/shower in the guest bath and a large shower with seat in the master bath.
The home features extensive multi-level decks overlooking the lake, There is a private beach with access down a set of stairs and the beach has a gentle slope into the lake for wading and swimming.
Located on a town road the home is very easy to access and is conveniently located just 10 miles south of Geneva and 25 miles north of Watkins Glen in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Penn Yan
Located in Penn Yan, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Keuka Lake and Cayuga Lake. Seneca Lake Sprayground and Muranda Cheese Company are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges - 16 min drive - 18.0 km
Three Brothers Wineries and Estates - 32 min drive - 33.3 km
Sampson State Park - 42 min drive - 46.5 km
Getting around
Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 82 min drive
Restaurants
Smokin' Pete's - 6 min drive
Penn Yan Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #2020 - 12 min drive
Cam's Pizzeria - 13 min drive
Fox Run Vineyards - 3 min drive
Keuka Restaurant - 12 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Serenity Zen House on Seneca Lake - Pet Friendly pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
What time is check-in at Serenity Zen House on Seneca Lake - Pet Friendly?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Serenity Zen House on Seneca Lake - Pet Friendly?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Serenity Zen House on Seneca Lake - Pet Friendly located?
This Penn Yan holiday home is on the beach, 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Fox Run Vineyards, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Keuka Lake and Roy's Marina. Keuka Lake Outlet Trail and Billsboro Winery are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The house was great, clean and up to date. Location was perfect with excellent access to the lake and surrounding amenities while still feeling off the beaten path. Home owner was timely and good with communications. I would recommend noting the 2 kayaks available at the house in the amenities. Great to have!
My friends and I had a great time staying for a pre-season long weekend. The house is lovely, there were no crowds at the wineries and the weather was perfect for hiking
Excellent location, right on the lake. House has an open type concept & very cozy. Was winter when we stayed, & was warm & enjoyable. Rooms were good size & private. Great house great location, we'd definitely stay here again.
This was one of the cleanest VRBO vacation homes we've stayed in. Beautiful views of the lake, amazing outdoor space. House was an easy drive to both Geneva and Penn Yan, our two favorite towns to visit in the Finger Lakes. Was super helpful that both our dogs could come spend the weekend with us and had plenty of space to play.
This house was very clean and in a comfortable location. All neighbors were quiet. The multiple decks (including the dock space) were laid out well. All of the basics were there for our use, and the owner was available should we have needed anything. We would stay there again.
It was a perfect get away for our family. We enjoyed the “serenity” of the lake and the spacious home with private deck and all the modern amenities. Also loved the dock and small private beach just a few steps below.
Total relaxation with awesome lake views!
Close to some fun activities in the surrounding area as well. The complete package!
Beautiful views off multiple decks and beach area. Very clean and comfortable. Loved the table in kitchen. Perfect for playing games in the evening. Easy to work in and well stocked kitchen. Great location for getting to Watkins Glen and many wineries. Truly enjoyed our stay.
Our family of 6 adults and 1 child enjoyed our week at Serenity Zen House. Location is perfect for visiting lots of wineries. Huge deck is perfect for morning coffee, wine & cocktails in evening and dining. We enjoyed using the grill, and the kitchen was well equipped with everything we needed.
Wegman's in Geneva is only 20 minutes away.
Betty H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Amy H.
7 September 2018
A stunning and serene place to stay
My family and I absolutely loved our stay at the "Serenity Zen House". the house itself is open and inviting and the views from the 2 decks and the dock are unmatched.
Also, the location of the house was perfect- we were easily able to drive to Watkins Glen and easily explore the many surrounding vineyards, breweries and local eateries.
Finally James is wonderful to work with!
Great view, beautiful outdoor space, roomy comfy indoor space. Well appointed to accommodate our needs. Had a wonderful time with friends and family exploring local wineries, cider mills, Geneva and Watkins Lake. Too little time
We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to go back. What a gem this lake house was…waking up to the sunrise on the lake makes for a beautiful day. Loved the numerous decks to hang out on and the beach. Our family thoroughly enjoyed our time there as well as our dog Zeus. Jim is an amazing host!!! I had to have emergency surgery and Jim was extremely helpful and accommodating. Can’t wait to go back!!!
We had a peaceful, relaxing week at the lake. This is a truly beautiful property. The multiple deck set-up is great. The area was surprisingly quiet - not much activity on the lake in early July. There were many wineries near by. The property had plenty of adirondack chairs, floats for the lake, bikes, rocking chairs, a large grill. I'm not sure what else we could ask for. There was even a Keurig machine and a washer/dryer combo that were not in the listing. We would love to come back!
The home was perfect for our needs. My husband and I came a day earlier then our 18 and 20 year old sons joined us. We all enjoyed our stay. We brought kayaks but the home had 2. The views of the lake were breathtaking. We really enjoyed our stay and Jim, Property Manager, made sure we knew he was available if needed. He lives on the same street. We are knew to VRBO and was happy with our choice!
Bridgette M.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
8/10 Good
Teri M., Endicott
25 August 2015
Seneca Zen
The property is beautiful and the location great. We had problems with the smoke alarms going off in the middle of the night 4 out of 7 nights. That was not good.
Absolutely lovely place with lake access and views
My husband, dog, & I stayed here for 4 nights and I wish we had more time because it was wonderful. The house is open, has a nice kitchen, a spacious primary bedroom, & two guest rooms. Everything was organized and clean and check in & out were super easy.
Everything was accurate to the listing and photos provided. There's a huge dock as well as a second deck by the water and a little beach area that's perfect for younger kids that want to play rather than swim. By the dock there's a lot of weeds, but if you swim out deeper you can enjoy the water. I'd suggest water shoes as the rocks are slippery but easy to navigate with shoes on.
I was a bit worried about the stairs down to the water as I have bad knees, but even I was able to navigate the stairs going slowly. It's the about the same as two flights of stairs in a house.
Pretty much everywhere in the house that faces the water has amazing views. There's a nice table and grill on the deck. We had some friends visit for dinner and their two young children had a great time swimming and enjoying the deck.
The place is very dog friendly and our dog loved having the freedom to roam inside the house or outside on the enclosed deck.
There isn't central AC but the unit in the main area & bedrooms worked great and we were fine on 85 degree days. It is right next to the train tracks and the trains are pretty loud, but they're super short so it never bothered us.
I highly recommend the Serenity Zen House!
The location was amazing. Getting to wake up each morning to the sunrise on the lake was perfect. The property was clean, well equipped and a great size for our group. Loved our stay!
We had a wonderful time at Seneca Lake with our dogs. The property is absolutely incredible—spacious, beautiful, and perfectly set up to relax and enjoy the lake. Having the dogs with us made it even better, and they loved it just as much as we did. We truly enjoyed our stay and look forward to coming back.
Mike K.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
About the host
Hosted by James Smith
Why they chose this property
The Serenity Zen House is ideal for enjoying all the Finger Lakes attractions, including swimming and boating on Seneca Lake, wine tasting, visiting attractions like Watkins Glen State Park, or just relaxing and enjoying a get-away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
What makes this property unique
Located next to the Serenity Aloft House the two homes can be rented together for larger groups to offer a unique private retreat for larger groups while affording privacy and comfort.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests