Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity.
This bright and cheery three-bedroom (plus office), two-and-a-half-bathroom home is a cozy, family and pet-friendly way to enjoy your visit to Western Massachusetts. This is a family home, well loved and ready for kids and pets. It is perfect for visiting or relocating families, home cooks, art/writing retreats, and nature-lovers.
The kitchen is newly updated with an efficient dishwasher, large sink, quality knives, pans, and cooking equipment including a bread maker, Vitamix blender, many coffee making tools, and microwave. Our home's interior is bright and colorful with a mini-split in almost every room for excellent and efficient A/C and heating.
The primary bedroom on the main floor has an ensuite bathroom with a large river-pebble shower, split-king bed. There is a pull-out couch in the first-floor livingroom and two full couches in the basement to welcome additional guests.
The finished walk-out basement has a living room, kitchenette (sink, microwave, mini-fridge), crafting station, and home office with large storage closet and an interior window that lets in light. It also has two couches and a TV with streaming apps; perfect for a playroom or guest suite. The downstairs office has an electric standing desk, high-quality office chair, and large Apple monitor. The laundry room features a large capacity washer, dryer, and chest freezer as well as a steamer, hanging racks, and folding table.
One upstairs bedroom is kid-themed with a light-up bed and half-wall divider - perfect for separated play/study space or sibling bedroom sharing. The second room upstairs has a full desk, linen cabinet, and twin bed. It could be used as an office, bedroom, or guest bedroom. The bathroom upstairs has a bathtub.
Our kid-friendly home has a crafting corner, kid-themed bedroom with separated hang and sleep space, durable finishes, a baby-gate for the upper stairs (if needed), balls and toys for outside play, and a cabinet full of board games for kids over 5. The 1-acre yard with a swing, an elevated "forest deck" for big kids (and grownups), and a neighborhood with other school-aged kids. The work-from-home setup includes an office with a door, standing desk, and monitor downstairs and a sleep/work office space upstairs with a ring light, external keyboard, and laptop stand provided for guests. The homeowners both worked from home, so be sure that strong Wifi is included.
Up to two animals are welcomed with water bowls and a (clean)cat littler box and hard-sided medium-sized dog crate available for use. The town's dog park is just a three minute drive or 20 minute walk down the road.
Our backyard is a peaceful oasis with a great combination of sun and shade trees, raised garden beds, and pollinator wildflowers. There are hiking trails in every direction and the bike path (to downtown and beyond) is located half a mile down the hill. The nearest bus stop is .9 miles and there is space for 1 car in the garage and open parking next to the driveway.
This rental includes linens, towels, dishes, silverware, cooking supplies, startup garbage bags and other necessities.
Utilities including fast wifi, water and sewage, yard mowing, driveway plowing, electricity (including heating and air conditioning) up to $400/mo, and tick/mosquito mitigation.
This gorgeous, bright house provides a comfortable retreat with heating and AC to keep you just right. Kick back, relax, and enjoy everything Amherst and our superb house has to offer.
HEALTH & SAFETY: We're living in some intense times! The home is equipped with air-purifiers (for times when wildfire smoke impacts indoor breathing), an emergency personal generator (charged and waiting in the garage), flashlights, lanterns, and startup ice-melt for the walkway.
The driveway is plowed by a local management company when snow will stick and the lawn is mowed regularly. We provide mosquito and tick mitigation, reducing the rate of bites on our property.
The property has smoke and carbon monoxide detectors a radon mitigation system, and mold mitigation regularly maintained. If you have a toddler, a baby-gate can be provided for the stairs from the 1st to 2nd floor (just ask) and there is a sticky-and-firmly-magnetized door between the kitchen and basement.
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Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 453 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please turn off all mini-splits (unless it is below 30 degress outside, then leave basement minisplit on low).
Hang the key + garage door opener next to the wooden box in the garage, then close the garage door using the code.
If able, we appreciate if you run sheets and towels (not blankets!) in the washing machine as you leave. We also understand if it's not possible! Please leave them in laundry room or at top of stairs.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Do not unplug the cord in the basement that says "do not unplug." House could flood.
Please leave the dehumidifiers in basement ON except when in room. Empty them if you see they're full. Without this, like every MA house, it will mold
No digging in the backyard, removing trees, or removing property from the house.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number C0603720080
Property # 5452563vb
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 15
Note from host: Events allowed with permission. None after 10pm.
Long-term renters welcome
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Amherst
Located in Amherst, this holiday home is in a rural area. Emily Dickinson Museum and Porter Phelps Huntington Museum are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Randall's Farm and Greenhouse and Yankee Candle Village. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium or Mullins Center. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating and sledging.
University of Massachusetts Amherst - 14 min drive - 9.3 km
Getting around
Amherst Station - 13 min drive
Westfield, MA (BAF-Barnes Municipal) - 54 min drive
Restaurants
Cumberland Farms - 6 min drive
Antonio's Pizza - 9 min drive
Dunkin' - 7 min drive
Johnny's Tavern - 9 min drive
The Works Bakery Café - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity. pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 453 kg per pet.
How much is parking at Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity.?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity.?
Checkout is at 10:30 AM.
Where is Pet and kid-friendly home in cozy Amherst where nature meets proximity. located?
Set amidst the mountains, this ski-in/ski-out holiday home in Amherst is 1.9 mi (3 km) from Amherst Farm Winery and is convenient for winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and sledging. Mount Holyoke Range State Park and Amherst College are also within 3 miles (5 km).
About the host
Hosted by Grover
We're a creative and adventurous family with two middle-school-aged kids who have lovingly tended our Amherst home for the last five years. We now live 10 months of the year in the Netherlands, sharing our home with others while we are away. We return every summer for our kids to go to summer camps in the area, reconnect with our garden, and see our friends and family.
We moved to Amherst from California, where Nova was raised. We once tried our hand at farming up in the Western Mass Hilltowns, and Grover now channels that midwestern-raised / grandchild of farmers energy into the ever expanding garden. We have lived in big and medium-sized cities on the East Coast, West Coast, and the South and think our Amherst home is the right fit for this time in our life when we want to be connected to a thriving arts community and enjoy nature outside the doorstep.
Why they chose this property
We love that we see nature and wildlife change all day long right outside our windows.
We regularly see: hummingbirds, hawks, owls, sparrows, foxes, porcupines, bunnies, and beavers in our neighborhood. Occasionally we'll see bobcats (don't worry, they're quite small, shy, and won't hurt you) and yes, Black Bears in the transitional seasons. We love that the bike trail that runs all the way to Easthampton is just outside our door, passing a beaver dam (walk down the street and along the path at dusk or dawn to see them swimming), downtown Amherst and Northampton, and the Conneticuit river. We regularly hike the trails in our neighborhood and beyond and there's a sledding hill off the Robert Frost trail just down the way. In summer we swim at the town pool, Puffers Pond, or Belchertown Lake (10 mins in either direction). In winter, we cross country ski and snow shoe on nearby trails.
But it's not just nature we love: we see all these things while on the way to independent films at the Amherst Cinema, blockbuster films at the mall in Hadley, to pick up books from Amherst Books or the transnationally-focused Restless Books.
The food in Amherst is pretty great for a mid-size/small town including five (yes, five) Chinese restaurants (check out Lilis, Lau Hu Tong, and Chef Lao), Tibetan (Momo's), Vietnamese (Omy Omy), Salvadorian/Mexican (el Comalito), affordable close-to-whole-foods college town (Fresh Eats), Vegan food (Pulse Cafe), and American-style brunch (30 Boltwood and Cushman's Market).
The museums in town provide an amazing opportunity to get to know the town's connection with the rest of the world including: The Eric Carle Picture Book Museum, Emily Dickinson Museum, Benski Museum of Natural History, and the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College.
Our neighborhood is a friendly place where people take their daily walks up-and-down the way, blending privacy and nature with connection and proximity.
What makes this property unique
Our home is a great fit for a family with kids or two working-from-home adults. If you're looking for a solid home base from which to live life and explore Western Massachusetts, our home is the place to be.
We're a creative family that's decorated and maintained the home with bright colors and sturdy furniture. It's a place to settle into that's clean, well appointed, and located in a peaceful but well-connected location. Enjoy!