Elf Hill cottage offers two double bedrooms (one on the ground floor, the other upstairs), a third bedroom with two twin beds and a daybed for a child, two full bathrooms and a new outdoor shower, a living room, dining room and sunroom. A new kitchen and the renovated bathrooms were installed in 2022, and during the spring of 2023 the patio is being repaved and extended.

There are flowers galore, and the backyard is fenced-in for the peace of mind of the parents of toddlers. There is a large, new outdoor shower (a Cape must). The hammock is the perfect spot for an afternoon nap or for reading whilst watching over children playing in the yard. The east-facing patio is a lovely spot for breakfast.

A dashboard pass allowing free parking and entry to all public and private beaches in the Barnstable area is included in the rental. Dowses Beach, a beautiful private beach with a cove on one side (perfect for small children) and the ocean on the other is four minutes down the road by car. Joshua’s Pond, a large, limpid fresh-water pond with a small sandy beach, is a five-minute walk down the street. Both beaches have parking areas and lifeguards. And keep in mind that since we are on the south side of the Cape, the ocean has pleasant average temps of at least 68 F (20 C) during the summer.

Elf Hill cottage is in a quiet residential neighborhood, yet Main Street, with its collection of wonderful restaurants, art galleries and tasteful clothing and gift shops, is a five-minute stroll away.

A central, village location in Osterville is highly valued as otherwise you will require a car for getting about. At Elf Hill you could find yourself going for days without getting behind the steering wheel.