Lakefront Cottage for Family Fun – Epic Games Room – Near Sandbanks

STA License: ST-2019-0250

Some dates are unavailable as our family finalizes plans.

Please use the "Contact Host" button instead of the "Request to Book" option, as that triggers a 24-hour countdown that can cut our conversation short.

Past guests have expressed appreciation for connecting first, which helped ensure the cottage was a perfect match for their vacation plans. Our high rate of returning guests reflects this extra care.

A three-night minimum usually applies, though outside high season we can sometimes make a two-night stay work with a short-stay fee.

This is our family’s waterfront cottage on beautiful West Lake. We bought it as a place to gather. At first, we just wanted somewhere outside the city to spend time with our kids. But over time, it started to feel like a reflection of who we are.

It’s a place filled with memories for us, like board games with our kids that never seem to end, and long outdoor dinners. Many guests have told us it feels more like visiting a close friend’s home than staying at a rental. We’ve set it up the way we like it when we’re here ourselves. It’s comfortable, a bit over the top in the best way, and full of things we genuinely enjoy. It feels personal because it is.

Some guests are grandparents bringing everyone together under one roof. Others are lifelong friends catching up after the kids are in bed, while many are families reconnecting around the water with parents, kids, siblings, and cousins.

Our guests tell us there’s room to spread out when you need a quiet moment and space to come together when it matters. They say the place feels relaxed, well-loved, and easy to enjoy. It’s why we’ll never let it go.

The cottage sits on Sheba’s Island with west-facing waterfront that is ideal for swimming, paddling, and lounging. The gentle, shallow water entry is safe and easy for both children and adults.

There is a wide, private dock that is perfect for morning coffee or relaxing in the sun. You will find floating islands, a canoe, a paddleboard, and beach toys, all ready for you to enjoy the lake. And yes, the Wi-Fi signal reaches all the way to the end of the dock. Because the cottage faces west, you get full sunset views across the lake each evening. They’re often stunning and truly unforgettable.

Sandbanks West Lake Dunes are just four kilometres from the cottage. It is an easy bike ride or a quick drive. Two car park day passes are included with your stay, so while you still need to make a reservation, you won’t need to pay any park entry fees.

Inside, the cottage is immaculately clean and carefully maintained.

The chef’s kitchen looks out over the lake and is stocked with everything you need to cook, bake, or host with ease. Guests often say it’s the best-equipped kitchen they’ve ever rented. Even professional caterers have commented on how complete and intuitive it is. You’ll find a commercial Jura coffee and cappuccino machine (Lavazza beans provided as we are coffee lovers), an induction cooktop, convection oven, wine fridge, ice maker, Le Creuset cookware, an air fryer, a waffle maker, lobster pots, and everything you need for baking, along with much more.

Whether it’s a quiet breakfast, baking something together, or setting the table for a full house, the kitchen is set up to make it all feel easy.

Meals can be shared around a rustic outdoor dining table for twelve on the covered balcony or at the large indoor dining table overlooking the water. You can choose from a variety of china, handmade platters, table linens, cloth napkins, candles, and oil lamps to help every meal feel special.

Outside, there is an extra-large BBQ and a premium WITT gas pizza oven from Denmark. Both are perfect for relaxed family barbecues and "make your own" pizza nights.

The living spaces are bright, welcoming, and designed for comfort. There is an upstairs living room with an extra-deep, goose-down-filled sofa. A lake-facing family room downstairs for games and movies. And a cozy media nook tucked among arcade games.

You will find four Smart TVs with Netflix and satellite channels, an extensive DVD library, puzzles, cookbooks, board games, and Wi-Fi throughout. A printer and scanner are available if needed.

Our games room is truly one of a kind and a guest favourite. It includes collector-level pinball machines, including Jurassic Park Premium and Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Edition, as well as shuffleboard, a tournament dart machine, foosball, air hockey, a pool table, and ping pong. There is also a retro gaming setup connected to the TV, featuring authentic arcade controls and over 3,000 games, including favourites like Pac-Man and Galaga. You will also find Virtua Cop 2, an all-time classic light gun game that is rarely found in working condition in private collections.

No other property in the County offers a games room experience like this, and guests often say that family tournaments were the highlight of their stay.

One of our family’s favorite features - and often a guest favorite too - is the giant "Memory Wall" beside the games room. It’s where kids sketch the day’s adventures and full-wall games of Pictionary break out.

The cottage has five bedrooms:

Primary upstairs bedroom (#1) with a king-sized bed, private balcony facing the water, and an ensuite bathroom. Upstairs bedroom (#2) with two double beds. Upstairs bedroom (#3) with a queen bed and water views. Lower-level bedrooms (#4) and (#5), each with a queen bed, shared living area, and bathroom. (Occupancy limits and STA regulations apply.)

The fun continues outside. There are bikes for island rides, croquet and horseshoes on the lawn, a trampoline and tire swing for kids, and a historic County canning bucket firepit down by the water. It's perfect for sunset bonfires, sharing stories, and roasting marshmallows.

Hidden among the trees is the Tree Fort, a two-room, two-level hideout with Wi-Fi, perfect for kids’ adventures and breakfasts on the balcony.

We welcome non-shedding dogs with prior approval. Smoking is never allowed inside the house.

The cottage has central air, full laundry supplies, firewood, candles, and even bug spray ready for your stay.

Check-in time is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 10:30 am.

Unlike a commercial rental, this is our family’s gathering place. A place to slow down, enjoy time together, and reconnect with what matters most.

From the cookbooks on the shelves to the art on the walls, everything here tells part of our family's story. These details were added slowly over the years, not to impress, but to make it feel like home. Guests often tell us that’s what stands out most.

If this feels like the kind of place your family or friends would truly enjoy, I would be happy to chat.

Thanks,
Greg

(Just a quick note: VRBO does not include the County’s required 4 percent Municipal Accommodation Tax in the total.

Also, my apologies as VRBO is not able to calculate discounted fees for off-season mid-week stays.)