Gracious, Historic, Woods Hole Waterfront Home
Woods Hole Vacation Rental - ID 16775

My family and I absolutely love Shore Cottage! Staying here feels like stepping back in time and reliving those magical summer vacations from years past. While the nearby Woods Hole Ferry system might be a concern for some, we actually found it entertaining to watch the ships come and go—especially at night when their lights shimmer across the water. Nearly every room offers beautiful water views, giving the "Cottage" the delightful feeling of being aboard a ship. There are good restaurants, a market, beverage store and charming specialty shops all within walking or biking distance.
The beach is sandy and the water refreshing. There is seaweed depending on the breeze directions and there can be a strong current. You will be beaching and swimming within visibility of passengers waiting on the Ferry or going in and out, but we aren't shy and waved at everyone as we swam or sunned!
We actually caught fish in front of the Cottage!

This was our third year renting the Shore Cottage in Woods Hole. It is in a beautiful location, right on the shores of Vineyard Sound with its own beach and spectacular sunset views. There's plenty of room for family gatherings on the beautiful grounds and it's a 5 minute walk into the town of Woods Hole with its shops, restaurants and great bakeries, which our grandchildren make a beeline for as soon as we arrive! Also, it's a 5 minute walk to the Shining Sea bike and walking path which can take you all the way up into North Falmouth. The only drawback to the location is that it is next door to the Steamship Authority terminal but you get used to the blowing of the ferry horns and although the 6AM one is a bit early, it's not something that keeps us from returning. The house itself is an antique with the typical quirks you'd find in an old house. There is no air conditioning but when we go at the end of August, there haven't been too many times where the nights have been uncomfortable for sleeping. The house has plenty of bedrooms and is well equipped with kitchen equipment, dishware, etc. We've stayed at other homes where the interior of the house has been updated and thus a bit more comfortable, but it's the outside grounds and location of Shore Cottage that keeps us coming back. The owners are very accommodating and take care of any issues that come up promptly.

After almost 20 years of staying at Shore Cottage during August I can honestly say the magic has not faded. It remains a truly special house and location which is now part of our lives as a family. Our stay there always transports us to a calm, restorative place which could not be bettered. I cannot recommend it enough.

My family has been staying at The Shore Cottage for many years now and each year gets better and better. We look forward to our arrival as soon as it is booked in the winter. The Shore Cottage is nothing short of amazing for all off us. As soon as we drive down the driveway and approach the ocean, we feel so blessed. The Cottage has everything we need for our family. My elderly parents stay with us every summer and they are very comfortable in the first floor bedroom with it's own half bathroom. The second and third floor bedrooms are all a good size and each have a view of either the ocean or the backyard gardens and pond. I really appreciate that bed linens and towels are provided. It makes packing so much easier. There are also plenty of extra pillows, blankets, fans and hangers. My absolute favorite spot is the window seat on the second floor where you can read or watch the ferries come and go from the Woods Hole Terminal.

There are many delicious places to dine in and around Woods Hole but we also love staying home, having cocktail hour outside on the lawn and then cooking dinner in the wonderfully equipped kitchen with fabulous ocean views. The dining room has to be my second favorite space since you feel like you are aboard a ship and you can watch all of the action in the harbor. The sunsets are also spectacular.

We love having our own beach and do not mind the ferry traffic at all. The large lawn is great for croquet which we always bring with us, or corn hole which is provided by the owners. By the way, the owners are terrific! It was so lovely to meet Ellen this summer and David is always so responsive to any request or concern. If anything goes wrong in the house while staying there, we never worry because Danny, the world's greatest appliance repair man, will come to the rescue. The community of people in Woods Hole are just so lovely....

If you are looking for modern amenities and fancy touches, this may not be the place for you but if you appreciate traditional Cape Cod charm and making wonderful memories with your family, you will not be disappointed. My family and I cannot wait to continue our traditions and we look forward to making many more memories at The Shore Cottage.

Another amazing weekend at a beautiful house with a one of a kind location (12th visit and counting). The private beach with a beautiful lawn and an iconic house with an interesting architectural history make a splendid combination. The house is spacious with plenty of bedrooms and well appointed for a turnkey visit. It is close to town but still feels secluded. I highly recommend for your next getaway.

This is a very special property! The gorgeous views even on rainy days make for a very relaxing vacation. Being able to walk to Woods Hole center is a big plus. The ferries coming and going are a pleasure to watch, creating a fun energy! The owner Ellen was very accommodating and attentive to our needs. My family and I love Shore Cottage!!

Shore cottage is a perfect way to spend a vacation in Woods Hole. We’ve been there three different Septembers, with our family (young adult children) and other visitors. The house can accommodate a large group. Everyone finds it enchanting. Extremely scenic and lovely, with Harbor views and a back garden with a pond. The water views themselves are outstanding and you can see the ferry pulling in and out of its dock, from early in the morning until late in the evening. We found the regular passage of the ferry relaxing. The well equipped kitchen is lovely. We cooked and baked for our whole group, and the dining room is perfect for 10 people.

There’s a nice bedroom on the second floor, but all the bedrooms are fine. On the first floor there is a bedroom and bathroom which is very convenient for those that have difficulty navigating the stairs to the upstairs bedrooms.

All the shops and restaurants in Woods Hole are very accessible through a hidden gate that leads into the ferry parking lot. Even though there is easy access to the town this way, the house feels very private. Also easy access to The Shining Sea bike path.

We had such an amazing week at Shore Cottage. As soon as we pulled down the driveway, all of our stress melted away. The view was just beautiful! We literally parked the car and didn't use it again until we went to a Falmouth Summer Baseball game. Shore Cottage is an amazing spot for doing just about everything.... We biked on the scenic road to the Nobska Lighthouse and had a wonderful tour of the inside and we biked the entire Shining Sea Bike Path and had a delicious lunch in Falmouth Village on our way back. We walked through the garden gate into Woods Hole for several delicious dinners, our favorite being at WaterStreet Kitchen and had more than one ice cream cone at Jimmy's. We also saw the sundial given by Charles Crane to the town, visited the Aquarium and walked into many lovely shops. Woods Hole is a treasure!!

However, with all the town has to offer, Shore Cottage itself is a gem!! One of our favorite activities was sitting on the beach, watching the ferries come and go and simply relaxing. We ate breakfast and lunch outside and had many visits from a family of ducks. It was really special watching them come and go every day, up from the beach and waddle over to the pond and back again. This house is truly spectacular, from the picturesque dining room window, comfortable bedrooms and well equipped kitchen to the private beach and easy town access. I hope we are able to visit again some day!!

We had a wonderful stay as always. The location and views could not be better. The house was clean and welcoming, and there are plenty of things to do for the kids even when it rained. We appreciated the provisions of cooking essentials that help us get our stay started. Can't wait to come back.

We've been coming to Wood's Hole for 30 years. We love its low key downtown, swimming at Nobska Beach, and gazing at the lighthouse. This year we were delighted to find the shore cottage. Located just a short distance from the ferry terminal and town, it is situated in such a way that when sitting in its sea rooms or in the Adirondack chairs in the yard, one is aware only of the sea lapping at your feet, the ocean breezes wafting through the house, and the ferries gliding out toward Martha's Vineyard (yes, there is a ship's whistle with each departure but that adds to the ambiance). To get to the ferry or to downtown restaurants is less than a five minute walk.

The house itself is spacious, with a large modern kitchen, a dining room overlooking the harbor, a sea room, a living room stocked with games and a TV (which we never even turned on). The sunsets filled the entire house with a red/orange glow. There are bedrooms on three floors, by our count you could comfortably sleep 12. One great aspect of this rental is that the owners supply all the incidentals in the kitchen - coffee filters, condiments, sugar, spices, aluminum foil as well as a full range of pots, pans, coffeemakers, microwaves, a great gas stove, both gas and charcoal grills with even the charcoal briquettes supplied. This allows once to shop and cook just as you would at home - buy the fresh ingredients without worrying about having to run out to buy something that you didn't think of but was essential (cooking oil or olive oil for instance). This really made cooking family meals easy and allowed us to eat out in the back yard, either in the morning light or at sunset. Really a fantastic rental, the owner was very attentive and made sure we had access to help if it was needed. I'm already asking to sign us up for next year!

We cannot recommend this magical house highly enough! We were a group of friends with many young kids who had the time of their lives running around the yard, playing on our own private beach, literally dancing under the stars, carving pumpkins, and playing with the house's many toys. Not to mention watching all the ferries and other boats coming and going. And visiting the local aquarium. Such a special, special place.

This was our second stay and certainly not our last! The house was clean, well-equipped, spacious yet cozy. My only reservation about recommending it to everyone is fear of creating competition for its availability! Thanks for being a great host and sharing your extraordinary home.

Our family absolutely loves this home. The house is graciously maintained. It is a stone's throw from the cute town of Woods Hole and has a secret garden entrance to the Martha's Vineyard ferry.

Our family and friends gathered at the Shore Cottage in Sept 2013 for an amazing week on the water. The house is charming and clearly loved and very well cared for. It was a welcoming place for our loved ones to gather and play on the lawn, on the beach, and in the water. It's lovely to be able to stroll around Woods Hole and dash over to the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. We loved watching the ferries crisscross in front of the house. Highly recommended!