Your very own, completely private, Colonial Williamsburg-style Cottage near the Bucks County town of Yardley, Pennsylvania, right on the Delaware River. The Cottage is just 13 miles south of New Hope and Lambertville and 25 minutes from Princeton. New York City is a little over an hour away by train (Amtrak or New Jersey Transit to Trenton). Philadelphia is about 30 minutes by car, or you can take a SEPTA commuter train from Yardley.

Built by Robert Johnson, a renowned Bucks County cabinetmaker, and furnished with 18th-century reproduction furniture and Oriental rugs, the Cottage is ideal for weekend getaways, week-long vacations, writer's retreats, and house-hunting visits. As many of our guests have said, this is the perfect place to unwind.

The Cottage living space (750 square feet, all on one floor) is quite comfortable for two people. But it also works for a family with one child, or for three close friends who don't mind sharing a bathroom. Because the rooms are small and the floor plan is a bit unusual (you walk through the bathroom to get to the bedroom), we suggest that you contact us first if you're considering reserving the Cottage for three adults, or for two adults and a teenager.

There's a wonderful corner fireplace in the living room with raised paneling and a custom-built mantel. The eat-in kitchen is small, but quite serviceable. We've equipped it with everything our guests need to make basic meals and snacks.

The main bedroom is furnished with a queen-size canopy bed. The "Tavern Room" off the kitchen provides a twin bed for extra sleeping space. (We don't call this a bedroom because it doesn't have doors or a closet. For a bit of privacy, there are blackout curtains at each of the two doorways, and blackout shades at the windows.) We also have a portable Graco crib and child's booster seat that we can have set up and ready for those traveling with an infant or toddler.

The Cottage shares a 3.5-acre riverfront property with our 200-year-old farmhouse. That's where we live and write our books (over 60 titles on a wide range of topics). Most of our books have taught people how to tap into the incredible power of the online world -- starting in 1982! So, of course, the Cottage offers high-speed Internet access (wireless and cable) and HDTV with Netflix streaming movies and TV shows.

THINGS TO DO...

• Visit historic sites such as the Washington Crossing Museum, the Old Barracks in Trenton, and Pennsbury Manor, William Penn's reconstructed home and farm.

• There are lots of award-winning restaurants in historic buildings up and down the river and canal. Most encourage you to bring your own wine or spirits.

• Local farms let you "pick-your-own" berries and apples, and of course, fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, and other home-grown veggies are available from local farm stands, in season. You can kayak, fish, or boat on the Delaware River. (An absolutely fantastic fresh fish market is just a mile down the road. They will gut and filet your choice while you wait.)

• Princeton, the Princeton battlefield, Nassau Hall, and other sites are only minutes away. (Don't miss the Princeton University Art Museum -- a truly impressive collection, wonderfully presented -- and the University Chapel with its magnificent stained glass windows.)

• For a more kid-friendly experience, Sesame Place is just 10 minutes away. Or you can rent a rowboat, kayak, or paddleboat at Core Creek Park and enjoy the natural surroundings of Lake Luxembourg. If you're feeling especially adventurous, drive north about 45 minutes to Point Pleasant and 'River Country' for tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. (The company's buses pick you up at the down-river destination and drive you back to your car.)

• For woodland walks and non-stressful hiking, there is Tyler Park in Newtown and the Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve on River Road just south of New Hope.

• And speaking of New Hope, it's a great place to stroll and to 'people-watch.' But you can also take in a show at the newly renovated Bucks County Playhouse, or catch a ride into the countryside aboard the New Hope-Ivyland Railroad, a classic steam locomotive.

• And don't miss Lambertville, the town directly across the river from New Hope. Art galleries, antique shops, great restaurants, the Golden Nugget flea market just down the road... Lambertville is well worth the walk across the New Hope-Lambertville bridge.

There really is no place like our Bucks County Cottage on the Delaware. Come visit us soon!

Available year-round. No smoking and no pets, please.

Keywords: cottage, carriage house, romantic getaway, writer's retreat, vacation home