Sunny, Historic House in Natural Paradise near Commuter Rail to Boston
House in Rowley, MA
8 guests · 3 bedrooms · 1 bath
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
High-end valuePrice for this property is higher than average in the area
About this house rental
Take a look at this light and cheerful home (c.1870) perched on a quiet street atop a tree-lined hill near the center of historic Ipswich and the commuter rail to Boston. As you enter, see floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen/dining/work area, warmed by a golden glow on pine floors, and look out toward a lush hill and patio. Enjoy the well-equipped kitchen that caters to DIY food lovers and opens onto a light-filled dining area as well as comfortable seating and a functional work space well-suited to telecommuters (*See additional work space on third floor.). Enter the adjoining living room, where a huge, modular sofa faces a built-in cabinet that conceals a pivotable smart TV. On the second floor, see two bedrooms and a full bathroom with combined shower and bathtub. Walk up to the third-floor penthouse—one bright, semi-divided room which can double as bedroom and studio/office. From the penthouse window, get a glimpse through the treetops of quiet streets that wind down to the Ipswich River past centuries-old homes, Town Wharf, and picturesque paths. (See photos—all taken on the property except as noted.)
Amenities include air-conditioning throughout; 5G internet; safety devices such as smart smoke-and-carbon monoxide detectors as well as fire extinguishers; smart thermostats; and a large-capacity washer and dryer in the basement. With a receipt for at least two weeks rental in Ipswich, the Town will issue a temporary parking permit for Crane Beach, rated by National Geographic as one of the “Top 10 family beaches in the U.S.,” for $20—a drastic savings over daily rates for non-residents. The Ipswich YMCA, which is right up the street, has terrific workout facilities and offers myriad activities for both children and adults.
Discover excellent restaurants, shopping, commuter-rail, library, banks, post-office, museums, galleries, and playgrounds. Relax and enjoy miles of sandy beaches, as well as scenic marshes, woodlands, and river—a paradise for sports and wildlife enthusiasts. Visit the Crane Estate year ’round, a magnificent setting for picnic concerts throughout July and August. Venture along the coast to the nearby towns of Essex, Gloucester, Newburyport, Rockport, Manchester, Beverly, Salem, etc., where you’ll find world-class music and theatre, antiques dealers, art galleries, museums, shopping, whale-watch tours, schooner trips, and more. For your convenience and pleasure, shop at local farms, orchards, specialty stores, wineries, and supermarkets. Walk or drive to Ipswich Center, where you can catch the commuter rail to Boston, then the “T” to Cambridge.
LONG-TERM STAYS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. For stays of three months or more, rates and fee structure are negotiable. The final date of availability posted on the property calendar is December 18, 2023. However, availability might resume as of January, 2024. Inquiries are welcome.
Please see Sample Rental Agreement: navigate to Property/Rules and Policies/Rental Agreement. Upon reservation, Homeowner will fill in required information and transmit a pdf to Guest for review, signature, and initials on each page. Guest will transmit a pdf of the completed Rental Agreement to Homeowner.
The owner maintains a private studio at ground level with separate entrance, and respects total privacy of tenants.
For enhanced cleaning, the owner blocks at least two days between bookings.
Contact the owner for more details.
Amenities include air-conditioning throughout; 5G internet; safety devices such as smart smoke-and-carbon monoxide detectors as well as fire extinguishers; smart thermostats; and a large-capacity washer and dryer in the basement. With a receipt for at least two weeks rental in Ipswich, the Town will issue a temporary parking permit for Crane Beach, rated by National Geographic as one of the “Top 10 family beaches in the U.S.,” for $20—a drastic savings over daily rates for non-residents. The Ipswich YMCA, which is right up the street, has terrific workout facilities and offers myriad activities for both children and adults.
Discover excellent restaurants, shopping, commuter-rail, library, banks, post-office, museums, galleries, and playgrounds. Relax and enjoy miles of sandy beaches, as well as scenic marshes, woodlands, and river—a paradise for sports and wildlife enthusiasts. Visit the Crane Estate year ’round, a magnificent setting for picnic concerts throughout July and August. Venture along the coast to the nearby towns of Essex, Gloucester, Newburyport, Rockport, Manchester, Beverly, Salem, etc., where you’ll find world-class music and theatre, antiques dealers, art galleries, museums, shopping, whale-watch tours, schooner trips, and more. For your convenience and pleasure, shop at local farms, orchards, specialty stores, wineries, and supermarkets. Walk or drive to Ipswich Center, where you can catch the commuter rail to Boston, then the “T” to Cambridge.
LONG-TERM STAYS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. For stays of three months or more, rates and fee structure are negotiable. The final date of availability posted on the property calendar is December 18, 2023. However, availability might resume as of January, 2024. Inquiries are welcome.
Please see Sample Rental Agreement: navigate to Property/Rules and Policies/Rental Agreement. Upon reservation, Homeowner will fill in required information and transmit a pdf to Guest for review, signature, and initials on each page. Guest will transmit a pdf of the completed Rental Agreement to Homeowner.
The owner maintains a private studio at ground level with separate entrance, and respects total privacy of tenants.
For enhanced cleaning, the owner blocks at least two days between bookings.
Contact the owner for more details.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Map of Rowley, MA
$$$$
Reviews
10.0
Ellen was a great host and the house was perfect (we loved the decorations). Check-in and check-out were a breeze. The master bedroom had an incredible view of the tree-tops. The neighbors we encountered were all super friendly. The house was a 5 minute walk from a great dog park, and a 15 minute walk from the center of Ipswich. For longer walks we ventured to Nichols Field which was fun. We found a fun coffee shop in town, a delicious smoothie shop next to the train station (both within walking distance of the house) and we even made it to the Masonic Hall for the 2018 Polish Picnic which had a live polka band! If we ever come back to Ipswich we'd gladly stay at Ellen's place again! Thanks for the vino!
1.0
We arrived to an unclean house - dishes in the sink, counters that needed wiping down, back-splashes covered in dirt and grime, a bathroom that needed scrubbing (hair in the soap caddy, dirty toilet bowl and tub, owner's belongings in the cabinets), AC unit filters full of dust and grime, a sticky kitchen floor that needed mopping, a cooler full of rotting food on the back patio that prevented us from enjoying that space for the first three days, and a home that did not at all live up to its advertising.
While the owner was good to stay in touch and had some backups that were for the most part available and responsive, the home itself (which she lives in when not renting it out) was not at all ready for paying company. I stepped on a piece of glass that was lodged in the ball of my foot for a full day, had to scrub down the kitchen and run pots, utensils, dishes, mugs and glasses through the dishwasher to be able to make simple meals for my family, but really did not feel comfortable cooking large meals there. Two of my family had stomach flu for two days while there - which I suspect could have been due to the AC filters being full of dirt and the unclean nature of the main eating areas.
The blow-up queen mattress deflated during sleep. The glass kitchen and living room tables had fingerprints and had not been cleaned. Sure, different people have different level of cleanliness standards and that's acceptable, but if I rented my home, I would make sure that "lived-in character" didn't mean layers of dirt.
The small bedroom with the single bed has a handle that locks. One of our children had to climb out on the roof to come in through the bedroom next door until we could get it open. Huge liability here. The basement studio apartment, where we assume the owner resides when not traveling, was jammed with boxes and furniture, posing another fire and safety hazard.
Overall, it was a disappointing visit. The home, although of character and age as described, needs a very deep and thorough cleaning to be able to be rentable.
10.0
My wife, 12 year old daughter and I stayed for a week at this lovely home in Ipswich. My parents live in Hamilton and we needed a place nearby; this fit the bill perfectly.
We loved walking downtown to get coffee and breakfast in the morning. My wife in particular loved all the old houses (many built in the 1600s) we passed on the way to & from downtown, and we all loved the walk. The house has an idyllic view of the church steeple from the 3rd floor loft, and lovely light throughout the day.
My wife is an avid cook, and she LOVED the kitchen in this house. She said, "I can tell the owner cooks regularly -- everything I need is here". We hosted my brother and his girlfriend for dinner and we had a great time eating and chatting around the dining room table, with views of the trees outside. The dining room is small but cozy and a really special space with its enormous windows.
Access to Crane's Beach and (my daughter's favorite) Russel Orchards was a piece of cake.
We also all loved unwinding at the end of the day on the enormous couch in the living room! It was super comfy and a great place to lounge and relax.
Ellen was an INCREDIBLE host -- she checked in on us regularly, made sure everything was working for us, and was incredibly helpful before and during our stay.
In short, we were all SO happy with our stay here and will return as soon as we can.
10.0
This is a highly recommended property with tremendous character! Beautiful vistas, lots of natural lighting, comfortably furnished, elegant artistic touches throughout. We drove out from Boston, and despite being only 45 minutes from home, felt totally transported during this enchanted idyll at Ellen's "Tree house".
The third floor "penthouse" is very spacious and private, with a beautiful skylight that lets in the moonlight - perfect for a romantic getaway. And with two other bedrooms on the second floor, this property is equally well-suited for accommodating families or a group of friends.
When this house is not a rental property it is a home, and as a rental retains the feel of a home in the best possible sense - warm, inviting, comfortable, thoughtfully decorated, and fully equipped with cookware, dishes, appliances, towels, linens, books, internet, TV/Blu-ray/DVD, stereo, music. Aside from the character of the house itself, the lighting is outstanding. The sitting room off the kitchen features floor to ceiling windows, letting natural light pour in from sunrise to twilight and affording vistas onto the trees and sky and the eclectic and historic neighboring houses. We loved drinking morning coffee, listening to Mozart, and reading by the windows so much that it took us great effort to finally get out of the house by noon to see the local sites.
Crane Beach is only a 10 to 15 minute drive from the house and is a truly magical place. The Crane Estate itself was closed when we were there (end of March), but the grounds are open year round and are very beautiful to walk - forest paths, pine bluffs, misty marshes, miles of beaches. We picnicked on the promontory at the base of the Grand Allee - a half mile long, 100-foot grassy corridor delineated by rows of stately trees, where southward in the distance stands the shimmering estate and to the north plum island and eternity. It's one of the most beautiful places in New England.
If you're looking for an enchanting and relaxing getaway that's not as conspicuously on the tourist radar as other locales, and where the rental is more than a place to shower and sleep, we recommend that you come to Ipswich and stay here. The owner, Ellen, is so kind, gracious, and charming, full of interesting stories and positive energy, and is a great resource for local recommendations in the area. We had a wonderful time and met a wonderful friend in Ellen. We're looking forward to our next return.
10.0
Hospitable does not even begin to describe our hostess Ellen. She was absolutely delightful, and available every step of the way to make sure our needs were met. The accommodations didn't disappoint. It is very clean with so much charm. The loft bedroom on the third floor was very private, and the perfect master bedroom. The other two guest rooms were perfect as well. My husband and I truly look forward to an opportunity to stay here again. We would highly recommend it!!
10.0
We (a family with two little children) spent the whole summer in Ipswich and had the most wonderful time at the "tree-house" with Ellen.
The house was very clean, very charming, individually furnished and offered enough place for us. The whole equipment of the house was just great (kitchen equipment, linnen, beach towels etc.).
Besides, the house is really great located. The beautiful Crane's Beach and the center of Ipswich is just a couple of minutes away.
Ellen (the owner) was just wonderful, very sweet and very supportive from the very beginning until the end of our vacation. The children immediately fell in love with her, as we grownups did.
My family and I plan to come back to this wonderful place again soon.
Heide & family
10.0
My 18-year-old daughter and myself spent a week here in early fall just as the leaves were beginning to change. We loved the house; it has a very artistic feel with the white walls and wood floors and beautifully chosen details. Everything is crisp and clean, the beds are comfortable and made with good-quality sheets, blankets and pillows...my daughter claimed the loft space immediately and enjoyed her private aerie very much.
We enjoyed walking around Ipswich, with its remarkable selection of early 17th-century houses and especially liked the museum with its wonderfully preserved historic houses (so you can get an idea of what the insides might be like!). My daughter also particularly liked the Applegate Farm, which has a number of easy hiking trails among big trees and open pasture.
We spent one rainy day in Boston at the Fine Arts Museum, an easy drive as long as you avoid rush-hour! (There is also a train connection from Ipswich.) On a Sunday we drove straight through Boston to the Plimoth Plantation, a re-created 17th-century village which was well worth the hour or so it took to get there! We also drove the coast road near Ipswich, and joined many other families clambering around the huge rock formations at Halibut Point State Park.
We were delighted to find a superb restaurant our first night (Zabaglione Cafe) and breakfasted a couple of times at the Agawam Diner, which is a local institution. The kitchen at the house is well set-up for cooking, so we ate in often.
Ellen is very welcoming and is often available if you need advice about things to do or places to go.
My daughter already wants to go back again! So maybe next year!
Cheers from Ontario Canada Judy R
10.0
This was our first journey to the United States. We want to thank Ellen, the owner of this wonderful charming house for the warm welcome she gave to us. We enjoued our stay very much, had wonderful days in Ipswich and the countryside, the nearby crane beach is one of the best we found during our whole journey. Don´t miss to go there!
The house itself has a warm and personal style, it allows you to relax, our both girls really loved "their" rooms which where seated in the second floor whereas we parents feel very comfortable in the sleeping room under the roof. Even in the very hot summer this year we could sleep and relax!
The living room and the kitchen are in the first floor and provide you with everything you need to cook and relax. Our favorite place was the "porch" all around windows with a wonderful view into the woods.
Outside you find a veranda for the evening wine. Just enjouy your stay!
If you have little children you should be aware that this house has a lot of stairs.
We would come back whenever we plan our next trip in this area! Doris, Berlin, Germany
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Rowley?
The average price for a rental in Rowley is $328 per night. This rental is $22 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Sunny, Historic House in Natural Paradise near Commuter Rail to Boston. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Sunny, Historic House in Natural Paradise near Commuter Rail to Boston pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at Sunny, Historic House in Natural Paradise near Commuter Rail to Boston?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and parking.
Explore similar vacation rentals in Rowley
Explore all rentals in RowleyRowley travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama: Adventure and Fun Await
Local Culture
Exploring Miami’s Wynwood District: Street Art, Food, and More
Guides
Fun Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland
Local Culture
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Dining in Orlando, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Oahu and Honolulu
Guides
Top Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Miami: From Beaches to Culture
Guides
The Best Things to Do in Orlando: Attractions, Food, and Family Fun
Keep exploring
- Kauai Villas
- Orlando Villas
- Kiawah Island Villas
- Miami Beach Villas
- Kissimmee Villas
- North Naples Villas
- Florida Keys Villas
- Phoenix Villas
- Los Angeles Villas
- St Petersburg Villas
- Palm Desert Villas
- Miami Villas
- Las Vegas Villas
- Venice Villas
- Key West Villas
- Palm Springs Villas
- Lake Tahoe Villas
- Hollywood Hills Villas
- Seabrook Island Villas
- South Lake Tahoe Villas
- Pocono Mountains Villas
- Scottsdale Villas
- Myrtle Beach Villas
- Hilton Head Island Villas
- Marco Island Villas
- North Miami Villas
- Sanibel Island Villas
- West Palm Beach Villas
- Fort Myers Beach Villas
- Haines City Villas
- North Las Vegas Villas
- Destin Villas
- Lake Tahoe Cabins
- Ruidoso Cabins
- Blue Ridge Cabins
- Estes Park Cabins
- Lake George Cabins
- Eureka Springs Cabins
- Branson Cabins
- Lake of the Ozarks Cabins
- Lake Arrowhead Cabins
- Lake Texoma Cabins
- Canyon Lake Cabins
- Sevierville Cabins
- Flagstaff Cabins
- Colorado Springs Cabins
- Hot Springs Cabins
- Bass Lake Cabins
- Buffalo River Cabins
- Possum Kingdom Lake Cabins
- Chattanooga Cabins
- Nashville Cabins
- Wears Valley Cabins
- Cloudcroft Cabins
- Deep Creek Lake Cabins
- Mammoth Lakes Cabins
- Anna Maria Islands Rentals
- Outer Banks Vacation Rentals
- Rosemary Beach Rentals
- Holden Beach Rentals
- Hilton Head Vacation Rentals
- Topsail Beach Rentals
- Kiawah Island Rentals
- Panama City Beach Rentals
- Ocean Isle Beach Rentals
- Folly Beach Rentals
- Dauphin Island Rentals
- Rehoboth Beach Rentals
- Bethany Beach Rentals
- Cape Cod Rentals
- 30A Rentals
- Seaside Florida Rentals
- Edisto Beach Rentals
- Fort Myers Beach Rentals
- Miramar Beach Rentals
- Port Aransas Rentals
- Emerald Isle Rentals
- Orange Beach Rentals
- Surfside Beach Rentals
- Hampton Beach Rentals
- Assateague Island Rentals
- Jacksonville Beach Vacation Rentals
- North Shore Vacation Rentals
- Ogunquit Vacation Rentals
- North Redington Beach Rentals
- Lido Key Vacation Rentals
- Sea Colony Rentals
- Pass A Grille Vacation Rentals
- Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals
- Vail Lodging
- Jackson Hole Lodging
- Winter Park Lodging
- Telluride Lodging
- Big Sky Rentals
- Aspen Lodging
- Park City Rentals
- Steamboat Springs Lodging
- Breckenridge Rentals
- Lake Tahoe Rentals
- Copper Mountain Lodging
- Mammoth Mountain Lodging
- Beech Mountain Rentals
- Crested Butte Rentals
- Sun Valley Lodging
- Keystone Lodging
- Taos Lodging
- Sugar Mountain Cabins
- Beaver Creek Lodging
- Deep Creek Lake Rentals
- Smith Mountain Lake Rentals
- Ocean Lakes Rentals
- Lake Anna Rentals
- Torch Lake Rentals
- Lake Winnipesaukee Rentals
- Norris Lake Rentals
- Lake Gaston Rentals
- Canyon Lake Rentals
- Lake Oconee Rentals
- Lake Wallenpaupack Rentals
- Lake Martin Rentals
- Lake Havasu Rentals
- Lake of the Ozarks Rentals
- Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals
- Lake Chelan Rentals
- Finger Lakes Rentals
- Lake Keowee Vacation Rentals
- Lake Conroe Rentals
- Lake Erie Vacation Rentals
- Lake Austin Vacation Rentals
- Sebago Lake Rentals
- Lake Tillery Rentals
- Keuka Lake Rentals