This property exceeded all expectations and we're so grateful to Suzanne for sharing her house with us! The home itself is charming with loads of comfort and character. It had the best kitchen of any house we've ever rented and the beds were very comfortable. The views were spectacular - and the wildlife was abundant! The eagles, seals, and otters were so enjoyable to watch. The seals were super curious when we took the kayaks out, but kept their distance. And then the blackberries! Thousands of ripe, delicious berries for our mid-August stay. Our family spent a couple days exploring the local area and loved the Geoduck for dinner (best salmon sandwich ever!!), the Staircase Trail, and gorgeous Lake Cushman. We also spent a couple days in Olympic National Park hitting a lot of the major natural attractions. Just an amazing week in one of the most beautiful spots (and we've been many places in the world)! Suzanne gave great instructions and was very quick to respond when we had questions. All around five stars!

Love the location, love the house and love the views from every room!

My family and I come to the Hood every summer and we have decided that Dosewallips is the best spot for wildlife viewing and kayaking. This house was absolutely beautiful. We loved the set up and the comfy beds. The decks were perfect for enjoying the view with our morning coffee. Eagles flying, otters and seals swimming. It was perfect. The kitchen had great supplies and we loved the TV room for watching movies together in the evening. We will be back!

Our family--2 teenaged grandkids, our daughter, our son, and my husband and I had a fantastic week. The place was just as described. The view was phenomenal and we loved seeing the changes as the tide came in and out. We saw seals and bald eagles through the binoculars provided. Favorite trips were to Rocky Falls where the grandkids swam in the pool at the bottom and stood in the waterfall and to Sequim to the Olympic Game Farm where they fed bread to the yaks, bears, and elk through the car windows. The beds were comfortable, the kitchen was very well equipped, and there were multiple places to hang out. We had a wonderful family vacation and would recommend it highly to other families.

Love the location, love the house and love the views from every room!

The loved it from the driveway! This house has lots of charm and personality. It was clean and well equipped. There were 7 of us and we had plenty of space. Lovely decor and comfortable places to sit, relax and enjoy the views. The only thing we noticed was that only 2 of the 4 kayaks are in working order. Thought you would want to know! We will be back!!

The Balch Retreat is our go to for a Hood Canal vacation. House is lovely, it’s right on the water, comfortable beds, great location.

Our group of five (4 adults and 1 child) enjoyed our stay at the Historic Balch Retreat. The house was stocked with all the usual amenities in the bathroom, and kitchen, but also had washer/dryer/detergent on site, and a very well-stocked pantry of herbs, spices, baking essentials, tea, etc. Super easy to cook big meals, super easy to clean up afterwards. We really enjoyed the kayaks, life preservers, and waders - the beach was literally down the stairs, allowing us to explore the little tide pools when the tide was out, and the calm water when it was in. Saw lots of seals, a few bald eagles, and we think some otters. Best part was sitting on the decks drinking coffee and tea in the mornings and evenings and watch the hummingbirds fight over the feeders. 😆 All the bedrooms face east over the water, so they had fantastic views. We were very happy we brought blackout curtains because the sun was very happy to greet us every morning! For those with indoor allergies, we do recommend bringing a small air purifier for each bedroom or keeping the windows open as weather permits because the house is old (VERY well maintained, but historic home with beautiful wood trim and floors means that it's going to have some indoor triggers). Overall, beautiful property, excellent layout for families or friend groups, thoughtfully designed with different spaces for gathering or introverting, excellent amenities, and great communication with the host. Great base to explore Olympic!

Absolutely recommend this historic home! We arrived to find it exactly as described on the listing. Comfortable beds, clean and pleasant atmosphere and stunning views of the water. The eagles soared daily and the seals entertained us with their curious ways. Our Girls Weekend included kayaking, a visit to Hama Hama Oyster Saloon and a drive to Port Townsend.

Our small group had a wonderful time in this charming house. It is one of the best equipped, most comfortable and inviting rental I’ve stayed in. The view from upper deck is mesmerizing with the tide going in and out, the eagle that flew by several times a day and cute harbor seals peaking a look. I highly recommend this rental.

I was not sure what to expect but this home was incredible. So incredibly comfortable and homey. We watched bald eagles fly past the patio all day long; Seals poking their heads out of the water in the canal. Kayaks were great and we had an amazing time out on the water. This is one of the few places that I can say I would love to return to.

Spent a long weekend kayaking, drinking wine, and watching seals and eagles from the patio with friends!

The property manager was quick to reply to questions, house was as-advertised, kitchen had cookware/spices/accessories, with cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. The view was amazing with entertainment from the seals and otters. Would definitely stay here again. Check out nearby Hamma Hamma Oysters and the Geoduck Lounge!

Second time staying at this property and just as nice as the first time around. Highly recommended if looking to stay on Hood Canal or near Olympic National Forest.

Beautiful home, fantastic tub on third floor with view of the canal/bay, well-stocked kitchen, comfy third floor bed — the third floor overall is quite wonderful with skylights, tub, etc. Suzanne’s suggestions for hikes and viewpoints were perfect for our 3-night stay. Suzanne was very communicative, friendly, and helpful. We’d definitely stay here again. The house is so large and accommodating, I could imagine larger groups enjoying it. Also immaculately clean! And the light from inside the house! And the seals!

What an incredible setting! Our first evening at the house we watched the otters and birds fish in the waters below the deck. The otters brought their dinner onto shore right in front of us! We watched them eat and play until it was too dark to see them. The next morning we woke up to seals playing in the water and resting on the tidal flats. It was incredible to watch them play every morning before we left on our daily excursions into Seattle and the National Park. We even used the provided kayaks, vests and boots one day to go out and visit them on the water. This place was so perfect for all our needs. The beds were fantastic and the kitchen had everything you could think of -- we were so grateful for the crockpot and a ready meal after long days exploring. The property is historic and has its quirks, but we loved every minute of it. Although the time of year prevented us from enjoying some of the restaurants recommended by Suzanne we found some gems -- Quilbilly in Quilcene has a limited menu but it was fantastic! We also enjoyed the crepe shop and espresso hut in Kingston on our way to Seattle via ferry and had a wonderful dinner at Kingston Ale House on our way back. Our lunch at Lake Crescent Lodge was hit and miss but the setting was amazing and we enjoyed our time there and the hike to the falls. We also explored the Dungeness Spit but it was our one day of pouring rain so we will have to come back! We also traveled to the Hoh Rainforest which is about a three hour drive away, but totally worth it! The drive itself is insanely beautiful with breathtaking views around every turn. We can't wait to return and would definitely stay at the Balch Retreat again!

My friends and I needed a place to get away from our daily life together and just enjoy good food, drink, and company. This place was perfect! There was space for a bunch of guys to sleep, and an amazing view! If you enjoy wildlife from the comfort of a deck, this place will not disappoint the highest standards!

We had a fun “gals getaway” weekend for the 3 of us, staying at this property with a big view of Hood Canal! The kitchen was well stocked and had everything we needed. The house was clean and has been updated. Nice decorating touches throughout and a fun den/TV/game room. We played games together on the comfy couch both nights. Sitting out on the deck, taking in the beautiful view, was where we “hung out” together the most. We loved checking out the seal colony nesting on the beach just north of the house, with the provided binoculars. Many were in the water out front as well. There were two provided kayaks, but we didn’t end up using these. Looked like fun though. There are several nice hikes in the Olympic National Park nearby and we stopped and had lunch and window shopped in Port Townsend on the way over to the house from the Edmonds ferry. We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend! The check in/check out process was easy and communicating ahead of time with the property owner through email was all good as well. The only things I would mention to be aware of is that this property is just below the highway, so you do hear the traffic when out on the deck or outside. Also, the basement level bedroom and bathroom (laundry is inside this bathroom) are not as updated as the rest of the house. Probably would be a good kid bedroom. Ceilings are very low and bed is up on a raised platform so feels pretty cramped for tall people such as us. Also, feels dark and damp down there and not as updated compared to the other two bedrooms and the rest of the house. The upstairs master with attached bath and main level bedroom with updated bathroom across the hall, are both excellent, so a nice getaway for 2 couples or two couples with a child. FYI: The upstairs master soaking tub by the window was out of order and couldn’t be used, but there was a shower in the big attached bathroom, so no problem. All and all, I would give the property a 5 star rating and definitely would come back.

Met up with my parents from Colorado. We had a wonderful time with great views on each floor. The kitchen was well equipped.

We loved the place and especially the wildlife. Disappointed the jetted tub was not working. You should have told us so we wouldn’t not have expected it. It also looked like a crime scene- not very nice.

Lots of space, great location (great location!). Lovely and generous hosts and a great value. Thank you, Suzanne!

We rent short-stay homes across the country and sometimes out of the country. Seldom is there a kitchen well equipped for folks that like to cook. Suzanne's kitchen was well stocked with spices, good olive oil, sharp knives, appliances that worked well, and a large dinning table looking out on Hood Canal. Suzanne responded immediately to questions and was a delightful hostess. We will be back this is a great spot to relax and enjoy the eagles, blue herons, otters and the shifting tides.

Totally charming home on a gorgeous property! Sunrises were spectacular, as we watched the seals, eagles and herons with a hot cup of coffee in hand. Hikes, great food, comfortable lodging and decks offering stellar views. We will be back!

Our family met to continue the tradition of our Mom’s birthday celebration she dearly loved. This would have been her 90th birthday and 20th weekend getaway. Enjoyed our morning coffee on the deck watching the eagles and other wildlife, playing games and exploring the beach. The kayaks were an added bonus.

Our stay was perfect other than the neighbors carrying on all night long on the same night we had to get up at 430am to head to the airport. The owners of the home seem to keep the guest in mind like having lotion and shampoo already there, binoculars to see the seals with and kayaks to use for free. This was our 2nd time there and we'd come back again and again.

This is the 2nd time I stayed at this property. The view is absolutely captivating, and I love watching all the animals. I went on some nearby hikes, enjoyed the sunrise and sunset, and generally relaxed. Thanks for the perfect long weekend. I just wish the oyster season was sooner!

We had an amazing weekend at this house. Our friends were visiting from Salt Lake City and the PNW did not disappoint. There are about 40 seals that make their home right in the cove in front of the house. We spent hours on the water (beautiful clear and calm) in kayaks and paddle boards and the curious seals came within feet of us. The house is one of the most well-appointed homes we have ever stayed in. It's got tons of historical charm with modern upgrades and appliances. Everything you need will be right at your fingertips. The house is also in a great location. Not too far from a general store and very close to a. restaurant. The neighbors were also really friendly and even supplied us with firewood and tips about the neighborhood.

Wonderful stay, seals live in the bay. So fun.

The location is incredible, better than we expected. Right on the water with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, otters swimming in the water below and bald eagles flying overhead. Easy access to great hiking, waterfalls etc. Kayaks and gear available and fresh blackberries to pick off the bushes lining the staircase down to the water. What really made this experience exceptional was our hosts’ preparation and responsiveness. Everything was laid out in the welcome packet including where to find everything we needed and great tips for local sightseeing. The house was immaculate, and in incredible shape for being 102 years old! The charm of the historic building is matched by modern conveniences - up to date appliances, HVAC etc. The rooms were comfortable and full of natural light. All in all a perfect place to vacation work our family. Thanks again Suzanne, until next time!

This is a charming home on Hood Canal. It was very comfortable for 4 adults & 2 kids. (8 & 11). The kitchen is well stocked with everything you need to cook. Very comfortable beds! Kayaks & mud boots to explore the amazing canal at high & low tide were an awesome bonus. Lots of amazing hikes near by. Just be aware that Port Angelous/Hurricane Ridge is 1&1/2 hours away & Port Townsend is 50 mins away. Suzanne is a kind, responsive & thoughtful host & the house is a perfect home base.

Nothing beats sitting on the deck with a cup of coffee in the morning, watching the seals play in the canal and (with binoculars) the elk graze along the edge. Everything was set up perfectly for myself and my four kids. Plenty of space, a well-equipped kitchen, and a killer location. Owner was nice and responsive. Highly recommended!

This house meet all of our needs. Lots of great tips from our host about the surrounding area. Would definitely stay again!