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Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views

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A covered outdoor deck with a table and chairs, overlooking a body of water and surrounded by greenery.
A spacious living room with a sectional sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a dining area with a bench and chairs.
A bedroom with a large bed, a chair, and multiple windows.
A two-story house with a large deck and a dock extending into a lake.
A kitchen with a central island, wooden staircase, and white cabinetry.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Lewis Smith Lake
5 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Swimming pool
  • Kitchenette
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Crane Hill, AL
  • Place, Lewis Smith Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Smith Lake Park
    ‪45 min drive‬
  • Place, Ave Maria Grotto
    ‪55 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3

+1
5 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Number of living rooms
Dining area

About this property

Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views

A Private Point on Smith Lake: Under new management

Tucked inside a gated, 16-home cliffside community, this home sits on the neighborhood's premier point lot - which means 270-degree water views from nearly every room, including the kitchen. This 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath custom home sleeps 14 across two living spaces, with an intentionally comfortable, cozy setup for the family to cook, relax, and make memories on the lake.

Spend the day on the water: walk down to your private dock and boat lift, paddle out in one of four kayaks or three stand-up paddleboards, or fire up the outdoor kitchen (Big Green Egg and propane grill) for a lakeside dinner. As the sun goes down, gather around the Adirondack-ringed fire pit under the trees.

You're 7 minutes from Trident Marina and 12 from Triple Creek Marina if you're bringing or renting a boat, and 30 minutes from Cullman for groceries and dining. We also offer optional grocery delivery and boat rental coordination - just ask, and we'll have it ready before you arrive.

This is our family's lake home, and we treat every guest stay like we'd want our own.



While staying at our home you will enjoy:

• Fire Pit

• Outdoor dining and decking overlooking the water

• Outdoor Kitchen with bar and 2 grills (Big Green Egg and Propane)

• 4 Kayaks and paddles

• 3 Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs)

• SmartTVs in w/ cable, smart lock, ring door bell

• Easy walk to the dock

• Boat slip with lift for parking your boat



The house is conveniently located within:



- 7min to Trident Marina (boat gas, restaurant, and boat rental)!

- 12min Triple Creek Marina (boat gas and boat rental)

-30min to downtown Cullman for groceries and restaurants.



Please note: this property has an extremely steep driveway and we highly recommend bringing an elevated 4WD vehicle to park and unload in the driveway.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children are welcome at this property
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
No pets allowed at this property
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking allowed at this property

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please unplug the hydrohoist after use
No need to strip the beds!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
All guests found staying at the home in addition to the 14 person occupancy will be $150 per person per night.
The house has a daytime and night time occupancy of 14 people. The same $150 per night of reservation fine applies to pets that were not allowed.
All damages found out of the ordinary will be charged back to guests.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2390656vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Crane Hill

Located in Crane Hill, this cottage is on the waterfront. Crooked Creek Civil War Museum and Cullman County Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Speegle's Marina and Cullman Golf Course. WildWater Cullman and Funzone are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing, kayaking and waterskiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking.
View more Cottages in Crane HillOpens in a new window
Map
Crane Hill, AL

What's nearby

  • Lewis Smith Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Clarkson Covered Bridge - 43 min drive - 39.1 km
  • Smith Lake Park - 45 min drive - 36.0 km
  • Cullman County Museum - 53 min drive - 56.0 km
  • Ave Maria Grotto - 55 min drive - 58.4 km

Restaurants

  • ‪The Grille At Trident Marina - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Arley Coffee Shop - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪La Plaza Bonita - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪Rock Cafe - ‬38 min drive
  • ‪Middle Of Meek - ‬33 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views?

As of 1 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views on 31 Jan 2027 start from AU$2,044, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family Cottage Retreat with 270 Degree Views located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Lewis Smith Lake and 7.4 mi (12 km) from Dowling Memorial Park. Tiger Field and Speegle's Marina are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great spot for families! Really enjoyed everything the home had to offer.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay on Smith Lake

The home is beautiful, property manager was very responsive, and the dock is a great place to relax and unwind.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Great property - lots of amenities and room. The owner was very responsive.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful lake getaway

Beautiful lakefront home. Perfect for families! My family and I enjoyed the kayaks, paddle boards and dock.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful home, views, and property. This home had great sized rooms and options for beds. This was a women's retreat group and our group loved their stay! Clean, comfortable, beautifully decorated, and incredible views. We would love to return!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Daniel Vacation

This property is absolutely beautiful! The kids had a blast using the kayaks and lily pad. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

Great property and location. Not good parking
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We have stayed in many lake front houses over the years on Alabama lakes and this was by far our favorite! We had everything we needed and more and were impressed at how clean every room was. We appreciated the large and highly functional kitchen, the undercounter ice maker in the lower level, the comfort of all the beds, and just the general layout of the house. The community pool was lovely, very well kept and was perfect for our little ones. The dock was by far our favorite place to enjoy the lake. It is very large and shaded and had everything we needed. We also didn't realize how beautiful it was going to be because the cove and lake front across the water is almost all undeveloped and thus there's less boat traffic making for a much more relaxing time kayaking. As other reviews stated, there were plenty of spaces for our family of 11 to come together to eat and play games and also plenty of places to sit inside or outside in order to read a book or just to visit. All of our group had a great time!! Thank you!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the review, we really appreciate it! We're biased but certainly agree, descriptions and pictures don't do it justice! You really do have to experience it! We're so glad you trusted us for your summer trip and hope you'll consider us again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Lake House

House was very clean and well stocked with all items we needed. Owner was easy to get in touch with and very helpful with any questions we had. I would definitely recommend this property and area for a fun lake trip.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time with family !!

The place was beautiful, views from every room! The only problem with the property is the driveway , it’s really steep once you got inside it was worth it!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Annual family vacation at the lake.

Had a great time. House was great. Floating dock with all the toys was great. Host was awesome.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Oct 2022
Hi Fred, thanks so much for staying with us! I'm thrilled that you all had a wonderful time and enjoyed the proximity of the dock and the many floating amenities :) Hope to see you again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Get-a-way!

This house was located in a quiet area and was perfect for our group of friends to get away and celebrate birthdays! The owner was amazing and was super responsive and proactive. I would definitely stay here again, and I highly recommend this property for your Smith Lake vacation!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 July 2022
Dear Elizabeth, thank you so much! We enjoyed hosting you and your friends and are always so glad to hear it when guests enjoy the home as much as we do :)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!

A beautiful home, wonderfully appointed and picturesque location!! Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fam vacation 24 rocked !

The property fit our family needs to a T!! From our youngest (2) to the oldest (64) we couldn’t ask for anything better! Comfortable for our beautiful blended family! Thank you for shari g your slice of heaven 😎
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect little property for a lake weekend

A really great location. The views from the house were spectacular. The houses in the development are kind of close together, but it never felt crowded. The kitchen setup was great, easy for entertaining, with an extra refrigerator in the basement as well. There were a few issues regarding cleanliness and some equipment, but the hosts were very quick to respond. Would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

FALL BREAK FOR THE KIDS

The house was lovely, easy walk to the dock. Water toys were plentiful, the house was well appointed with a well stocked kitchen for cooking. The driveway is pretty steep but our Chevy Tahoe had no problem getting out.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome family vacay

We had such a good time! The house was clean and supplied with everything we needed. We rented a boat at Squirrel's rental about 10 mins away, but found all the water toys we needed and spent hours each day playing right off the dock at the house. We also used the neighborhood pool a couple of times. Really enjoyed this house - roomy and comfy for all.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 July 2022
Dear Karen, it was such a pleasure to host you! Thank you for the kind words! We are thrilled that you and your family enjoyed your stay. All the best, Mara
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday

There was enough space for everyone. The kids loved the paddle boards and kayaks! The outdoor grill for the parents was amazing! The house was very clean when we first walked in. Overall a great, fun experience; would definitely come again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house in a wonderful location

This lake house is amazing with separate living spaces for all ages. Excellent access to the dock which was also spacious and shaded. We enjoyed many hours in the lake with our grandchildren. The host was extremely responsive to every communication. Great kitchen for cooking for a crowd. Loved the family style table and seating. Gorgeous views from every window. We had a fabulous week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good for family vacations. House layout perfect for families with children. Boat dock had everything we needed except the lights on walkway and dock did not work all week. Dangerous situation without lights. Kitchen has very little room for dry food storage. Big frig and freezer was helpful!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

This property has all things needed for a perfect getaway! Check in and out was effortless. You can choose your own adventure whether you are seeking the thrill of kayaking, fishing, SUP boarding, or lounging around reading a booking by the gorgeous lake view. Our group did all the above! We’ve rented a lot of cabins/ lake houses before and this one has the most amenities! House is gorgeous and plenty of room for indoor and outdoor entertainment. Our family really enjoyed this secluded retreat. Thank you for sharing your property with us! We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

Our family had a wonderful time on the lake. The home was beautifully decorated with lots of added amenities. The view is beautiful. Peaceful surroundings. The only challenge we had was no hand rails on the stairs. It was only an issue for my 85 year old parents and 3 year old grandkids. Just something to keep in mind when deciding on sleeping arrangements.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent place. Great location and well stocked with essentials

The only feedback is directions to the community. Make sure you have markers. Excellent house and beautiful location for a friend trip or family. All great. Only negative was the ask to take garbage to main dumpsters. We tired but our cars could not fit the bags and critters got in the main can. Only bad part considering a cleaning fee. Overall excellent place.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Visit

A lovely house and location but extremely sharp, steep driveway, so took a bit to get parking settled and unloading. Our only complaint was that we thought the cleaning could have been better. Several trash bins not emptied and the lower level could use some work to make it more attractive and it had a bit of a musty smell. All outside windows were full of large cobwebs-severely detracted the views.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Oct 2022
Hi Sam, it was a pleasure to host you. I am so sorry to hear about the situation with the trash bins and would have gladly had someone come out to empty them for you. You are right that the driveway is steep, and we encourage guests to bring a vehicle that can handle the slope in our welcome guide (although you might be surprised to see the types of vehicles we've seen parked there!). Unfortunately your visit was right before the house's quarterly exterior cleaning, in addition to monthly pest control and frequent interior cleaning. Given the unique "immersed in nature" setting of our neighborhood we do spend a lot of effort keeping six- and eight-legged friends from trying to move in. Thank you again for your stay and feedback, which we take seriously and will address as making sure all guests have an excellent stay is of the utmost importance to us. I hope your group had a wonderful time and we hope to get a chance to make it up to you in the future.

About the host

Hosted by Mara Childress

Host profile image
We are a family of six from Nashville, TN and love our adventures on Smith lake!

Why they chose this property

This is our family's vacation home and we hope you will love it as much as we do. From the beautiful and expansive lake views to the pristine, cozy, and secluded neighborhood you'll truly feel like you're relaxing in nature. We love the true luxury cottage feel and design of the home, plus lots of outdoor entertaining space.

Languages:

English

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