Take it easy at the serene newly renovated Bluebird House right in the forest on Rice Creek. The view from the porch over the river is magnificent any time of the year. Hiking, biking, ATV, and snowmobile trails are all close by. Bring your pontoon or small boat (or use our row boat or kayak) and within minutes down the creek, the entire Eagle River Chain is at your fingertips. The Bluebird House is a place to relax, and enjoy the beauty of the river and woods. The space The Bluebird House is simple and charming with comfortable furniture. The house is open concept with the kitchen, dining area, and living area in one space with a cozy gas fireplace for those chilly days. There is a wonderful sunroom with windows on three sides that gives a full view over the river. Many guests have enjoyed watching the deer and eagles from the comfy chair in the enclosed porch. The kitchen has all the basics including dishes, pots/pans, utensils, an electric stove/oven, a microwave, and a coffeemaker. Dishes are done by hand but there is a washer/dryer available for laundry. The kitchen is stocked with laundry- and dish-soap, as well as dishtowels. There are two bedrooms, one with a queen size bed. The other bedroom has a double and a twin bed. The bedrooms have black-out curtains. The bathroom has a tub with shower. It seldom gets too hot at The Bluebird House since it is nicely shaded by the forest. We have never needed AC and it is not available at the Bluebird House but ceiling fans are installed in all the rooms. The Bluebird House has central heating as well as a gas fireplace so it can be used year-round. The back porch is completely enclosed with sliding doors that keep the room warm in winter, and can be opened to create a breezy screened-in porch in summer. We have no Wifi or cable in the cabin so it is an opportunity to unplug. There is a television with DVD player and you should feel free to bring any movies you want. Movies can also be rented from Redbox at the local Walgreens. Public Wifi is available at local libraries. Up to two dogs are welcome, due to allergies of the owner NO CATS though. Please be aware that the property borders on the river and forest, and keep you dogs and/or children safe. Summer The back yard is large, and stairs lead down to the dock with a bench perfect for having morning coffee while watching the sun rise. We have a rowboat and a couple of kayaks waiting for you, but you are welcome to bring your own boat. The river is quite shallow with some stumps, so make sure you go slow and raise your motor until you reach the deep waters of the Eagle River Chain, just a few minutes away. We have never had any problems reaching The Bluebird House by boat. Fall This is a wonderful time with all the trees coming in full fall colors. There are fall fests in the various towns, and people come from afar to tour the area and enjoy the foliage. The early October Northwoods Art Tour is a favorite. Evenings can become chilly so bring a coat. Winter The Bluebird House is located close to numerous lakes for ice fishing. The snowmobile trail is just down the road. And there is plenty of space to park a truck and trailer in the driveway .The lane is plowed whenever we get 4 or more inches of snow. We will also try to come shovel the driveway and path to the cabin after snow falls. You are welcome to use the available shovel in case you want to clear the walk-way before we get to it. Spring The Bluebird House is a pleasure year-round. Spring starts around March and lasts through April. This is a really exciting time since the snow and river melt and we are starting to see more wildlife. This can also be a bit of a slushy/icy time and we recommend that you bring waterproof boots and yack-tracks. By May, the forest is green and gorgeous with new growth. Travel Insurance We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for travel delays, illness, or weather. We are only able to issue refunds in accordance to our poster cancellation policy. Guest access The Bluebird House is located about 4 miles from Eagle River with numerous restaurants, grocery stores, lovely boutiques, and a hospital. During the summer months, there are many art fairs, weekly farmers markets, and other events. Guests have access to the entire house except the utility room. The garage and the bunk house are not included and are not to be used by guests. If you are interested in using the garage, please contact us about availability and pricing. Other things to note Animals! -The Bluebird House is surrounded by Wild Life which is wonderful but please do NOT leave food outside because it will attract deer, bears, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and insects. Keep the screens closed to avoid getting insects into the house. -Please NO MORE THAN TWO dogs! -Absolutely NO CATS (owner is highly allergic to cats). -The property is not fenced and borders on river and forest. Make sure you keep track of your dogs. -Please pick up after your dogs so the property stays clean. -While we try to pick up any dog turds that previous guests may have accidentally missed, please be aware this is a dog friendly listing and the property is over an acre. There are poop bags in the cabin in case one was missed. Electricity and weather: In the forest, weather can down trees and power lines. We cannot be held responsible for electricity interruptions which are beyond our control. Fortunately, the cabin can be fully heated by the gas fireplace. Water and lights would be affected. Any power outages that we have experienced lasted from 15 minutes to several hours. Children! This property is right on the water! While we have a few life vests available for use in the rowboat and kayak, we don't have them in all sizes. Please make sure you watch your children at all times! And bring life vests in the sizes your children need. Fire pit! There is a fire pit in the back yard. Guests are welcome to use it. Wisconsin requires that you obtain a burning permit and check the burning restrictions before burning anything. It is the guest’s responsibility to make sure they obtain the permit and check if burning is allowed. These can be obtained on the DNR website. Travel Insurance! The Bluebird House is our business and our cancellation policy is strict. We understand that life happens and we therefore recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We will be happy to provide documentation in case you need to make a claim to your travel insurance due to unforeseen circumstances.