El Girasol, "The Sunflower," a sunny, family and pet friendly cottage on the Esopus Creek in the Catskill Mountains. Our home is fully furnished with global & vintage finds. This charming cottage has 2 beds, spacious living room with a big, comfy sleeper sofa and cozy electric fireplace & fully equipped kitchen combined with a dining room. Creek access, BBQ, fire pit, fenced in backyard, & 2 decks makes our home a great destination for a relaxing getaway with family, friends and pets. Welcome to El Girasol! Follow us on IG @elgirasol_catskillsny **Please read the description & house rules in its entirety before booking including "IMPORTANT Property Notes" at the bottom. We want to make sure this is the PERFECT stay for you! You will be asked to send a pet fee and sign a simple contract/agreement due to the creek upon booking.** This family and dog friendly home is located in the middle of the Hudson Valley along the Esopus Creek. Minutes from downtown Saugerties, less than 15 minutes from Kingston and less than 20 minutes from Rhinebeck and Woodstock, guests have convenient access to the tranquil creek in the backyard and bars, restaurants, and shops in nearby towns. Enjoy local breweries, wineries and farmers & holiday markets, farm to table restaurants, and artists and shows that run throughout the year. We provide a detailed house manual with tons of local recommendations and a guide to the area. Some guests want to unplug and enjoy never leaving the house. Cozy up on the oversized couch, turn on the fireplace, make s'mores around the fire pit, take advantage of waterfront views, fish from the dock, or let your dogs enjoy the fenced in backyard. The home can cater to all your vacation needs. Looking to explore all that nature has to offer in the Catskills area? Choose from the hundreds of hikes and walks nearby, drive less than 40 minutes to Hunter Mountain for skiing/snowboarding, or plan a fall trip to have your breath taken away by New York's leaves changing color. **Home & Overview: ENTRANCE/PARKING -Long driveway with room for multiple cars -Self-check-in for quick/convenient begin to your stay! BACKYARD -Large fenced in backyard (perfect for your four-legged companion) -2 decks: lower deck is the perfect spot for morning coffee and upper deck has a dining area and BBQ with seating for 6 people -1 fire pit and 1 moveable Solo Stove, wool blanket, s’mores sticks & s’mores kit -Personal dock: direct water access for kayaking/canoeing (provided), fishing (2 rods provided), swimming (available seasonally) -Please be mindful of kids and doggies around the property and ensure they don't explore too far without you by their side! KITCHEN -Fully stocked kitchen: utensils for cooking all types of meals and includes toaster, blender, cast iron skillet, Keurig, drip coffee maker, citrus crusher, waffle maker, and more! Oils & a variety of spices to make that special meal. Cocktail mixing set, reusable growler, whiskey ice cubes, & variety of fun glasses for your cocktails! BEDROOMS -Queen beds -4 pillows, sheets and comforter for each room -Sounds machines, black out shades, ear plugs, stand up fans -Green bedroom has a workspace overlooking the creek and backyard! FAMILY ROOM -Space for six people -Comfy couch and chaise, stylish accent chair, and beanbag (perfect for reading a book!) - Extra throw blankets to snuggle up! -Electric wood burning stove (just one switch to get the cozy ambience & warmth you want in the mountains without the mess and hassle!) -TV (with Youtube TV and Max provided for free) -Bluetooth speaker, board games, record player, books, and of course, a disco ball BATHROOM: -Recently renovated bathtub, with a rain shower, hand held washer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, hair dryer and curler -Bath towels are provided The home features central air and heating with a thermostat that can be changed to fit your temperature needs. **IMPORTANT Property Notes (Please read this and the additional rules in its entirety): -This is a place we share with guests but also our second home. We would appreciate you treating this as your home too! - We have a pack & play + 1 inch mattress pad, highchair, 2 baby gates, child kitchenware & a toddler camping chair to use if bringing a little one. ***If bringing a child, please bring appropriate size life vest for their weight. Please remember there is easy creek access without a fence/gate to the water, never leave a child unattended. Please keep this in consideration when booking. *** - We are very dog friendly. We have 2 dogs of our own and know how much it means to bring your best friends along for a getaway. Also, the pups LOVE the yard and water - it is a vacation for them as well! - One XL dog cot, 4 large and 2 small dog bowls, pet towels, poop bags, dog wipes & dog shampoo, and toys are provided. -Well-behaved dogs permitted with prior approval. 3 dogs max. No breed or size restriction. Sorry, no cats. There is an additional pet fee of $25 per dog for entire stay (this can be paid by payment apps, cash, or check at time of booking or when you arrive, refer to house manual). **If you are allergic to dogs, please take this into consideration. As much as we try to get every bit of fur out, there might be some fur that skipped our detailed cleaning process. ** - The cottage is on a dead end street. We do have neighbors on both sides. This cottage is not entirely secluded but it does feel private. -El Girasol is located on a street that runs parallel to a TRAIN. In addition to hearing ducks quacking and fish jumping, you will also be able to hear the train. The freight train passes by on occasion and there is no fixed schedule. Kids love the train and some adults say it reminds them of their childhood or a french countryside. The train runs a couple times a day and at night and is a key part of the eastern US economy. Goods traveling along these tracks contribute to a larger part of the county and state economic environment. We provide high quality SOUND MACHINES, stand up fans, and plenty of ear plugs in each bedroom. While some guests are not affected by the train at all, if you are a light sleeper and think the train will disturb you, our cottage might not be the right fit. -The creek is a deepwater creek reaching up to 30 feet depth in the middle. This means the water feels more like a lake than a creek! Adult & dog Life jackets, a tandem kayak, single kayak and a canoe are available for guests. Please be mindful and safe around the water at all times. Please bring child life vests and beach towels for swimming. -The cottage is fenced in on three sides (fourth being the water) and there might be a gap where the fence and water meet, so if you have very curious pets it is something to consider if the pet is left unattended. -The cottage has a SEPTIC tank, so please respect the drain. This means not flushing anything other than body waste and toilet paper. -El Girasol is amidst the Catskill Mountains, countryside and WOODS. You might encounter an occasional spider, flies, mouse and other creatures to varying degrees. We do not use poison on the main levels as we have pets and want to maintain a pet safe environment. Environmentally friendly pest reducing measures have been taken throughout the property. -While we do not have a dishwasher or laundry facilities, guests should have all the tools necessary for dishwashing and a laundromat is a 5 minute drive down the street. Wash and fold laundry services are also available less than 10 minutes away. -Please know as much as we attempt to clean the outdoor furniture/decks/etc. there will be leaves, pollen, dust and twigs which are allis all part of country outdoor living. We cannot guarantee pristine outdoor conditions despite our best efforts to! -The dock is seasonal and will be pulled out of the water as we approach colder temperatures in November. -The home is equipped with a single outdoor camera facing the driveway. It will be turned off after all guests arrive and turned back on when you check out. There is also a camera in the basement which is private. -Any unsafe or dangerous condition must be reported to THE OWNER immediately. THE RENTER acknowledges the use of the property is entirely at THE RENTER's risk. THE RENTER shall indemnify and save harmless THE OWNER against and from any and all expenses, costs, and risks. Guests can access the entire home except for the basement and garage. We are readily available via messaging through the Airbnb app or via text. We're happy to help guests as needed to ensure they have the best stay possible. In the case of any onsite help that may be needed, friends and neighbors are also close by. While you may not want to leave the cottage and never ending creek-side fun, there are a number of historic and active towns all within driving distance of the home. Woodstock, Kingston, Saugerties, and Rhinebeck are within 10 miles and feature festivals, concerts, markets, restaurants, bars, shopping, and antiquing. About a 15 minute drive to the HITS Saugerties Horse Show. Hiking and walking is abundant in and around the area. Kaaterskill Falls, Hunter Mountain, Indian Head Wilderness, the Ashokan Reservoir and Saugerties Lighthouse are highlights in the area. If winter sports and activities are your thrill of choice, Hunter Mountain and Wyndham are a short drive away. Depending on the season, this 5-mile stretch of creek freezes solid, providing excellent opportunities for ice fishing and ice skating if you are up for an adventure. All of these aspects are what make El Girasol so unique. It can be flexible to your vacation needs in a flourishing and fun Catskill Mountain area. A guidebook is provided with further recommendations and information. Ample parking is available on the property. Please park in the drive way and opposite the garage. Areas for parking include gravel or asphalt.