Welcome to Woods Lake Cottage, a charming Craftsman retreat on the shores of serene Woods Lake. Surrounded by nature’s beauty, this quaint cottage boasts an artist’s studio with local art pieces for sale and is within walking distance to Pelindaba Lavender farm and Alchemy Art Center. Enjoy evenings in the hot tub or by the cobblestone fireplace.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
1 bedroom2 bathroomsSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Woods Lake Cottage
Quaint and charming Craftsman cottage on Woods Lake located within a five-minute drive to the ocean so you can watch sunsets over Vancouver Island, Canada. The island is a nature lover’s dream. It is crisscrossed with hiking trails, wonderful ocean visits, kayaking and whale watching availability and is a boater’s paradise. It is home to a small community but highly active in the arts including a Community Theater, several art galleries, and the SJIMA art museum. Many artists call these islands their home and have home studios open to the public. Woods Lake Cottage includes an onsite working artist’s studio open to visitors and operated by local artist, Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso. Available for purchase are art glass pieces, Encaustic (wax) paintings, and silver and copper electroformed jewelry. San Juan Island located in the Pacific Northwest is one of five islands served by Washington State Ferries. The New York Times recently listed the San Juan Islands at #3 as one of the best islands to visit in North America. The island is blessed with two National Historical Parks for visitors to see, historical as they date back to a Pig War skirmish that ensued between the British and the Americans in the 1800’s. Roche Harbor Resort, a highly popular tourist destination as the hotel dates back to the time of the Roosevelts, attracts mega yachts, fishermen, sailors, and tourists that can browse the well-tended flower gardens or enjoy a four-star dinner at the MacMillan Restaurant. The Pelindaba Lavender farm, is within walking distance of the cottage only a half mile down the road. We are situated across from Alchemy Art Center for those of you interested in pottery, photography and printing classes which are offered throughout the year. If you are lucky enough to be staying here in late July and early August, Island Island Stage Left performs professional Shakespearian plays several evenings per week. The home itself is an exercise in eclectic design and function. The stained-glass windows, tiffany style lamps, original paintings, beamed woodwork, cobblestone fireplace, and tiled counters lend themselves to a cozy, laidback retreat. The cottage is fully furnished home with stocked kitchen equipment, master bedroom with king bed, loft with queen bed and day bed with linens supplied, and an upstairs sitting area and desk. Full master bath with tub/shower and half bathroom. Living area with flat TV screen. It is necessary to supply your own internet aps to access online stations via the cottage WIFI. DVD’s & HVS are available for viewing offline along with a small library and plenty of books and games. Open configuration kitchen & dining room with double doors to the outside to a sitting area on the lower patio and a barbecue for spring, summer and fall use. There are daily visits from local wildlife … deer, fox, ravens, and soaring eagles hunting for fish on the lake. Come and stay for a visit on this island sanctuary.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the cottage: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1.5 bathrooms
Bathtub
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Wood stove
Entertainment
Books
Games
Smart TV
Outdoor areas
Firepit
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
Near a hospital
Near the marina
Near the sea
On a lake
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Sailing nearby
Swimming nearby
Whale watching nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number San Juan County Vacation Permit #PPROV0-15-00360-0036
About the area
Located in Friday Harbor, this cottage is in a rural area and on a lake. San Juan Island National Historic Park and English Camp are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at San Juan Golf & Tennis Club and Roche Harbor Marina. Whale Museum and Jones Island State Park are also worth visiting. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and horse riding nearby. Visit our Friday Harbor travel guide
Situated by the sea, this cottage is 2.2 mi (3.5 km) from Mt. Grant Preserve and within 6 miles (10 km) of False Bay and Lime Kiln Point State Park. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center and San Juan Island National Historic Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).
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Woods Lake Cottage Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
The cottage is so lovely and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping and forest. Yvonne is an amazing host, so welcoming, helpful and friendly! Truly cozy!
Charming Woods Lake Cottage was the perfect place for our first visit to the island. Very well equipped and convenient to town, hiking, orca watching.
Yvonne is a gracious and welcoming host.
This property is both beautiful and welcoming. We felt like we were coming home at the end of the day. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great quiet place to stay on San Juan Island.
I had a wonderful week in Yvonne and Bob's former home on their property - full of art and character and all that one could need for relaxing, cooking and perfect location to explore San Juan island. the hosts were extremely friendly, responsive and helpful. thank you!
Beautifully crafted, cozy cottage. Wonderful hosts. Overall a very nice stay.
A couple things that would have made it even better: some comfortable outdoor furniture. We love enjoying our coffee and meals outside. Some sturdy Adirondack chairs and a little bistro table would be great additions. A few kitchen basics like olive oil, sugar would’ve also been useful. Overall a well appointed and beautiful little cottage.
We stayed at The Cottage in the Woods for 9 nights for our 46th wedding anniversary. We had the most relaxing time. The cottage is everything you could wish for. The owner and his wife built this beautiful cottage and 99.9% of the art work and glasswork is also made by one or both of the hosts. The only downside would be if you have Verizon for your mobile service you will not have phone service at the cottage, Their WiFi works great. My favorite thing about the cottage is the chandelier over the table which the owner made. It is better than any Tiffany chandelier you could ever buy.
Yvonne’s cabin was everything we needed for our stay. she was very helpful and we would definitely love to go back again!
Verified traveller
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Maria
9 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This cottage is a perfect getaway with plently room for sleeping (3 beds), beautiful kitchen, easy walk to view the lake. Close enough to downtown to go daily if needed, yet away enough to feel secluded. Beds were super comfortable, wood fireplace was fun, a lot of movies to watch on rainy nights. We will definitely be back!!
The cottage is everything we expected and we loved the opportunity to meet the hosts and visit the art studio. I strongly recommend this place if you prefer serenity and privacy and don't mind driving a few minutes to Friday Harbor.
The cottage was the perfect place for our mother-daughter trip to San Juan Island. Yvonne was so welcoming and showed us around when we arrived. I loved the secluded feeling of the cottage and especially loved the art and eclectic nature of it. We were noticing something new every day!
We thoroughly enjoyed Yvonne and Bob’s cottage! The layout is so welcoming for four adults. The kitchen had everything we needed and we enjoyed cooking meals and eating together. We felt welcomed and at home the minute we walked in. Yvonne and Bob are the most friendly hosts and cannot wait to return!All of the beautiful artwork and artistic touches just felt like home.
This is a beautiful and well-appointed cabin surrounded by woods and a lovely lake. It is centrally located to provide access to all of the island activities. We met the owners and they are delightful. We really enjoyed our stay and would come back!
Wonderful setting in a serene and private wooded area with easy access to Friday Harbor and short drives to various parks, water, highlights of the island! Best of both worlds! Hosts are friendly, attentive, and provide great care to the property. Highest rating!
The home is super cute and comfortable. The hosts Yvonne and Bob were wonderful and accommodating. Well-stocked kitchen. Very clean throughout. We highly recommend.
Yvonne and her husband were so wonderful! They provided wonderful information on the island and helped in anyway that was necessary! Their cottage was perfectly located....basically 15 minutes from everything in every direction! I highly recommend their charming place.
A beautiful property, very private, surrounded by trees and flowering bushes.
House was built in the mid 90s by owner who is also a builder and is quality throughout with many nice personal touches.
Solid wood pocket doors, knotty pine ceilings, fireplace, full kitchen and laundry.
Was a nice retreat to go to after a day of hiking and wildlife watching.
Beautiful property with open first floor and two separate sleeping areas (one upstairs) that met our needs perfectly. There were several small issues while there that Yvonne was quick to action on and solve for. She is a wonderful host who also has an art studio on property! Loved the art and tranquil feeling of this home and property. Great location and hope to stay again on a future trip.
We loved our week here. Yvonne are fantastic hosts. The cottage has so much charm and everything we needed. Yvonne and Bob communicated with us throughout the process. It has everything you need. It’s away from town but close enough to get anywhere on the island in about 15 minutes. So peaceful and quiet. We’ll definitely be back!
Yvonne was a fantastic host! Very friendly, thoughtful, and hospitable. The property was in a perfect location, felt secluded enough for a getaway but not far from town. Nice central location. The house was well stocked with everything we needed. It even had a jacuzzi we could use that we didn’t have even know was on the listing. We look forward to coming back and the property would be one I would book again.
This cottage was everything we had hoped for and more!! It's beautiful artistry and craftsmanship were breathtaking. The coziness factor was off the charts. We felt at home the minute we walked in the door. Yvonne and Bob are the sweetest hosts ever. They went above and beyond to create a wonderful experience for us. They were there with whatever we needed and gave us fantastic ideas of exceptional adventures on the island. They invited us to their own home and their hospitality made us feel very special. I highly recommend this lovely and cozy cottage. It simply cannot be beat!!
We spent a very relaxing week at this beautiful home. This is not a cookie-cutter house...it is the owners' former home, clearly a labor of love. Huge kitchen with high-quality cookware, big open layout with plenty of room for a family of 4 or 5, comfortable king bed, and ample living/dining room. Hot tub was a great addition, looking up into the trees while soaking. The setting is very peaceful, in the forest and overlooking the lake and a small pond. We heard frogs and lots of birds... saw trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and woodpeckers on the property. Yvonne and Bob were both very friendly and helpful, but respected our space and let us do our own thing. We have no complaints at all, and would definitely come back.
L'accueil de Yvonne est tout particulièrement chaleureux. Elle fait preuve d'une si grande gentillesse. Nous avons hâte de revenir dans sa maison si paisible
Nous avons passés un séjour de rêve dans cette maison. Tout est à disposition pour vous sentir comme chez vous. Yvonne est adorable et la communication avec elle est très facile. Elle n'a pas hésité à venir nous acceuillir à 21H..
Nous n'hésiterons pas relouer cette maison à notre prochain voyage sur l'île. Vous pouvez réserver les yeux fermés.