Traumhaus am Südrand des Potomac River Canyon

We live in such a privileged place, we should not just keep it to just ourselves. So up to 14 days per year we rent it out to people who enjoy nature. Your rent also helps fund some of my conservation work.
In summer time, you may spend most of your time on the deck and/or on the mini terraces, I carved out around the fire pit; both with gorgeous views over the river. In fact, across the river is the C&O Canal National Park, so the house not only overlooks the Potomac River, but also - across the river - one of the more interesting but underappreciated historic national parks with fabulous protected landscapes. Check out Wikipedia and the National Parks Service website, to learn about the age of canal building. Discover the locks nearby and imagine how the canal contributed to the development of the USA. Most bricks for DC houses came through this canal! Other great historical national parks are Antitam (10 minutes) and Harpersferry (15 minutes) which revolutionized the industry and set off the civil war as well as the Lewis and Clark expedition. The park has a fabulous walk up a mountain overlooking the Potomac. During the summer, both parks host fabulous reenactments, with cannons blasting, civil war tents and military enactments.

We love riding our bikes on the well-maintained towpath along the C&O Canal without hills as well as strolling along the river and when there is snow, go cross-country skiing. Bicycles, kayaks and tubes are for rent in the village, but you can use ours.

At the time, the canal competed with and lost to the parallel railroad. Riding that train to DC is fabulous, as it runs a nice distance along the canal; a beautiful and great fun train ride. Spend a day in DC, riding the morning train and sit on the deck again in the evening, enjoying a glass of wine.

In winter and colder days, there is the fireplace for which we usually can provide wood so you don't have to buy those ridiculously expensive little $7 packs at the supermarket.

The nineteen seventies was the decade when Americans started buying homes with the most spectacular views. Our home, built by General Van Ryssen in 1973 was no exception. The Potomac River only has a few canyon overlooks so close to DC, and on our HOA, we have the best, overlooking the C&O Canal National Park for at least 1/4 mile. Many of those houses from the 1970s are dark and very dated. We remodeled and modernized the entire house to our taste with light colors and a welcoming warm interior. Quality appliances and a wide variety of kitchen utensils/silverware, modern showers, a grill / barbecue, a sauna are brand new, a fire pit overlooks the canyon, etc.

We leave our rather abundant kitchen essentials, like many spices, salt, tea, coffee in the cupboards, so you don't have to bring them with you.

We are pumping karstic water from 300ft, which gets treated for general use. An additional system runs water through a reverse osmosis system with an additional 5 filters, producing delicious drinking water from our special faucet and ice maker. No need bringing bottled water and you may even want to take some home!

My office can be set up to accommodate small office retreats, complete with meeting tables; internet repeater routers assure fast internet throughout the house and on the deck.