We spent a wonderful week at the Garden Cottage. We checked in very late but had no trouble finding the property as Mary’s directions were very detailed. Mary and Copper were terrific hosts. We enjoyed walking the beautiful grounds with them, taking in views of the farm animals, fruit & coffee trees, and the ocean. The cottage itself was clean, comfortable, and generously sized for our party of 2. We were greeted upon entry with a basket of locally grown fruit and coffee grown on-site by Mary. The cottage is well stocked with kitchen utensils, books, board games, puzzles, beach towels, and snorkels. Our host was available every day if we had any questions or needed any local information to make our stay more pleasant.
We enjoyed playing with Copper and helping out with his scent-training exercises. We were also delighted that we got to go for a walk with them at a local park.
The location was ideal for us, with Hilo being a 25 minute drive south along the beautiful Hamakua Coast. Nearby Akaka Falls, Laupahoehoe Point, and Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden are not to be missed! The Pāpaʻaloa Country Store and Café is a short 10 minute drive north. The café has an extensive menu with live music Thursday through Saturday nights. The store itself has most everything you need if you if you don’t want to make the trip into Hilo.
We would not hesitate to return to this lovely cottage when we visit the Big Island again!