The Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast is located on Cottage Lake, just outside of Woodinville, Washington. One suite is available for guests called the Lakeside Bedroom Suite, which includes a bedroom, bathroom, living room, office, and snack room. Outside, patrons have access to the upper deck and its hot tub, the lower deck with a gazebo and a propane firepit, and the dock on the water with two kayaks, a single and a double. There is also a larger open-air fire pit, with firewood provided. Breakfast is served every morning at a time the guest chooses between 7:00 and 10:00 AM, indoors or out, featuring items such as fruit, croissants, yogurt, granola, hard-boiled eggs, and orange and V-8 juice. A spiritual retreat program is also offered at an additional cost, entailing three styles of meditation, an optional Day of Silence, all B&B amenities, and additional services like yoga, massage, or life coaching. One of the most notable attractions nearby that John, the owner, recommends guests visit should they get the chance is Snoqualmie Falls.
Situated on the shores of Cottage Lake in Woodinville, Washington, is the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast. The house's first floor, named the Lakeside Bedroom Suite, is open for guest reservation as a unit, including a bedroom, bathroom, living and dining area, office, and snack room. Amenities within the bedroom specifically include a queen size bed, robes, slippers, and a heater. Out in the living room, guests will find a TV with cable channels, a "cushy chair," a couch and coffee table, a dining table and two chairs, a selection of CDs and DVDs, games, and a library of books. Patrons are welcome to the food stocked in the snack room, which typically consists of bottled water, granola bars, peanuts, candy, and similar items. Utensils, plates, napkins, and cups for eating and drinking are provided in this room, as well as a fridge. Finally, the office has a large desk, chair, and sitting bench, with a broad view of the lake and free Wi-Fi connectivity. That space may also be used to put up a spare bed should a guest need that accommodation.
John Shephard, one of the owners of the bed and breakfast, describes the interior’s theme as “cozy, woodsy, and ‘northwesterly.’” In addition to the suite, guests can make use of the property’s two decks and dock on Cottage Lake at their leisure. The upper deck near the home can be accessed directly from the Lakeside Bedroom Suite and overlooks the entire lake. It also has a hot tub which is open for those staying in the suite. Meanwhile, the lower deck is partially covered with a gazebo where there is a propane firepit, which John reports is used often during the colder months of the year. Those who walk down to the dock will find two kayaks, one single and one double. Guests can use these kayaks on the lake free of charge, as well as fish off the dock should they have the necessary gear to do so.
Every morning patrons are given a time range when they would like breakfast brought to them, specifically between 7:00 and 10:00 AM. Breakfast is made by John and is continental style. Foods typically served include croissants with various jams, granola, fruit, milk, yogurt, and hard-boiled eggs. If advance notice of two days is given, accommodations can be made for those who are gluten-free or dairy-free.
Aside from Cottage Lake, there are a number of other attractions in the area that guests will typically visit during their stay. Near the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast is the Paradise Valley Conservation Area which has a number of hiking and mountain biking trails. Other notable parks and trails in the area include Marymoor Park on the shores of Lake Sammamish, Brackett’s Landing in Edmonds, and the trail to Cherry Creek Falls west of the bed and breakfast by about 20 minutes. John often recommends that his guests travel to visit Snoqualmie Falls if they get a chance during their trip.
One of the most notable aspects of the city of Woodinville is the large number of wineries in the region, "well over a hundred," according to John. Guests of the bed and breakfast can receive some vouchers for discounts at select wineries in the region to use during their stay. John also recommends a few restaurants, including Santa Fe Grill, Italianissimo Ristorante, and the Barking Frog. Cuisines in Woodinville include Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Cuban, and seafood, among others.
For people making a reservation to stay at the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast, a package is offered called the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast Spiritual Retreat. Some of what is offered in the package include various forms of meditation, life coaching, and yoga, among other services. A day of silence can also be arranged where a person chooses from the list of services what they would like to do, and lunch and dinner are coordinated so they can maintain the program for the day.
When talking about how he wants his guests to feel, John says that his goal is for them to be happy and peaceful during their stay. “It’s the lake that draws people here,” he remarks, saying that the arrangement of the property helps patrons feel at peace. He and his wife Beth will interact with their guests should the guests want to get to know them, stating that “we leave that completely up to the guests.” One of John’s favorite parts of running a bed and breakfast is getting to meet the people who stay with them and learn more about where they come from. The busiest time of year for the business is between April and October. John says one of their guests characterized them as having a "passion for hospitality." He believes they just want their guests to feel "cared for and happy to be here."
Guests have left many reviews regarding their experiences at the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast. These reviews often mention the feeling of the property and the proximity to Cottage Lake. One person said, “We had the entire lower level to ourselves, and it was clean with everything you need for comfort. The view of the lake and grounds surrounding the home were fabulous.” Another person expounded on their interactions with John and Beth, saying, “John and Beth made this place a very lovely getaway, and making their guests feel so comfortable in their house speaks volumes about their hearts.”
In an effort to maintain a peaceful environment on the premises, there are some policies in place guests must follow while at the bed and breakfast. The most important of these is that there is no smoking anywhere on the property, and no cooking is allowed in the guest suite. With regard to occupants, no children or pets are allowed to stay with patrons. A quiet time is in place between 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM from Monday through Thursday and between midnight and 6:00 AM on Friday through Sunday. Finally, no glass is allowed in the hot tub on the upper deck. John summarizes these rules by saying that they invite their guests to follow the ‘golden rule’ or that they treat the suite in the same manner they would hope guests would treat their own home.
Originally built around the 1940s, the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast was first constructed as one of many summer cottages for people living in Seattle and the surrounding region. A resort was built across the lake with cabins where people could stay and where large events were hosted. In the years that followed, a community emerged in the Cottage Lake area, and more development occurred. The resort was eventually turned into a public park in the 1990s, with many of the summer homes transitioning into private residences over the years.
John and Beth Shephard, the current owners of the Cottage Lake Bed and Breakfast, bought the property in the 1970s and raised their family there. Once their children grew up and they retired, they felt like it would be fun to host a bed and breakfast on their first floor. They enjoyed hosting parties in their home, and John enjoys cooking, adding that “we had a knack for hospitality that we translated into a business.” They officially opened their bed and breakfast in 2015.
17324 185th Ave NE
Woodinville, Washington 98072
United States
Bed and Breakfast
John and Beth Shephard
