RARE FIND Historic Waterfront on Hood Canal, Olympic National Park

We really enjoyed our stay! The views were amazing -- we spent our mornings watching the seals swim around, and were treated to a pair of bald eagles one afternoon. The house was quite charming. The entire region had lots to offer, including some fun hikes with beautiful scenery. Suzanne was very attentive to any questions we raised.

wonderful!

Great location right on the water. Lovely view of sunrise, sunset, wildlife from the home. Minutes from incredible water fall and trails.

Great place to stay! The views were beautiful. The house was so charming with lots of quality decor. A good mix of antique and modern. The main floor and upstairs bedrooms were perfect-- comfortable and clean. The down stairs bedroom was a little more rustic (because of the age of the home) but still clean and comfortable. We would definitely stay here again.

The house was very well equipped for cooking. The best part of the stay was watching the eagles and seals from the deck. The morning aquatic wildlife show was wonderful.

The house felt like happy people lived there for a century. It is very well loved and cared for, with a stunning view and gardens. It was cozy and elegant, and we loved learning about the house's family. We loved being on the water, and feet from Doswallips State Park where we took walks, and enjoyed the river, and lookout points, and hikes. The town is small and friendly. We enjoyed everything about our stay. We just wish we could have stayed longer. It was a breathtaking beautiful place. I actually got to wade around in proximity to a bunch of seals who seemed annoyed but not too bothered by my presence. They also provided binoculars at the house. We spent hours watching wildlife. I did not look at my phone, a computer, or a t.v. once. I didn't miss it. In fact, I feel like I've been reminded that the life around me can be far more enriching than what is on a screen.

We spent a lot of time on the porch out back watching the seals, ducks, herons, and eagles. It was amazing. We also enjoyed several sun rises and the tidal changes of the Canal. The kayaks were fun too. The kitchen was well equipped and the beds super comfortable. It couldn’t have been better.

This home is exceptional. The view is like no other, watching seals and eagles and not to mention I probably ate my weight in blackberries. The house is a wonderful mix of new and old and has everything u would ever need. It allowed us to heal from a brought some peace back in our lives. Thank u for a wonderful stay

Stayed here with our 5&8 year old as well as Grandma visiting from the east coast. We absolutely loved it. House was clean and so so cute. Stairs to rocky beach is A LOT be prepared to walk, but once you are down to beach it is lovely! Bring tough water shoes for shell and rocky beach. Kyaks and all the life jackets you need for any size are ready to go. Bald eagles, Elk, and harbor seals were a daily occurence. It was magical! Visit Hama Hama and Hook & Fork. 2 of our favorite places.We would book again.

Check-in was super easy and straightforward. Had the code to the lockbox before arriving. Kitchen had everything we needed. Clean fridge, clean dishes, etc.. rustic charm yet everything was clean and tidy.

Relaxing and gorgeous stay. Perfect!

We had another wonderful stay at this lovely home. The setting is peaceful and scenic, making it the perfect place to unwind. AS returning guests, we especially appreciated the thoughtful touches and attention to detail throughout the house. The kayaks were a big hit again -- such a great way to enjoy Hood Canal!

We loved our short stay. We saw eagles, elk, seals and ducks while sitting on the balcony porch. We took the kayaks out and the water was so calm. Several good stops and hiking in the area.

I don't typically pick older properties like this but the view and experience was too good to pass up. We LOVED it! Very remote property so come prepared with groceries. The house was extremely clean. Very well stocked - they've thought of everything! We loved the peace and quiet/lack of other people around. Watching the harbor seals and the bald eagles was a highlight of our week. The master bed was extremely comfortable. Highly Recommend

Outstanding location and spacious home, a real treat.

It’s always suspicious when you see a property that’s 5 stars across the board, but with this place, it’s absolutely warranted. From the comfy beds to the great water pressure all the way on up to the gorgeous historic property, very responsive and kind host, and the incredible wildlife viewing, this is simply one of the best properties I’ve ever rented, if not the best. I can’t wait to come back.

We have stayed here so many times over many years and it never fails to be such a lovely time. Thank you!

The Balch Retreat is a lovely site, commendable for scenic views, animal observations, tidal comprehension, and relaxing. The home was sparkly-clean with three floors to accommodate whatever group partition you might envision. The kitchen implements provided were obviously those from someone who likes to cook, but stock up before you get there as recommended. The host, Suzanne, was very responsive. We are all in our 70's. Know that access between floors is not for the faint of heart or directionally challenged. Also, the highway signage upon arrival is very discrete and easy to miss. The home is built on the side of steep beach access -- which becomes part of both its charm and its challenge. It has two sweet patio areas for observation and lots of clean windows everywhere. Thank you for sharing.

The house and experience were as described. It's a historic house and has a creaky floor here and there, but the character and charm more than make up for that. Some of the stairwells are narrow (again, it's a historic house!) but our children (ages 6 and 8) had no trouble navigating it. We loved doing a half-day trip up to Port Townsend too; and Hama Hama Oyster Saloon is an amazing experience very nearby. We would certainly consider staying again.

Peaceful, relaxing and beautiful. The home has been lovingly restored and perfectly decorated! I think the kitchen has more supplies, dishes, glasses, cookware, etc than my own home!! Yes it is a 104 year old home and has some creaks but that is part of the charm!! And the historic original pieces like windows, door knobs and handles etc are charming! Suzanne is incredibly responsive!

Our family of 5 had a terrific stay here. Lots of room, well stocked kitchen. House had everything we could possibly need. Lots of spices and dishes. We enjoyed the two kayaks, fun to explore up the Dosewallips River with the seals and birds. Soaking tub on third floor has spectacular view! We went to Hama Hama oyster saloon twice over the long weekend - highly recommend. We explored locally and also went to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Paek. Our favorite thing to do was to sit on the main floor deck and watch the wildlife: seals and so many different birds. Driveway is steep but just have to go slowly. We would definitely return! Thank you for sharing this lovely home.

We had a lovely stay, it’s a beautiful, cozy place. Perfect spot to relax, kayak & hike.

The house has so much charm and is decorated beautifully. We enjoyed our time on the upper deck listening to the seals and watching the sunrise. I would definitely recommend rising early at least one morning and watching the sun come up. Our only regret was that we didn’t have more time at the house and hiking the nearby trails. There was a wildfire on the mountain behind the house (My Jupiter), so access to the National Forest and trails was closed. We spent most of our days on the other side of the peninsula or in Port Townsend to escape the smoke and be able to access some trails. We hope to return someday when we can have more time at the house because it truly is a lovely retreat location. It’s very relaxing and the beds are incredibly comfortable! We stayed in the upstairs bedroom and I don’t think I have ever had a better night’s sleep! (That’s a big deal to me on vacation.). Also, even though the house is very close to highway 101, you’d never know it. You don’t actually see the road since the house is below it, and we never heard the traffic when inside the house. If I could hear road noise on the deck, it must not have been noticeable because I don’t remember hearing it outside, either. The driveway is very steep with a very sharp curve, so I wouldn’t recommend a long wheel-based vehicle. Oh, and the blackberries were in season while we were there which was a huge bonus!!

We had a magical time in this beautiful home. Time on the balconies watching seals, eagles, otters, whales and elk. It was spectacular. enjoyed visiting the olympic national park and hiking hurricane ridge. can’t wait to return. Owner was very helpful and responsive. i would highly recommend this home

We had a fantastic stay. The house worked perfect for two couples (three couples and a few kids would work great in this house). It was really comfortable and had glorious views of the canal. If you stay here be sure to get up to watch the sun rise and wildlife awaken - just spectacular. The kitchen is well stocked with everything needed to cook our meals and easily clean up. Which is important because there aren't many places to eat or get food close. Thank you for the lovely bottle of wine and exceptional property.

We had a great time during our stay. The tide changed so much between high and low tides, that it was like 2 totally different water views. The kitchen and house as a whole was very well stocked. The stairs in the house are rather narrow, and the wood floors creak, but both things are to be expected with a historical home. We enjoyed our stay and would recommend to others.