Entire home

Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View!

Photo gallery for Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View!

Deck with propane fire pit. You'll spend a lot of time right here.
Deer tracks on the beach. You'll see lots of friendly deer on the island.
Orcas off the west shore of Herron. Our cabin is on the east shore.
Wake up to a view of Case Inlet on Puget Sound from the master bedroom.
Queen size bed in master bedroom.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8122.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Gym
  • Kitchen
  • Beach view

Explore the area

Map
Lakebay, WA
  • Mason Lake
    ‪73 min drive‬
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
    ‪80 min drive‬
  • Harstine Island State Park
    ‪86 min drive‬
  • Tacoma, WA (TIW-Tacoma Narrows)
    ‪63 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Master Bedroom With View.

1 Queen Bed

Second Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Sleeping Loft

4 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View!

Herron Island is a small and secluded private Island in southern Puget Sound where you'll see more deer, eagles, seals and whales than people. A short 10 minute ferry ride separates you from all the distractions of the mainland. You can only access the island by our private 12 car ferry. There are no stores or restaurants on the island so you'll experience a level of peace and quiet that is hard to match anywhere else.

Ductless heating and air conditioning keep the house comfy and cozy year round. There are 2 bedrooms plus a large sleeping loft. The master bedroom has a cozy queen size bed and a stunning view of the water. The second bedroom has a comfortable queen size bed. There is a sleeping loft with 4 single beds. There are enough beds for 8. The open living/dining/kitchen area is a great place to congregate, prepare meals and enjoy time together.

There are 2 decks with spectacular views of the Puget Sound year round. Sunrises are nothing short of inspirational. Watching the moonlight reflect off of the water at night is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see. Take in the view from the deck or just stay in bed and enjoy from your bedroom window.

You'll have complete access to the beach via our private stairs where you'll find 2 kayaks and 2 stand-up paddle boards waiting for you. The water in case inlet is warm enough to swim in the summer and uncommonly calm year round, making for some of the smoothest water sports you'll find anywhere. Guests enjoy kayaking and beach combing all year. A walk around the island on the beach is a great way to spend an afternoon and see a wide range of the beauty the Puget Sound has to offer. Whether you bundle up in the winter or put on your flip flops in the summer, a walk around the island on the beach is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the Puget Sound. The island is just over a mile long and can be circled in under 2 hours at a leisurely pace. Expect to encounter a variety of Northwest wildlife including seals, otter, eagles, herons, deer and porpoise. If you're lucky you'll see the Orca and Humpback whales that have been visiting the island in ever increasing numbers. Listen for them spouting.

After you play at the beach you can rinse away the salt and sand with a fresh water rinse at our beach shed.

A complete set of patio furniture (table, chairs and umbrella) are set up during spring and summer on our upper deck. The gas grill, gas fire pit and a set of Adirondack chairs are available year round. We supply the propane. The lower deck is a great place to slip off to for a little seclusion. Any meal enjoyed on the deck will be one you will remember forever.

There is no cable TV or internet but most people can get some cell coverage and internet via their mobile phones. If needed there are several areas on the island where cell signals are strong. There is a TV, VHS player and a huge library of VHS tapes. Yep! VHS tapes. Our guests consistently rave about cozying up to watch movies from our collection of of vintage movies. We considered adding DSL but our guests have so enjoyed the escape from their technology that we've decided to remain un-wired.

Round trip ferry toll is $25.00 for a car and driver plus $5 for each additional passenger. Ferry lines can get long particularly on holidays and weekends. Please help us keep our ferry lines short by arriving in as few vehicles as possible. Once you arrive on the island there's not much need for a car. You can walk anywhere you want to go. There is no public transportation that can bring you to Herron Island. If you're flying in from out of town plan on renting a car at the airport.

THERE ARE NO STORES, RESTAURANTS OR MEDICAL SERVICES ON THE ISLAND. YOU'LL NEED TO BRING ALL YOUR FOOD. We supply all towels, linen, foil, soap and paper products. The tap water is fine for drinking.

Herron Island is a very peaceful place. Please respect our neighbors peace, privacy and property at all times.

Property manager

Donn Bennett
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Obvious care should be taken with kids near water.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please respect our neighbors peace, privacy and property. Walk anywhere on the beach but please picnic and play only on the beach in front of house.
Fires only in propane fire table on deck. No wood fires, fireworks or firearms anywhere on island.
No loud music outside from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Please no potentially offensive language or music.

Important information

You need to know

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
Long-term renters welcome
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Lakebay

Located in Lakebay, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Penrose Point State Park and Joemma Beach State Park, while Paradise Theatre and Harbor History Museum are cultural highlights. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, snorkelling and waterskiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails.
Map
Lakebay, WA

What's nearby

  • Penrose Point State Park - 32 min drive - 9.9 km
  • Bay Lake - 33 min drive - 10.7 km
  • Mason Lake - 73 min drive - 48.4 km
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord - 80 min drive - 71.3 km
  • Harstine Island State Park - 86 min drive - 63.3 km

Getting around

  • South Tacoma Station - 69 min drive
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) - 96 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Spencer Lake Bar & Grill - ‬71 min drive
  • ‪Trillium Creek Winery - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Brooklyn Deli - ‬70 min drive
  • ‪Lakebay Marina - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪The Snack Shack - ‬34 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Secret Island Beach House. Waterfront, Kayak, Paddle Board, Fire Pit, View! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Lakebay holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Trillium Creek Winery, Joemma Beach and Penrose Point State Park. Bay Lake and Joemma Beach State Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 87 out of 97 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 97 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 97 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 97 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 97 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brian & Victoria T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A true getaway

We had a group of six women staying here for annual girls getaway. It definitely allowed us the opportunity to unplug and hang out with one another for a very relaxing stay. The property was as described, it fit us perfectly and we lucked out with some amazing Sunny weather and clear skies for a January weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carl P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location, great house and amenities

Love this place.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful getaway!

We enjoyed our days here with the quiet, peaceful water view. Saw numerous seals and osprey and walked all the way around the island. Beds are super comfy, plenty of cozy amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family weekend

We had a great time! The house had everything we needed and was ideally located for exploring the beach and the island. Thank you so much!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My new favorite place

Donn and Betty’s beach house was charming and perfect for our 4 kids (11–13) and 2 adults. Well furnished, and the old school VHS tapes were a huge hit. We loved the easy beach access and enjoying the fire pit every night. Amazing stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Melanie B.

Absolutely beautiful

My husband, 5 kids and I enjoyed the stay so much. The house was wonderful, the views amazing, and you really can't beat having a beach in the backyard.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

jenna s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Herron Island visit!

Location, location! Whole family had fun- cozy DVD’s for downpour, beach combing and never-ending pickle ball at the park. Thank you for hosting a memorable stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet and lovely stay

This property was very nice and our family of five have a great visit. The highlights included the very friendly dear that visited daily and snacked on the apples as they fell from the tree! Kayaking was very easy and enjoyable and we walk along the beach every day. I would definitely recommend this house and location!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

Had a very relaxing weekend on Herron Island. The cabin was clean and nicely appointed. Retro VHS collection was fun. Nice deer.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfection!

The home was a perfect spot for us! Herron Island is as magical now as it was when I was young, and it was a joy to share it with my young adult kid. Fresh air, trees, deer, beaches, and that crystal clear water of the puget sound—what more do you really need?
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Racheal D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short summer getaway

We had a great time on Herron Island. The deer greeted us as soon as we arrived on the property and we were so happy to find deer feed in the kitchen. Definitely a highlight for the teens and pre-teen to hand feed the deer every day. Great calm water for kayaking and paddleboarding. We had a wonderful stay and only wish we could have stayed longer.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful property

We had a great time while on Herron Island. The house was perfect for us! We enjoyed the outdoor spaces, kayaking, the firepit, grill, etc. The deck is perfect for feeding the deer. And when it rained we stayed inside and played board games. Such a fun time! :-)
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan O., Portland, OR

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing getaway

We loved our Herron Island getaway and Don’s place! The house was comfortable and felt like plenty of room for the six of us. Loved eating outside on the deck, kayaking, walking around the island, watching movies and playing games. The island was very quiet! It was great to unplug.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Amanda B.

The property was beautiful, and the cabin had so much character! We all loved it.

Overall we really enjoyed our stay. We had just about everything we needed that was described. The only thing that was a little disappointing was that there was no propane left in the tank to use the fire pit when we got there. But otherwise we had a great experience! I personally would book it again in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Classic Pacific NW

If you are looking for a quiet place to recover from the work-a-day world, this is for you. It's inconveniences are what make it SO good -- no phone, no lights, no stores, no restaurants. Just you, a good book, and time to make yourself a solid meal while you sip a glass of pinot noir. Maybe you'll see a shooting star!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2016

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful beach vacation!

We had such a wonderful stay - we especially enjoyed using the kayaks and paddleboards and eating out on the deck for every meal! We had 8 total with the kids...my only piece of advice for anyone with the full party of 8 is that the kitchen table is really only for 4 people. No problem for us as it was beautiful out and we ate outside the entire time. And make sure to bring beach chairs. We loved it - the kids want to come back every year! :)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

jeffrey j.

Exactly what was stated in the description.

Entire family loved it. We didn’t want to leave. Movie collection was a god send on the rainy day for my grand kids. Everyone enjoyed the beaches and the shore in front of cabin. Grand kids were able to feed the deer, crab hunting and beach combing. Would recommend this to everyone. Thanks to the Bennett’s for sharing their home with us. This is something my family will remember forever.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

Terri W.

Amazing! Can't wait to go back!

We had a great 4 night stay at Donn's place! From the beautiful view, to the decktop propane fire pit, to the amazingly equipped kitchen continuing to the provided paddleboards and kayaks! No detail was left unattended! All of us wished we could stay longer and we will be booking a subsequent trip for sure! Our weather was mostly rainy and cool but that was just fine because inside we were warm with the pellet stove and enjoyed reading, playing games and watched several old movies from Donn's fantastic VHS collection. During a few weather breaks we were able to take several walks (both on the beach and on the roads of the island) as well as kayak/paddleboard around the island (took about 75 minutes). It was such a fantastic getaway! Thanks Donn for making your beautiful place available for us!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
What a great mini vacation for our family! We needed a mid-week Spring Break getaway for me 4 kids to work around our schedule, and this fit the bill! The house is beautiful, clean, and right on the water. The pictures do not do it justice. All of my kids loved kayaking around--it was very safe! My teens stayed in the two master bedrooms giving them a little privacy, while I shared the loft with my younger kids. The owners thought of everything, from well-stocked bathrooms and kitchen, to life jackets and a fire pit. A calm, peaceful vacation. The lack of good cell coverage was a plus--my teens stayed off their phones the whole time. Bring your family to this beautiful home. You won't be disappointed.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jayme P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Everything was perfect. we walked around the island when tide was low and jumped in the water when the tide was high. The cottage is stocked with everything you could possibly need. It’s very cozy,comfortable, and picturesque. We absolutely we’ll be back. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet and Quiet

We loved our stay on Herron Island. The days and evenings were quiet and peaceful. We kayaked around the island and hiked around at low tide the next day. The home was old-fashioned but updated enough. Everything was clean and very comfortable. We appreciated the well stocked kitchen (spices and tools) and the clean grill. It was all lovely.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love this place

We have stayed here once before in 2020 and again in Aug 2022. Property is exactly as described and has everything you need! Many games and movies provided. Views are to die for and kayaks/paddle boards are provided. Seeing the deer is always a big hit for the kids. There is a pretty good playground in the middle of the island (walkable with kids from the house) and another one at N Beach. So many cool tiny sea creatures to see and explore at low tide. The property manager is very responsive via text during our stays.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cora P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfection on Herron Island

Everything was just as described and pictured. Beautiful setting and right on the water. Hostess had thought of everything to make our stay so comfortable. Walked the island everyday, fed the deer and slept the best in months. Great way to spend time with the family with no social media to distract anyone
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristen S., Seattle, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location, great for families

Great beach, comfy house, lovely quiet island, well stocked kitchen, lovely communication with the property owner!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

About the host

Hosted by Donn Bennett

Host profile image
My wife and I have lived in the Pacific Northwest most of our lives and raised our kids here as well. After traveling the world for most of our lives we've come to realize that the Pacific Northwest is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to share our homes with so many nice people.

Why they chose this property

We discovered Herron Island in southern Puget Sound about 10 years ago and immediately fell in love with it. We were amazed that such a beautiful place could exist so close to our Seattle home, without ever even knowing it was there. We enjoy sharing our "secret" island with others. We have 2 homes there. We hope you will love Herron Island as much as we do- ENJOY!

What makes this property unique

The first morning we woke up on Herron Island to see the sunrise on the Case Inlet we knew our lives were about to change. Within a couple years we owned 2 homes on the island and were making plans to someday make this our permanent home. Herron is less than 90 minutes from Seattle, but once I get on the ferry across Case Inlet I feel like I'm a million miles away. The peace we experience here is like nothing we've experienced anywhere else.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests