The shortest review I have for the cabin is the most accurate one for families. Vasyl from Hershey wrote 26 words about his 7-year-old: “Even our 7-year-old caught a few decent basses, yellow perches, and pickerels.” That’s the whole pitch for kids at this lake.
Six of the 22 reviews on Airbnb are from families with young kids. They keep coming back — three of them explicitly said so. That’s not a marketing claim, it’s the highest repeat-rate of any guest type. Here’s what works about this property for families, and what to know before you book.
Why it works for kids.
The dock is the answer. Most lake rentals have a dock for adults — a place to fish, paddle, take a sunset photo. Here the dock is for everyone, but especially for kids, because the water is calm enough for them to actually use the paddle boards and the row boat without an adult panicking. Shehawken is electric-motors-only, which means no jet skis, no wake-boats, no fast traffic. The lake stays calm enough that a 6-year-old can stand on a paddle board for the first time and not fall off in the first minute.
The fishing is the second answer. Bass, perch, and pickerel all hit aggressively from the dock, and they’re sized appropriately for kids: 4-pound bass exist on this lake but most fish are 6 to 14 inches — perfect for a kid’s first reel. The fishing post on this site (Shehawken Lake fishing guide) covers tackle and seasonal patterns in detail.
The third answer is harder to put on a listing: this is one of those rare lake rentals where the cabin and the lake are usable for kids without a parent monitoring them every second. The lawn between the cabin and the dock is open and visible from the screened porch. The dock is wide and well-built. The water is clean and you can see the bottom. Kids gravitate to it; parents can read on the porch and still see them.
What to expect on a family weekend.
Friday evening
Arrive between 4pm and 7pm. Self check-in — Ryan sends instructions a few days before, and the smart-lock code lets you in without waiting around. Kids will go straight to the dock to look at the water. You’ll unpack while they’re distracted. Dinner is best made at the cabin night one because nobody wants to drive to Hancock for food after the trip up. The kitchen has cookware, a grill on the patio, and pantry basics — bring proteins, produce, and your specific brands.
Saturday
The pattern most families settle into: fishing or paddling in the morning when the water is glassy, lunch on the porch, an afternoon project (swimming, a hike, rowing across the lake), then early dinner and a fire pit. The walk-out basement is the rainy-day room — couches, more space, and a lake view through the windows.
Sunday
Most families do a slow morning, one more hour on the dock, then pack up by checkout (11am). For longer stays, this is when you’d schedule a Honesdale day trip or a quick visit to Lake Wallenpaupack. The Wayne County activities post has options.
What to bring for kids.
- Fishing rods if you have them. Tackle is easy to grab at Hancock Hardware (15 min away) but bring your own rod if you’ve already got one
- Pennsylvania fishing license for adults (16+); kids fish free. Available online at pafishandboat.com or in town
- Swim shoes — the lake bottom near the dock is sandy but has occasional small stones
- Bug spray for evenings (typical of any lakefront in summer)
- Specific snacks/breakfast items kids are picky about — Hancock has a real grocery store (Peck’s) but selection is smaller than a city supermarket
- One craft/board game for the inevitable rainy hour
The honest part: stairs.
This cabin has a lot of stone steps. From the parking pad down to the cabin door (about 20 steps), and from the cabin lawn down to the dock (about 15 more). For most families with kids over 4 it’s a non-issue — my own friends’ kids treat the steps like an obstacle course. For families with babies in strollers, knee issues, or guests on crutches, the stairs are a real consideration. Two reviews specifically called this out (Gabrielle, Megan) so we’re repeating it here.
The other family-stay reviews.
How the cabin sleeps a family of 4-6.
Three bedrooms. The main bedroom (queen, sliding door to the lake-view deck) is for parents. The second bedroom (queen) works for two older kids. The third bedroom (double bed, downstairs) is small but cozy — multiple guest reviews called it “perfect for a nap.” The living room sofa-bed and couch handle two more kids on inflatable mattresses or the existing convertibles. Six is the comfortable cap; four is the sweet spot.
Pets.
Pets are considered case-by-case. Multiple guests have brought dogs and they’ve worked out fine; message Ryan through the contact form with the breed/size and we’ll figure it out. Shanell’s review specifically mentions that her service animals learned to swim in the lake for the first time — the dock is a good entry point for dogs into open water.
Best months for families.
Mid-June through mid-August is the family sweet spot — lake water warm enough for swimming (low 70s by July), all the activities open, school out. Late September through mid-October is the secret-best time: foliage peaks, no bugs, water still warm enough for kayaking, lower rates. Winter works for ski-trip families heading to Elk Mountain (30 min away), but the lake itself is locked up.
For the broader area context, the Starrucca area guide covers what’s around. For specific drive-and-eat logistics, the food guide has options. Ready to look at dates? See availability on Airbnb or send a message first.
