Private Farmhouse Apartment near DC + Annapolis

Located in a rural-suburban community within easy driving distance to Downtown Annapolis (U.S. Naval Academy, the historic district), Washington, D.C., Fort Meade and Baltimore, among other places in the Chesapeake Bay region, this private, fully-equipped, 1,000-square-foot apartment can be a home-away-from-home for vacation travelers or guests needing temporary housing for a work or school assignment in the area. This two-story, air-conditioned apartment is located in a private wing of a large farmhouse. The kitchen, dining area and Japanese-style bathroom containing a large shower and soaking tub are on the first floor. The sleeping and living room space is in one large upstairs room. (Because of that, the apartment is ideal for 1 or 2 guests. It might feel a bit snug for three adults. We'll consider up to four guests if traveling with children.) Amenities include on-site parking, access to a shared fitness space, outdoor seating and hammocks. The property also has a very large, built-in, gunite-constructed backyard pool, which is open from late June through early September. Since the pool is old and at times unreliable due to a malfunctioning something, we'll let summertime guests know whether or not the pool is indeed usable during their stay. Because we can't guarantee pool access our pricing does not include a swimming pool upcharge. Parking is on the property, right in front of the rental apartment. There's room indoors for storing bicycles, if you bring one or a few. The neighborhood contains around 30 homes. There's one entrance into and out of the community, which is safe for jogging, bicycling or going for a walk. My family and I live on the property but in a separate part of the house. A locked door separates the two spaces. Guests can access the apartment even if we're not around, and we're always available via text. We hope to meet our guests at check in, but that's not essential. Our paths might cross while we're outside or when (if) we get motivated to exercise in our garage-based fitness center. The listing is located in a quiet rural/suburban residential neighborhood in southern Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Our property and those of our backyard neighbors are very private and farm-like. We have a small flock of chickens, including a rooster. (Be warned: Roosters crow throughout the day and sometimes at night.) We also have several dogs and cats but none are allowed into the apartment. One neighbor owns and boards horses. Guests are welcome to spend time outdoors in our yard, which has a large lawn that's good for kickball, soccer and Whiffle ball as well as Adirondack chairs and hammocks for relaxing. The neighborhood itself is good for exercise walks or jogs. (Flashlights and reflective gear are essential for after dark.) The houses are close enough that we know most of our neighbors but we're not on top of one another. Guests looking for a safe, quiet, home-away-from-home will enjoy our place. Folks looking to be in an active, walkable area with access to shops, dining, lots of people and more just beyond their front door will find the location too isolating. That said, the cities of Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are all within reach, as are suburban shopping centers, malls and big box stores. We have loved being able to work in the city and truly come home to the "country." The roadways near us are rural, winding and beautiful. But as they lack sidewalks, bike lanes or even shoulders, a car is essential. Parking is onsite right in front of the apartment. There's room for two guest vehicles and can make room for more if absolutely needed. Walking or jogging within the neighborhood and an adjacent development is safe. The area also has nearby parks for hiking and some bicycling, so we can provide information about those options. The closest Metro into Washington, D.C. is the New Carrollton Station (Orange Line). The station does have daily parking for a fee. A park-and-ride lot serving commuter buses to D.C. is about 5 miles away. Driving due west into downtown D.C. can take 35 minutes or 90 minutes, depending on the time of day. Downtown Annapolis is to the east and is typically a 15 to 20 minute drive. Our small town has a handful of restaurants, a high-end garden shop, a post office, dry cleaner, a small convenience store and a couple of gas stations. However, supermarkets, chain stores, etc., are less than 15 minutes away by car. Food delivery to our area is rare as we're considered, for this area, to be out in the country. We can provide lots of information about visiting and dining in Annapolis, Washington D.C., the Eastern Shore and Baltimore.