Entire home

On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park

Lakefront holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park

Exterior - On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park (Cullman)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park (Cullman)
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player - On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park (Cullman)
Dining - On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park (Cullman)
Property grounds - On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park (Cullman)
On A Whim' lake house cottage offers the best of lake living and relaxation. Enjoy a quiet evening sitting outdoors on one of the multiple decks overlooking Smith Lake, or warm up by the outdoor fire pit. In this 3000 sq ft home, you'll find an inviting covered front porch, a well-stocked kitchen, a screen porch with quaint seating area and plenty of parking.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park

The best of lake living and relaxation…

We welcome you to a craftsman’s style cottage, nestled amongst the trees, in a quiet cove on Smith Lake. Enjoy a quiet evening sitting outdoors on one of the multiple decks overlooking the lake. The sounds of the woodlands at twilight are enhanced by the view of the moon glistening on the water. So very peaceful!

Awake in the morning, alive and refreshed. Serve yourself a steaming hot cup of coffee in a beautiful, well-stocked kitchen. Casually walk outside to the screen porch and settle in the quaint outdoor seating area. Here you smile and breathe in the fresh air as you listen to the sounds of the wildlife on the lake. You’ll find an unusual sense of energy in this 3000 sq ft, two story home, snuggled in, just a few steps from the lake.

Equal distance from both Birmingham and Huntsville, just 6 miles from Hwy 65 (Exit 305), this lake house cottage could be your getaway from it all.

'On A Whim' has an inviting covered front porch and plenty of parking for your family and friends. As you enter the front door, you are welcomed by the main living area, decorated in a rustic, but luxurious style with a gorgeous planked vaulted ceiling and large windows looking out over the lake.

The main level features a large Master with King size bed, and it’s own set of french doors leading out to the main deck. The ensuite bath features a Jacuzzi tub, large vanity space and an over sized shower with great water pressure! The Patriot bedroom is just down the hall from the Master, which offers two twin beds and is next to the main floor full bath.

The beautifully crafted kitchen is well stocked and features all stainless appliances. The island in the kitchen faces the open floor plan of the main living area and dining room, allowing you to always be a part of the action.

The dining area has a custom table that seats 9 with an additional 3 seats at the island. Additional folding tables and chairs are provided. The home has a laundry area equipped with a full size washer and dryer, iron and ironing board.

The Angel's Perch loft area is decorated in a sweet southern style with a pair of twin beds, a dresser, and a miniature picnic table. Perfect for the kids or adults.

As nice as the upper levels are, the lower level is where all the fun is. Challenge your friends to a game of pool, air hockey or a classic arcade game. Then, settle into the sofas and watch the big game on the 65" tv, or just hang out on the lower patio and stare at the lake. In addition to the rec areas, the lower level also offers a third bedroom with a queen bed, decorated in a nautical theme and a fourth bedroom with two sets of bunk beds, decorated in a camping theme with a dedicated video gaming tv. A full bath will make sure you're not running up and down stairs all day.

'On A Whim' gets good AT&T and Verizon LTE coverage, and has broadband WIFI Internet and Cable TV. Everything you need to ensure you can stay in contact with all your friends that are working while you chill out at the lake.

We'd love to host your vacation at 'On A Whim'. Use the form on the right and let us know how we can help you.


Keywords: House

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Limited housekeeping
  • Safe

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Golf
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Unit size: 3,000 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

On A Whim Rustic Smith Park
On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park Cullman

About the area

Located in Cullman, this holiday home is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lewis Smith Lake and Smith Lake Park, while Cullman County Museum and Evelyn Burrow Museum are cultural highlights. Consider Stone Bridge Farms for a night out or WildWater Cullman if you're travelling with kids. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling. Visit our Cullman travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Cullman
Map
Cullman, AL

What's nearby

  • Smith Lake at Unicoi State Park in Georgia
    Smith Lake Park
    4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Final resting place for Brother Joseph, who created the art that is known as Ave Maria Grotto.This is a cemetery of only monks in residence at St. Bernard Abbey. 

Ave Maria Grotto, in Cullman, Alabama, is a landscaped, 4-acre park in an old quarry on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey, providing a garden setting for 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous religious structures of the world. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on February 24, 1976, and to the National Register of Historic Places on January 19, 1984. 

The stone and concrete models are the work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard's Abbey, who devoted some 50 years to the project, the last three decades (1932 to 1961) almost without interruption. They incorporate discarded building supplies, bricks, marbles, tiles, pipes, sea shells, marbles, plastic animals, costume jewellery, toilet bowl floats and cold cream jars.

Born in 1878 in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Brother Joseph was maimed in an accident that left him slightly hunched due to cervical kyphosis. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager, settling in northern Alabama. Soon afterward he began studying at the newly founded Benedictine monastery of St. Bernard, where he took his vows in 1897. Br. Joseph was not allowed to be ordained as a priest, due to the rule of the period that stated any man with a distracting disability could not be ordained a priest. He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man. Brother Joseph rarely left Alabama, where he died in 1961.
    Ave Maria Grotto
    23 min drive - 24.2 km
  • Lewis Smith Lake
    1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Stone Bridge Farms
    24 min drive - 23.1 km
  • Larkwood Falls
    25 min drive - 25.5 km

Getting around

  • Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
    52 min drive

Restaurants

  • Drifters On The Lake
    7 min drive
  • Wendy's
    17 min drive
  • McDonald's
    20 min drive
  • Jack's
    20 min drive
  • Bubba Rito's
    19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park located?

This family-friendly Cullman holiday home is located on the waterfront, within a 10-minute walk of Lewis Smith Lake and Smith Lake Park. Cullman Golf Course and Speegle's Marina are also within 9 miles (15 km).

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On A Whim Rustic Lodge Near Smith Lake Park Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 232 out of 257 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 257 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 257 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 257 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 257 reviews

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Angel L.

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

Mother’s Day weekend

Nice place for a family weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Colleen R.

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

Wonderful weekend!

Lots to do in the home and plenty of room for family.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karmen S.

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

Decorated nicely! Fits in with the lake!

Enjoyed the rental very much. Very spacious! Love the kitchen and dining area! Beautiful living room! Everyone loved the game room! Spent a lot of time outdoors! Seen a beautiful sunset!
Sunset beautiful
Silly boy
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Norrisa C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday Vaca

Wonderful location on the lake with easy access to several marinas and Smith Lake Park. Plenty of room for our group to spread out, play, and enjoy swimming in the lake from the dock.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jase W.

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

Everything we expected

The property owners were great! The property was everything we hoped it would be and very accurate to the listing. A Fantastic little getway for families...
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Douglas B.

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

Family vacation

Great home with plenty of space. Very clean with all the necessities already there. Great fishing on the dock for the kids. Love the game room.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Doug G.

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

Fishing at smith

Was there fishing a tournament at Smith Lake Accommodations was great parking is a little tough. If you are bringing your own boat and location is excellent.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia D.

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

Father’s Day Weekend

Our stay at On a Whim was very relaxing and enjoyable. Everything you need is right there except for the groceries!! Will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janet M., Greenfield, Indiana

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

Wonderful place and location

We had a wonderful vacation at this home. There was so much room at exceptional views, and truly loved everything about the home. We spent most of our days on the dock, swimming laughing, and just enjoying family time. Took some boat trips on the lake the lake is absolutely beautiful. And the home is super convenient to the marina and boat dock. Would absolutely recommend this place.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy L.

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

Lakehouse Christmas

This home was a great fit for our family of 13. We celebrated Christmas with our family. Everything was perfect except it was kinda cold & windy so we couldn’t enjoy the outside area along the lake. We love the area and hope to be back in the summer!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erica S.

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

Would love to stay again!

On a Whim thought of everything! Games, baby gates, cookware, and easy-to-follow instructions to get the best experience from the home. It is absolutely beautiful and is the perfect setup for a large family gathering of all ages!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew A.

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

Awesome place

Loved the house and location. Only issue was the water pressure. All the showers had little to no pressure. Otherwise everything was good.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Beautiful lakeside home!

On a Whim was a FABULOUS property! House was well maintained and fully equipped with every thing we needed. Loved the downstairs room with all the fun games. Cornhole tournament was a blast! Wish we could have stayed longer!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Russel R.

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

Lakehouse Hangout with Friends

We had a great stay at On a Whim! This listing was accurate, the house was clean, and the sleeping arrangements worked perfectly for our group. We'd definitely recommend it and stay again in the future, but we'd be sure to check the lake water levels first since we weren't able to rent a pontoon this trip (that's on us though).
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary R.

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

2024 Get together!

This is my favorite house to rent on Smith Lake. The house is large and comfortable. It’s sits so nicely in the lot and is an easy walk to the water. Plenty of outdoor seating spaces. Inside is relaxed and family friendly with room for everyone. Beautiful sunsets and coffee in the morning on the screens in porch make it perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christi L.

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

Team Building Retreat

I brought my teaching staff from a preschool to On a Whim for a team building/growth weekend. The house and grounds were absolutely perfect! VERY clean and well kept. Quiet, relaxing atmosphere. The kitchen is well equipped and great for making meals (even large ones). We enjoyed every part of our stay with 13 people. Our only complaint was silly.....we ran out of toilet paper lol.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Magen W.

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

Magen West

On A Whim- was absolutely AMAZING! My daughter had the best birthday, we didn't want to leave!! The house was very clean and roomy with plenty of things to do, lots of games for kids and adults to enjoy! You're close to town for whatever you may need and you're right beside Smith Lake Park which has tons of events and fun stuff to do around the holidays, including firework shows and much more. Highly recommend! 10/10
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Fantastic family reunion!

I really don't think this property could be matched for a fabulous place to hold a family reunion. The only improvement would be replacing the rickety bridge leading to the dock, but this did not have a significant effect on our enjoyment. I was blown away when I went downstairs and saw the game room! I had been most concerned about how good a time the younger generation would have, but I just got a review from the youngest, a college kid, that it exceeded his expectations. If we have another reunion in Cullman, we would definitely want this property again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Donna C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacay on the lake

We brought a boat so our location was great because we were close to the loading ramp and a marina was right across the lake (very convenient). We could walk to the park. There were 15 people (this included a one year old). We had 12 bath towels, needless to say there was a lot of washing going on. In the master b/room several outlets didn’t work so lamp by bed didn’t work. The porches and steps down to the dock were covered with dead leaves that had to be swept off.The loft never cooled off.The lake was great and we will definitely be coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kat G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and relaxing rental! Very accessible and well stocked for the weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was clean & inviting. Nice peaceful location near the park where we did the weigh-in for the Smith Lake BassFest tournament.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christi B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful and relaxing.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wanda D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely stay this week. The venue was beautiful. We were very comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brandi H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House is amazing and has everything you need! My family and I had the best time and hope to do it again next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very suitable to our specific needs, and family structure. Great location on lake. Straightforward communication with owners. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025