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SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M

Family-friendly vacation home in Lancaster

Photo gallery for SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Interior
5 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, WiFi
Exterior detail
Located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, this home is just a stroll away from downtown Lancaster's music scene and great restaurants. Unwind with a guitar or enjoy the game room, then relax in the beautiful backyard or rejuvenate in the gigantic full spa bathroom.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
  • Air conditioning

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.

SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M

Our newly renovated home has five bedrooms, 1 gigantic full spa bathroom, another full bathroom & two half baths. Relax in our beautiful backyard or take a stroll to Central Market & enjoy our great city. Check out the music scene or make your own music with one of the guitars on our walls there for your enjoyment. Downtown offers a multitude of great restaurants, Franklin and Marshall is right down the street and Amish farms are close by. Our game room is huge & offers something for everyone!
The space
Our home is right down the street from Franklin and Marshall College in a perfect location! We are in the well respected “Chestnut Hill” neighborhood, which makes it an easy stroll downtown for some great music or delicious food. Minutes away by car are Amish farmlands, horse and buggies, outlets, fresh produce, Sight and Sound, live music venues, amazing restaurants, Central Market, American Music Theater and Dutch Wonderland. Horse and buggies driven by our beloved Amish are all over Lancaster County and our home offers the best of comfort nestled in the heart of downtown Lancaster on a tree-lined street. Our home is warm and inviting, fully equipped with a game room and a huge spa bathroom. We welcome you!

We have exterior Ring cameras to enhance everyone’s safety. There are no interior cameras.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Kitchen

  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Foosball table

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

No glitter, confetti, parties, vaping or smoking allowed in the house or in the property.

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
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

About the neighborhood

Map
Lancaster, PA

What's nearby

  • Franklin & Marshall College - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Fulton Theatre - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Central Market - 18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square - 19 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Lancaster County Convention Center - 5 min drive - 1.1 miles

Getting around

  • Lancaster Station - 3 min drive
  • Lancaster, PA (LNS) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cabalar Meat Co - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Dominion Pizza - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪College Treats - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪551 West - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Splits and Giggles Cafe - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M located?

Located in Chestnut Hill, this family-friendly Lancaster vacation home is steps from Franklin & Marshall College and North Museum of Natural History. James Buchanan's Wheatland and Beneful Dream Dog Park at Buchanan Park are also within 15 minutes. Lancaster Station is 24 minutes by foot.

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SERENITY IN THE CITY - 5 BR College Ave by F & M Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Michael D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house with lots of space for our group. House has a lot of amenities for all ages! We really enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

David K.

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

Great Location

Awesome little property in a great location.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas B.

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

Loved the stay!

A beautiful townhouse in a great location. Well decorated, a cozy living floor, and with enough bedrooms for a large group to sleep comfortably. The owner is extremely quick to reply and strives for perfection and it really shows.The townhouse is within walking distance of multiple cafes, a museum, and multiple other shops.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

carlene m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Miller Family

Great location, owners are friendly and prompt with responses.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kent B.

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

great stay

We had a great stay. The place was clean and all questions were answered very quickly. Would stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Zugey P.

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

Fantastic location

Comfortable and clean home. Located in a very safe and easy location to get to/from downtown. Highly recommend it!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Al and Farah R.

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

Great week in Lancaster!

The place worked out great for our family! There are 6 of us so there was plenty of room. The location was perfect for all of our plans. Alisa was great with communications and very quick with responses.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danica S.

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

It was good

We went to a conference near by. Walking distance to convention center. All was good
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer F.

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

Good family time

We had seven adults staying at the house. There was plenty of room for us all. Safe location, easy walking distance to Franklin and Marshall College. Host was very responsive.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

James B.

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

Christmas Week with family

Instead of separating our grown family into relatives houses for the holiday, my wife and I decided to rent this house so that all 11 of us could be together. The house had everything we needed, was very clean, and located in a great neighborhood that was easily walkable to many different attractions. The host was very responsive when we had a minor issue connecting to the internet (which ended up being a loose connection!). We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott S.

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

Wonderful home!!

We were in town for a wedding and 10 of us stayed at the home. It had plenty of room for all of us. It is in a great location and within walking distance to a wide variety of fabulous shops and restaurants. Lancaster is such a pretty town. I would highly recommended staying at this property if you have a large group.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shaun H.

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

Excellent

Everything was great
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason H., Winchester

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

Place was really convenient!!

The house was just as described. It’s a lot bigger than pictures make it seem. Right in the heart of Lancaster. You can walk to restaurants if you so desire!!! Would definitely stay there again!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monika S.

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

Great Lancaster intergenerational getaway

Great location close to downtown Lancaster and Central Market. House was fully stocked and lacked for nothing. We had a long drive and got there an hour earlier and we were able to get in the house prior to 4 pm which was extremely nice. Would definitely recommend this place!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Christy W.

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

Beautiful condo in a great location

The condo is beautifully decorated and clean. Great place for a family gathering. The kids loved the basement full of games and walking distance to parks and pizza. I would suggest adding room darkening shades or curtains to the bedrooms.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bankim B.

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

Family Reunion

The property was just the right size for our family. Although, one of the ceiling fans did not work, there were plenty of fans that were available for us to use. It is in nice quiet neighborhood with adequate street parking for 5 cars. The host was quick to respond when we messaged through the app. Some of the beds were very soft. We walked to the ice cream shops and were 6 minute drive from the Southern Market.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Don A., Palo Alto, CA

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

Great location next to Franklin and Marshall

This property is a great location if you are visiting Franklin and Marshall College. We recently stayed here to attend our student's graduation and it's close enough to walk to anywhere on campus, including graduation. The house was clean and easily sleeps 10, which was the size of our party. You can also walk to awesome neighborhood restaurants: Mean Cup, Luca, Amanita, Wyndridge tasting room, and so much more! It's also an easy drive (5 minutes) to downtown Lancaster, with great restaurants, shopping, and of course Central Market. I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beth T.

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

Perfect place to relax.

We couldn't have chosen a better place to stay than Alisa's Serenity in the City while we were in Lancaster. The house is lovely, immaculate and beautifully maintained; the beds are very comfortable; there is plenty of room for a large group to be together or for folks to have "alone time"; the neighborhood is charming, quiet, and close to all kinds of things to do. Best of all, Alisa is an incredibly attentive host. She provided us with great information, was very easy to reach, and made sure we had all we needed for the perfect stay. If you're looking for a great place to stay in Lancaster look no further - you've found it.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wanda M.

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

Amish Country Visit

This home was beautifully decorated, had everything we could have needed, and was located right in town. The game room in the basement was really cool and with so many board games, no one could possibly get bored. There was plenty of room for us to spread out. My only negative was that I did not anticipate all the stairs in the house. I had several older people in my party that had a lot of trouble going up and down the stairs. Otherwise, the home was excellent and I would recommend this place to everyone.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

tim t.

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

“The Big Chill” II ❤️😎✌️🌎

It was our 35th Reunion from F&M and because our Fraternities were disbanded over 30 years ago, I never felt the interest in going back. I went back last Fall and was inspired to gather a group to join me this year. I found Alicia’s place on VRBO and I knew it wouldn’t be there long so I reserved it in the Spring. I put “F&M Reunion” on our family calendar and my daughters were curious about my enthusiasm so I had them watch “The Big Chill”. Needless to say, many things don’t live up to expectations in Life but this was a Magical exception. The House was as warm and inviting as its owner. My wife was able to meet some of my favorite people that helped form who I am today. Over the weekend, we shared laughter and tears (one of us lost a son recently) and reconnected because we had this “safe space” to do so. As Forrest Gump said, “some times there are not enough words”. I’ll finish with Alicia, thank you for becoming our friend and helping us renew our relationships with others. Sending you a Travel Journal as a gift so others can put down their thoughts after they experience your Hospitality. ❤️ Susan & Tim Terranova
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Nancy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Plenty of room

We enjoyed the room in the house to spread out and the air conditioning was wonderful on these hot days. I know this is nothing you can change but maybe add it to the description of the house that the steps are very steep and all the bedrooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floor. We had a very pregnant lady and an 80 yr. Old great grandmother and they presented a bit of a challenge.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025