First, the location is great. The north east side of Cayuga has no large towns; its mostly dairy farms and houses along the lake shore. This area has never seen much development and as a result, it offers a decent amount of privacy. Other Finger Lakes can get quite busy (and more expensive) as they are closer to Rochester or Syracuse. Cayuga is the middle Lake and just far enough from the cities to keep from getting crowded. Having said that, our cottage is located close to wineries and the shopping outlets as well as the cities of Auburn and Seneca Falls. That puts you within reach of any stores you might need as well as decent restaurants, cinemas etc. Easy access off the NYS Thruway or Rt 5&20, forty five minutes from Ithaca and Syracuse; an hour from Rochester. The Del Lago Casino is about 20 minutes away as are the Waterloo Outlets.
Next, the house is very comfortable. It has nice furnishings, but we've always tried to keep the place such that kids could run around, lounge on the furniture, eat lunch on the deck etc. Sure, we want a damage deposit, but rest assured, your child won't be the first to sit on a couch with a damp bathing suit. Have fun, just keep it nice for the next family.
Finally, the place is very relaxing. I don't know if its the fresh air, the water activities or drinks on the deck at sunset, but time just seems to slow down here. Plan on surprising yourself by taking an afternoon nap once you arrive. It just seems to happen; probably part of the process of slowing down. Many of our guests for the weekend go back to city life feeling they've been gone for a full week.