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CA1003209

Waterloo, Canada

Niagara Falls (under 2h)

Niagara Falls (under 2h)

CN Tower, Toronto  (1.5 hrs)

CN Tower, Toronto (1.5 hrs)

Neighbourhood pool and tennis courts

Neighbourhood pool and tennis courts

Many nearby farms are settled by Old Order Mennonites

Many nearby farms are settled by Old Order Mennonites

Kitchen

Kitchen

Living room

Living room

Family Room

Family Room

Dining room

Dining room

Front Hall

Front Hall

Gold

Member since

2014


Open for exchange
Exchange dates Duration
May 01, 2025 - September 30, 2025 2 weeks

We could make your stay here a little longer by welcoming you here to stay with us for a few days before we go to your home. As well, when we return, we would be happy to have you stay a few more days to be here long enough to meet your needs. Our limit for being away is around two weeks.

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Comfortable family home in SW Ontario

Our home is a comfortable, child-friendly two-story, with a private back yard, gazebo, barbecue and play equipment for children. Inside, deep leather couches in a large family room make for comfortable chats or watching Cable TV or Netflix. The kitchen has a well-vented large gas stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and an antique workbench island. Those who like to cook will be pleased. The four large bedrooms and 4 bathrooms will easily accommodate a larger family, as will our 6-seater Toyota van.

Summer days in Waterloo are hot, so you'll appreciate the central air-conditioning and swimming at our nearby private community pool. Our favourite time to swim is late afternoon when the sun's heat is still strong, and the neighbourhood kids have gone home for dinner. Enjoy quiet evenings on our veranda or in the screened gazebo. We have tennis racquets for your use at our neighbourhood courts beside the pool. And, of course, Wi-fi.

We know you will look after our home as carefully as we will care for yours.

Waterloo is a centre for technology and innovation situated in rich farm country. You'll find an abundance of entertainment, recreation, athletic and social activities. Our neighbourhood has many safe walking trails. Laurel Conservation Area is a few hundred metres away, where you can swim, rent canoes for short trips around the shallow lake, or hike the forest. You may enjoy the Jazz Festival in Uptown Waterloo, Movies under the Stars in Waterloo Park and the12 Bar Blues Festival in Kitchener. Local theatre is very good. Stratford, 45 minutes away, is home to world-class theatre. Kitchener's Centre in the Square has outstanding acoustics for concerts both classical and modern, an exceptional K-W Symphony Orchestra, and frequent shows by popular entertainers. Late August brings a fun Busker Festival to Waterloo. And don't forget the back roads of South-Ontario's rich and scenic farmland. Drives are easy, and worth the time to leisurely explore. If you should wish to spend more than two weeks on your visit, consider coming as our guests for a few days before we leave, and/or staying on for a few days after we return. We've done this before, and it has been a delight to get to know our exchange partners better, as well as provide suggestions for their holiday - and ours, and afterwards share experiences. We would be pleased to help you prepare a holiday plan.

Waterloo has many excellent restaurants and friendly pubs for nights when you don't want to cook. Let us give you some tips on our favourites. August is also the perfect month to enjoy fresh produce from local farms, so you might like to stay home for dinner. We especially value Herrle's Farm Market and the St. Jacobs market in Old Order Amish country, both only 10 minutes away.

You may drive our 7-seat Toyota Sienna (with automatic transmission) for comfortable trips to Toronto, Niagara Falls, Wasaga Beach (the world's longest freshwater sandy beach), Stratford Festival, Elora Gorge, Oshweken Six Nations Reserve, the Cheltenham Badlands, or Canada's Wonderland. We are an hour from Rockwood Conservation Area, with its ancient geology, fossil-filled limestone bedrock, and placid waters for you to explore by canoe.

You will find a highchair for your baby, lots of toys for young children, as well as an outdoor climber and swing-set, covered sandbox and safe space to play.

We have loved all our home exchanges and guests. We hope you'll come to Waterloo.

Larry & Shari

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Our Family

  • 2 Adults
  • 0 Children
  • 10 Exchanges made

Occupation

  • Retired Teacher
  • Business Owner

Our Home

  • House Type: House
  • Environment: In the suburbs
  • Bedrooms: 4
  • Bathrooms: 4
  • Sleeping Capacity: 7
  • Living Area: 240 m2

References

In my house

  • Pets - Not allowed
  • Small children - Allowed

Exchange Types

  • Home exchange

Indoor

  • Free internet access
  • Air conditioning
  • Central heating
  • Baby equipment
  • Toys and games
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Clothes dryer
  • Television

Outdoor

  • Garden
  • Terrace or deck
  • Park / playground
  • BBQ
  • Garage / private parking

Facilities

  • Non-smoking house
  • Car necessary
  • Use/Exchange of car
  • Seclusion/Privacy

Our Destination Wish List

  • Open to any destination
  • Europe

Spoken Languages

  • English
  • Français

Occupation

  • Retired Teacher
  • Business Owner

Children

  • We do not have children.

Pets

  • Pets are NOT welcome in our home

About Our Family

Since 1988 Shari has run Dreampower, her home-based business, making dress-up clothes for children. Larry is a retired teacher who now manages (loosely speaking) the house and cooking. We have 5 grown children, and 7 grandchildren, who range from 17 years down to 5. Our oldest son Colin is in Costa Rica. Sarah and Kate are in Waterloo. Amy is in Barrie, and Ben is in Victoria, BC.

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Lifestyle

Our lives are pretty simple. We are looking for a comfortable home to return to after a day of travelling. A car to exchange to help keep costs low would be nice, too.

We don't need to see big tourist attractions. We enjoy immersing ourselves in the local culture and learning to live in your space.

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References

This member has completed 10 home exchanges. Those referenced below may contain feedback/impression from its exchange partners: