The Loon Song house on Androscoggin Lake is one of the most beautiful lake houses we've ever seen. It was roomy and homey, and we almost felt like we were living in a house that belonged to us. My wife, Pat, and I were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with our two children, their spouses, and our four grandchildren, and we could not have found a more perfect place. Pat and I had the master bedroom on the second floor, complete with a balcony that overlooked the lake. Every morning, we'd get coffee downstairs and then come back up and sit on the balcony, enjoying the view. There was a beach with a nice swimming area, kayaks, and a canoe, but two of us have our own canoes, so we were all able to go out canoeing whenever we wanted. Nearby was a small nature preserve with a nice hiking trail, and we took advantage of that as well. Our son fished off the dock, our youngest grandson had a ball capturing frogs (and releasing them), our teenage grandchildren enjoyed sleeping in, and our daughter did her best to keep up with her two and half year-year-old bundle of energy (a girl, of course). About a 15 minute walk away was Tubby's, known for their homemade ice cream and lobster rolls, both of which were amazing. Try the "Wholey-Moley, which is a combination of molasses and peanut butter. Delicious! As a family, we played games, ate together, talked and laughed, but there was ample time for everyone to follow whatever individual pursuits they wished to do. Our hosts, Bill and Bertie Messor were the nicest, most wonderful folks. They had a house next door, and tried to keep a low profile. I had to badger Bill into playing a game of horseshoes because I like to play but seldom get a chance. There was a great outdoor eating area, complete with a large gas grill, as well as a charcoal grill and a stone oven for making pizzas. Also on the property was an outdoor stage (the youngest kids put on a short "pioneer" play), and nestled among beautiful flowers, and next to a small pond with water trickling over rocks, was a charming art studio that had a sofa bed, where our son and daughter-in-law chose to sleep. All-in-all, this truly was the best decision Pat and I made as the way to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We had a glorious time and the week simply flew by. Loon Song house is the perfect get-away. Thanks, and our heartfelt appreciation to Bill, Bertie, and their daughter, Natalie, who handled the reservation.