Our large family enjoyed being right on the water, rather beside the water. We never had to move everything to the beach. It was right there. The home was nice, clean, and room for everyone to eat and play together. The one downside was the smell of the water. Noone wanted to shower, or even do dishes. We had water in the culligan water bottle, but it would have been nice not to smell the, I'm guessing, well water smell.