We have a guest book and it's one of my favorite parts of hosting. I bought a leather bound journal (to go with our lake house/lodge theme) and I leave it on the kitchen bar along with the welcome letter and some Salt Water Taffy. I ask the guests to please leave a note. We plan to have a new one for each year we host and keep a little library of them on the book shelf.
Through the guest book we have read about experiences of guests ranging from an account of the largest fish they caught during their stay, stories of family birthdays, college graduations, and even accounts of how an eagle landed on the neighbor's dock next door. We have had guests use colored pencils and stickers to really dress up their entries. We also try to write in it occasionally when we visit.
My fiance (and co-host) proposed to me at our lake house and that entry is in the guest book. This weekend we are having our wedding at our "Loon Lodge" and I can't wait to write that entry!
It's a great way to collect the memories of all the guests we have had the pleasure to meet over the years and the entries go well beyond the reviews that the guests leave.
-Linette
Loon Lodge, Winslow, Maine - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20747780
Loon Loft , Winslow, Maine - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21551164