Oh for the simple pleasures by the edge of a “full-fed river” as revealed in Kenneth Grahame’s classic 1908 novel, The Wind in the Willows. It’s the gentle Mole who abandons his spring-cleaning underground and discovers the river. He is entranced by its “glints and gleams and sparkles, rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble.” 

It is the Water Rat (Ratty, to his friends) who invites Mole to join his “jolly life” on the river. “It’s my world, and I don’t want any other,” Ratty says. “Whether in winter or summer, spring or autumn, it’s always got its fun and its excitements.” 

Indeed, there is no better way to spend lazy, sunny afternoons than by the riverbank, lounging, lazing, or, as Ratty put it, “simply messing about in boats” on waters great and small, “intoxicated with the sparkle, the ripple, the scents and the sounds and the sunlight.”  

But what if one could live in riverine bliss forever? Thus, Luxury Defined presents five delightful dwellings on the river’s edge. Choose a home off the beaten path, on a great river flowing through wine country; or by a river brashly traversing a wild wood; or beside a murmuring brook rambling through a wildflower meadow. “And you really live by the river?” Mole exclaims. “What a jolly life!” 

1. Caribou Creek Log Home in Sagle, Idaho, United States 

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This 5.1-acre riverine retreat in northwestern Idaho lies on the banks of the Pend Oreille River—a tributary of the Pacific Northwest’s great Columbia River. 

The main house is an exceptionally crafted log home with 7,748 square feet of accommodations across three levels. The core of the house is an expansive, integrated great room with an open-concept kitchen, lounge, and dining space. 

The primary suite has two custom closets and a deluxe bathroom with a Hydro Tub and a walk-in shower. Two lower-level bedrooms have spectacular river and mountain views. There are three further guest rooms, and a loft space provides additional sleeping quarters. 

Its private beach on the river has a pier for watercraft, imported Olympic-grade volleyball sand, and two outdoor showers. Beside the Passion Swimspa hot tub is a barbecue pavilion cooled by misters.

The outdoor spaces are lushly landscaped, with numerous water features and drip systems, and a greenhouse to keep the plants thriving. A two-story, six-bay garage; an auto shop with four 14-foot doors; a 60 kVA generator, and 30 security/surveillance cameras throughout are additional amenities. 

2. Country Estate on the Amstel River, Amsterdam, Netherlands 

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This Grade I-listed estate takes advantage of its glorious setting with its own private mooring on the Amstel River—a scenic boat ride from the charms of Old Amsterdam. 

Built circa-1725, the original manor house and coach house have been updated for 21st-century lifestyles. Stone steps rise to the grand, 9,000-square-foot manor house and introduce its vestibule and central hall. 

Farther along are the palatial living room and a library with custom-built bookcases. A large hall, gourmet kitchen, and family room share the ground level. An elevator serves all four floors. The upper levels include four bedroom suites, a hammam, and sauna. All told, there are seven bedrooms and six full baths. 

The carriage house has its own entrance, and a new outbuilding is suitable for residential conversion. There’s also a 1,290-square-foot garage.  

Walled gardens and a swimming pond surrounded by grassy, wildflower meadows complete the pastoral splendor.  

3. Rocky Bar O Ranch in Polebridge, Montana, United States 

Rocky Bar O Ranch is on the doorstep of Glacier National Park—a magnificent million-acre wilderness stretching from the Montana Rockies to the Canadian border.   

Secluded and off the grid, the ranch encompasses 2,006 wilderness acres, bounded almost entirely by protected state and federal lands, framed by vistas of the Rocky Mountains and the Whitefish Range. 

More than 2.5 miles of the North Fork of the Flathead River runs through the property—a fly-fishing paradise with cutthroat and bull trout. The ranch’s spring-fed streams, ponds, mountain meadows, and old-growth forests are habitat for elk, moose, black and grizzly bears, wolves, mountain lions, beavers, foxes, grouse—and eagles.  

Infrastructure includes three residential areas with traditional log cabins and an assortment of ancillary structures (barns, workshops, and storage buildings) for outdoor sports enthusiasts and nature lovers.  

Related: Explore Homes with Gardens and Groves 

>4. Riverside Retreat on the Douro, Baião, Porto, Portugal 

Douro River Valley wine country is the scenic backdrop for this contemporary riverside villa in Baião, just outside the bustling, historic city of Porto, with 328 feet of waterfront and a private anchorage.  

The villa’s sleek, modernist lines are softened with natural stone and wood accents. Picture windows and glass doors let in the sunshine and the panoramic views.   

The central living/dining space and kitchen has a monumental fireplace against the chill of winter—and a wall of windows facing the river. The private quarters all have splendid water views. The two on the first floor open to a riverfront terrace. A separate dwelling provides self-contained quarters for guests with a bedroom suite and kitchen with a wood-fired oven.  

The swimming pool has a sundeck to contemplate the river views. The garden is an idyllic spot for mini golf. There’s also parking for four cars. Porto is within an hour’s drive.  

5. Turnkey Vineyard Estate on the Dordogne, Libourne, Aquitaine, France 

This serene, luxury vineyard estate basks on the banks of the majestic Dordogne. Built in the 14th century, the property includes a fully restored, energy-efficient manor house, a winery, farm buildings, and 9.4 hectares (about 23 acres) of AOP Bordeaux Supérieur vines surrounded by private parkland.  

The 4,305-square-foot manor house has high-ceilinged rooms radiating from the central corridor—with in-floor heating. 

There's a big sitting room/reception room, and the contemporary kitchen flows to the dining/living space and out to the west-facing veranda for alfresco sunset dining. Upstairs, there’s a wide sundeck overlooking the vineyard, four comfortable bedrooms, and four full bath/shower rooms. There are two offices for vineyard business. 

There also is a swimming pool, a restored medieval chapel, and a renovated guest house. 

The vineyard is planted in Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines, certified for environmental sustainability. Trademarks, wine cultivation, and winemaking equipment are included in the sale, along with a winery and storage cellars, a workshop, and a barn. 

The quest for luxury life on the river starts here.