10/10 Excellent
Jeff A., Los Altos
27 July 2018
A hiker's paradise (or anyone else who enjoys the outdoors)
Where to start? Well, 1st, the location is superb - everything is so close (going back to San Francisco is ~35 min) & groceries, gas, restaurants, shops, etc., are ~10 minutes away (there’s a Costco nearby too). There is A/C, important to me as I don't sleep well when temp’s are >75. You don’t really need A/C for sleeping though because bedrooms are downstairs & naturally cooler than upstairs. The king bed in the master BR is very comfortable, and I’m very picky due to chronic pain. I bring special pillows when I travel but forgot all of them! I was expecting misery but using the extra pillows I slept very well. There are four (maybe more?) closets, and a tub and separate shower. The other rooms were fine too, but I didn’t examine them as closely. Besides the two bathrooms downstairs, there is a convenient upstairs half-bath. The home has a professional-level gas stove & dual ovens (plus a large frig/freezer and a dishwasher). There are plenty of dishes, silverware, mixing bowls, spatulas, & everything else you need to whip up a gourmet meal. Five of us fit fine at the kitchen table but for larger groups there is a formal dining room. We also enjoyed watching movies on the big-screen TV in the evenings.
The view is all forest & I couldn’t spot another house. Everywhere you look is the beauty of nature; abundant windows make the house bright & cheerful. I can’t over-emphasize how nice the feeling of seclusion is & yet stores are only 10 min’s away. You can hike from the house or drive 5 or 10 minutes & find trailheads (the owners sent us 3 or 4 to try). We walked from the house to a trail that went all the way to the top of the Mt Tam East Peak (I can only walk for a bit, but the others made it to the top). There are plenty of other local trails that are easier though if that’s what you need. Muir Woods is a must-visit location about 20 minutes away. There is also the Charles Schulz museum & Napa Valley/Sonoma for wine tasting.
Finally, the owners are responsive & friendly. They encouraged us to contact them for any reason so I did a few times, with typical response times of 5-30 min’s. Still better, they are thoughtful & proactive, making us feel very welcome. The house is not a brand-new show place so there is some minor wear & tear here & there, but you’ll probably be too busy enjoying your surroundings to notice. You’ll like this place & the owners a lot so give it a try. We had a fabulous time & I wish we could have stayed a bit longer.
Jeff A.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
