A friend of mine has a birthday tradition of renting a cabin for a weekend getaway. Since his birthday is in February, we're usually looking for cozy indoor-friendly spots with enough amenities that people won't go crazy with cabin fever if bad weather keeps them inside. This year's choice was Fort Flagler State Park and their Engineer's House.
Note: It rained pretty much nonstop the whole time we were there, so I didn't see much of the park or the gun batteries. So I'll leave it to others to cover that part -- this is just for rental accommodations.
In addition to campgrounds, there are four vacation rental houses in the park. The Engineer's House seems to be one of the smaller options. It's a single-level cottage with a queen-size bed and a bedroom with two bunk beds, but due to the floor plan and lack of doors, it's not particularly private. More on that in a sec.
The front door leads into the kitchen, and beyond that is a smallish living room that looks out onto the water. There's a very small (card-table-size) dining table, but not a lot of room to spread out with a full meal or board game. The living room has a couch and a few wooden chairs, but no TV. Off the living room is the bedroom with the queen bed and a TV, but there's no door, so there's no privacy or noise reduction. The bedroom with the bunk beds, which does have a door, is down the hall that leads to the bathroom, so you have to pass through the master bedroom to get to the bathroom. Be sure to look at the floor plan on their site so you know what you're getting into!
That said, the cabin is comfortable and modern, with a fridge, stovetop/oven, microwave, and an assortment of plates, glasses, and cutlery. The decor is sort of "seaside shabby chic," with white walls, lots of funky shell art, and framed photos and art. The oversized bathroom is the size of a small bedroom and has a shower, toilet, sink and vanity area, plus the water heater. They provide (very rough) TP and paper towels, but you'll need to bring bedding, pillows, and towels. There's no fireplace or fire pit, but the cabin has heating and stays toasty. Everything seems clean and in good working order. There's also an odd little outhouse-sized studio outside the front door, with windows on three walls and a desk and chair. It's locked, but you have access to it with your cabin rental. Could be a good artist's studio, reading room, or somewhere to park a screaming kid on time-out.
There's a small park office near the front entrance, though it's not always staffed. If you are renting a house, you and your guests do not need to pay for a Discover Pass, but all cars need to register at the office to get a parking pass. There is a small history museum, but it was closed while we were there. They have a small herd of resident deer that wander around the park, and we saw bald eagles cruising past on the water, along with the occasional boat. There are hiking trails that go around the park and down to the (restricted) lighthouse, and you can pick up a map at the front office. There isn't much as far as picnic tables, play areas, or recreational equipment near the rental houses, though.
Overall, a cute and cozy place for a quiet weekend getaway during the off-season, but probably more fun during the summer when you have nicer weather and can get out to explore! read more