This was the perfect spot for my final summer getaway. Honestly, when I first looked at the…read morewebsite and saw that it was part of Summerhome Park and that there were activities for children, I was a bit skeptical about how much of a hideaway it would be for a group of adults. I imagined hearing children shrieking and playing all over the place. When we pulled up to the house, I was very happy to see that the community of homes is VERY spread out, so the home is pretty secluded. We walked up the stairs to find a very cozy home and guest house. The first night was spent cooking, drinking wine, and hanging out in the hot tub. The kitchen is well-stocked with utensils, so we cooked breakfast and dinner here each day. We were close to the river, so we spend the second day kayaking. The home has a TV/DVD player, so when we were exhausted in the evening, we could relax and watch movies or play some of the games available in the house. Wineries are not too far, so we spent the third day wine tasting. We had a great vacation, and we hope to return next summer!

we had a great weekend there!…read more Unfortunately it rained but it was perfect weather in the hot tub. Its a good location - close to plenty of wineries and places to explore but tucked away in the woods so its quiet and private. The place is stocked with about anything you could need. seriously. I can't wait to come back in the summer as the large deck and outdoor brick grill will be perfect for an afternoon of soaking up the sun. i would definitely recommend this spot.

I recently went on a small getaway with my boys (12 and 15) and they were not in the best mood…read morebecause they thought they would get bored. That completely changed upon leaving and the comment they both made as were driving away was "that was fun Mom!". Our cottage was very cute, extremely clean and there was even a record player and lots of vinyl to listen to (and listen I did!!). The general smell of fresh, crisp air was intoxicating in itself, but waking up to the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries was mouth-watering. And the taste, texture, and variety did not disappoint either. The night before we enjoyed live music, a few games of Uno, some wonderful freshly baked pizzas, and to top it all off a slice of chocolate raspberry cake (all made by our wonderful host Mark). The next morning started with rain, so we took advantage by opening up a puzzle from the countless games in the community area and dug in. Once the rain stopped, the sun peeked out and we took a little walk to a nearby waterfall, enjoying the cool, green silence while investigating different vegetation and minerals as we walked. That evening we sat around in the community area enjoying more freshly baked goodies and other guests. The last morning, Mark and his small son were kind enough to wrestle some energy out of my boys and beat them over the head with pillows and cushions, while I laughed hysterically from my safe little corner. I barely looked at my phone for 2 days straight. How wonderful! And.... my hair and skin was amazingly soft after washing with the mountain water coming out of our tap. And how could I forget about the fairy ring of redwood trees (group of trees growing in a circle around the stump of an old growth tree, this is how they regenerate) right next to the grove. The oldest standing tree was 1,200 years old, meaning that the center "mama" tree that used to be there was probably two or three times older and BIGGER than the already standing behemoths. Mark made it feel like home away from home for us and my boys asked me if we could go back soon, probably to continue the wrestling match. I just want more fresh onion focaccia! And brownies. And cookies. And walnut tartes. And......

5 stars and more!!!!…read more We spent one night at Elim Grove Cottages this fall and had the most wonderful time. The first night we arrived, Mark was there to welcome us with one of his kids and invited us to join him for a campfire out in their backyard. It felt like we were family. After a long drive, it was really nice to receive a cold beer and a warm welcome like that. Our cottage was cozy and really inviting. The highlight for us was definitely the outdoor area. There are fruit and vegetable gardens, an outdoor fire pit and little outdoor spaces where one can read and just be. You can see that the owner has put a lot of love in this place. We were mostly left on our own and it was really nice exploring the area. There's a creek right next to the property and little trails that you can take if you so wish. And sky-high redwood trees everywhere! Breakfast was a treat of freshly-baked items that Mark himself made, and it's amazing. And we learned later on that Mark has won several awards for his bakery. It was a real treat meeting Mark and his kids in person, he has such a giving spirit that just inspires you tremendously. I was personally really moved by his story and his life motivation. It's not often that you meet someone with so much clarity in his life purpose, and it was really inspiring to meet someone like Mark. Even though we found this place after reading several reviews, we were still very much surprised by our time here. The cottages and owner truly surpassed everything we expected out of a typical B&B, and we can't wait to return soon. Highly recommended for those who just want to get away from it all. And for those who are doing the coastal drive along Northern California, make a little detour and stay at this place. You'll thank me for this.

My second time staying at the Case Ranch Inn, beautiful scenery, accommodations with Farm tot able…read morebreakfast! Corinne is super sweet, the most sweet lady and host during our stay. I can't wait to return for my Birthday. If you need a good place to stay and get away from the hustle and bustle, Case Ranch Inn is the best place to stay in Forestville, CA

This is a hidden gem close to some of the best of the Russian River attractions. The grounds are…read morebeautiful with fruit trees, grape vines and plenty of cozy benches or chairs to relax in. Corrine, the manager was outstanding. Attentive and clearly there to give stellar customer service. I can't speak highly enough of her cooking. The breakfast featured their own custom made grape juice using a steam process, and a spread of fresh food that was both healthy and a delight to eat. The rooms are nice with a large bathroom, and robes. I always love when a place provides me with a robe. The bed was comfortable and the place is clean, nice on the eyes and very comfortable. Loved my stay and I will go back. Hopefully many times.

The Plum Blossoms were so pretty! The air was so fresh, and the town was so quaint. It seems like a…read morereally peaceful way of life around the town. Cute, quaint, quiet, cozy. This little guest house was just perfect for our 1 night stay in the Russian River Valley. The home had everything we needed- couch, tv/movies, kitchen, comfy bed and an additional sofa bed, cuteness throughout, great patio with a chiminea to keep you warm, and was nestled in a little country town in the woods of Monte Rio. You can walk to the river which is down the road, and you can rent kayaks for the day as well. Cecile, the owner, lives on the property, but this was still very private. She let us stay until 3:30pm on our day of "check-out". We walked a block to dinner at Cafe les Jumelles (see my review), but when the weather is good you should bring groceries and cook a meal at home, and eat under the stars outside. I also highly recommend breakfast or lunch at a wonderful restaurant down the road a bit called the Garden Grill. http://www.yelp.com/biz/garden-grill-guerneville#hrid:dVw0Lds83zFX0cuHvp9pEA I highly recommend staying here for a great get-away. This garden cottage can be found on sf bay area craigslist, under vacation rentals/Russian River. To contact the owner for rates and booking email Cecile: cecilekuz@gmail.com

I must admit that I was a little bit nervous when reserving this place through Craigslist, but I…read morecouldn't have better things to say! The cottage itself is adorable, clean, and includes all the essentials (towels, dishes, kitchen, clean linens, etc.) The patio in between the rooms is really cute and feels secluded. Cecile, the owner, has a house on the front of the property, and she couldn't have been nicer about answering our questions about Monte Rio and the other nearby Russian River towns. We probably wouldn't have even seen her if we had not gone out of our way. Monte Rio is cute, quaint, walkable little town. That said, it has plenty of food/resturants and a crazy little local dive bar and movie theatre right nearby. Guerneville (the main little town in Russian River) is also only about 4 miles away and includes more options (a small brewery, sporting options, Armstrong Redwoods, a bookstore, lots of restaurants, etc.) The entire area is a great escape from the city and is only about 1 1/2 hours away! And I would definitely recommend the Garden Cottage Duo over a nearby hotel or inn.

Got a blackberry turnover from Raymond's Bakery at the Bodega Bay Farmer's Market. It was so yummy!…read moreI loved that they used whole, fresh blackberries. I like that it had a rustic feel/taste. It seemed like it was baked in a wood fired oven. I also liked that they don't touch your cash (they have change laying out for you to get yourself so they don't cross contaminate with your food).

Specifically went to the bodega bay farmer's market to get some of these baked goods. The salted…read morebread round was outstanding. Ate it with a delicious, fresh butter we got from the cheese vendor there. We had another round from a local bakery to compare it to. No contest, Raymond's won out! There were also some berry type things. I liked that there was minimal sweetness added and the tart berry flavor came through. The brownie was chocolatey and not too sweet, melt in your mouth texture. Planning another visit soon.

Fantastic location. Wineries such as Gary Farrell, Arista, Hop Klin, etc are right up the road…read more House is nice and Rob is super easy to work with. It may have been a bit more rustic than what I was anticipating but that added to the charm of being in the woods on the river.

This place is great! We were a group of 9, with 2 dogs staying on one of the hottest weekends in…read morehistory. First, the house-- The first floor is very open, with a big living area (and sectional sofa) opening to a large dining room that comfortably seated all of us. The kitchen is spacious, and easy for one or two people to cook in. The knives are even sharp! There's a small bedroom on the first floor with a day bed. For some reason, it was the coolest room in the house. Upstairs are three more bedrooms (one with bunk beds!), the master suite, and another full bath. The beds were comfortable, everyone slept like babies, and the master suite has a kickass deck. There'a big back deck nestled in the redwoods with views of the river. Going towards the back yard, there's a nice hottub that we barely used because it was super hot outside. The yard is totally fenced (great for the dogs), and the back yard had fruit trees that will be great for a later guest once the fruit is ripe. The houses's location beside the beach path means you can go from front door to water in under two minutes. We spent a lot of time at the beach, and got to know some of the very nice neighbors. All in all, the best vacation house we've rented yet. Rob was super easy to work with, and I highly recommend.

The Innkeeper was very friendly but DO NOT STAY HERE. This place was filthy. I don't think they…read moretake guests very often and as such, they don't clean. For $224 you can stay somewhere clean, updated and fresh. Don't do it.