This place is ethereal. My friends and I rented Riverstone Ranch this past weekend for a birthday…read moreand were completely blown away. The estate is located on the banks of Russian River and only a pleasant 20 minute walk away from Downtown Healdsburg. We arrived after dark to find our friends around the fire pit enjoying some incredible barbeque. I was pretty impressed even with my first walk through of the property in the dark! There are a series of elegantly themed cottages surrounding a main Queen Anne Style home. Whoever decorated this place is a genius. Every corner has a unique detail to discover! There is a rooster house with all kinds of adorable pieces and an Oak house with a tree through the kitchen! The spread out cottages allowed for privacy and serenity. I've never slept better! In the morning, I woke up surrounded by the electric colors of fall. I also noticed that the estate was surrounded by all kinds of colorful fruit trees and vegetation. None of us wanted to leave! Sweet sweet escape. It only took us an hour to get back to San Francisco! I can't wait to go back!

Not cheap, but spectacular! The owners have spared no expense in remodeling, and it shows; a great…read morelocation overlooking the river, with all the amenities. We had 19 of my extended family staying there for a wedding, but with multiple buildings, there was room to spread out so we weren't always in each other's hair. And with a heated pool, ping-pong table, (gas) fire pit, horseshoes, grill, patio+decks (plus frisbee golf in the works), there's something for everyone to do. Truly a wonderful getaway and special treat for my sister's wedding weekend. My two small tips for the owners: 1) buy a few pool toys like noodles and inner tubes, and 2) put a small fence around the frog pond so kids can't fall in.

It's been a few years since my wife and I were here last, but this is still the "Gold standard" of…read morevacation homes. We rented this amazing home 3 times already, and are thinking of returning again soon. To wake up early in the morning and walk down to your own beach on the creek, watch as the mist in the Redwoods slowly lifts, and with luck see deer or river otters going about their business is just the most peaceful thing in the world. I guarantee that one week at the Dreamery will massage you brain and change your entire attitude for months! Andrew provides a very Zen inspired home and property that is perfectly in sync with the natural surroundings. Just writing this makes me realize that we gotta go back soon!

It's Elemental: We have been guests at this vacation rental many times over the past 8 years. It…read moreis our favorite spot to find peace and serenity away from the chaotic hustle and bustle of every day life. If you are sensitive to harmony of nature, you will find spiritual bliss during your visit here. Everything about the home and grounds are cared for with the utmost respect to living trees, plants and animals. The host has truly personalized this space with his beautiful japanese style garden, asian accents, and Feng Shui. He even brings the elements indoors with fresh evergreen sprigs, stones, and wild flowers. If you find this place as sacred as so many others, you will want to return, again and again. There is nothing that can bring you closer to nature than showering in the open outdoor shower at the base of ancient redwoods. The earthy woods, the open air, the all season creek, the crackling fire...it brings my creativity alive. I have done some of my best writing and art in this space. There are gifts and tokens from those who have come before, heart shaped rocks line the fence, stacked stones, and pros of inspiration and gratitude fill the pages of the guest book. I promise, this will feel like home away from home.

This is an amazing house to stay at with all of the amenities you could possibly hope for -…read moreincluding a hot tub on the expansive deck, which overlooks the beautiful Russian River. The home is warm, comfortable, spacious, delicately decorated and is graciously updated. I especially loved the private access to the river with your own little beach (and fire pit) to hang out with a loved one or friends! Downtown Guerneville is a hop skip and a jump away where you'll find adorable shops, restaurants and lots of people watching, especially during the summer! Another great aspect of Kudos is that it allows pets, so we were able to bring our wonderful dog Rosie to stay and enjoy the river as well. If you want to bring family, friends or even want a romantic getaway near the unforgettable Russian River, Kudos is a fantastic choice that will always have you coming back for more : )

We had a wonderful weekend while at the Sea Ranch Lodge for a wedding. The staff was generally…read morefriendly and helpful. Emily, at guest services, especially found ways to make our stay great, including delivering decaf ground coffee to our room. We were not able to dine in the restaurant, since it was mostly closed for the wedding. That was unfortunate at breakfast time on the day of the wedding, but the cafe food was pretty good. Our room was beautiful and very comfortable. Of course the setting is beyond beautiful.

We came for lunch at noon on a Sunday with a reservation. The staff was fast, friendly and…read moreattentive. We got the last great table available. I got the curry chicken salad and my wife got the grilled cheese with tomato soup. I liked mine. The portion was good and very fresh and tasty. My wife thought the grilled wasn't her kind of grilled cheese. It had more of a grilled meaty flavor that she wasn't looking for. But it was well prepared. The salad and the salad dressing were very good. The dressing was very light and bright and lemony. I had a bloody Mary. Which was tasty. My wife had a Bellini with peach and it was also tasty. Also, I got a half dozen oysters, which were very good. One small note is that there were several small pieces of shell mixed in with the oyster. Which makes them hard to eat. But the taste of the oysters was very good. One last thing, I would have liked the oysters to start, rather than served with the rest of the food. Overall, this place is nice has great views and I would come back.

Amazing food options along with a wonderful view. Really enjoyed the outdoor seating.read more

A retreat that you will not soon forget! Bodega Bay Beach Home is a getaway for the weary or the…read morefamily. The beautiful scenery surrounds the home with the ocean and mounain views. Minutes from Portuguese beach, you can hear the waves crashing on the rocks lulling you to a peaceful rest. The home is furnished with all amenities, including a game room, 4 large TVs and a fireplace that warms the heart. Clean and updated, close to great restaurants and beaches.

This house is the niciest property, in the Gurneville area, right on the Russian River with access…read more(views / kayaks / safe beach with passsing river traffic / dock / gardens/ redwoods / patio / decks / hotub). Its a large quiet property. It was previously a bed and breakfast called Grandmas, a resturaunt / bar called Angelos and probably about 100 years old. The decore and antiques reflect the local nostalgia of the area. Recently put on the rental market.

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.

This wonderful getaway has been updated and is more lovely than ever…read more It has everything one would need. The hot tub is amazing. Everything is clean and cozy. If your looking for a place to get away and enjoy the redwoods, Russian River, hiking trails or just want to sit by the fire, read or watch a movie, cook, eat and be merry, this is it!