I've cycled a lot around Point Reyes and taken many one-day road trips, but I've never really…read moreexplored the area extensively due to a lack of time. That recently changed thanks to the recent overnight accommodations provided by the Black Heron Inn. Located in Point Reyes Station, about a 5-minute drive from downtown, it's the perfect place to stay when exploring Point Reyes. I had done quite a bit of research on accommodations in the area, but the options seemed to either be way too expensive or way too "patchouli" for my taste. The Black Heron Inn was the perfect fit for me and my wife. They have three guest rooms, and due to the lack of availability of the other rooms, I selected the Grand View Suite. And what a "Grand View" it was. My strong suggestion is not to plan too much during the late afternoon because you'll want to open a bottle of wine and enjoy the view from the outdoor deck or the dining room table before heading off to dinner for some oysters. The clean and well appointed rooms have a small refrigerator, a small microwave, and a toaster as well as dishes and silverware, so make sure to bring some ready to eat food with you to store in the room since food is not provided. We personally picked up some breakfast savories and sweets from Brickmaiden Breads, and our mornings were set. Coffee is provided along with a Cuisinart Coffee maker. If you don't like your coffee black or enjoy creamers, be sure to pack some milk for the fridge. The proprietors are pretty hands-off when it comes to guest interaction (which is just fine), but they are very responsive if necessary. One thing I did learn while talking to them briefly was that they have a lot of repeat customers. Based on our recent stay, I can see why!

We recently stayed in the Grand View Suite and sent an email to the innkeepers at…read morestay@blackheroninn.com to provide some feedback. The email bounced because the mailbox was full, so we're posting the email we sent to Yelp. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. Positives: * Quiet and peaceful. * Very nice view. * Useful kitchenette items: plates, cutlery, microwave, coffee maker (with Peet's coffee!), etc. Improvement suggestions: * The windows need washing, especially in the dining area. The view is one of the main attractions of your property, and it's a shame (and disappointing) to look through dirty windows. * There are cobwebs in areas in the room (example: next to the book case in the dining area), and outside on the deck and deck chairs. In fact, the Adirondack chairs on the deck were so dirty we didn't want to sit on them. * The room lighting is a mish-mash of incandescent, CFL, and LED, with different color temperatures. Suggest redoing the lighting with LED lights in the 3000 (warm light) color temperature. Also, the low-voltage puck lights in the soffit above the kitchen counter don't work. At least, we couldn't find a switch to turn them on. Fixing this would brighten up the kitchenette. * The handle on the right-side loft window is incapable of opening the window. (There's a small set screw meant to secure the handle to the window winding mechanism's shaft, and the screw is loose so the handle just spins on the shaft so the window doesn't open.) * The cushioning in the two table chairs in the dining area and the two reclining chairs in the living area is worn and compressed, so the cushioning is marginal. The chairs need to be reupholstered or replaced; they're basically worn out. Making these improvements would elevate the room from just okay to very good and make the relatively high room rate more reasonable.

Went with my friend on a private Salmon Creek ride. It was quite lovely. Beautiful scenery and…read morethe weather was perfect. Jay was an engaging and attentive guide. He regularly checked in to see that we were comfortable with the pace (my friend is a beginner rider). The horses seem well cared for and were relaxed on the trail. Sophie, who accompanied us, was also knowledgeable and interactive. Thank you both for a most enjoyable ride. i would definitely recommend Five Brooks if you want to experience some lovely trails around Bodega Bay.

Just had a fantastic time with my granddaughters (2.5, 5.5, and 7) horseback riding on sweet,…read moregentle horses. The staff, Jay and T, were amazing with the girls; they provided clear instructions while making sure everyone felt comfortable and safe. Thanks for the wonderful time!!!

This place is magical. It really is…read more I am writing this review here at Sea Ridge Cottage, and dreading our departure tomorrow. We stayed here last night, and again tonight. 2 nights is NOT enough. I want to live here. I cannot wait to return. This is such an amazing gem, that I am hesitant to yelp about it, for fear it will be too hard to book in the future. However, I did find this place through yelp, and will return the favor to others. If you are looking for a place to book in Inverness or Point Reyes, you MUST book this place. It was worth every single penny. This cottage is in the middle of an enchanted forest, and I never want to leave! The owner, Wendy is so sweet, and communication was great. It was a breeze to book it. This morning, while I sipped my coffee on the gorgeous deck, I was half expecting a fairy to come say hi.

I spent my birthday weekend at the Sea Ridge House with 9 of my closest friends. First, I need to…read moresay that we found this hidden gem one week before the big weekend and Wendy was so accommodating and very professional in the way she dealt with me, and I guess with her "tenants" in general, that gave me peace of mind. You know how it is when you are in charge of a big group's plan, this was the least thing I wanted to worry about and the most important! where to spend the night on that Saturday. But, then...when we arrived late on Saturday night, spent the night and then the morning of Sunday, we wished we would have arrived earlier and stayed longer. The true magic lies in this place. We loved this house! every corner of it, it is a very comfortable place and your friends or group of people will feel like home. It is a very functional house, whenever you need something (like a bottle opener) you turned around and there you go, you find it. It's clean and organized plus the cleaning fee is included which makes your life easier. It worked really well for me, with a group of single people and a couple. We fell in love with the house and we will definitely come back when the days are warmer. [Sorry for the pictures that are not rotated, I guess Yelp doesn't have that feature, another review?]

Our favorite place in the world! We were so fortunate to be married at one of the Occidental…read moreGuesthouses (The Trees) in October 2019. The setting is absolutely magical. Each of the Guesthouses is impeccably decorated, cozy, and welcoming. From the beautiful redwood grove at The Trees to the incredible outdoor dining table at The Hills. Each house is uniquely dreamy, nestled in the picturesque town of Occidental. Barbara is truly the most wonderful, kind, and welcoming host. She attended to every single detail to ensure that our wedding day was perfect (even down to wiping off benches after the beautiful morning mist cleared). She is a dear friend and really makes every visit extraordinary. We know we will continue visiting for years to come. While you stay in Occidental, you MUST get food from the Union Hotel. Between visits, my husband and I dream about Garlic Gold pizza, carrot cake, and the best minestrone around. The pizza crust is to die for- fluffy and just the right balance of perfectly browned. The slice of carrot cake is literally larger than my hand and maybe even forearm! Super rich and velvety cream cheese frosting- amazing! We have visited Occidental once during COVID and the Union has an excellent picnic style menu. The food is ordered outside and nicely packaged for take-out or eating at a table in their distanced outdoor area. As someone who has strictly adhered to distancing and other protocols, I felt safe and comfortable! Highest praise for the Occidental Guesthouses and Union Hotel! A must visit for anyone who loves cozy accommodations, excellent food, and the most welcoming environment.

Beautiful homes for guests, especially the Trees, all with amazingly comfortable beds and classy…read moretouches such as pianos in The Trees and the Farmhouse, and a clawfoot tub with redwood views at the Trees. Booked all of them as part of an amazing wedding service with the Union Hotel, and all of our guests were very impressed!

First lets just say that what attracted me was the website. I loved how exclusive each property was…read moreand how attention to detail everything appeared. Second thing I loved was how professional and sweet Barbara was on the phone and email. Third was how adorable the town was when we pulled into town. It's so quite and picturesque. Everyone knows everyone. So when we walked into the union hotel to check into our guest house Barbara welcomed us with open arms and her tasty bruschetta. Delicious!! We got instructions on where we were headed and what to expect and we were off. We pulled into our driveway and oh my goodness!!! The house was beautiful!! Huge fireplace, big kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath with washer and dryer. They also have this cool juke box on the wall with all of this awesome music to play and the view is perfect. Tip: they don't have a DVD player and the stations are basic cable so bring a hookup for you laptop to connect to the tv. Besides that its awesome!! Thanks again Barbara!! We will be back!! Oh did I mention that the house is a Frank Llyod Wright house??? Ya... Awesome.

Had the opportunity to stay at The Cedar House guest room this weekend! It was lovely! The room…read morewas spacious and well appointed. The kitchen had everything we needed to eat in for a meal or two. Lush grounds overflowing with jasmine, hydrangea, ivy and mature trees provided the perfect setting. We were delighted with the quiet neighborhood, the close proximiety to wonderful eateries and shops in downtown San Rafael (including Johnny Doughnuts!!) and the quaint decor. We will definitely be coming back to stay at the Cedar House!

Casa Ramona is a an airbnb cottage located in beautiful western sonoma county (wine country), CA…read more It is bright, airy, serene, private and comfortable with all the amenities, including a hot tub. Host, Anna, has an eye for detail, which means everything here is aesthetically tasteful and functional. This goes for the interior and extends into the spacious garden area, which is a stone's throw from one of sonoma county's best bike/walking/jogging paths. My gf and I came up from LA, and stayed here for 3 days in late June. It was a blissful getaway...offering the best of what western sonoma county has to offer in terms of comfort, peace and quiet, beautiful countryside, great food (walking distance to the little village of Graton, which has two of the north bay's best restaurants..the Underwood, and the Willowwood Cafe). Casa Ramona is located in wine country, and dozens of tasting rooms are situated within a 20 minute (driving) radius. Some excellent wineries/tasting rooms are within walking distance!! The coast is also a short and spectacular drive away. I can't say enough positive things about this hidden treasure. We'll be back.

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.

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 : )

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.