We never go out to this area for a getaway and were just in awe of the beauty that we have missed…read moreout on. We booked a cabin at Johnson's Beach and Resort. This location is so convenient to town shopping, exploring, great eats, karaoke and the best Bloody Mary that I have ever had. (I mention this drinks, as it is a short walk from the cabin we stayed at to Rivertime Restaurant). We thought the cabin was so cute and very rustic. I could actually see the ground below through the floor slats and the windows did not have screens but opened up to allow a breeze. It was a little warm, but the ceiling fan helped a little. There is a small deck off of the cabin and it is a nice area to sit and enjoy the sounds of the water, laughter from the nearby campers and the rustling of the leaves from the canopy of trees. I was unaware of what I had been missing out on, by not exploring this area. The people in the town were all so friendly and personable. It was my birthday and we had an intimate dinner, karaoke and beverages. Everything was close by and there was no need to get into the car to drive. This was a walking trip. The check in process was so easy and quick. The check out process was even quicker. I look forward to sharing this gem with my close friends and we have already talked about scheduling another getaway. Great job Johnson's Beach Resort! Until we meet again....

The owners are very kind and courteous. Nice location with easy access to the beach and Main…read moreStreet. The rooms are set in pods of 4. The walls are paper thin, so you hear all conversations, sneezes, movements, etc. So you are at the mercy of your co-residents on when you can sleep. It's very, very loud. Camping on the grounds with fires going. The room had campfire smoke throughout our stay, making it more difficult to breathe. For these reasons, I don't recommend. If you are looking for indoor camping, this is your spot.

Grandma's house is conveniently located in Monte Rio half way between Occidental and Guernville…read more The large property easily accommodated our group of ten and had great onsite perks: hot tub, games, water todays, canoes/kayaks, inflatable tubes, pool table, movies, grill, washing machine and dryer. Parking is easy and the huge advantage is stepping outside and walking directly onto your own dock or beach on the river. A majority of us had such a great time at the house there was little reason to leave. The dog loved it too. Some of the items inside the house are older and maintain the essence of this historic place. This may not be for everyone, like the taxidermied animals, but we thought it gave it a great 80's/ 90's charm. Would rent the house again if staying in the area with a large group.

Spacious house with the large backyard on the river and a nice patio…read more 2 canoes are available to use, so is a fuzzball table. The kitchen is fully furnished, the rooms comfortable, the living room has a nice TV and there is wireless internet connection.

We are here now and celebrating our anniversary. Meghan and Jonathan a wonderful and gracious asset…read moreto the fabulous vibe and location! . We are enjoying your guests and the amazing surroundings

Update: Management called us and told us that if we removed the bad review, they would give us a…read morecomplete refund plus a $150 credit toward the restaurant. We told them no. We still believe it is only fair that we pay for the first night. My wife said, that sounds like a bribe. She wasn't falling for it. She did not want to have others end up with the same experience we had. Even though we paid for the first night through Booking.com using Apple Pay, we discovered that the hotel had also charged our Citi card, which was attached to Booking.com, for all three nights two days before we arrived. So we were charged twice. We disputed the charges with the card company. We thought it was over when the charges were removed from our card, but then on September 21 we were charged again for the three remaining nights we were not there. Over $900 I called the hotel again, and their response was, "We will get back to you." They haven't. So we didn't take the deal to remove the review, and now it appears they may have given the credit card company different information. I explained everything to the credit card company again today the representative said, " it sounds like they were trying to bribe you, and the charges are now back under review.

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.

Really beautiful location and staff very friendly and accommodating and the Russian River is…read morespectacular with good beach access.

We really enjoyed our latest trip to Casini. The last time we came, we tried out their new…read moreplatinum sites (it's been a while). We liked it so much, we booked it again. While we enjoyed the extra space and the cement patio, we weren't able to use the weber grill due to all the rust. And the swing and chair and table set were nice, but covered in dirt and bird feces. I understand it's a campground, but they're calling these their "platinum" sites. It would be great if they could keep the grills covered (to prevent rust) and hose down the furniture when needed. Nobody likes cooking on a rusty grill.

What a beautiful oasis in the redwoods of the Russian River Valley. Such a transformative and…read moregrounding place. Peace

I was here for a weekend retreat. The resort is very nice and nicely surrounded by paved paths,…read moretrees, flower and other items. The rooms are small but large enough for two people. A highlight is a large hot tub. The dining room is comfortable and roomy enough for 25 people. The staff cooked great breakfasts, lunches and dinners. There is Internet access in the dining room or lodge. I look forward to returning someday.

Now is the time to plan your late summer vacation and Dawn Ranch in Guerneville ticks all the…read moreboxes. Dawn Ranch is in the best location, on the west side of downtown Guerneville on Highway 116. Park your car and walk 5-10 minutes to all the restaurants, bars and shops downtown, and the river. This sweet spot offers glamping tents, cottages, chalets, cabins and bungalows - something perfect for everyone. This is an excellent choice for a romantic getaway for two or for a large family reunion - and it's dog and family-friendly. We stayed in a Meadow Chalet this time, which is perfect for a couple. We loved the front room with a small sofa and the two-sided fireplace, which we used every night and morning when it was chilly. I also love the bungalows and cottages. Be sure to look carefully at the website and select the room and location that suits you best. I like lodging in The Meadow and The Spa area best. The Green area is great if you have dogs and/or kids. They have lawn games there and it's perfect for the classic summer camp vibes. The Grove area is cute, it's across the highway. Dining options at Dawn Ranch are truly exceptional! They offer breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner (note day/times vary.) Dinner on the deck under the redwoods or in the stunning dining room is unforgettable. (Check out the new floral display on the ceiling!) The tasting menu is a FEAST and perfect for a special occasion. ‍ ‍ ‍They have a beautiful full service spa on the property. Book a massage and soak in a redwood soaking tub on the deck first to relax. They also offer yoga, forest bathing and other wellness options. Be sure to check out their midweek and seasonal offers. Their entire staff is welcoming and attentive. I love that they texted us every day to see if we needed anything. This is our second stay and we're already planning our next visit! Thank you team Dawn Ranch for another perfect stay!

Another place that is overpriced by far, tiny tiny room $1000 a night, yes the property is cute but…read morethat doesn't justify the price. Our experience was just awful from the start. The tiny room that was dirty with dog hair everywhere on the pocket door, so much dust in the enclosing outlet and hair it was just disgusting. Black streak on the sheets... We stayed two very uncomfortable night, we complained to the management the day after as we arrived so late they deep clean the room and apologized... again $1000 a night.... Russian river is beautiful but this area became in the last 4/5 years an overpriced trap ... sad

The place is very old (50's decor in disrepair) and run down and the manager uses vinegar to clean…read morethe bed clothes. The manager treated us very poorly, saying all sorts of bizzarre things to my 8 year old daughter and I. He refused a refund although we had not used the room at all and had booked last minute, five hours earlier that same day at noon. First he said he couldn't refund without his employer's permission. I requested he ask the owner and he behaved very angrily and asked if "You want to be my boss? Will you pay me? Buy my food, my bread, my roti?" It was absolutly bizarre and such an obvious show. Finally I went and knocked on the owner's door, a nice lady who lives on top of some of the units and she offered a refund immediately. The manager is not doing his job maintaining the property and, when I mentioned there were none of the normal postings about fire safety, hotel licensing, etc., he accused me of using my "big city power to beat up on small business" advising I should go beat up on a corporate hotel. After he finally refunded my one night stay and we were driving away, he actually yelled "Get the F%&k out!", taking a picture of my car while we drove away. I am in Guerneville a dozen times a year and I have never experienced anything so sketchy.

Great place to stay on the Russian River…read more Not far from the 101, and even closer to the Pacific Coast Highway and Jenner. Cute Inn, each unit has a fair bit of privacy, and most have their own decks. There is also a grassy lawn that leads right to the river, with hammocks and picnic tables. Some seats to lounge in. Very dog friendly - we had a medium size dog and that was no problem. There were some kayaks there but we did not get to try those out. The room itself was basic but clean and comfortable. The staff were really nice. Definitely would love to stay again, no complaints at all!