I rarely leave reviews, but this was one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've had,…read moretwice in a row. We had a 7:45pm dinner reservation and arrived on time, only to find no one at the host stand. After waiting about 10 minutes, someone finally came and seated us around 7:55. Water was poured, and then nothing. No server ever came to our table. After sitting there for 30 minutes without anyone taking our order or even checking in, we left at 8:25. Really disappointing, because the food actually looked good. We were staying nearby and decided to give it another shot the next morning for breakfast, which was included with our hotel stay. Unfortunately, it was more of the same. We arrived around 9am, again no one at the host stand. We eventually flagged down a waitress, who rudely told us to just seat ourselves. After sitting down, we waited another 20 minutes and still no one came to take our order. We left again without eating. The front of house operation here is a complete mess. It feels like there is no system at all, no coordination, no accountability, and no awareness of guests. At one point, I overheard staff saying things like "let's just say this one has no milk in it" and "let's just say this one is sunny side up," which made it clear they did not even know where dishes were supposed to go and were just guessing. Even more telling, barely anyone in the restaurant was actually eating, and most people looked as confused and frustrated as we were. Honestly, the owner and staff should be embarrassed by how poorly this place is being run. I have never seen such a complete breakdown in service, especially two days in a row. Huge disappointment.

We've been here for brunch a few times and finally got out there for dinner. The food was as…read moreexcellent, I might even say some of the best food in Marin in 2026. The service, on the other hand, was as adequate but flavored with a heavy dose of grumpy, broken wait staff. More than one hostess/waitress seemed almost resentful that we were there. Not my idea of a special night out. Just because you can afford to take your sweetheart out to a nice dinner doesn't mean you're a jerk and deserve to be scowled at. This can happen when you try and do really good food in a rural area and the workforce just isn't up to the challenge. Too bad. Sometimes you can train people to be gracious and inviting and to care about their jobs but sometimes people are just too broken and there's nobody else to choose from.

To start with, the location is out of this world. Woods of the most varied trees, some, enormous!…read moreWe could see the bay from our window and very close. It's not a lodge for the technocrat--There was no tv and cell phone communication was somewhat sporadic, but if you go here to enjoy your life, your senses... few places could be more marvelous. The first night by the fire pit, a big, wonderful pit, I met an Englishman from Manchester among other people. The unit we had had all the comforts of an excellent place. The pastries I had were superb, not kidding. I'd go back just for the scones.

Imagine this: you pack a bag, bring your dog, and drive out to the Lodge at Marconi after work. The…read moreapproach alone feels like a transition - winding roads, rolling hills, glimpses of the Pacific. As dusk settles and darkness blankets the land, the drive is clearly marked and welcoming. A fire glows outside the lobby, where guests gather for complimentary s'mores from the front desk. Melissa greeted me that evening - jovial, warm, and effortlessly efficient. Check-in felt less like a transaction and more like an arrival. After settling in, we walked up to Mable's just up the hill. The air was crisp. Jackie seated us outside, wiping down the table and setting up the heater while asking what brought us there. The service felt attentive without being intrusive - thoughtful in a way that made you feel both seen and relaxed. The manager recommended the oysters (sourced just down the hillside), clam chowder, beef short ribs, carrots, and potatoes he described as "ridiculously good." He wasn't wrong. One bite and I understood the confidence behind the recommendation. Jackie crafted a mezcal cocktail - technically out of season due to its pomegranate base - so she improvised beautifully. It was smoky, warm and sweet; perfect for the evening. Every dish felt intentional and dessert was too - chocolate mousse, peanut butter, caramel, roasted marshmallow, quinoa bark, and peanuts that melted together in a single, perfectly balanced bite. Later, I returned to the now-quiet fire, made one last s'more, and sat in stillness. There was a palpable sense of history on the land - a peaceful awareness of all who had gathered there before. The room was simple and deeply comfortable. I read before wrapping myself in crisp sheets and falling asleep on a cool pillow. In the morning, wrapped in a Marconi robe, I walked to the sauna and meditated - alternating between closed eyes and views of trees and the Pacific beyond. After a hot shower, I packed up and chose a nearby trail. The hike unfolded like a story: a solitary yellow chair overlooking rolling hills and ocean; the distant sound of cattle; clusters of seats that felt as if laughter had only just faded; historic buildings standing quietly in time; a small pond alive with frogs; ravens calling overhead; forest trails opening into meadow views. Eventually, the paths brought me back near Mable's. For breakfast, Haven greeted me and I chose the same table from the night before. I ordered the French toast after seeing the light in the eyes of my waitress when she described it - along with black coffee and scrambled eggs. Robert, the manager, stopped by to ask about my stay and suggested one final trail before I left. He was right - it was the perfect closing note. The Lodge at Marconi offers more than a stay. It offers space - to breathe, to wander, to reconnect. Wherever you're traveling from, you may just find solace here.

As a destination wedding photographer since 2014, I've worked at 150+ venues. Even though Glenn…read moreRanch is a relatively new wedding venue, their attention to details, efficient work-ethic, and friendly team is top-tier. The owner that lives on-site next to the ranch was ready to jump in to help with anything and everything. She was assisting our couple with the timeline to ensure we got couple portraits during sunset. She even drove my assistant, bride, groom, and myself on a golf cart to catch sunset couple portraits overlooking beautiful sprawling hills. I'm so grateful for her help on Kelli and Doug's special day to make everything run smoothly and efficiently. Highly recommend this venue if you're looking for a rustic ranch venue!

What do I say Mark and Lori and their kids and their wedding planners are absolutely amazing !!!!…read moreOur bartenders never showed up for the wedding and Lori mark and their team just stepped up and started to serve for cocktail hour They are Amazing!!! Their place is absolutely beautiful a hidden gem I recommend this place 1000% I am gonna miss seeing them over the last 2 years Thank you for all you do

Came here twice and loved all of their events that they host for the community and downtown…read morePetaluma! They have many vendors participating in their seasonal events. It exudes the spirit of the holidays and the vibe of the city! Their Christmas event with creative trees for donation and fundraising was very festive. It brought in the merriness and warmth of Christmas season. Their eggs and butter event, was fun and surprisingly baby friendly. They served beer and coffee while having a baby playpen section with DJ as well. I peered over to the other corner and they were providing complimentary sandwiches, chips, potato and macaroni salad and snacks too. It was one of its kind for the day and the parade was just right outside. No entry fee as well! Awesome venue and central location to downtown! Love the events that they throw here for the city and public!

I stayed here a couple years ago with my toddler, husband and my mother. We had the most peaceful…read moreamazing experience. We met the owners toward the end of our visit... fascinating people with great stories.

Perfect spot for a wedding or just a weekend getaway. Its a working cow ranch set back in the hills…read moreof nicasio. Its peaceful and quiet with birds and flowers. Its just the right place to take a break and get some quiet recharge time. Plus fresh eggs from the friendly free range ranch hens are delicious!

I have stayed at the Straus Home Ranch twice now for teacher retreats and I cannot say enough…read morepositive things about it. The home is historic and full of love. The family history here is compelling and part of why we chose to stay here- it is a privilege to be part of the Straus family's world, and to see the land that Mrs. Straus fought to preserve. The home is comfortable and lends itself to so many great memories- we enjoy conversations in every nook and love retreating to our rooms for much needed rest. The views around the property are stunning. One of my stays was rainy and that was equally delicious - this natural invitation to hunker down and read and be present. Michael is a wonderful person and host and has always shown us such kindness and openness. It is great working with him to set up the place prior to our arrival, from extra requests to making a fire pit for s'mores. This place holds a special place in my heart and I would come back more often if I could afford to - it's a great treat. You will love it.

Have you ever worked with a vendor who was so wonderful you instantly wanted to be friends with…read morethem? That's Michael and Vivien Straus. They had our hearts within minutes of meeting them, and we quickly learned that their warmth was matched with deep event planning expertise, lightning fast responses to all manner of inquiries, and a general willingness to do absolutely everything within their power to make our wedding seamless. We can't say enough positive things about Vivien and Michael. We had heard planning a wedding would be stressful, but largely thanks to Vivien and Michael, we honestly never felt stressed. They regularly welcomed us to the ranch ahead of our wedding, helping us build a special bond to the land and to their family. They worked so effectively as a team, helping us find lodging, answering questions on behalf of our other vendors, thoughtfully navigating asks related to honoring recently passed family members, and so much more. During the wedding weekend, Michael bent over backwards to make sure everything ran smoothly, always beaming with a huge smile. His soft serve ice cream was such a big hit! It was always such a relief to see Michael, because we knew he was fixing something we didn't have to worry about, or making something work better, or just thinking 10 steps ahead to make a future moment run smoothly. He is exactly who you want at your wedding!! We had the wedding of our dreams and we can't imagine a better place or better hosts for this special moment in our lives. We plan to visit Straus Home Ranch regularly and will loudly sing the praises of Michael and Vivien everywhere we go, because we're convinced there is no better place on the planet to host a wedding.

My daughter and husband have been taking horsemanship lessons with Karin for 4 years. Karin is…read moreincredibly knowledgeable about horses, as well as dogs and also has great advice for humans as well! We couldn't be happier with the horsemanship lessons. She has been such a great mentor to my daughter as many of the leadership lessons with horses are so very applicable for a young girl's life lessons. For a young girl to have the confidence to lead these horses - it's just so amazing to witness. Recently we decided to take a staycation at her lovely home and rented out a couple of rooms for us for the weekend. Karin was such an amazing hostess from the very beginning when we got there, to the lavish exit from her property, as she had both her dogs positioned on either side of the gate at the end of her driveway as a send off. We stayed in a beautiful room with incredible views of the Nicasio reservoir. This is a must stay place for any photographer, bird lover, horse lover. It felt like we were completely in a different country, when we were only a 20 minute drive to our home. Karin made us an amazing breakfast each morning, while overlooking the reservoir, watching pelicans, falcons, and yes...bald eagles flying overhead! How incredible! Her house has several rooms to rent, and she also has a treehouse, which my daughter stayed in with her friend. They had a blast. A great skylight above the bed to stargaze. One night we enjoyed dinner at her outdoor 'cantina'. During the day, dipping our toes in the beautiful pool. The kids enjoyed chasing the little lizards that basked in the sun. We brought our dog who had probably the most fun of us all. Finally, a place where a dog can actually be a dog! Did I mention Karin is a fabulous dog trainer as well? Thank you so much for such a fabulous weekend that we will cherish always, Karin!

I stayed at Danehill Manor for a week with my boyfriend and it was absolutely magical. We took…read morenatural horsemanship lessons with Karin who was hosting us and it was incredible to learn from her wisdom. We walked away with new leadership skills, confidence and patience. I would HIGHLY recommend the experience of being with these majestic horses that roam the 35 acres freely eating grass. The property is stunning, it feels like you're in Europe amidst the green rolling hills and Karin is also a phenomenal chef. She makes the worlds fluffiest omelettes for breakfast and incredibly authentic Danish dinners as well. It was so much more than a vacation for us, we will remember the things we learned here for a lifetime.

Rosewood is an absolutely beautiful venue that has everything we could have hoped for, including…read moreseparate spaces for the bride and groom to get ready, which was really important to us. The garden was incredible and the views were amazing across the property. Between the willow tree and rolling hills in the background, Rosewood is truly a gem in the Petaluma area and we were not short of opportunities for photos or views for our guests to rave about. Everyone we spoke to told us how gorgeous the venue was and how much they enjoyed the wedding. Ann was a wonderful host and truly went above and beyond before and during the day. Anytime something came up, Ann was quick to address it and keep everything on track. When in the last week before our wedding, we ran into a big issue with a different vendor, Ann was the first person to support us and make sure that we knew what to do and help us quickly find a solution to ensure our day would run smoothly. We truly can't imagine being married anywhere else! We could not recommend Rosewood enough to couples looking to book for their big day.

I cannot even BEGIN to sing the praises for Rosewood Events and Ann and Dan! Everything about our…read moreexperience was seamless from start to finish. I work for a nonprofit and approached Ann about hosting an event for a group of top fundraisers. She was such a delight to work with, we toured the venue in the winter, and Ann met us with a book of pictures to show us exactly what the layout would look like when the tent was in place and everything was in bloom! Ann also helped send over all kinds of information needed for booking vendors and coordinating with the venue. She outlined everything we would need to know leading up to the event, and made sure to check in that we had everything we needed. Since we were traveling in from Texas, she even offered local recommendations for us to use throughout our entire weekend. And that's all before the event.. Day of was nothing less than PERFECTION. Ann took care of every detail, down to including flowers coordinated to our color scheme in the rest rooms! We had several attendees that need additional help with mobility challenges, and Ann's team was always ready to help transport them to and from the parking lot or anywhere needed! Dan helped coordinate our shuttles and made sure our arrival and departure we as easy as possible. Their entire staff was professional, kind and exceedingly helpful. Anytime I could even think to need help, they were ready and available to assist! I was running late to the venue with decorations and as soon as I arrived Ann gave me a big hug and told me she was so glad to see me and that she was starting to get nervous on my behalf! I felt like I was being welcomed by a friend and not just a vendor. All this to say, Rosewood Events is beautiful, so easy to work with, and provides the most incredible background for an event. I cannot recommend them enough! You will not be disappointed.

I've had the opportunity to shoot multiple weddings at Flying Cloud Farm and I absolutely love how…read moreeach one has used the space in a unique way. It's so important for each couple to be able to adapt a space specific for their wants and Flying Cloud really acts as a great space for that. There are so many stunning backdrops throughout the venue, and the atmosphere feels peaceful and very Sonoma County. Both of my clients that have had their weddings here also told me how great Jeannette and Julia were from the beginning!

What can I say about the amazing experience we had at Flying Cloud Farm? From the first visit, my…read morehusband and I knew that we wanted to book them as our venue right away. Our first meeting with coordinator Julia was a dream! She answered any and all questions we had from our first meeting through to the days before and was so helpful. She provided a list of highly rated local vendors, budget and timeline spreadsheets, and was able to fine tune our grandiose ideas into something tangible and attainable. We were very worried about having a March wedding with the weather being so unpredictable in the springtime, but it was perfect. Sunny skies, 75 degrees, gentle breezes, and a breathtaking sunset to boot. Julia and the team executed everything flawlessly and every guest was in awe about how much of a seamless and personalized experience it was. If you want to experience a venue that can do it all and make your wedding or special event entirely unique, look no further than Flying Cloud Farm!