#11553 Premium
Charming waterfront cottage: Where the river and the redwoods meet the Sonoma Coast
House • Duncans Mills CA United States
Exchange types accepted
Statistics
Listed April 2023
Views 781
General overview
Our waterfront cottage sits on 1/3 of an acre directly on the Russian River, just a few miles from the Sonoma Coast. The dock in the pictures is our private dock in our front yard. Welcome to our little bit of paradise!
Our cottage is perfect for two to four people. This is a very quiet, peaceful location, perfect for nature lovers who are interested in hiking redwoods, , kayaking from our dock (we provide kayaks), and relaxing by the water.
SAFETY NOTE: There is no fence between the water and our property, so our house is not safe for young children or for anyone who is not completely water safe. Also, our primary heat source is a “wood” stove (actually propane) in the living room that gets HOT and would burn a child who touched it. For this reason, we generally ask that kids be at least seven before staying at our house. ***When sending a request, if you are traveling with kids, please let us know how old they are.*** We love kids, but we want to make sure they are safe to stay at our house!
The space
Our fully-renovated and updated cottage is small, cozy and beautifully appointed. Our second bedroom is very small (and it does not have a closet or a place to open up suitcases). For this reason, it is best suited for older kids and teenagers rather than adults, especially for longer stays (please, no young children as our house is not safe for them). Also note our second bathroom is in the lower level of the house (you need to go outside, down the stairs, and then back inside to access it) so we are not well-suited for bigger groups.
We have fantastic water views and access to the river from the private dock in our front yard. We have a wide array of kayaks, a canoe, plus a fleet of giant floaties available for your use. We love to sit on the deck or the patio and watch the river go by. Birds, seals, and river otters are regular visitors (sometimes even sunning themselves on our dock). The outdoor ping pong table also provides us with hours of laughter and entertainment. There is no TV service where we are, but we provide a full library of DVDs, plus puzzles and games.
Guest access
The main living area of the house is all on the second floor (which is accessed via an outdoor staircase), so our house is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.
Notes
PET OWNERS: in the past, we have not allowed pets because we didn't want dogs to get muddy in the river and then come inside and jump on the new furniture or get on top of the bedspread in the master bedroom (or the handmade quilts in the second bedroom). Everything in the house is new, so if a puppy chewed on the furniture or a hyperactive dog clawed and scratched the woodwork, we would be pretty upset. That said, in early 2019 we adopted an adult dog who is the most mellow creature imaginable--she would never even dream of getting up on furniture, or scratching at the woodwork on a door, or chewing on anything (she doesn't even know what to do with dog toys). We realize there are other great, well-behaved, super mellow dogs out there who could be great house guests, so we are open to talking with dog owners about what their dog is like. Our yard is not fully fenced, so a dog cannot be left outside during the day or sent out to use the bathroom alone (nor do any of us want to step in piles of dog poo left from visiting dogs). We go out with our dog and scoop poo every time, so you would need to do the same if you brought your dog to our house (and we would of course do the same at your house). We would love to do some exchanges within driving distance with our dog, and if you have a a wonderfully-behaved dog, we are open to doing an exchange that includes dogs for both of us. Our dog is on a monthly flea and tick program and I would ask the same of yours.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
TV
WiFi
Bathtub
First aid kit
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Fireplace
BBQ
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Meat-free kitchen
Bikes
Kayak
Travel Styles
Adventure
Romantic
Relaxing
Beach
Water
Hiking
Cycling
Golf
House rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets welcome
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
Simultaneous Only
Neighbourhood
We are lucky enough to be located in a "banana belt" micro-climate, meaning our house is close enough to the coast to escape the summer heat further inland, yet once the morning fog burns off, it is sunny and warm at our house when it remains cold and foggy directly on the coast. There are gorgeous redwoods nearby, and we hike them every weekend. The ocean is just a few minutes away, and we have a garage full of beach chairs so you can use to relax on the beach after hiking along the bluffs.
The Russian River region along the Sonoma Coast is one of the best vacation spots in Sonoma County. Visitors come to enjoy the wineries, river, redwoods and coast in this glorious natural setting. Although some spots along the Russian River have a reputation for being loud (with too many rentals filled with too many people), our town is quiet--you will hear nothing but crickets and frogs at night.
We are at the start of the Russian River Wine Road. For more information, go to www.wineroad.com where you will find not only information about wineries, but a calendar that will show you all the wine-related events that are nearby.
Our cottage is located less than a mile from the center of Duncans Mills, the most charming town along the Russian River. A very small, restored historic town from the late 1800s, Duncans Mills now consists of upscale shops, antique stores, art galleries and a wine and cheese tasting shop.
Nearby is the stunning and dramatic Sonoma Coast, where miles of shoreline and beaches have been preserved as state park. Following the river upstream from our house takes you along the Russian River Valley wine road--California's most diverse and beautiful wine region. Napa Valley wine region is the neighboring county to the east of us and Mendocino County is just north of us, making for many wonderful day trip opportunities.
Want to enjoy the redwoods but don't want to deal with the massive crowds (and lack of parking) at Muir Woods? Armstrong Woods in nearby Guerneville is consistently written up in guidebooks as being the perfect alternative--spectacular trails meander under magnificent redwoods and it is never crowded. You can park for free in the lot right at the park's entrance and walk in for no charge and enjoy the entire park.
For information on things to do in Sonoma County, go to http://www.sonomacounty.com and browse. For more local area information about the Russian River Resort and Recreation area, go to www.sonomadiscoveries.com and click on the Russian River link.
Getting to my home
A car is required—our area would be very difficult to access via public transportation.
Nearest airport
We are 95 miles from San Francisco Airport, 96 miles from Oakland Airport, and 130 miles from Sacramento Airport.
Getting around
We are less than a mile from the town of Duncans Mills, which is a tiny but adorable town. The road between our house and town is not very walkable as the shoulder is quite narrow.
Map of Approximate Location
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Premium
Clary and Eric
We are experienced home exchangers, having completed over 100 exchanges on other home exchange platforms. Eric is a physician in private practice, and Clary is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology in a doctoral program. We have a young adult daughter (born in 2005) who grew up exchanging homes and loves it. We are all avid SCUBA divers and are always looking for new places around the world to dive.
Travelling group
Desired Destinations
Open to any destination
Can travel at any time
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