 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Renting Paradise: Sonoma County |
||||||||||||
| 2 At The Bay's Edge |
||||||||||||
| Two cozy retreats tucked into the tides of Bodega Bay • One-bedroom/one-bathroom unit w/private deck (sleeps 2) • Two-bedroom/one-bathroom unit (sleeps 4) Hidden below Highway 1 where it winds through the sleepy fishing village of Bodega Bay, At The Bay’s Edge is a welcome refuge from the traffic, the heat, the suburbs—whatever is currently driving you crazy about everyday life. Here, you’ll breathe in the sublimely uncomplicated rhythm of life on the water. Resistance is futile. You’ll have to slow down. Okay, my husband was still fielding calls from work an hour after we settled into our one-bedroom apartment. But the hypnotic blue water—winking at us from wall- to-wall living room windows—gradually worked its magic. Pretty soon, we were feeding seagulls from our private deck as fishing boats chugged past with the final catch of the day. By the time the burnt-orange horizon melted into the candlelight-glow in our living room, we were drowsing on the sofa. We were finally lulled to sleep by the continuous croon of the harbor horn. For four days, we read. We napped. We watched egrets and pelicans fishing at low tide, morning coffee in hand. We developed short-term amnesia about frantic “to-do’s.” Weathered and barn-like, At The Bay’s Edge houses two units, each with its own private entrance. Both are decorated with the understated style of a beach bungalow and will pamper you with creature comforts—including plenty of plushy bath towels, scented candles and plump pillows, a shampoo-and-soap dispenser in the shower and bedside lamps you turn on and off with the lightest brush of your fingertips. Our one-bedroom unit made a snug cocoon for two people who wanted to relax and reconnect. The queen-sized bed is luxuriously outfitted with a brocade comforter and lots of pillows. The sunny-yellow bathroom has a greenhouse window. If you need more room, the two-bedroom unit can comfortably accommodate two couples or a small family. One bedroom has a king-sized bed, the other a queen, and the bathroom is nice and roomy. Of course, there are all the modern conveniences—including satellite TV/VCR and a CD player (ours was ingeniously stowed under a kitchen cabinet). Both units also have wood burning stoves to keep you warm when the fog or a winter storm roll in off the ocean. Although there wasn’t a barbecue grill on the deck, we were impressed with our first attempt to prepare fresh salmon from the fish market at Lucas Wharf restaurant (707-875-3522), basted with its own scrumptious herb butter, using the counter top George Foreman grill. What most impressed us about At The Bay’s Edge, however, were the many personal touches that made us feel like were staying at a friend’s place: • A pair of binoculars • A beach blanket • A guide to preparing fresh seafood—and advice on where to buy it locally • A copy of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”—filmed in Bodega Bay 40 years ago • A full pitcher of filtered water in the refrigerator when we arrived • A personal note from our hostess introducing us to Charlie, the resident seagull At The Bay’s Edge is one of the few rental properties I know of where the property manager lives on-site. Don’t expect room service—but do plan on being well looked after and feeling very much at home! CONTACT: • Phone: 707-875-9038 • Web: www.bodegabayrental.com • E-mail: mj@bodegabayrental.com PRICE:
KIDS: Approved on an individual basis PETS: No NOTES:
CLOSE TO: Sonoma State Beaches (1/2 mi.); Bodega (5 mi.); Osmosis Spa and Wildflower Bakery, Freestone (8 mi.); Occidental (12 mi.); Russian River (11 mi.). |
||||||||||||
| Buy Now |
||||||||||||
| Check out updated recommendations, resources and unvarnished opinion on Ramblings web log. |
||||||||||||
| | | | | | |
