It is hard for me to put into words how incredible Darrell’s place is. And it’s hard to be succinct because there are so many great things to say!
As many previous guests have stated, it is even more gorgeous in person. If I could offer advice to future guests it would be to stock up on groceries and never leave the property! It’s just so wonderful and relaxing that every minute away from it seems like a waste! The only reason we left was to check out Darrell’s awesome vintage store. Which I recommend!
I was worried about the lack of AC as it was supposed to be super hot when we were there. I didn’t need to worry at all! There is so much shade that we never felt hot. And the fans in the house are awesome! Speaking of the house, the bed is sooooo comfy. And Darrell has all sorts of items in case you forget something. Brand new tooth brushes, lotion, even nail polish remover! The kitchen is the perfect size for two people. We cooked all of our meals and enjoyed them outside.
He provides insect repellent. Definitely use some if you’re prone to bites. We fell asleep outside two evenings and got some bites, so I was glad we were wearing the repellent. And speaking of the outside at night...OH MY GOODNESS. It’s a dream!
There are a few negative reviews regarding there being grounds people or guests seeing Darrell tending to the plants. In response to that I want to say that he tries so hard to give his guests the utmost privacy. One morning he was tending to the plants, but it was very clear that he was being very careful to give us space. He is very friendly when you chat with him, but he lets you decide on the amount of interaction, which is really nice. I think it’s also important to remember that the property has a ton of tropical plants that are not native to CA. So in order to keep such beautiful grounds, they have to be tended to regularly! I honestly don’t know how anyone could give Darrell a negative review.
My husband asked him how many years he spent working on creating this oasis and he said about 40!!! He told us about his next project. He clearly is always working to improve the space—which is already perfect!
Assuming he will have us again, we are planning to try to come back once a year or so for a few days away from the stress of every day life 🙂.
One last thing, my husband and I have been taking the virus very seriously. I was worried about keeping this reservation as we booked it before CA issued stay at home orders. Darrell requires masks during his property tour, he told us more than once that he heavily disinfects the surfaces in between all stays, and in his shop he has several rules in place for a safe visit. This was the perfect place for us to continue our quarantine and we felt incredibly safe.