What’s the best way to be in Colorado, and do work every day in Los Angeles? Stay at Thad’s place in Topanga Canyon. It’s a twenty-five or so minute drive to edge of the city through a beautiful canyon, and down the California coastline, which made me wish the drive was longer. And when I got done with the nonsense I was back in a cozy, two split level guest house listening to the sounds of birds, and looking out at California oak trees and wild sage bushes. A couple of mornings I was joined on the deck by a doe and her yearling.

The cottage is split level, with a roomy kitchen and dining room upstairs, that has a little den with a TV, and a day bed if you need two bedrooms. The downstairs area connects with either a spiral staircase, or the wrap deck that runs around the outside. The bedroom is large, as is the bath, and all are very tastefully furnished.

The guest house is very complete with every kind of kitchen cookware and utensils you could want, an ample supply of linens, and nice little touches like a small library, and art books to read. Thad made the getting there and being there a pleasure. This is one of those Airbnb stays that makes me want to write an awful review so the place will be available when I want it to be. But I didn’t.