My stay at the carriage house has been an excellent experience from the very beginning. When I first opened the sliding wooden gate and stepped into La Finca (the farm) I knew this was someplace special. Offset from the road and secluded behind a fence and a passion fruit tree I found a pristine and organized backyard oasis with a garden, a chicken pen, beehives, and the beautifully renovated red carriage house, all of which gave me a sense of being miles in the country. The interior of the house is extremely comfortable and calming as a modern loft space (with sky lights!) is matched with the warmth of wood throughout. Nights were very quiet here and making meals in the fully stocked kitchen space was a relaxing pleasure. I enjoyed so much coming home to the carriage house each evening and long peaceful weekends were spent here.

The area is awesome, sitting at the juncture of Emeryville, South Berkeley, and Temescal it has many, many options for local, walkable dining out. There's a farmers market on Tuesday evenings on Adeline and on Sunday afternoons in Temescal. Public transportation is close by, the Ashby BART is a short walk north up Adeline and MLK (a stop on the way at Rasa Cafe in the morning is a must). And there are buses on MLK and Telegraph to get you to downtown Oakland or up to Berkeley. And a tip: if you need some clothes laundered during your stay, walked west on 57th and there is a great wash & fold only a block or so away - ask for Rhonda!

Nate has been a terrific host. I've appreciated the attention to things like a change of linens and towels. And I've liked the overall sense of privacy while also knowing he was available as needed. He and his wife are doing something special in offering this carriage house to guests. A stay here is not just a great accommodation, it's also an inspiration to build your own version of La Finca wherever you live.