This was an excellent experience. If you want to do something different, get away from it all, especially the Bay Area/Silicon Valley, consider staying in the Mushroom Dome in Aptos.

My wife and I arrived on a Friday evening - be warned, if you arrive in the evening you might have trouble finding the cabin if it is after dark. However, we fumbled our way up the hill and met Cole, the manager on duty, who was returning from practice as an acrobat/dancer. We knew we were in for something special after we met someone with such a unique passion, and we weren't disappointed.

She led us to the cabin, which was just down a romantically lit path and noted the presence of a playground slide as an alternate route. The cabin was small and charming, giving a feeling of peace and simplicity when inside. Downstairs is a small kitchen with everything you need to make a quick meal and a few food items to help you on your way. The decor is charming and unique, clearly seeking to provide a feeling of harmony and rest for the traveller.

Aptos is also a unique area with small shops and a very obvious local culture. It is close to Santa Cruz and there is always the coastal drive along Highway 1. We went berry picking at Swanton Berry Farm and collected 4 flats of strawberries and blackberries. The smell of the strawberry field is sweet and caught the wind in such a way that I just wanted to breathe deeply and enjoy the setting. We also visited Wilder Ranch State Park and hiked along the coast, taking in cliffside views and an walking through an old farmhouse.

Finally, we met Kitty and Michael. Their hospitality is unparalleled. You will never see Bjork's music video for Wanderlust in 3D unless you visit her cabin - her son made the video! She has an ark's-worth of animals, three goats including a baby, chickens, talking/singing parrots and an array of birdfeeders that service eighty or so local and migratory hummingbirds.

There is a reason this place is so well loved on Airbnb. We had an amazing weekend, unlike any trip before. We give it our highest recommendation. You will love staying here!