Settle in, friends. This is a long one but worthwhile....
The photos of Patricia's place didn't quite do it justice. It was bigger and even cozier than we expected. The view from the deck was spectacular, especially at sunset. We were orginally looking for a place to stay in Santa Cruz but staying in the Los Gatos hills ended up being the absolute best spot. This place is perfectly located for quick drives to the redwoods, the beach or the city.
The actual dwelling is located in a spread-out neighborhood but hidden among hills and trees. It is like mother-in-law quarters, situated very close - but not connected to - the host's home. Patricia and Mike were practically invisible but right there when we needed them. As you can see in the pictures, the decor is not necessarily up-to-date with latest trends but do not let that deter you. They have made this bunalow spotless, homey and completely welcoming.
Patricia and Mike graciously greeted us when we arrived to show us around and make sure we had everything we needed. Patricia give us a tour while Mike built us a fire! They made a space available to us in their carport and thoughtfully outfitted the kitchenette with bagels, snacks, sparkling water and even milk.
We arrived a bit earlier than we had planned but Patricia made it easy to communicate with her regarding the change in schedule was able to accommodate us kindly.
We spent our entire first day hunkered down in the cottage, decompressing from our usual busy life, cozied up to the snuggy fireplace, the view of the surrounding woods and the sounds of birds in the trees. (Note that this area is at extreme high-risk for wildfires and use of Patricia's fireplace is seasonal and dependent on the recent rainfall. We were very lucky that there had been plenty of rainfall leading up to our visit)
Rejuvenated, the next day we ventured out to close-by Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz for an AMAZING (easy) hike on the bluffs over the ocean then walked the Santa Cruz wharf where we bought sweatshirts and had clam chowder. The next day we took the short drive to Roaring Camp Railroad and took a steam train ride into the majectic redwoods. On our way home, we stopped at a fun brewery in the trendy downtown Los Gatos area. We were able to have all of these adventures without feeling rushed because of the perfect central location of Patricia's place.
This was one of the best AirBnB experiences we've had and we plan to make it our go-to spot whenever we want to visit the area in the future : )