Staying in a treehouse was a dream come true and staying at Robin's place in the Santa Cruz area was just the perfect weekend getaway in these crazy times. Cannot believe the beautiful place was spared from the fires and that the hosts had just moved back in 2 weeks before we showed up.
I'm still dreaming of the home cooked breakfasts that Emily and Terri whipped up each morning. The wake up tray before breakfast is also so much fun using their pulley system! The tree house interior was cozy, clean, and tastefully decorated. The gas powered fireplace heats up the treehouse quickly and we'd turn it off before going to bed and whenever we left. The bed and pillows were so comfortable and I slept super well. None of the windows have curtains or any coverings but because of all the trees around the treehouse, it shades us from direct sunlight and provides a lot of privacy. I woke up each morning not to a rooster crowing but to the turkeys wandering about underneath chattering amongst each other. It was delightful!
The ground themselves are amazing. My husband and I spent an afternoon wandering around the redwood trails, jumping on the trampoline and getting acquainted with the turkeys and chickens. I took the free farm tour with Robin and learned so many new things about the farm animals, the gardens, and about their beautiful home. If I had more time, I would have taken the watercolor class at the beach with her!
We picked up dinner from Davenport (which was 10 minutes away) at Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant one night and Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill another night and brought it back to the treehouse to dine in. Both places are delicious. The place is also only about 20 minutes from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and downtown Santa Cruz. The beaches along the coast are all close by, whether you want to just see the view from atop or scramble down the cliffs to the beaches themselves.
No TV or no cellular service in the entire area but the wifi was ok. We had trouble getting wifi consistently on our phones but had no problem with my laptop and was even able to stream content to watch and do a tiny bit of work.
The main things to be aware of (so you're not caught off guard) is the bathroom situation. The shower is open air and outside. Water pressure and hot water all in great working order but if you visit in the chillier, rainier months like we did, use that warm robe they provide you and prepare to be a tad cold going in and out of the shower! The sink and eco toilet are also outside but in an enclosed structure. It will be chilly going in and out of there in the mornings and evenings! The eco toilet does not flush though kinda looks like a regular toilet seat atop a wooden box . Do your business like the instructions provided, throw in some peat moss to cover the smell and help with the compost, and you're fine. The whole place including the outdoor bathroom is very very clean and does not smell! However, it may not be for everyone.
I felt very safe with their covid cleaning and safety precautions at Flipjack Ranch. I'm curious to see how this treehouse experience will be in non pandemic times and different seasons! I do hope to come back again one day as it was everything I hoped it would be!