I almost hesitate to write this review for fear that others might flock to Marian's property and it will be lost to me forever. But, in the spirit of airbnb, here goes...

I commute between NY and Seattle, and I've been trying to stay in a different airbnb every trip. I have a few criteria I use when choosing a property: it has to have a great view (of the water, if possible), it has to have easy access to public transportation, and there have to be interesting things to do or places to eat within walking distance. The property itself must be bright and roomy so that I don't feel trapped in a small space. Finally, I prefer a place with easy access to interesting running routes. Marian's studio has a wonderful view of Puget Sound with tons of shipping traffic going by. To get to Seattle you can catch a reliable shuttle 300 feet from her front door; the shuttle runs along the water to a dock where you can catch a water shuttle to downtown Seattle, 3 blocks from Pike's Place. Total cost is about $4, total time is about 30 minutes. The studio is located on a hill, surrounded by interesting homes with beautiful gardens. It's bright and airy, and while it does not have a full kitchen, you can get by nicely by shopping for your dinner at a local market, or visiting one of the many local restaurants. Most nights I put together a cheese dish and had a glass of wine on the porch overlooking the Sound before heading out to dinner. There's a running trail along the beach that runs by the bottom of Marian's street, and you can run it or ride it all the way to Seattle if you're that ambitious. Otherwise, a beautiful 3 to 5-mile run is within easy access. Under the category of delightful added touch, I found a hand steamer in the closet, which is fantastic as I'm not the best suitcase packer. It was nice to travel around town in an unwrinkled state.