The cottage really was everything Marlene said it was! My wife and I were in Palo Alto for a family affair for a long weekend, and this cottage met our needs for quiet and convenience perfectly. The indoor hot tub was just the thing after a long day of dealing with our families. The cottage is in the back corner of Marlene's large garden backyard and is very private and secluded, although you do have to pass behind the house to get to it. Downtown Palo Alto is 5-8 mins away by car, actually everything in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Mountain View is no more than 15 mins away from this location. The cabin does not have cable or satellite TV, but there are many books, magazines, DVDs and high speed wireless if you need something to do during your downtime.