Vacation Rentals by Owner

Work Trip

Guest: Wendy (Palm Desert, Ca)
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/10/12

A group of 3 coworkers and myself stayed at The Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat from May 3-7, 2012. The house was extremely clean upon arrival and reflected the photos posted. The owner answered all of my question before I booked the rental. While we did not spend a lot of time there since we were attending a local seminar for work, 10-12 hours each day, it was very nice to come back to a home each night instead of a motel. The house was very close (5 min drive) to the main area of Julian. The price was very reasonable for 4 people and the house had more than enough space for all of us. The information packet provided upon arrival gave us all the info we needed for our evening dining in Julian. I will definitely stay here again for both work and personal trips and recommend it to others. We dined in several restaurants in Julian over the 5 days and had good experiences in all of them.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cozy Cabin in the Woods

Guest: Janna (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/13/11 Review Submitted: 12/24/11

This is a lovely cozy home in the woods in a nice quiet neighborhood less than 2 miles from the town of Julian. The wood burning stove keeps the place toasty warm and there is a stacked wood right outside the door. The owner, Nada, is very attentive and made sure all was well upon our arrival and addressed any of our concerns. My husband and I spent four nights here. We enjoyed visiting Julian and some of the local attractions.

Owner response:Our Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat is a great place to spend a vacation and enjoy the beautiful Julian area. It is in an excellent location, within five minutes of Julian's historic town site. We work hard to keep our rental guests comfortable and happy during their stay. Thank you for submitting this review! --Nada Grigsby, owner

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderfully Romantic

Guest: Felicity and Mike (San Diego)
Date of Stay: 11/15/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

My husband and I recently stayed at the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat for a few days of our honeymoon. The property is very well taken care of, clean, and beautifully put together. We love how the place is decorated, and it felt very romantic. A very short walk up the street leads to an amazing view of the desert, and the atmosphere is very enjoyable with the fresh cool air, trees, and and lots of beautiful birds to watch. There are even apple trees in the yard with delicious apples! In the fall and winter are great times to be in Julian because of the wonderful apple pies and the classic holiday feel. This was the perfect getaway!

Owner response:The Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat is a romantic getaway in a beautiful country area of Julian. Thank you for your clear description, that describes the special qualities of this beautiful home.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Total Pet Friendly Home!

Guest: Jim-Tiffany H. (San Pedro, California)
Date of Stay: 10/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

After reading the previous guest reviews, my husband and I thought this would be a great place for our family, including our 3 young children. It is in a quiet and pretty neighborhood but the cabin needs a lot of work. We were disappointed to see lots of dust, pet hair, and crumbs on the floor and futons. The blankets and bath towels even had pet hair on them. The loft looked like a fun place to be but was VERY dusty and the stair banisters were very unsafe as our toddler easily fit through them and we had to be extra careful to watch her. If you don't mind that and paying a lot for a place like this, then go for it. It's in a great location, close to town and the Smith Ranch which we would highly recomend.

Owner response:The Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat is thoroughly and consistently cleaned between each vacation renters' stay. Blankets, mattress covers, and used linens are washed between each stay. All areas of the house are dusted. This is a beautiful home that is in good order. It is enjoyed and appreciated by our rental guests. This owner supervises and reviews each cleaning of the home. The owner believes that these statements are very misleading, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to discredit the owner and this vacation rental.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners.

Definitely a Keeper!!!

Guest: Donna C. (Oceanside, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/25/11

My husband and I spent the first week of October in this wonderful, cozy, clean and well equipped vacation home. It is very close to town, but far enough away to be out of the main-stream traffic in a very nice, quiet, woodsy sort of neighborhood. We even enjoyed the woodpeckers each morning knocking on the top of the house and in the trees. The owner was very nice and helpful and even called on our second day there to make sure everything was satisfactory -- thank you SOOOO much for sharing your vacation home with us. We will be back!!!

Owner response:The Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat is a wonderful place to vacation for either short or extended stays. Our home is in an excellent location, in a wooded, residential Julian neighborhood. Our guests like the natural beauty of the area, and enjoy watching our great variety of migrating birds. Suggestion: Bring your cameras!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Perfect Place!

Guest: Ann and Tom (Carlsbad, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/05/11

Thank you so much, Nada, for letting us share your beautiful retreat! We would highly recommend it to everyone as we can't imagine anyone not loving it as much as we did. Everything we needed was already there and what a treat to find everything so clean. We felt at home as soon as we arrived. There was even a very helpful neighbor who saw us struggling with a car problem in the driveway and came to help. We had a wonderful time enjoying the peace and quiet as well as some trips into town and into the desert. Being able to return for a longer visit is at the top of our wish list, and we look forward to staying in touch. Thank you again!

Owner response:Dear Ann, Thank you for your clear and thoughtul review of the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat. Our guests enjoy its beauty, comfort, and convenient proximity to Julian's historic gold mining town. We are blessed with wonderful neighbors who respect our guests' privacy, but go out of their way to give help when needed. Many of our guests return for repeated stays throughout Julian's beautiful seasons (which are year-round). I look forward to your return! Best Wishes, Nada Grigsby, Owner

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Juian house

Guest: sunny (Houston, Tx.)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

We spent 3 nights in this house. Clean and well equipment in kitchen every things what we needed. Romantic cozy in attic room, the fire place, clean and good condition of beds and sofas.. also we all love the apple pie in town and hiking around. Thank you we were so happy with everythings.

Owner response:Dear Sunny, Thank you for so clearly stating your observations about our Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat and the beautiful Julian area. I am fortunate to have the assistance of a very conscientious Barbara Schor, who thoroughly cleans and helps with the house maintenance between each visitor's stay. Guests can look forward to staying at a Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat that is very comfortable, clean, and conveniently located close to Julian's historic town. Many of our rental guests have returned for multiple repeat stays at the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat, because of our home's unique beauty and location. Sunny, I look forward to your possible repeat stay in the future! Nada Cathleen Grigsby, Owner

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Wonderful Experience!

Guest: Monica and Shane (El Cajon, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/01/10

We had such a wonderful Memorial Day weekend in this cabin. It was beautiful and clean and comfortable! Great place to get away with the family for vacation and relaxation! The owner is amazing! Thank you Nada for all you did for us!

Owner response:Dear Monica and Shane, I am so happy that you enjoyed your stay at our Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat! I hope that you return to stay at our beautiful vacation home in the future. Best Wishes to You, Nada Grigsby

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: G. & F.R. & Family
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 07/03/09

"We had a great time during our stay in Julian. The town is wonderful, and we really enjoyed your cabin (I love knotty pine!!!). Thank you so much for letting us stay here! We will definitely come back here next time we stay in the area."

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Guest: Mark & Virgie
Date of Stay: 04/04/09 Review Submitted: 04/03/09

"had a great weekend. perfect location, close to town yet quiet and secluded. cabin is warm, cozy and came with everything we needed and more. The apple pie was super. Thank you Nada. We will be back ASAP. --Mark and Virgie"

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/23/08

this house is totally amazing.We hawed great time in Julian.Kids like to play outside and we received more than we are expected.Thank you Nada.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/20/08

The Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat is a cozy, comfortable hideaway in a beautiful, serene setting. We had the pleasure of staying there for a month this summer and thouroughly enjoyed it. It is convenient to the shops and restaurants of Julian's Main Street and also to the many nature attractions the area has to offer. The owner, Nada Grigsby is a delight to work with!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/19/08

We have stayed at 2 other Julian homes & neither compare to this one! The home is immaculate with nice appointments throughout. Windows galore for bird watching, AC cools the house faster than my home AC, & well equipped kitchen. The washer & dryer are an added convenience, allowing you to pack light & wash (laundry soap included, too!). I know design & this home's layout was well thought out, free flowing & could easily win a design award. We visit Julian at least once per yr & found our "new home"!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/08 Review Submitted: 05/01/08

I stayed there with a few friends for a retreat and we had such a wonderful time. The place was quiet, warm, cozy and everything we needed was right there. It just felt like home away from home and without all the noise and distractions. It's also only a few minutes' drive to downtown Julian so we took the opportunity to explore this beautiful little town. This place is perfect if you need some peace, quiet and a relaxing time. Thank you, Nada, for your hospitality.

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Guest: J.J. and M.J.
Date of Stay: 12/29/07 Review Submitted: 12/28/07

"Thank you, Nada. We had a wonderful, relaxing stay. Your "Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat" will come highly recommended by us!" Kindest Regards, J. and M.

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Guest: J.W. and L.W.
Date of Stay: 12/18/07 Review Submitted: 12/17/07

"We loved your place, and had a great time!"

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/07 Review Submitted: 11/27/07

My wife and I had a wonderful week at this Julian Mountain home. On a quiet street just a short drive from town with plenty of hiking nearby, this home is in an ideal location. It came with all the amenities you could need including linens, kitchen-ware, central heat and plenty of firewood. I would definitely recommend this home.

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Guest: A.E.M.
Date of Stay: 10/21/07 Review Submitted: 10/20/07

"Thank you so much for your hospitality! We had a delightful weekend. We hope to one day return again, and we will absolutely be recommending your home to our other friends. Thanks again!" A.E.M. 10-21-2007

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Guest: Felicity Rose
Date of Stay: 08/09/07 Review Submitted: 08/08/07

My family and I have spent many weekends at the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat over the past seven months. We have enjoyed the holiday feeling of the town, and the peaceful sounds of the birds, and the wind in the trees, while taking morning walks. As a photographer, I love the romantic atmosphere of the Julian community and the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/13/07

We recently finished our second stay at the Lovely Julian Mountain Retreat and once again had a great time! The kids love the loft while my husband and I enjoy opening the windows in the evening to hear .....the quiet! Thanks!

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Great place to stay

Guest: bdog (Lakewood CA)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/18/07

My family and I had a great time at this very nice house. Its nice and close to town. We will stay there again.

Owner response:Thank you for submitting your review! We invite you to stay again at our beautiful vacation home during the year 2008, with a 10% discount for a weekend stay, and a 15% discount off the weekly rate. Best Wishes for a great new year!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.