Dining Room/Living Room View, Overlooking Pacific Ocean & Dillon Beach
Location: Dillon Beach, San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA (San Francisco 45 Min; Petaluma 20 Min; Wine Country 35 Min)
Accommodations: Beach Cottage, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 4-6)
Flash: We have just rented out Dill 'n Thyme Cottage for the winter to one of our previous renters who wants an occasional refuge from Colorado snowstorms! But, please check our calendar for lazy summer stays.
Back from the beach and, oh, so hard to leave! Dillon Beach is always such an amazing adventure! David & I and our daughter, Caitlin, on her college break after an intense semester and needing a salty Pacific Ocean breeze to restore her, recently made a quick run out to our jewel of peace and tranquility in the face of daily stress & madness, Dill 'n Thyme Cottage. After tearing ourselves away from our mesmerizing view, we decided to stray a little south to historic Marshall. While David made his traditional beeline for Hog Island Barbecued Oysters, Caitlin & I opted for a tour of Tomales Bay in our rented kayak from Blue Waters Kayaking. We were delighted to encounter a baby grey whale just off Hog Island where we saw other kayakers doing the "roll" so they could view the little guy underwater; we wisely decided to remain upright! We beached our kayak at the newly remodeled Nick's Cove to talk to the builder who was putting the finishing touches on another beautiful restaurant by Pat Kuleto who owns Farallon and Boulevard in San Francisco. Update on Nick's Cove: it's a huge success & Mother's Day Dinner was fantastic! Father's Day was another hit; we even got a sunset table. My advice: Don't miss it!
Another absolute favorite stop for us is Tomales Bakery where the expatriate pastry chefs have escaped from San Francisco to the idyllic village of Tomales on Highway One, just 3 miles from Dillon Beach and on the way. It is not a surprise that San Franciscans, having long memories for the best in culinary experiences, still search them out, driving all the way from the City. We have decided to offer a free coupon for one pastry and one cup of coffee per Dill 'n Thyme rental party, but you will only have to go 3 miles up the road from Dillon Beach to redeem it. Grab a loaf of warm bread for breakfast while you are there! Open Thursday-Sunday only.
There is not another spot like Dillon Beach in California, a unique, still thriving fishing village hidden about three miles off the beaten path of Highway One! Dillon Beach has an unusually expansive beach with rocky tidal pools on one end and huge sand dunes bordering Tomales Bay on the other, both of which can be seen from the deck of Dill 'n Thyme, our treasured beach cottage. Because Dillon Beach is set back slightly inside the mouth of Bodega Bay on one side and Tomales Bay on the other, it lies in the sun, just out of reach of the fog belt, yet still has spectacular wave action offshore for surfing and calmer skimboarding towards the beach.
Our 2-bedroom little jewel, Dill 'n Thyme Cottage, is noted in the history books as the second cottage built for his family in 1911 by a Norwegian sea captain, whose estate sold it to the present owners in 1982. It underwent an architectural remodel in 1992, with special instructions to keep the New England cottage feel at the same time as maximizing the spectacular view, creating a totally secure seismic structure (after all, Tomales Bay is the San Andreas fault!), and providing all the carefree conveniences to vacationers. We provide the cappuccino maker, the margarita blender & for our guests who stay a week, a free bottle of wine. New range & microwave & a workhorse of a dishwasher and a fully stocked kitchen make k.p. duty a breeze! We even have an outdoor shower (hot water!) to wash all the sand away to avoid sharing it with all your other houseguests. In the same spirit, we ask that you leave your shoes outside the front door & go sock-footed inside! Beach flipflops are outside the front door in a basket right next to our beloved big blue "Blu-ga Whale" BBQ!
We guarantee joy, laughter & restoration of spirit - a perfect get-away from stress, noise, traffic, grime, & daily grinds... a creative spot to write, photograph, tidepool, gather around a beach bonfire, stroll on the beach with or without your pup, or just reconnect with those you love. Our children and their friends walked safely to the beach and the beach store on their own, feeling quite grown up, but all the while within view of their parents (us!) from our deck.
Be our guests and you will return time and again for an "all is right with the world" recharge, we guarantee it! When you come, just bring beach towels, bath towels, and bed linens. However,if you choose to have us provide them, (pillows, blankets, and quilts are provided), there is a laundry fee of $15. Cleaning fee of $50-$75 is non-refundable so that you do not have to work off your vacation at the end of your stay!
Holiday and summer weekends are $525; full weeks are $1050 (hotel tax included). Longer stays are negotiable.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: The cottage has its own washer/dryer.
- Dryer
- Linens Provided: Linens are provided for those who choose not to bring their own.
- Off Street Parking: A single car driveway is available.
- Wood Stove: Pellet Stove with glass door and fan.
- Beds
- Queen Bed: in one bedroom.
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : in the second bedroom.
- Convertible Bed: Queen-size convertible sofa futon upstairs.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Flat screen High Def TV/DVD and cable are available with premium channels.
- DVD
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Espresso/Cappacino Maker; Water Filter; Brand New Range
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill: We call our Weber the "Blue Moose." Charcoal & starter available also.
- Deck/Patio: Our deck overlooks the Pacific ocean, Tomales Bay, and Dillon Beach.
- View/Location
- Beach View: Ocean and beaches viewable from both inside and outside beach cottage.
- Ocean View
- Water View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Satellite WiFi is available, but not always reliable (depending on weather).
- Other Amenities
- Our 1200 square foot beach cottage was architecturally designed to enhance the best ocean view in the Village and is only a 3-minute walk to beach (no driving)!
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly: There is a nonrefundable $25 pet deposit. Pets must be well behaved and completely housebroken.
- Kid Friendly: Our children loved the cottage and its proximity to the Beach and the Beach Store!
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed: Smoking allowed outside on deck or on front porch.
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Antiquing
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Clamming and tidepooling are musts at low tide. Quality Art Galleries, such as Wren Brown are available up the road in Bodega Bay (ask to see the Japanese gardens), as is golf, and top restaurants. One of the best, part of the Slow Food Movement, is Seaweed Cafe. Tomales has one of the Bay Area's top bakeries, open bright and early every morning,that attracts loyal customers who drive out from San Francisco; closed when they run out - no guarantees! Also, slightly down Hwy One at Marshall, is Nick's Cove, run by one of the Bay Area's most famous restaurateurs, Pat Kuleto.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Spring/Summer .. Apr-Sep & Holidays .. $1050/week, extra night $200
Spring/Summer Season ..$225/night...two night minimum; Sunday thru Thursday).
Spring/Summer Season .. $525/weekends & holidays.
Fall/Winter Season..Oct 01-May 01..$995/wk, extra night $175, (ex.holidays)
Fall/Winter Season ..$200/night...2 night minimum; Sun thru Thurs, (ex holiday)
Available as a short term rental at $2200/monthly. Hotel tax incl. in all pricing
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 1982
When I discovered Dillon Beach, I had found my childhood home. I was raised in a remote northern California beach community where we walked daily on the beach after school, rain or shine, jumped off huge sand dunes, built bonfires encircled by weekend beach parties, and fished and tidepooled in between! I wanted my children to have some of the same carefree adventures I had and they and their friends did just that at Dill 'n Thyme. It feels so removed from the bombardment of stresses the world delivers up daily. Dillon Beach is more than just a placed; it is a state of mind. My family loves it and our beach cottage is our little gem that is beloved by our friends and our extended family as well.
Why the Owner Chose Dillon Beach
On one of our typical California coastal rides, we stopped at Tomales Bakery for coffee and a cinnamon twist and noticed as were sitting outside that we were right across from the only cross street in town, Dillon Beach Rd...no fanfare signs, no tourist arrows, just a simple street sign! How had we missed it on our many rides up Hiway One? After our coffee, go west is what we did and what a delight! Fields of newborn lambs hopping playfully under & around their ewes, cows and deer grazing together, until 3 miles later, we came upon one of the most exquisite views of the Pacific I had ever seen! As we wound our way down the road toward the beach, we came upon the quaint Village of Dillon Beach, nestled into the lush, emerald hillside. I could not believe a place like this still existed in California! As we walked around the village, coincidentally this was the day an annual B.B.Q. was taking place on the beach. There we met our future neighbors who invited us back to their cottage. As I looked out over the ocean from their living room, I instantly fell in love! Not long after, the owner of Dill 'n Thyme next door passed away and when the cottage was put up for sale by her heirs, the neighbors contacted us and Dill 'n Thyme was ours! Who says you can't go home again? Though it wasn't carefully thought out, it was one of the best things we have ever done.
The Unique Benefits of this Beach Cottage
Our babysitter, sitting on our deck with a glass of wine, staring out to sea, noticed a small flare. Dialing 911, minutes later, she sat back & watched an expert US Coast Guard helicopter rescue of a fishing boat. Because the front patio of Dill 'n Thyme Cottage gets morning sun, we like to relax with a cup coffee & chat with the neighbors who pass by. Often, our chats turn into moving brunches. Following the sun, we end up on the deck for writing, reading, sketching, or relaxing. Our only assignment is to take the dogs for a jog on the beach! We enjoy good food, fishing, water sports & art. We never fail to stop at Tomales Bakery for a freshly baked loaf of bread & a treat on our way. We also venture south to Nick's Cove, newly refurbished and offering spectacular food, wine & views. Wonderful sunsets here too. Pick up oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co. to bring back to BBQ & serve with sourdough bread. Down Hiway One is Blue Waters Kayak Rental. Don't miss kayaking on Tomales Bay. Nearby art galleries are fun. We usually make a day of it & follow Hwy One to Russian River, turn inland a short way to Duncan Mills galleries. 4th of July is a big unofficial extravaganza fireworks event rivaling any Bay Area fireworks & time for a big BBQ at Dill 'n Thyme. When our kids were young, we & our guests would troop to huge sand dunes to fly kites, shoot off rockets & watch our kids form one grand wave & surf the dunes on shiny bottom skimboards! Then off for wave action & BBQ. Nightfall took us to the beach for kid-sized fireworks then watching spectacular fireworks from beach blankets or from our living room & deck for at least 2 hrs! But, if one craves solitude, step into Dill 'n Thyme cottage & close the front door for privacy & contemplation, a spectacular view from our living room & a sip from a complimentary bottle of wine on us!
Property Photos
- Dining Room/Living Room View, Overlooking Pacific Ocean & Dillon Beach - Dillon Beach, California - Cottage Rental in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Same view from Dill 'n Thyme Deck - Dillon Beach, California - Cottage Rental in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Fully Equipped Kitchen Underneath Vaulted Ceiling - Dillon Beach, California - Cottage Rental in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Dill 'n Thyme Twin Room
- Dill 'n Thyme Double Vanity Separated by Door from Bath & Shower
Guest Comments (3)
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #107764
There have been 25114 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - November 01, 2009
Positive Rating
, Sacramento, CA
Positive Rating
, Sacramento, CA
Homeowner Response:
Thank you for your wonderful feedback and also for alerting me to my missing utensils. I will replace them asap!