Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great time in the orange grove!

Guest: FarmChick (Alvin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/22/12

My husband and I loved our "Orange Ranch" experience while staying in the bunkhouse for almost a week! The bunkhouse was very clean and neat! We had a very relaxing get away while on our trip. The flowers were blooming and frogs were croaking in the pond! I enjoyed learning about the farm and came back with a greater appreciation of farming!

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

Great time in the orange grove!

Guest: FarmChick (Alvin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/22/12

My husband and I loved our "Orange Ranch" experience while staying in the bunkhouse for almost a week! The bunkhouse was very clean and neat! We had a very relaxing get away while on our trip. The flowers were blooming and frogs were croaking in the pond! I enjoyed learning about the farm and came back with a greater appreciation of farming!

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

What a wonderful winter retreat.

Guest: Dawn (Jacksonville, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11

This was our second stay at the cottage, and it was just as welcoming and cozy as we remembered. It was the best place to spend Christmas away from our home in Oregon. We enjoyed visiting our extended family in Porterville and then coming out to our own private "home away from home." Joanie was so sweet and the best hostess once again. We just can't say enough about how nicely the cottage is decorated and stocked. We highly recommend staying at Paternoster Farms.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent weekend!

Guest: patigonza (California)
Date of Stay: 11/24/11 Review Submitted: 11/26/11

We spent 3 days at Paternoster Farm, we were 4 adults and 3 kids. The houses are beautiful and with amazing details. We had nice walks through the orange trees. We picked our own fruits!.... The kids were really excited with their rain boots walking in the mod... Just 1:30 hour to Sequoia Park.... Thank you Paternoster Family!!

Recommended for:Families with young children

Stunning!!!

Guest: AnnaK (Tucson, Az)
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 09/19/11

We just stayed for our second time at this cottage, and we will definitely come again! The farm is beautiful and tranquil, and the cottage is so sweet and comfortable. Our city girls just love having the ability to run free in the grass and loved playing with all the animals. This place has become so special to us, and some of our fondest family memories have been from staying at this cottage. The owners are very genuinely warm people and we have loved getting to know them. I can't say enough about how much we have love our time here!

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

Fantastic!

Guest: Mikki and Mary (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

We stayed in the bunkhouse, with plenty of room and comforts for two people. Very clean. I loved juicing fresh OJ in the morning, and I don't think juice from a carton will ever taste the same again. A pleasure to walk the groves and swim in the pool in the evenings. What a treat after an incredible day in the Sequoia National Forest. Much gratitude to Joanie, Steve, and their son for making our stay warm and welcoming.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Perfect Quiet Getaway!

Guest: Steve (Boulder Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/21/11 Review Submitted: 09/13/11

My family of five, wife and 3 small children were looking for the quiet week away from the craziness of our life at home. The cottage we found here and the hospitality provided by Steve and Joanie was well beyond our expectations. It was quiet, it was peaceful and Steve and Joanie were always offering to help us with anything we needed. The pool is about a hundred steps from our front door and that's all we needed! One day we took a drive up into the 100 giant redwoods, about an hour and fifteen minute drive. The trees were beautiful and we had a great hike. Temperature dropped about 20 degrees as well which was a plus. Many times, I had the opportunity to take our kids on bike rides through the citrus orchard, we were able to pick fresh oranges from the trees, and on top of it all we were blessed to have Steve and Joanie join us (by our invitation) for a BBQ one of the nights down there. Our three kids slept comfortably in one of the bedrooms and my wife and I had plenty of room in the other bedroom as well. We couldn't have been more ecstatic with our stay for what we were looking for! We would, and will, definitely be joining Steve and Joanie for another stay with our family sometime real soon.

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

Paternoster Farms is about the pleasures of life

Guest: Gracie (Williamsville, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/18/11 Review Submitted: 09/23/11

Joan and Steve Paternoster own 50 acres on which they grow oranges in the Central Valley of California. Visiting the Central Valley is always a fascinating experience - driving for miles and miles and miles among fruit and nut groves and vineyards. Paternoster Farm is a genuine working farm with lots of equipment, dogs and incredibly delicious oranges. The guest cottage was the first building on the property possibly dating back to the early 1900s. It is a charming blend of old and new. Original walls and windows contrast with new hardwood floors and a gas fireplace. The artful use of color gives the cottage a warm and cozy atmosphere. Each room features an eclectic mix of art and cheerful decor.It is truly a fun and interesting accommodation. When we visited in August the above ground pool was wonderfully refreshing and there were fresh flowers in 5 rooms! From the front porch we enjoyed an expansive view of neighboring orange groves. The cottage is family friendly with swings in the garden, cable TV, movies and 2 bathrooms. Behind the cottage is a charcoal grill and outdoor eating area. If you are looking for a unique and special place to stay Joan and Steve Paternoster are thoughtful and delightful hosts. Couldn't have been better. Very, very relaxing.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Great Stay!!

Guest: Kathi (Austria / EUROPE)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 05/22/11

We loved our stay at the Paternoster Family Farm! The room was spacious & super clean & held everything was in the room - from microwave to fridge (especially handy when travelling with a baby like we!). Lot´s of personal touch - we loved it!

Recommended for:Families with young children

What a hidden gem! The cottage absolutely made our weekend.

Guest: Dawn (Jacksonville, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 04/29/11 Review Submitted: 05/17/11

Our family was attending my family reunion near Terra Bella the end of April, and for some reason the two newer hotels in Porterville were booked. We found Paternoster Farms online and reserved the cottage and it was the best thing we could have done. Because of the time of year, the orange blossoms were in full bloom and the flowers were amazing. The cottage itself was so cute! Beautifully decorated and fresh flowers in almost every room. The gas fireplace was warm and comforting after a 10 hour drive from Oregon. We drank tea with fresh orange honey and ate homemade orange/cranberry scones left for us on the table. When we met Joanie, she was so sweet and kind and made us feel like extended family. Over all, we just can't say enough about the cottage, it exceeded our expectations and was priced very reasonably. My husband and I were raised in the area and will plan to stay at Paternosters every time we go and visit family in the future. Our only regret is that we only were able to stay for 2 nights. We will surely visit again for a much longer time. The Mena Family from Jacksonville, Oregon

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Country Cottage

Guest: Eric (Porterville, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/21/11

I stayed one week at the lovely cottage at Paternoster Farms. Joanie and Steve are great hosts and the cotttage is comfortable and beautifully decroated, with artwork by Joanie and her daughter. There is a living room with a fireplace and satelite television. The dinning area seats four (and there were yummy cookies on the table when I arrived along with a basket of oraanges and lemons). There is a kitchen so one can prepare meals. The cottage has two bathrooms (one with a large tub) and two bedrooms. The setting is in the rolling foothills just east of Terra Bella with the Sierras to the east. The cottage makes a perfect headquarters for exploring the surrounding region and (as in my case) makes a perfect place for someone who needs a convenient short term place to stay in the Porterville area. A wonderful, charming country cottage.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

McClanahan's

Guest: Brenda P. (Oakridge, OR)
Date of Stay: 11/25/10 Review Submitted: 12/06/10

We came to visit family and put the overflow here. What a charming place. So cozy and inviting. Summer when it's warm would be great to enjoy the outside too. My 3 yr old grandson loved the swing. The fresh fruit was delicious. It doesn't taste like that from the store! Joanie and Steve are very hospitable. Make you feel like family.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Paternoster Farms Country Cottages

Guest: CJ (Alameda, Ca USA)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 01/20/11

This is a wonderful, magical place. I loved every minute of it...from the four big dogs who became my buddies, to the fresh flowers and citrus every day, to the friendly and thoughtful way that I was treated on a daily basis. I stayed here for 10 months and would have stayed 10 more but my job there came to a close. There are wonderful local wineries to explore and beautiful views of the Sierras. I will miss the whole atmosphere of fun and camaraderie that I was lucky enough to find with this warm and welcoming family. The apartment was very tastefully furnished with refrigerator and stove, all pots and pans and very comfortable bed and air conditioning. I really can't wait to return to this pleasnat and homey place.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: The Ellithorpe's (Collierville, Tn)
Date of Stay: 09/21/07 Review Submitted: 09/21/07

My family spent the entire summer on the Paternoster Orange Grove Farm. We had so much fun being on the farm. My children loved seeing where oranges came from as well as the other fruits they have near the cottage. They also loved playing with the dogs and cats on the farm. It was very peaceful and had a nice view of the mtns. My husband took advantage of the farm and was able to walk 5-6 miles on most days. The cottage was very cute and the beds were very comfortable. The cottage had everything you need. There are flowers that surround the cottage as well as an above ground pool that my family enjoyed especially when it was hot. I can not say enough about how sweet the Paternoster family was. They are a wonderful family and are so blessed to have such a great place. I loved coming back to the cottage and finding zucchini, squash, tomatoes etc. that the Paternosters had shared with us. If anything needs attention Steve is right on it. My family had a great time and made so many memories that we will have for always! Thanks Joanie and Steve!

Recommended for:

Guest: Joan B.1 (Laguna Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/03/07 Review Submitted: 05/03/07

What a wonderful, magical place to stay! Beautifully decorated, wonderful warm hospitality, and very relaxing - I didn't want to leave! Truly a little bit of heaven on earth!

Recommended for: