Location: Berkeley, San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA (15 Min to Berkeley Ctr, 20 Mn to San Francisco, Wine Country) View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 1 Bath (Sleeps 3)
Keywords: Cottage on the North Bay
“Once in a Blue Moon” captures the spirit of this charming, semi-secluded 1920’s cottage set over the water. The cottage lies near the north end of the San Francisco Bay, at the gateway to the wine country, where the Napa River flows into the Carquinez Straits.
The cottage is reached via a boardwalk along the water’s edge, which meanders through a tiny community called “Sandy Beach”. As you stroll to your cottage, you will see sea birds and sailboats dipping along the water’s waves and hear the rhythmic sound of the water lapping against the shoreline .
The magic of this place is the way that, after a day in the world, the day's stresses seem to always recede, replaced by feelings of peace and serenity.
At the garden gate is where you really leave the world behind. Upon entering the gate, you are bordered on three sides by a 6-foot fence and on the fourth side by the cottage itself, providing complete privacy. In the morning, you can sit in the garden with your coffee or tea and watch songbirds wash themselves in the large fountain.
The garden is filled with plants and has a table and chairs and several other seats where you can relax. Umbrellas protect you from the sun and on breezy days, the cottage forms a barrier, making the garden an excellent setting for meals and barbeques.
The cottage has an open floor plan and is filled with light. Even with the windows closed, you will hear the sound of the water much of the time. In the house, you are surrounded on three sides by sweeping views of the Bay, Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, and Mare Island. The ferry to San Francisco passes by every 45 minutes.
The cottage is in the style of an Eastern Seaboard beach cottage, with paned and casement windows, tongue and grooved white wood walls and white painted floors throughout. Two pairs of French doors open onto the deck that's over the water.
The waterside deck is furnished with a picnic table, swing, and Adirondack chairs. Relax on the swing while you drink Napa Valley wine and watch the sun set behind Mt. Tamalpais.
The living and dining areas feel spacious and comfortable. The master bedroom, in particular, has stunning views from the bed. In the living room, the doors of a Ben Franklin woodstove can be opened to use as a fireplace during cooler months.
There is also a forced air heater for colder weather. A galley kitchen is open to the living area, adjacent to the garden, and has a large window overlooking the garden. The kitchen has all basic appliances, including a vintage Wedgewood stove.
The kitchen also has an adjoining pantry where dishes and dry goods are stored. The study, which also overlooks the water, is equipped with a desk, file cabinets and a daybed. The bathroom has a clawfoot tub and pedestal sink. The house is decorated with wicker and simple country antiques.
From the communal lot where your car is parked, it is only 2 minutes to the I-80 via the Carquinez Bridge and 5 minutes to the ferry building to San Francisco. Two bicycles are available.
The cottage is in a unique setting and surrounded by a community of people who love life on the water. Your neighbors are friendly and helpful and will look out for you, while respecting your privacy. There is room for up to three cars in the communal parking lot.
If you are an esthete (an artist, a writer?) or someone who loves nature and the simple life--someone who doesn’t mind walking five minutes to get to your home-- this may be the place for you. For this type of person, this is the kind of place that you discover “once in a blue moon.”
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace
- Wood Stove
- Beds
- Queen Bed : Excellent, high quality bed and mattress
- Twin/Single Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : Flat screen TV
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio : Two decks for dining: one in the garden and one over the water
- View/Location
- Oceanfront
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Not Suitable for Children
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Hiking
- Restaurants
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$1450/week .. $2950/month ..$500.00 REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT
Longer-term rental preferred
Available from March 1st, 2012
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Once in a Blue Moon (Cottage on the Bay)
Year Purchased: 2000
Property Photos
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- Looking north from the waterside deck - Berkeley/Vallejo Vacation Cottage
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- View of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, looking west from waterside deck - Berkeley/Vallejo Vacation Cottage
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- Living area has 180 degree views of the water - Berkeley/Vallejo Vacation Cottage
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- Living Room view from the dining area
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- Dining area looking toward bedroom and out toward deckside water
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- Looking toward kitchen from living room
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- Reading nook near large bookcase
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- Study/bedroom with single bed also has a view of the water
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- Secluded garden is just outside the front door and adjacent to the kitchen
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- Secluded garden: sound of water from the fountain is very relaxing
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- Master bedroom has sweeping views of the N. Bay, Mare Island, and Mt. Tamalpais
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- Kitchen has walk-in pantry
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- Bathroom has clawfoot tub, handheld shower, and pedestal sink.
Traveler Reviews (5)
Super Fine
Guest: Rooooster
(San Leandro)
Date of Stay: 12/21/11
Review Submitted: 12/26/11
Renting Once in a Blue Moon was like biting into an Oreo Cookie. Everything seemed great in the photos and description and actually being there was even tastier than we thought, an all around delightful experience. Thank You K and C!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children.
You won't believe how wonderful it is until you actually get to stay here...
Guest: Vanessa
(Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/28/11
Review Submitted: 02/01/11
We only got to enjoy just under 48 foggy hours in this delightful little abode and I can not begin to share what a magical "find" this place truly is- and we are locals living less than 20 miles away! When you open the lock into the little garden entrance it's like a fairy tale come to life. Flowers spilling from pots with nooks and crannies that beckon exploration. Fog horns, mist and gently lapping waves under the antique wide board plank floors make it feel like a movie set, except it's all very real. A cozy bed surrounded by french paned windows looks out on to bay views. We had no desire to go much further than the porch swing, even though there is plenty to do nearby. Best of all, for us, it was a place to unwind, reconnect and take a moment to enjoy our lives. This property has been very thoughtfully designed to do just that. It's as if the owners are still present in the carefully created ambiance - ushering you in to just chill out, read a book, pour some wine and stay awhile. Once in a Blue Moon did not disappoint and we are already talking about our next weekend back and maybe even sharing this secret cottage with our very best friends...
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway.
A Unique and Relaxing Stay
Guest: Nevada City Weekenders without the Kids!
(Nevada City)
Date of Stay: 10/08/10
Review Submitted: 10/13/10
My husband and I were lucky to stay at this beautiful cottage (but unlucky that we could only stay for a weekend!) and we were astounded! The quaint cottage is cheerfully decorated with whimsical knick-knacks, but done so tastefully and artfully that you feel like you walked into a beach home-decorating book. The place is set up for relaxation; whether you sit out on the sunny deck sipping coffee, or inside on one of the many rocking chairs in front of the wood stove, or as you wake to a pink sunrise over the water (that you can see from the comfort of the bed!). Bliss. My husband and I were marveling at how things that might normally annoy someone (tub, no shower. long walk from parking to the cottage.) were more like things that added charm to this stay because of how comfortable and unique it was (the tub was a huge old-fashioned claw-foot with plenty of room for soaking. The walk from the car to the cottage is along a fancifully decorated pathway that fronts dozens of other unique and carefully decorated cottages that are fun to view). We normally like to eat out when we're visiting the bay area, but instead, we picked up tapas, an extraordinary bottle of wine and a heavenly gourmet chocolate bar and rushed back to the cottage so that we could enjoy the place as much as possible during our short stay. The one possible downside is that the cottage is technically located in Vallejo, not Berkeley. It is an extra 10-15 minute drive on the freeway, but access from the cottage onto the freeway is very easy. And believe me, once you're in the cottage, you'll won't even believe you're in the busy, urban Bay Area...not a sound except for sea gulls, distant ferryboats and the splashing water. We hope to return...
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.
May on the Bay
Guest: wlekle
(Boerne, TX)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10
Review Submitted: 06/04/10
We were charmed by the decorating in this vintage cottage -- an eclectic combination of nautical pieces, bits of Mexico, and a hefty dose of 1930s greens, yellows, and creams on the wicker rocking chairs, painted floors, and old cabinets. Even the vintage gas stove was green enamel -- and the claw foot bathtub with original brass fittings was to die for. The owners' pictures show views of the bay and sail boats that are amazing. We visited in May and were treated to a mother goose followed by four goslings with papa goose bringing up the rear as they made way along the shore's edge. (The neighbors told us the goose family nests every year in the jetty you can see from the living and bedroom windows.) And we were also stunned by a 2:00 a.m. view of a crystal clear moon casting its path of light on a smooth bay -- truly a National Geographic moment.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.
Awesome cottage
Guest: twendy
(La Quinta, California)
Date of Stay: 06/15/09
Review Submitted: 05/22/10
My partner and I stayed at this awesome cottage last summer. It is so “on” the water; you walk inside and everywhere you look, you see water and fantastic views! The only room that doesn’t have a fabulous water view is the bathroom! The layout of the cottage is phenomenal: the living areas feel spacious because they are all open to each other. Also, there is an intimate connection to the outside because of all the windows and the French doors that open onto the waterside decks. The master bedroom is right over the water and has great windows with fabulous views from the bed. It is a very comfortable and restful place with a lot of privacy because the house is separated from the neighbors and the public boardwalk by a high fence and garden gate. The community is very warm and welcoming and they will greet you by name while, at the same time, respect your privacy. Last summer we stayed 3 months. This year we’re staying 4 months. We can’t wait to get back there! I think that says it all.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #184537
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