Vacation Rentals by Owner

Healdsburg Gardens

Guest: Lori (Newport Beach)
Date of Stay: 09/15/11 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

We had a great time staying in the small cottage in the gardens. The setting was wonderful and the cottage perfect for us. It had all we needed - comfy bed, internet, kitchen and a tiny bath. We were really there to go exploring the valleys and it was perfectly situated close to town and all the wineries. Highly recommend!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Loved It

Guest: Mark (Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/06/11

This was a great place to spend a few days and relax. We will be back.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Perfect Romantic Getaway

Guest: Fans from North Carolina (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 06/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

We loved Healdsburg Cottage and all that it had to offer. It was the perfect size in the perfect setting - a piece of Heaven here on earth! It was the perfect place to enjoy the beautiful Sonoma landscape and numerous vinyards/wineries closeby. A special peaceful escape after a fun, but busy 3 days in San Francisco. The grounds were gorgeous - filled with an abundance of flowers and the view from the cottage overlooking the vinyards was breathtaking! Barbara was so kind and helpful answering my many questions. We enjoyed music in Healdsburg Square and great food at the plethora of restaurants available in town. Don't forget to take advantage of the many coupons left in the cabin for wine tasting. We can't wait to come back!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Wine Country Getaway

Guest: David and Liz (Cornelius, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

My husband and I took our first trip together to the wine country of California in June 2011 to celebrate my 50th and our 21st anniversary. At a friends recommendation, we decided to stay somewhere in the Healdsburg area and happened upon the Healdburg Country Gardens. We could not have picked a more perfect spot! Walt and Barbara Gruber were so welcoming and the "Wine Country Cottage" was absolutely charming. Everything surrounding the cottage is just breathtaking. All the flowers in the garden were in full bloom, and we felt completely nestled in the beauty. We loved walking in the gardens in the morning with a cup of coffee. The cottage is very comfortable, and we had all the amenities we needed. It's a perfect location just minutes from charming downtown Healdsburg and minutes from the vineyards. We highly recommend!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

great inside and out

Guest: Don (Seattle)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

5 Stars for this peaceful one room cottage. Especially enjoyable were the gardens, views and wrap around covered porch w table, chairs and grill. Helpful friendly owners on the property. Love to go back. Don and Pam - Seattle

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

A Perfect Cottage for Exploring the Wine Country

Guest: Rick and Debra (Tucson, AZ)
Date of Stay: 09/22/10 Review Submitted: 03/06/11

My husband and I spent a wonderful few days exploring the wine country from this darling cottage surrounded by one of the most beautiful gardens you've ever seen. The flowers were amazing. We arrived just as the grapes were about to be harvested and enjoyed wandering through the vineyards admiring the big bunches of ripe chardonnay and cabernet grapes. The view from the deck of the cottage is like a picture postcard, with vineyards rolling off into the distance as far as you can see. We really enjoyed the town of Healdsburg and Barbara's recommendation of Ravenous for dinner was right on. We met some friends there and all of us enjoyed our meals very much. We are planning a return trip this coming September and have recommended these cottages to many friends. We're very much looking forward to our return visit and may bring our bikes along this time.

Owner response:Our guests especially enjoy doing the things you did -- walking though our private vineyards, enjoying the garden, and having privacy. Even though we have 3 guest houses on our 25 acre property plus our home...everyone has privacy. All our guests love the views of the vineyards -- so do we! We live on the property and never get tired of the incredible views. It's just a 4 minute drive to Healdsburg Plaza. I walk to town often and it takes about 20 minutes if I power walk! Location is everything when you are on vacation -- we're close to everything so you won't spend a lot of time in your car. It's so easy to fall in love with Healdsburg.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Hidden Gem in Sonoma

Guest: Tara (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 09/19/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

My husband and I stayed at the wine country cottage in mid-September after a few days in San Francisco. The cottage exceeded all of our expectations. Upon entering the gates, you are greeted by the most incredible, magical garden. Down the path lies the picturesque cottage; a perfect one-room getaway with stunning views of the vineyards in the valley beyond. Don't forget the doves cooing each morning and evening in the large bird house nearby. We didn't run into any other guests during our 2-night stay, which made it feel like the entire property was ours. The cottage includes a kitchenette with microwave, coffee/tea maker and refrigerator, and while we didn't use the fireplace, it's a great option for chillier nights. The patio is a wonderful retreat while enjoying a glass of wine. There are plenty of recommendations for wineries, restaurants and entertainment. The bathroom is small but fits the space perfectly. Easy check-in and checkout, and only a few minutes drive from Healdsburg (my favorite Northern Sonoma locale) insured that we would spend most of our time experiencing wine country. If you are looking for a wedding location, definitely consider reaching out to Barbara - the grounds are amazing! We hope to visit again soon with more friends and stay in either of the other two cottages on the property. But this one is the perfect getaway for two.

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great, charming Cottage

Guest: Nick (Newport Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/26/10

MY girlfriend and I had the greatest time here. The cottage is the perfect size and the property is absolutely amazing with a great view over the vineyards. Very romantic. Also the location is just close enough to town. And of course, Barbara and her husband are super helpful and sweet!

Recommended for:

Best kept secret in Healdsburg

Guest: Lisa & Jim G. (Plattsmouth, NE)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 10/02/10

My husband and I enjoy staying at Healdsburg Country Gardens everytime we visit the area. The garden is beautiful, the proximity to downtown and the world class wineries is perfect. Barbara and Walt are great hosts and we look forward to our next stay.

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

Great location for a green vacation

Guest: Chicago Biker (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 07/19/10

We spent a relaxing week at the Country Cottage at Healdsburg Country Gardens. In our case, we brought our tandem bike and used it for all of our transportation. The cottage itself is set in beautifully kept gardens on the edge of a working vineyard with panoramic views. Barbara and Walt are helpful hosts without being at all intrusive. And the location allowed us to easily run errands/enjoy Healdsburg while being on the outskirts of town. We shopped at the excellent local stores for top-notch goods and then enjoyed most of our dinners on the wrap-around porch. The gas grill made quick cooking a snap. We highly recommend the cottage and hope to return.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Our getaway to the wine country

Guest: Nesi (Santa Clarita(L.A.))
Date of Stay: 07/06/10 Review Submitted: 07/22/10

The pictures online were precise. It was exactly in person as pictured. The gardens are perfectly manicured just like I would want in my yard. My wife was impressed with the bird cages. Especially in the morning when we woke to the sounds of the cooing doves. The close proximity to town is a plus. And the city (S.F.) is only about an hour away. The only thing I didn't expect was a small shower and a few mosquito bites. Otherwise, this was a great week in the country. My wife and I do wish to come back but next time we will fly into Windsor from L.A. That drive from L.A. was sooooooooo long. We want to invite my daughter and her husband and hopefully by then her new family. Then we will have to try out the Country Home. I love L.A., but I left my heart in Healdsburg.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Idyllic Setting

Guest: beckinak (alaska)
Date of Stay: 04/12/10 Review Submitted: 04/21/10

My husband and I spent three lovely nights in Barbara's quaint little cottage which overlooks a vineyard. Truly, her pictures do not do the grounds and gardens justice. It is all absolutely breathtaking. The cottage is very small as you should be able to ascertain from the pictures so be prepared for togetherness. But, if the weather is nice, out on the porches and decks is where you will want to be anyway. We chose this property because of the setting and the proximity to Healdsburg. We did indeed walk into town where we rented bikes and spent the next two full days biking all over wine country. Very doable and highly enjoyable. Barbara is very helpful and friendly but left us plenty of privacy. We could not have been happier with our choice.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.