Vacation Rentals by Owner

Hospitality and tranquility

Guest: Annivversary (Red Bluff)
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

We stayed only one night but wished we stayed longer. The room was comfortable and quiet the freindley welcome we received upon arrival set the tone for a great stay. We loved the rope swing and our border collie was in heaven as he played. Toilet in shower was weird and no stove so we used the barbeque on the brick patio and the main house. Overall A+

Owner response:Most important, our guests had a nice time. Hospitality & tranquility are pretty darned nice descriptions. We love hearing the dogs have every bit as much fun as the humans! The Miner's Cabin does have its quirks, such as a shower and toilet in the same area (so the shower runs over closed toilet, as in some trailers and boats). Also, the cabin is a real, restored miner's cabin and there was no room for a full kitchen, so it only has a deep electric skillet, microwave and toaster oven, plus coffee maker. We try to make sure folks know about them with full descriptions and photos (and videos on our web site), but it's always hard for people to put it all together, plus not everyone takes the time to go to our web site. The BBQ patio is about a minute's walk away and is for all guests. It's located where it is safest, in this very vulnerable fire area.

Recommended for:Pet owners, romantic getaway.

In a word: RELAXATION

Guest: Sandra (Northern California)
Date of Stay: 08/19/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

Just spent a weekend at Trinity River Adventure Inn's Carriage House. My husband and I and our two dogs had the most wonderful, relaxing time. When we arrived there was a note from Heidi on the table, including her phone number, welcoming us and encouraging us to call for any assistance or questions...Awwwwww.... We immediately took a walk to the edge of the lawn to find our own private path to the Trinity River flowing only a few yards away. The dogs were in the water in less than 30 seconds! We love to stay in and cook our own meals wherever we are and we found everything we needed in the cheerful cabin kitchen to make dinner, which we enjoyed out on the patio. That evening my husband donned his waders and spent an hour or two fly fishing directly in front of the cabin. After breakfast the next morning we took a beautiful drive in surrounding Trinity County, before coming back to relax on the property for the afternoon. All of us took a dip in the river. I spent the afternoon in a chair at the rivers edge with a wine cooler and a couple of magazines while the dogs alternately swam in the river and lazed at my feet...a beautiful Kingfisher flew chattering and fishing his way up and down our stretch of the river and at one point I looked up to find 34 wild Canadian Geese floating on the water a few yards from me. When I finally surfaced from my reverie, I walked barefoot across the lawn to prepare a tri-tip and roasted vegetables, which we cooked on one of the two barbecues on the property...another dinner on the patio...flyfishing at dusk and relaxing evening in the cozy lamplight cabin. Too soon it was time to pack up and leave our weekend retreat. One of the reasons for our weekend trip was to conduct reconnaissance for a family trip for next Summer. I have already booked both the Carriage House and the neighboring Alpine Glow properties for 5 nights next Summer so that we and our dogs, kids, grandkids and parents can vacation on the Trinity River together.

Owner response:Nature lovers have rarely posted such a perfect and prolific description of the experience at the Carriage House. We loved the references to the birds (we also see osprey and bald eagles there); how our guests enjoyed cooking there and dining on the river porch; and of course fishing. We'll make double sure that they have as grand a time when they bring back the extended family in 2012!

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

Guest: Charles & Patsy/Monterey, CA
Date of Stay: 05/15/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

Excellent! We went antiquing; it was great! Loved it so much we plan to bring the whole gang next time [and stay in all 4 cabins on over 1 acre]. Had a wonderful time checking out the area. One of the best parts has been that Charles and I were able to relax. No work, no pressure--just relax and have fun. Thanks again!

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Guest: Coral & John
Date of Stay: 09/21/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

Wonderful stay. Nice and quiet. Husband went fishing. I read books and napped. Dogs will come with us in November. [These guests booked a week in November before they even left!]

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Trinity River Adventure Inn-Carriage House

Guest: Taruchka (Soquel, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/17/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

The Carriage House is a quaint cabin with all the essentials and is very dog friendly. The only thing the cabin lacked was entertainment ie: radio, TV. Come prepared with a good book, iPod and/or computer to play movies if you wish to have entertainment in the evenings. The cabin is listed as having 2 bedrooms, but it only has one. This wasn't a problem for us, but there is a single bed in the corner of the living room to comfortably accomodate a 3rd sleeper. We arrived to a warm fire burning in the wood stove creating a very cozy atmosphere on the first night. And there was plenty of wood to burn for the remaining nights of our stay. The cabin was clean and had all essential kitchen and bathroom necessities to make our stay easy and stress free. The back yard has a huge lawn that leads down to the river. It was a great place for our dog to get exercise. Unfortunately the flow of the river was too strong for the dog to play in the water. Maybe later in summer the flow is more conducive for water play for both dogs and their humans. Be careful of tics in the tall grass leading to the river. Both dog and human had hitchhikers. There is great kayaking on the river from beginner to experienced paddlers and your dog can even join you for your paddle. Hiking is another favorite past time that offers many different trails within a short drive from the cabin. During our stay it rained a couple days, so we explored Weaverville and found the Red Cafe to be friendly and charming (and it has wireless). There is a great park along a creek and county museum/historical society that shows what life was like during the gold mining days. The historical society was closed the day we visited, but the volunteers were happy to open the exhibits just for us and offered a personal tour. The owners are very knowledgeable of the surrounding area and will go out of their way to take you kayaking or give you advice and options of how to explore this scenic paradise. It was a great getaway and a great value. I recommend this cabin for couples or small families!

Owner response:Our guest forgot there is Dragonfly, a stand-alone cabin next to the Carriage House, that only rents with it if a 2nd bedroom is required. It's a nice deal, since people who don't need a 2nd bedroom don't have to pay for it. Ticks throughout California are a concern, since they now may carry Lyme disease. We suggest using a Deet-based bug spray when outdoors anywhere and carry a very good dog tick collar at cost for canine guests. We have an interesting library in each cabin; in fact, these guests borrowed a book to finish after going home. We think TV is over-rated and prefer listening to birds sing and the river rippling past. The museum people opening for this couple are such a great example of Trinity County hospitality. It's like going back several decades to a time when people were more generous and took the time to show you something neat. It's why we live here.

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

Relaxing stay with our dog

Guest: Karen RG (Woodland, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/13/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

We had a wonderful stay in the Carriage House. It was great to be able to safely let our dog run around off-leash. The property was as described. When we arrived, we could not get the pilot light on for the stove, and Steph, one of the owners, came right away to get it started for us. We would, and will, recommend staying here. We enjoyed kayaking on Lewiston Lake, wine tasting, and hiking in the area.

Owner response:A lot of our guests are taken by the fun their dogs have here. It's really rewarding knowing they enjoyed their stay and got to run free for a while!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kevin Eldridge/San Francisco, CA
Date of Stay: 12/30/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"Thanks for another great trip--at least your part! The place [Carriage House] was great and the breakfasts were perfect. Anyone who stays with you and doesn't get the breakfasts is crazy! Fishing was great so I'm sure we'll see you guys again. Have a great year!"

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Guest: Kevin & Mike Eldridge/San Francisco, CA
Date of Stay: 11/17/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

11/17/2009: "Thanks for everything! We really enjoyed our first extended stay and steelhead trip on the Trinity. The food was perfect; the strata was great! Thanks again. We hope to stay here with you again soon."

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Guest: Kevin and Patricia/San Rafael, CA
Date of Stay: 10/19/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"We loved our time at Carriage House and miss the relaxing times we spent on the river bank. Take care and hope to see you soon."

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Guest: Alicia Smolke/Lodi, CA
Date of Stay: 09/03/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"Thank you so much for the use of the Carriage House. We had a wonderful time! We didn't catch as many fish as we were hoping for, but had a good time none the less. What a beautiful area. [Brought two dogs and it] wore them out. I would like to try Alpen Glow [our grand A frame lodge]; we looked through the windows and it looks very nice."

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Guest: Robin Pagliuco/Eureka, CA
Date of Stay: 09/01/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

9/1/2009: "Renting all four cabins [at our Steel Bridge location] was perfect. We had plenty of space and privacy at the same time, having the two kitchens helped as well, the patio was a perfect space to hang out, the river gorgeous, the fact we could have the dogs, the Alpen Glow kitchen really well stocked.....I could go on and on! The place was incredible, the rates reasonable, you two were gracious hosts. This was the best weekend-away I have planned so far, I think! We'd love to talk again about January, we have some more birthdays coming up, and would love to make this our summer retreat spot . What can I say, we had a blast!!! Thanks again."

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Guest: Tom & Gail Tauchus/Elk Grove, CA
Date of Stay: 07/12/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"Enjoyed the kayak trip; thank you, Steph!" Likes: "Nice, clean cabin; fresh flowers, soap and all necessities provided."

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Guest: Kim & Jeff Pearson/Redding, CA
Date of Stay: 07/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"We liked everything! Enjoyed the kayak trip, the food & most of all, the company! Thanks for it all! Next time, would love another kayak trip." [see video of their 1st ever kayak trip on our web site by clicking on the link at bottom of our listing for more information.]

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Guest: Kim Erickson/Lakeport, CA
Date of Stay: 05/19/09 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"Loved everything. Used this trip to relax; next time may take advantage of rafting and kayaking. Achilles loved running around on the grass and walking in the river. We will be back and bring others with us."

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Guest: Toni Hall
Date of Stay: 05/09/09 Review Submitted: 05/08/09

"We really enjoyed this upper section [of the Trinity River] and our stay here! Lovely cabin [Carriage House]..."

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Guest: Michelle
Date of Stay: 05/01/09 Review Submitted: 05/10/10

Loved the location. Cabin was in great shape and everything was well thought out. First time catching fish for our 2 1/2 year old. Definitely will be back!

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Guest: Michael Caranci
Date of Stay: 01/25/09 Review Submitted: 01/24/09

"My wife Kerry and I, along with some friends, were fortunate enough to spend a couple of nights recently staying at the Trinity River Adventure Inn, specifically the Alpen Glow and Carriage House cabins. We enjoyed our stay immensely, spending much of our time simply relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery and tranquility of the Trinity River flowing just past the back deck. Of course, we made sure to wet a line, too, with some great success in the productive steelhead runs accessible only from the Trinity River Adventure Inn cabins. As a long time Trinity River angler and guide, and the Director of Outfitters for The Fly Shop in Redding, I've had the opportunity over the years to visit many of the different motels, lodges, and cabins along the Trinity River. For sheer seclusion, access, and cozy, comfortable accommodations, the cabins at the Trinity River Adventure Inn are certainly among the best. Steph's handiwork and painstaking care of the cabins is apparent, while I'm still savoring Heidi's crab dip on my taste buds weeks after the trip!" Michael Caranci/The Fly Shop Redding, CA FFF Certified Master Instructor

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/25/08 Review Submitted: 08/25/08

What can we say....anyone fortunate enough to stay at The Trinity River Adventure Inn will have one of the greatest treats of their life. This is the 2nd time we stayed with Heidi and Steph, this time we brought friends, we had a fabulous time, again. Who knew that they could outdo themselves! The accommodations are fantastic and filled with character! We stayed at the Carriage House, enjoyed wonderful nights on the porch listening to the river. We do not think that the wonderful meals and conversation with Heidi and Steph will ever be topped anywhere that we stay--they set the bar very high, and we love it!! And, the fabulous trip down the river, one raft, 2 kayaks, 4 dogs, Heidi leading on kayak, Steph steering the raft, life doesn't get much better. We will be back, there is no question about that. Thanks for making our holiday so wonderful!!! Cheers, Mary, Brandon, and Finnegan

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Guest: Margaret Mew
Date of Stay: 08/22/08 Review Submitted: 08/21/08

"You two were such terrific hosts-enjoyable and down to earth. [Alpen Glow] was lovely. [The raft trip] was very enjoyable; loved the berries. Write that cookbook!"

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Guest: Gary & Sandy Schupe
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/31/08

Superb accommodations! Delicious food. This is heaven. Just to let you know we had a wonderful time with you and our stay at the Carriage House for our 25th Anniversary. You made us so comfortable, just like we were at home, but better. Even though there were fires in the area, it is still a gorgeous place. Steph, the raft ride was a blast; we had never been on a raft ride before. I couldn't have enjoyed my first ride better. Gary caught three trout, one a German brown; it was so pretty, with bright orange dots on its side. You suggested we go to a local restaurant La Grange which turn out to be very good. Not as good as your cooking though, Heidi. I still would like your recipe for that pork tenderloin; it was delicious. We could have sat and listened to all your adventures all night. Our dog Kacie misses Bisco and Scupper her two new friends. We give you a 6+++ star rating. We will drive 5 hours to stay with you again sometime; I do hope soon. Best be with you."

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Guest: Gayle Kuokka
Date of Stay: 07/29/08 Review Submitted: 07/28/08

"THANK YOU for a wonderful location for our family reunion [all of the Steel Bridge cabins]. My favorite part of the trip was the kayaking; thanks for making this possible. We'll sort through our pictures and send you some on the rope swing; it was the highlight of the location for the kids. I would definitely recommend this location to others; it was convenient, comfortable, well-equipped, and beautiful. THANKS AGAIN!"

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Guest: Kim & Jim Combes
Date of Stay: 07/14/08 Review Submitted: 07/13/08

Accommodations: wonderful. Peace & quiet: Excellent. We named the hummingbirds. The loud one is "Turbo" and the female is "Stealth." Oh, and "Chilli" and "Slug," our two morning slug visitors. Thanks again; we'll see you again for sure.

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Guest: Doris Burbank
Date of Stay: 06/10/08 Review Submitted: 06/09/08

The Carriage House was very comfortable; authentic cabin feel. Very quiet, felt away from it all. [Meals were] excellent! Already making plans [to return].

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Guest: Greg Aarreberg
Date of Stay: 05/14/08 Review Submitted: 05/13/08

[All of our guests' comments are posted on our web site, too. The ones we have posted here were received befor we listed the Carriage House on vrbo.] The Carriage House was more than we had hoped for; the river in the backyard is awesome. We haven't seen that many different types of birds all in one place in a while. I caught 5 trout at Stuarts Fork on Saturday in about 45 minutes; I released all of them. We'll see you in June.

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