Vacation Rentals by Owner

RWL Chicago

Guest: RWL Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 08/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/07/11

Our family and some dear friends gathered at Mesa del Sol for a week to celebrate my husband's 80th birthday. We ranged in age from 2 years to 80 and everyone had fun and wanted to stay forever. Our stay was enhanced by 2 very capable cooks who were recommended by Ann. They enabled me to have a vacation too and not to worry about feeding 17 people. We never left the grounds except to go to the State Park 5 miles away where we hiked and played in the river. Mesa del Sol is not for those who need restaurants, stores or amusement near by; it is for those who love nature and beauty and relaxing.

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

A week in Shangri-La!

Guest: Cathy (SF Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

One week just isn’t enough at Mesa del Sol! Our large family of 19 (ages 2-80) and three dogs loved everything about this destination. The open space, beautiful landscaping and relaxed atmosphere brought us all together without feeling cramped or crowded. We enjoyed everything Mesa del Sol has to offer: the terrific and accommodating kitchen, outdoor dining, fire pit, swimming pool, basketball/bocce court, vegetable garden, chickens and of course, watching the grapes grow riper each day in the vineyard. There was something for everyone here - hiking, river, wine tasting and just unwinding by doing nothing. We laughed, played games, made music, sang songs, celebrated birthdays, ate and drank wine together each night. This is a rustic retreat in a country setting and prospective renters should realize that nature offers sights, sounds and creatures not usually found in urban environs. We found this exciting and gave us much to talk about each day! It’s wonderful to find a place that is not too formal yet still clean and comfortable. Ann made us feel welcome and at ease from the very first communication – we all noticed and admired her relaxed and trusting manner. While half the fun is discovering a wonderful new place, we all commented that we hope to return to Mesa del Sol. Thanks, Ann! The O’Connors (Vancouver, Portland, SF Bay Area, Laguna Beach)

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

August 6-13, 2011

Guest: Ellen (Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/16/11

Ann, thanks so much for making your incredible place available to us. We had a lovely time there, especially the kids who have never experienced such freedom to roam at will.

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

Family & Friends Reunion Summer 2011

Guest: Verla (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/05/11

We have loved our week here at Mesa del Sol. We had 7 children (ages 3-16) and 9-15 adults (depending on the day, ranging from 33 to 73) for a week of fun and re-connection. We have made smores at the firepit, slept in the safari tent, looked at the stars, read by the pool, read by the oaks, fed the chickens and the trout, gathered eggs, gone wine tasting, fished at the nearby state park, admired the bountiful and varied plantings here, relaxed in the hammock, picked tomatillos, zucchini and fresh herbs, xcooked fabulous meals in the perfect kitchen and over the multiple grills, painted pictures of the hills, visited the Steinbeck museum in Salinas, visited Carmel Valley/Carmel, swam, walked around the vineyard, sat in the jacuzzi, swung on the tree swing, played cards... and more! We have loved how contained yet varied the property is, allowing elementary aged kids freedom to roam safely. The best things here are 1.)the views of the river & grapes & hills, 2.)the chance to unplug with family and friends, and 3.) the great gourmety kitchen for our big family dinners. Ann was a great hostess and we may come by this way again.... it's been a blast! There are a few things that could improve the week we had, according to the foodie/chef among us: a super big pot, your own knives, and the forethought to arrange a seafood shipment via fedex. (He did bring his own knives. Always does.) Grocery stores are a bit distant - so we recommend bringing in your meats and such rather than thinking, like we did, that "We'll just run out and grab what we need each day." The place is so beautiful that you don't really want to leave once you get here - so bring in your foodstuffs when you arrive. Leave wine at home, however. We LOVE the syrah here, especially, and drank plenty of the Sangiovese and Rosso. We also bought wine at local wineries. We recommend visiting: Paraiso, Wrath, Pessagno, and Scheid. The port at Paraiso is AMAZING. We hope that this helps you plan your family getaway. It's been a good week for this family spread over three states and 7 decades. There's great air here - hope you love breathing in in as much as we have.

Owner response:Thanks Dina, your extended family was a pleasure to to have here. This is a place to visit and do exactly what your family did...........tune in to the natural beauty and healing qualities of the property and get to know each other better and more deeply. Thanks for enjoying the wines too! They are much a part of Mesa Del Sol. Ann

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

Idyllic, peaceful, relaxing. Simply wonderful!

Guest: JC (Santa Clara)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

Can't say enough about Mesa Del Sol. My family of 18 has been all over the west for our reunions and Mesa Del Sol was the spot we see ourselves coming back to again and again. It's hard to add more to what has been said already by the other reviewers, because it is all true.Idyllic Thank you Ann for sharing Mesa with us. Our time was truly memorable.

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

Mom's 70th Birthday and Family get together

Guest: Kimberly (Aptos, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 06/11/11

My entire immediate family (-Madi) spent a wonderful weekend at Mesa Del Sol and absolutely loved every moment of it. Ann was a wonderful host and had thought of everything to make our stay perfect. The details of this house are what set it apart. We had 17 of us ranging from 3-70 years old and there was something for everyone to do. We had swimming and diving competitions, a croquet tournament, a poker championship and a dance party out by the fire pit! We also barbequed delicious dinners and drank the wines from Mesa Del Sol....they were awesome....especially the Syrah. We hope to make this a annual family tradition!

Owner response:Thanks for the great review! I would encourage future renters to leave room in your wine needs to purchase our Sangiovese, Syrah and Zinfandel available on site. Each of the varieties are organically grown and site specifically wonderful ! Discounts are usually available for wine purchased during your visit.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

Serentity and Bliss

Guest: gina (san jose, ca)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

Our family (ages from 1 year old to 74 years old) had a great time at Mesa del Sol. The incredible scenery, spacious grounds and invigorating air left us all with a feeling of relaxation and peace. Everyone found their groove--chickens, swimming, hot tub, hiking, mostly just reconnecting with each other. Jeanette (the local caterer) prepared delicious dinners for us at a reasonable cost. This is THE place to go for a family reunion or a get away with people you want to be with. It is truly like your own private resort or retreat. We all want to go back again. The location is stunning. The photos are right on--the estate is meticulous. Ann is a generous soul and we have already recommend this property to our friends. The Arroyo Seco river is nearby also--fun for the kids to throw rocks and have a river experience too.

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

Magical, magnificent place for our reunion

Guest: D. Lu (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 08/26/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

Mesa del Sol offered each and every member of our extended family, ages 1 to 75 (and a dog, too), something to love. The kids loved the trout pond, pool, swings, chicken coop, basketball/bocce court. The grown-ups enjoyed lovely scenery (a full moon rising over the ridge, which we enjoyed watching while in the hot tub, was particularly spectacular), a very user-friendly kitchen/grilling area, many places to lounge and read, a winery tour and tasting led by Ann, and the aforementioned hot tub. The property is a wonderful combination of historic/rustic and modern. The pictures on this website are good, but definitely check out the Mesa del Sol website for more history and info. Ann was a gracious and informative host. Wish we could've stayed longer.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Such a Paradise ! Best place for our family reunion

Guest: Ling (Foster City, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/24/10

Ann is very nice and helpful. We had a family reunion at Mesa Del Sol Vineyards Estate. Every moment was fabulous. Everyone had their favorate experience at the estate. Every part of the estate was someone's favorate. Our 'chefs' loved the kitchen (well stocked) and BBQ area. The view from the kitchen is amazing. The kids were occupied by many fun activities. There are plenty shades on the ground. The mid-aged parents loved to relax under ancient oak tree. The photos and descriptions in the listing are accurate. The place is even better than what was described. It's like a paradise.

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

Lovely, Peaceful home and fun filled property.

Guest: Gretchen (Burlingame, CA)
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 02/17/11

Our family enjoyed a most wonderful week together at the lovely and peaceful Mesa Del Sol Estate. We had 14 little ones aging from newborn to 16 and 14 adults ranging from 20 - 85. We had enough room to roam, have fun scavenger hunts, and enough room to come together for family dinners, and lunches in doors and outside. We loved the pool and told stories at night while enjoying the stars and relaxing in the jacuzzi. We played the days away and also made many of our dinner side dishes from ingredients from the garden. When we got hungry for a snack, we ate fruit off the trees. It truly was like heaven on earth. We hope everyone has as much joy as we did and we look forward to coming again.

Owner response:It truely is a magical place to just be and makes me happy to facilitate such great memories for folks.

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

Perfect vacation

Guest: Becky (Pittsburgh, PA/Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/10/10 Review Submitted: 10/15/10

First of all, our experience deserves way more than 5 stars.....our family totalling 6 adults and 5 kids from two different coasts met at the San Francisco airport for our drive to Mesa Del Sol. Little did we know that we were traveling to one of our favorite vacation spots yet. The estate js far enough into the valley that about a mile from the property we lost cell-phone service, which was just fine with the adults (there is a land-line for emergencies), there was a slight adjustment period for the teenagers, but it truly made us all slow down and "disconnect" from our everyday lives. It was perfect.....lots of room for the kids (ranging in age from 1-15) to run around and so much for them to experience, the wildflower garden, the chickens, the pool and hottub, the beautiful scent of jasmine wafting through the air, the trout pond, the amazing view and the sound of the Arroyo Seco River and crickets at night, hanging out together around the bonfire and the beautiful star-filled sky. We traveled back and forth to the US Open at Pebble Beach during our stay and didn't find the commute to be too bad -- about an hour each way, but a relatively easy and pretty drive. Ann was a most gracious and kind host and was available for anything we needed. Amazing vacation and memories. Thank you, Ann for sharing your property with us!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

What a fantastic place

Guest: Patrick C (Los Altos Hills)
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/28/10

It's rare to experience Northern California the way it used to be, serene, grandiose, pristine, generous and inspiring. I was fortunate to be with a large group of friends in this lovely estate. We spent precious moments in an environment that surpass all our hope of an ideal retreat. You must see it to believe it. Patrick

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Great place for our family and friends

Guest: 5 families 10 kids (Palo Alto, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/13/10 Review Submitted: 04/22/10

A lovely house in an even more incredible setting. With the river running down the valley below the kitchen window and sun beaming through the vineyards you can easily loose yourself here. Ann was incredibly kind and helpful in arranging our stay. Our kids, 10 in all (from 5 families) had an absolute blast, whether in the pool, hot tub, or playing on the grass. Would highly recommend this house.

Owner response: It's was so much fun for me to share this treasure and reap the smiles that grew from your little band of munchkins! Ann

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

These photos don't do it justice!

Guest: Sweenster (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/26/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/10

We visited Mesa Del Sol for a girls weekend for 11 and were delighted with the accomodations. If you like to cook, there is a very high-end 6 burner stove in the kitchen and 2 ovens, and there are 4 outside grills (one propane, 3 wood-fire grills) for cooking as well as a firepit. We cooked with farm fresh eggs from the henhouse all weekend! The main house is beautiful--a great combination of up to date appliances with cowboy-rustic charm. The stone house and cowboy house are perfectly adorned with comfy beds, nice showers and plenty of closet space. The pool is lap size with a diving board and mens and womens changing rooms. Basically, this place is perfect for a week-long or a weekend retreat. We had an amazing time!

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

Family week at Mesa Del Sol

Guest: Jan (Corralitos CA)
Date of Stay: 02/26/10 Review Submitted: 02/18/11

Our Family spent the first week of Feburary. It was my husbands 60th birthday. We had a terrific time, Ann has thought of everything. We went in very prepared, ended up never leaving all week. Family and friends came and went, but we stayed in heaven. It is a very safe and private propery. Our two three year old grandsons had the run of the place. If you love the outdoors, this is the place. The sound of the river running, birds singing, and chicken clucking, it's hard to beat. The property is beautiful, well maintained, and huge, room for just about anything. Every place you look the view is breathtaking, sitting in the hot tub or swing from an Oak tree. We had fresh eggs in the morning, the kids could wait to run out and gather what the chickens had left. I loved the kitchen, we are big cooks and found it had everything we needed. We used everything the property had to offer, In Feb. we did not have any one brave enough for the pool. But the cozy fireplace went all the time.

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/03/09 Review Submitted: 12/03/09

A beautiful house, gracious and comfortable, with incredible grounds. We had a perfect time!

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Guest: Cheng
Date of Stay: 08/14/09 Review Submitted: 08/13/09

Thank you Ann! We had a great time and definately will be back!

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Guest: Hornig
Date of Stay: 08/02/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

Ronna and I drove to Ann's home and instantly knew that our family reunion would be perfect here. Our families converged at the beginning of the week and everyone enjoyed every moment. Thanks Ann!

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Guest: Hornig Tannenbaum
Date of Stay: 08/02/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

What a beautiful place. The view from this house is gorgeous! I was a guest for the week of the Horning-Tannenbaum family get-together. A wonderful time it was. Ann, Thank you for sharing your wonderful home and vineyard.

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Guest: Rhoads/Davis
Date of Stay: 07/25/09 Review Submitted: 07/24/09

Our family of 21, from ages four months to 85 years, found this to be a "mountain top" week together. A few highlights-the enormous oak trees, the wind rustling up the canyon, the jays, robins, hawks, ospreys, and turkey vultures flying up the canyon, the pool & spa, the chickens, garden, the charming accomodations and the magnificient night sky! Most of all this beautiful jewel exudes a quality of warmth and welcome that enter into our life experiences in a very uplifting way--so much so that many speak of wishing to return someday. Ann, thanks for sharing Mesa Del Sol, recognizing the energy, resources and love you have invested.

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Guest: Eckmann Clan
Date of Stay: 07/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

All 19 of us thoroughly enjoyed this lovely home. You have all the elements needed to ensure that we had a relaxing and joyful time. The kids (all 6 of them) had fun on the swings, in the pool and exploring your beautiful property. Thank you for having us. You have done a remarkable job with this home. We will recommend it to our friends! Thank you!

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Guest: Julie and Dave Sandoval
Date of Stay: 07/06/09 Review Submitted: 07/05/09

Thanks so much for your generous hospitality. All of us of all ages found fun and interesting things to keep us busy from gathering eggs to swimming. It's such a peaceful and beautiful setting. Thanks again!

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Guest: Antonucci
Date of Stay: 06/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/24/09

Thirteen of us enjoyed your wonderful house and grounds. We especially loved: the flowers, the humminbirds, the bocce/ basketball court, hot tub on the canyon's edge, great Viking stove, cool breezes....Every day here was a celebration. Hannah (age 12) LOVES you chickens! Thank you! Ray and Betsy Antonucci

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Guest: Joey and Arlyn Knapic
Date of Stay: 06/15/09 Review Submitted: 06/14/09

Ann.....You are one of the most generous, wonderful people we have met. Our stay here was truely a dream......to have our families meet and enjoy the company and converstation of a peaceful place was wonderful. We hope to come again one day!

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Guest: Leslie Bouffard (-)
Date of Stay: 12/02/08 Review Submitted: 12/02/08

Our family (15 including children) stayed for a week during Thanksgiving. It was an incredibly beautiful location. The ranch house was lovely and the owners very accommodating and generous. The property was big enough for everybody: and walks around the vineyard, feeding chickens, playing croquet and cooking in the wonderful kitchen, all made it an unforgettable week. Everyone said we should do it again. Thank you!

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