Mt. Tamalpias Vista House Minutes to Muir Woods and SF
- Minimum stay:Contact owner
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:Yes
Quintessential Mill Valley home on full acre upon the slopes of Mount Tamalpias. Quiet beautiful location on meandering small lane off of Panoramic Highway. Very private, and no sound of cars to be heard. Tranquility, yet close to everything. Breathtaking views from nearly every room. Beautiful established garden with Dogwoods, maples, azaleas, fruit trees, and countless flowers. Huge 1000sq ft deck for entertaining outdoors, with 6 person hot tub that is perfect for night time star gazing. Lawn area for those who wish to picnic on the grass. Sublime porch with swing to contemplate 180 degree vistas stretching from the mountain to the bay.
The house is adorned with antique oriental and turkish rugs, wood carvings from Bali, vintage furniture from china, and oil paintings and photographs from bay area artists. Full modern kitchen with granite and butcher block counters, jennair stove on which you can grill indoors,(there's an outdoor barbecue as well), and all the accoutrements of a fully equipped kitchen. 4 large windows run along the entire counter space so you can look out at the mountain while prepping your meals. Serve your culinary creations on the handmade hardwood cherry dining table that easily seats 6-8 people.
Bedroom #1 is the master bedroom. A huge 25'room with queen bed and a seating area in front of a 12'expanse of windows facing Mt Tam. It an absolutely stunning space.
Bedroom #2 has a double bed, a 10' wide floor to ceiling window view of the mountain through the redwood trees. It is approximately 15x15 and has glass french doors that open onto the upstairs sitting room with garden views. This room truly feels like a tree house, as there is a HUGE redwood tree 15 inches from the window glass, that you can watch sway in the wind.
Bedroom #3 had a double bed, and two large windows that face separate gardens on each side of the house. One of redwoods and maples, and the other towards the sun side with roses, poppies, and whatever happens to be in bloom.
Bedroom #4 is a very cozy small room on the first floor, and has one twin bed and a view of the garden.
The house is located conveniently close to many destinations: Muir woods 5 minutes, Downtown Mill Valley, nearest Whole Foods market, Peet's coffee, all about 7 minutes, the Golden Gate Bridge 17 minutes, Muir Beach 10 minutes, Stinson Beach 15 minutes, Pt. Reyes National Seashore 30 minutes, downtown San Francisco 30 mins, SFO airport 45 minutes.
Why drive when you can walk ?
The walk to town via the famed dipsea steps is 15 minutes, and there are 250 miles of hiking trails available by just stepping out the front door. Hike to Muir Woods, the top of Mt Tam or explore the Marin headlands. For the thrill seekers, we have two mountain bikes available to ride down the mountain on the famed railroad grade, where mountain biking was born. Just remember... you'll have to ride them back up:)
There is a resident super friendly cat (short hair) who lives here and is indoor/outdoor, or simply outdoor (she doesnt mind).
But those with allergies should be aware that a cat has been in the house. We keep the house very clean and well vacuumed.
For those who do like to have a friendly lap cat around, she it the quintessential affectionate lap cat.
Keywords: Views, Mountain, Gardens, Redwoods, Trees, Muir Woods, Hiking, Hike, Decks, Hot Tub, Biking, Large, Vistas, Lawn, Porch, Bikes, Redwood, Woods, Marin, Mill Valley, Panoramic, Tamalpias
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Suitability
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Children Welcome
- Pets Considered
- Clothing Optional/Nude Sunbathing Nearby
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms: 4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8, Beds for 8
Kitchen & Dining
- Catering Available
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Cooking Utensils
- Ice Maker
- Microwave
Amenities
- Wood Fireplace
- Linens Provided
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- Stereo
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- VCR
- Satellite / Cable
Communications
- Broadband Access
- Wireless Internet
Pool & Spa
- Hot Tub
Outdoor Features
- Balcony
- Deck / Patio
- Outdoor Grill
Location & View
- Water View
- Mountain View
Activities
- Golf
- Rock Climbing
- Surfing
- Cycling
- Kayaking
- Basketball Court
- Tennis
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Sailing
- Mountain Biking
- Museums
- Shopping
- Restaurants
- Cinemas
- Live Theater
- Antiquing
- Wind-Surfing
- Boating
- Wildlife Viewing
- Sight Seeing
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
A wonderful temporary home
A wonderful temporary home
- Guest Julie
- Date of stay 08/07/11
- Review Submitted 11/06/11
My family of five, including three children, were lucky enough to come across this house and its owner for a two month stay during our relocation to the bay area. Phil's house has everything and more for a weekend stay or an extended stay like ours. We felt comfortable and at home the entire time we were there. The kitchen was big enough for us all to spread out in to cook, do homework, etc. The deck and garden were perfect for kids and guests. The proximity to Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Stinson Beach, Mill Valley and the rest of Marin's beauty couldn't be better. Phil is attentive and always available should you need anything (and Baby Kitty is the coolest of cats!)Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.
Owner response: Julia, thanks so much for your kind review. It was terrific having your family here for an extended stay. So glad your kids had a great time spending their summer vacation here, and having this be their home base. So nice to have you all as guests, and you are most welcome here anytime ! Best Regards, Phil
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A magical, beautiful retreat
A magical, beautiful retreat
- Guest Sabrina Y.
- Date of stay 05/21/11
- Review Submitted 05/24/11
Thank you so much for our wonderful stay this weekend at the Mt. Tam Vista House! Everyone immediately fell in love with your beautiful and comfortable home. It's obvious that a lot of care and love have gone into every detail of every room, each impeccably decorated and sporting breathtaking views of Mt. Tam and the bay (even the bathroom!). Every comfort has been attended to, from plush comfy beds to fluffy bathroom towels to a dining room perfectly set with fresh flowers for entertaining; we wanted for nothing.. and never left! Our days were spent on your gorgeous deck, in a perfect-temp hot tub, and amid the colorful gardens and majestic redwoods. At night, we sat on the porch and watched the fog descend into the valley and the hawks circle overhead before gathering before the warm fireplace. A more perfect, relaxing vacation could not be had anywhere. You have a special, magical home filled with love--thank you for sharing it (and Babykitty) with us.Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
Owner response: So glad you all had a great time. I really appreciate that you felt comfortable and at home. Your timing couldn't have been better for perfect weather and the gardens in full bloom. It is really rewarding to have people stay here and fall in love with the place. Thanks so much ! Phil
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A beautiful house in a beautiful area
A beautiful house in a beautiful area
- Guest Chad
- Date of stay 02/19/11
- Review Submitted 03/04/11
Our family spent a week at this house and had a delightful vacation that exceeded our expectations. The house is amazing; it's filled with windows that look out on Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley, and the Bay. As the weather changes and clouds roll in and out, the view is constantly changing, but always gorgeous - it's really mesmerizing. The house is perfectly set up to take advantage of the views. The sitting area in the master bedroom is a particularly relaxing spot to sit and read and admire the scenery. And reading books was a particularly appealing option in this house; the owner is a traveller and professional photographer, and has amassed a tremendous collection of original art and books. Especially because we were there in February, it was great to be in a place where it was so pleasant to be indoors when it's cold or rainy. Fortunately for us, we actually had quite good weather during our stay, and went hiking every day. It turns out that this is a phenomenal place for an outdoorsy vacation. The trails around Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Muir Woods and Mt. Tam are outrageously scenic, and widely varied. It's like taking a vacation in the mountains, except that you can also go to the beach, and you can zip down the hill to amazing restaurants for dinner. It was remarkable to us that we could go on six days' worth of startlingly beautiful hikes, over all kinds of terrain and through all different kinds of settings, and eat at outstanding restaurants every night, and still only use a quarter tank of gas. Even if you don't get that far afield, this is a great place for being outside. The terraced gardens of the house climb up the hill behind it and provide even more breathtaking views in a secluded setting of trees and flowers, and the hot tub is a great place to watch the stars come out. All told, we were amazed at what a successful vacation we had at this house. Even though it's less than two hours from where we live, the beautiful house and peaceful mountain setting made us feel like we had really escaped.Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with young children, adventure seekers, romantic getaway.
Owner response: Dear Chad, Thanks so much for your visit to my home. Really glad your family got a wide sampling of the great outdoor opportunities nearby. From the waterfalls of the Cataract Trail, to the beaches of Muir Beach and the redwood groves at Muir Woods... it is indeed a wonderland. Glad the location worked out so well. You were great visitors, it was a pleasure to have you, and i thank you so much for taking the time to write such a flattering review. best regards, Phil
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Rates
winter rates Nov 1- to May 31 except holidays: $400/night (2 night minimum) ... $2500/week....$5500/month $150 cleaning fee Summer rates/ holiday rates: June1- Oct 31,2011 $425/night (2 night minimum) ... $2750/week....$7500/month holidays are nov 21-28, dec19-to jan 1 credit card cards accepted via Paypal $500 Refundable Security Deposit
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
This owner accepts: Credit cards.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Calendar
Sorry this information is not available. Please contact the owner/manager for more information.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1994
About the owner: I have lived in Mill Valley since 1967. I purchased this home in 1994 and lived here with my wife and kids until recently. It was a very run down property when we first found it, but the location and views were so amazing, and the fact that you could not see other homes from the house made it an extremely rare find. The street is so quiet that the cat can go out and sleep in the road all day, and not have to move. So we did the endless fixer upper thing and actually had a great time doing it...a labor of love. I am a professional photographer in advertising and editorial. I do a lot of work in digital illustration for high tech companies as well. I love to cook and garden when I'm not working, and the house is set up for both. As a long time local, I am happy to share insights on places to go, things to do, where the best trails are, places to eat...you name it. Anything I can do to enhance your visit is a pleasure to provide.
Contact us
- Primary: (415) 388-6996 (California, USA)
- Click Here to see All My Rental Listings
Photos
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View of House from the Driveway, Mount Tamalpias Vista
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Living Room
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Granite and Butcher Block Kitchen with huge views of the redwoods
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Dining Room
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Back Porch with Webber Grill, and Porch Swing
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Master Bedroom with Queen Bed Alternate View
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Upstairs Sitting Room
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Bedroom 4 is a kidzone. Bright blue small room with double bed and flatscreen tv
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Entry Ramp to House with Views of the Mountain
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Garden with Maples and Dogwoods
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Kitchen with Butcher Block Island, Jennair Grill Stovetop, with Window Views of
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Large Master Bedroom with Queen Bed
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Bedroom #3 with double bed and views of the garden and redwoods
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Bedroom #2 with double bed and 10' window into the redwoods
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Master Bathroom with shower view window into the redwoods
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This listing was first published here in 2010.
Date last modified - Friday, October 05, 2012