Romantic Ocean View Vintage Trailer Eco Retreat

• The first annual best-weekend-trip-ever

  The first annual best-weekend-trip-ever

  • Guest leedlebee
  • Date of stay 04/26/13
  • Review Submitted 04/30/13
  This not just "a place to stay" in big sur. It is exactly as advertised, a fabulous retreat! Richard and his dog Peeha made the experience delightful. He was easy to get in touch with, thoughtfully planned ahead, oriented us to his amazing canyon, and more than made us feel at home. He provided more fresh eggs than we could eat, as well as some other fresh treats from his garden. The photos and description of his property only fault in that they under represent the beauty. Not only do I hope to return, but I would return for at least three days, and plan to recommend this trip to all my friends. Tips: if you go hiking (you should!) wear pants because the underbrush is scratchy. The beautiful weather lured us into shorts against our better judgement. And do a Tick-check at the end of the weekend- it never hurts to look!

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

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• Luxury Relaxation in Unparalleled Remote Beauty!

  Luxury Relaxation in Unparalleled Remote Beauty!

  • Guest Rhyan Amanda
  • Date of stay 04/02/13
  • Review Submitted 04/16/13
  Where to start? First off, this property lives up to its potential in every way imaginable. My husband and I spent three+ AMAZING days here, partaking in the stunning scenery {mountains, ocean, creek}, hiking {amidst the redwoods}, sunbathing, reading, writing, playing games {provided}, eating delicious meals {plan accordingly}, soaking in the two-person tub, bird and whale-watching {from the porch!}, getting off-grid, and straight up relaxing! The trailer was clean and cozy, well-stocked and with all the amenities needed for meal preparation. I couldn't praise the bath house enough; the mineral salt {provided} soaks while staring at the mountains, the outdoor shower with views of the ocean, and the hot water at a moment's notice turned what I was afraid might be a red-neck set-up into a luxury experience. There was so much and nothing to do all at once, the perfect combination of stimulation and downtime. The landlord provides fresh eggs every morning, is around if you need him, and doesn't disturb you if you don't. It feels as if you have the entire property to yourself; acres of wilderness, beautiful hiking trails, it's just you and the birds. There was not a thing I would have changed about our stay, and if you are into disconnecting from the rest of the world, having all the benefits of remote camping with the luxuries of home, and generally inspired by breathtaking scenery, this is the place!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway.

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• Absolutely wonderful

  Absolutely wonderful

  • Guest andy
  • Date of stay 03/30/13
  • Review Submitted 04/10/13
  My girlfriend and I came up for three nights and we could not have been happier. For starters, it is exactly as advertised. Beautiful trailer, bathhouse literally overlooks the ocean, and the ravine that leads down to it. You have complete privacy (Richard understands why you come up there in the first place, to get away). He provides a pantry stocked with the necessaries (olive oil, spices, condiments, even some pasta and very good coffee). The hiking is absolutely stunning, and if anything Richard under-sells how beautiful his private redwood forest is. Beyond that, Richard is a really good dude. He is generous, especially if you are friendly and polite. He and his absurdly intelligent and well-behaved dog Piha are the perfect hosts. He's also built this thing entirely himself and he clearly takes pride in good work. And the tub. The tub fits two. Is in a glass and redwood bath house. Overlooking the mountains. Come on. And on top of all that, he has a chicken coop down the path and gives you the best farm fresh eggs you've ever had. Seriously, these chickens eat well (your own food scraps) and so the eggs are very rich. They're also hilarious and incredibly entertaining. It convinced me to keep my own hens as soon as I have the room. My only suggestions are these: don't stay any less than three nights or you honestly won't get much out of it - bring some food to cook because you probably won't (want to) leave the property and it's very secluded - if you're a reader, bring a book because it's the perfect place to enjoy being outside and relaxing. Overall, I'd give this trip as many stars as I possibly could.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

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• A gem within a gem!

  A gem within a gem!

  • Guest Kaizen
  • Date of stay 05/22/12
  • Review Submitted 06/14/12
  Big Sur alone is incredible, but experiencing it on Richard’s property is more than magical! This place offers charm, peace, tranquility and enchantment that is truly unrivaled. Our senses were enriched with so many beauties of nature that were constantly highlighted during our stay, from the spectacular views of the mountains and the ocean, to the soft sounds made by the visiting humming birds. If you love camping, but also appreciate the luxury of having a hot shower and some electricity, you must come experience this treat! This is the perfect setting to disconnect from the rest of the world and ground yourself to nature! Being locals, we’ve visited Big Sur multiple times, but experiencing it in Richard’s and Piha’s kingdom takes Big Sur to a whole new level! Not only did my boyfriend and I experience a deeper inner peace and calmness, but even our dogs displayed cheerier, lighthearted dispositions! All four of us had the most wonderful time relaxing and recharging our batteries, and appreciating the serenity offered at this paradise. Richard and Piha (who our dogs absolutely adored), were incredibly wonderful; the two of them just kept adding more cherries on the icing, making our stay more magnificent than imaginable! I could never write enough to do this utopia justice…once you stay here, you’ll understand why. Thank you again, Richard and Piha, for sharing this amazing treasure with us! We will definitely be back!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Far Surpassed Expectations

  Far Surpassed Expectations

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 03/11/12
  • Review Submitted 04/03/12
  One word repeats itself in my mind when I look back on our three night stay here: Magical. Not only was the trailer clean, warm & comfortable, the bath-house was just as clean & warm, but both intermingled with the surrounding environment effortlessly. This is the ultimate romantic retreat. "Retreat" being the operative word. With few human beings around, one is quickly met with the reality that all of Nature are the Beings we were going to interact with. These trees, these rocks, these animals...they have big personalities and are quite enjoyable to get to know. This can be a little intimidating at first to some of us, but once we realized they were friendly, it felt good to get to know the "locals". Feeling far away from everything human was a delightful bonus to our anniversary celebration. For human interaction though, Richard was incredibly friendly & helpful in planning our first day. Thanks in part to his help, we explored the Partington Cove area, the small galleries in Big Sur and dined at Napenthe (worth every penny!). Our 2nd and last full day there we wisely chose not to leave the property at all. Instead we took the switchback trail down to the Cathedral area and allowed ourselves to become swallowed up in ancient majesty. This is the kind of experience that changes ones life. Later that evening, after hiking back up the hillside just before sunset, we soaked in the wonderful tub and enjoyed the song of owls & wind wafting through the valley. We knew at that moment that we would be coming back and encouraging others to enjoy this amazing spot. Fresh eggs, Piha's friendly wag, great reading, blooming orchids & ginger & endless stars were just a few additional bonuses that we enjoyed along with all the rest. I would enthusiastically recommend this rental to anyone looking to enjoy nature, get to know themselves & Big Sur in a whole new light.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• One of the most charming and terrifying experiences of our lives.

  One of the most charming and terrifying experiences of our lives.

  • Guest Jess and Josh
  • Date of stay 04/13/11
  • Review Submitted 01/04/12
  My fiancé and I stayed here in April of this year. Unsure of what to expect, we were happily surprised to say the least. From the hand picked eggs we ate for breakfast, the midnight adventures at Eselan, dish washing in the sunshine and the feeling of absolute quiet and privacy, we were in heaven. Despite the occasional unexpected run in with some of natures original habitants, and a tumble down a mountain or two,we thoroughly enjoyed being cut off from the rest of the world. It is an experience we'd love to have again. Richard was an amazing host and provided a genuine knowledge and love for what he is creating.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Perfect!

  Perfect!

  • Guest Cara
  • Date of stay 10/21/11
  • Review Submitted 12/05/11
  My husband and I stayed here in October. It is one of the quietest, most peaceful places we have ever stayed! We were delighted by all of the wildlife- lizards, birds, bees and just being in the middle of nature with no distractions. Such a nice break from TV, internet, cars, and just the world in general. We saw amazing stars and slept so peacefully. Hope to go back!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Amazing

  Amazing

  • Guest Matt
  • Date of stay 09/30/11
  • Review Submitted 10/03/11
  My wife and I stayed in the trailer in late September/Early October and had an amazing time. The trailer is as advertised: vintage, quaint, and with an amazing view on Richard's (your host) property. Do make sure that you bring *all* of your supplies to the site as you won't want to head back into town. First, the view is amazing, you can hike on Richard's property, bird watch, or just relax and do nothing. That is, you don't want to leave. Second, there are several steep inclines you'll have to walk (10 minutes) to get back to your car. That's not a big deal if you're just carrying a few things, but quite a haul if you have a lot of groceries and on your own. Richard was a fantastic host and provided us with fresh eggs from his chickens and made us feel at home. We're definitely going back.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• paradise found

  paradise found

  • Guest Looking for relaxation
  • Date of stay 09/03/11
  • Review Submitted 09/20/11
  Okay this is not for everyone .... understand this is rustic, you're off the grid which means solar power, propane stove/oven, no cell phone or internet, and no blow dryers. It also means riding to the site in a small Jeep and then probably walking to your car on a long steep dirt road -- if you happen to want to drive the magnificent coast during your stay. But if you're looking for solitude, sanctuary, quietude, and unique, you must give this a try. The immaculate vintage trailer is perched on a ledge in a private canyon (yes it's true), and there's a full windowed bath house with tub and outdoor shower. We just sat and relaxed most of the time for two full days, while taking in the gorgeous misty/sunny views. The owner is a generous soul who does everything he can to make sure you're comfortable. We have had some disappointing VRBO experiences, but this wasn't one of them. Highest recommendation -- we can't wait to go back.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Perfect...simply perfect...

  Perfect...simply perfect...

  • Guest Shelly and Jeff
  • Date of stay 07/16/11
  • Review Submitted 08/24/11
  Our week in Big Sur could not have been better. Richard provided the warmest welcome and perfect setting to enjoy the rugged beauty of Big Sur. The location allowed us to rejuvenate ourselves in beautiful simplicity and isolation surrounded by the mountains, a steep canyon, a rushing creek, the Pacific Ocean, gloriously starry nights and more. Richard was a most gracious host in sharing his stunning property and knowledge of the area. The trailer was immaculate, and the surrounding site was well maintained. Bring what supplies (food) you will need because you will not want to leave the property (or take the time to hike to your vehicle) once you arrive. The memories of the peacefulness surrounding our Big Sur vacation continue to have a lasting impression. Much needed rest, ultimate relaxation, incredible isolation, awesome beauty...what more could one hope to find?! If you find this off the grid setting and getaway intriguing, do not hesitate for a moment; you will not regret it. We'll be back! Thank you, Richard, and of course, Piha, for the stay!!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Additional information about rental rates

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST ARRIVE BETWEEN 2 AND 6 PM, AND DURING WINTER,NO LATER THAN ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNSET! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NO EXCEPTIONS. FAILURE TO ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE HOUR PRIOR TO SUNSET WILL RESULT IN FORFEIT OF THAT NIGHTS STAY. It's dark here at night, really dark, and you don't want to be finding the edges by Braille; as well it's better if you're in the tub at sunset, no?

Reservation by 50% min deposit. 72 hr cancellation policy, shorter notice will result in forfeit. I will try to work with the difficulties of life that arise but please be considerate, as I will with you.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

Pets considered, please contact for details. If approved there is a $25 fee per dog. I can't imagine other pets but ask....

10.5% TOT added to nightly rate, and there is a $35 cleaning fee ( as modest as I can keep it )

NOTE: rates going up start of 2013, reserve your dates now at 2011/2012 rates

10% discount for retuning guests.