Wonderful Girls' Weekend Getaway!

Guest: California Explorer (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 11/11/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

My friends and I had a wonderful long weekend at Karagatan! The house was homey and we were able to relax in the hot tub and in front of the fire. The pictures that are shown reflect the reality of the house so there were no surprises. The owners communicated through email and were helpful as we planned our trip. It was nice to have the space to do our own cooking and lounge around. We lucked out and had great weather for the entire weekend so we took a walk on Irish Beach and toured the lighthouse in addition to riding the Skunk Train and exploring Mendocino. I would definitely recommend spending some time with great friends and great wine in this comfortable house!

Owner response:That sounds like a great trip! We just love to hear that people had a wonderful time, and it is so fulfilling to be able to make nice folks such as yourselves as comfortable as possible. Thanks so much for your kind words, and hope to see you again soon, Kelley

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway.

A Perfect Home for an Extended Stay

Guest: Mike (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/16/11

I just spent a month at Karagatan, and it was a perfect visit. The home is inviting, clean, very comfortable, and fun. I had a fire every evening after watching gorgeous sunsets. The kitchen is well stocked and dinner on the deck can't be beat. With private access to Irish Beach, many days my dog and I were the only ones there. One day, we walked all 6 miles to the lighthouse and back (12 miles total) and saw no one! Kelley was great, friendly, and helpful. The area is incredible, wine tasting, whales, beaches, cliffs, kite flying, redwoods, and very friendly people. I especially liked the Rollerville Cafe near the Point Arena Lighthouse, and in the town of Point Arena, the wine/beer bar called "214", next door to franny's bakery, and also the Point Arena Theater. Everything from Fort Bragg to Gualala is easy to get to and the drive is great fun. Please watch for the deer, there are a lot here. I will be back here again. Thanks, Kelly.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.

Best Vacation Ever!

Guest: Tami J. and Family (Boulder City, Nevada)
Date of Stay: 06/26/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

We spent 11 nights at Karagatan and it was, by far, the BEST VACATION EVER! Everything about the house was exactly as it was advertised and Kelley was super to work with. The house is built and situated on its property in such a way that it felt very private - like we were alone in the forrest. The house was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed. The beach was fabulous, with very few to no people most days. In addition to the typical beach atmosphere, we also enjoyed making forts on the beach out of the old logs and drift wood, the tide pools, and shore fishing, as well as short trips to other attractions in the area, including Noyo Harbor, Glass Beach, Mendocino, the Red Woods, and Point Arena. We are already looking forward to renting Karagatan again next summer and would recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxing, private, cozy beach vacation, with or without kids and/or dogs. You can't go wrong with this one and your soul will thank you!

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

Relaxing Getaway by the Ocean

Guest: Susy & family (Pleasanton, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/06/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

just to say how much we enjoyed staying at your place in Irish Beach, the house was perfect for our needs, the view is just wonderful, I stood in the kitchen preparing meals and every time I looked up I could see the ocean, not to mention sitting in the chairs by the dining room windows reading and glancing up at the view - just wonderful! The back deck is totally enclosed so we could our little dog wander around outside, the hot tub was great, especially as the weather was quite chilly while we were there, its very private, surrounded by trees, saw lots of birds and deer in the garden too. The beach was so quiet, we were the only people there most of the time, we climbed on the driftwood and the rocks. the coastline is just spectacular, we loved the lighthouse at Point Arena and the B Bryan Preserve was a real gem, thanks for the tips. What a great relaxing break - thanks!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, pet owners.

Great Place!!

Guest: kimncali (El Dorado Hills, CA)
Date of Stay: 03/04/11 Review Submitted: 03/28/11

First off, I loved the hot tub. It's privately situated on the deck amongst the trees. It really felt as though I was in a treehouse. The house was extremely tidy, and had a warm, cozy feeling, which made our stay very restful and relaxing. The kitchen was well stocked with pots, pans, etc. and its open to the living room and dining room which is perfect for socializing while cooking. The beds were comfortable with plenty of bedding. Access to the beach was close by and the beach itself was huge, expansive and dramatic with crashing waves and very few people. The view from the deck was nice and we enjoyed watching the different birds flitting about. The humingbirds were very entertaining. I definitely plan on staying here again. It's a great place if you want a foray to the coast with a mountain feel.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.

Amazing five nights

Guest: Jenny (Laguna Beach, CA)
Date of Stay: 01/18/11 Review Submitted: 02/18/11

My husband, son and I stayed here for five nights and couldn't have been happier. We were so comfortable in this house and loved exploring Irish Beach. We love to cook, and found everything we needed stocked in the kitchen. Our dog was one happy, tired camper, too. Thank you Kelley for providing us with such an outstanding getaway!

Owner response:You're most welcome, Jenny! Our goal is always to make people just as comfortable as we possibly can! I can't tell you how fulfilling it is to provide people with all of the comforts of home as well as a gorgeous view of the ocean and a beautiful beach. I'm glad you brought your bikes along and enjoyed the nearby pond and neighborhood biking trails, and it's so nice to hear your dog had fun as well. Hope to see you again soon, and thanks so much for coming! Best, Kelley

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, girls getaway.

Relaxation with beautiful view.

Guest: MooseMan (Boise, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/11

Our family really enjoyed the stay at Karagatan with its rustic charm, fireplace, and hot tub. We explored beaches, small towns, and lighthouses north and south and when the rain fell, we stayed indoors playing games, enjoying the fireplace, watching TV and sitting in the hot tub. Even though there are other dwellings in close proximity, the surrounding forest and greenery offer privacy and a sense of seclusion. We liked watching the black-tail deer and humming birds that were hanging around. The owners are probably the nicest and most polite people we have ever rented from. If we are ever in this part of California we would like to stay again. Nice place!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Nice house with many amenities

Guest: WBJII (Hickory, NC, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/09/09 Review Submitted: 09/25/09

We stayed there in Sept., 2009 and had a great time. There is a large deck; the hot tub is a plus. Also a plus is the bedroom layout; 2 bedrooms almost exactly alike, both on the same level as the rest of the house. If going with another couple, this eliminates the problem of who gets the "best" bedroom. The house is ideal for anyone with mobility problems since it's all on one level. It's about 30" drive to the town of Mendocino, but there's decent dining and limited shopping nearby. Be sure and get details on getting online at the house when you make the reservation; this will save a hassle. I'd absolutely stay there again.

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

Beautiful!!!!!

Guest: Steph and Ty (Santa Rosa, Ca)
Date of Stay: 03/12/09 Review Submitted: 03/19/09

This house is situated perfectly! You can sit in the secluded hot tub and look up into the towering trees of Northern California, yet also look out onto astonishing views of the Pacific Ocean. Best of both worlds! There’s an expansive private beach only a few minutes away perfect for a picnic (with wine of course!), whale watching, or just exploring (which was our dog Abbie’s favorite activity!). The house is great, with two full bedrooms (each with their own electric fireplace) and two full bathrooms. Large stocked kitchen, huge windows in the dining room looking out to the ocean, and a great living room with satellite tv and a wood-burning fireplace (we didn’t even use the heaters that are throughout the house!). We went away for the weekend for our 4 year anniversary and I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing or romantic escape (Karagatan would also be great for a family vacation). The grocery/hardware store in Manchester is the best one to go to. Only small towns nearby, and all are a good drive from the house, so make sure to get everything you need before heading there. Tip: Eat at the Albion River Inn (north in the town of Albion, about 15 min away). Call ahead to make sure to get a table at the window so you can watch the sunset over the ocean. An added bonus is that the owner is just delightful to deal with and was very helpful! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

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

A wonderful property with great owners

Guest: gargouille (Salt Lake City, UT)
Date of Stay: 05/16/08 Review Submitted: 06/15/08

This house is even better than it looks in the picture. The views are genuine and the amenities are all as they are described. Great deck and dining room for sunset dinners. And really, really nice owners! A keeper.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.