Secluded Hillside Hideaway Offers Elegance, Comfort, Amenities

The Osprey's Nest is a wonderful getaway in wine country. My wife and I were looking for a relaxing, laid back location for our 25th anniversary trip to wine country, and Bruce's place absolutely delivered. First, let's talk about what this location is NOT. It is not modern, urban, cosmopolitan, chic, or crowded. It is mature and comfortable, but in a good way, like an old favorite pair of jeans. Access to the property is not for the faint of heart. It takes 10-15 minutes for each trip in and out to the main road. The one way road, particularly at the higher elevation, can be harrowing, but we never had any trouble. It is a one way road but there are enough driveways and nooks to pull to the side in the event of meeting another car. But the reward is a secluded, private cabin in your own personal grove of redwoods. The house and furnishings ARE dated, but there are no major missing amenities. The wifi was strong, the beds comfortable, and the hot tub, situated in a fairy ring of redwoods at the front of the house beckoned liked an old friend at the end of a "hard day" of winery visits. (ha!) The water pressure was completely fine if you are able to follow simple directions and use the clearly marked booster switch. The kitchen was a hodge podge of dishes and utensils but had everything needed for basic meals. And yes, you can clearly see the osprey's nest from both the deck and the very corner of the living room. My wife and I are birders and were sad to be late to the show so to speak though we did appreciate the demonstrative scrub jays which we do not have in South Carolina. The location, while private and secluded, was actually perfect for a variety of activities. From the main road (after the 10 or so minutes to get there from the house), Korbel is only maybe 5 minutes away. (Pro tip: share the charcuterie plate.) The Armstrong Redwoods (much, MUCH less crowded than Muir woods is close. (Pro tip: Be there when they open. Having the place to yourself is almost a religious experience.) You are close to wine country, of course. (We particularly enjoyed Healdsburg.) But you are also on the coastal side of Sonoma/Napa, and we spent one whole fabulous day exploring Point Reyes, about an hour away. The amalgam of privacy, location, comfort and value (particularly in wine country) all made the review a no brainer. Would absolutely recommend. (Pro tip: book now!)

I truly enjoyed Bruce's cabin. It was in a secluded, fantastic location and I could not have asked for a better time.

My family (2 adults + 2 boys; 1 yo & 4 yo) had a very relax weekend at Bruce's place. It was a beautiful location. The view from the living room in magnificent and you really feel all alone in nature (but with a good WiFi connection).

My husband and I flew in from Hawaii for a wedding in wine country and we wanted something off the beaten path. We were so happy to find this charming family summerhouse only 15 min away from most of the stops on our itinerary. The hot tub was a relaxing way to end the day and we loved waking up to the lush golden green hues in the trees each morning. Overall, the only thing leaving something to be desired was the water presssure-the house was built in the 1970's. we were glad to stop through at a hotel in the city before flying out. Thank you for sharing your lovely home Bruce.

Anne Broderson

I booked this cabin after very short notice from my friend that she was coming into town. Even with only a day to clean and prepare, the cabin was incredibly clean and filled with tons of maps and information about the nearby area. I honestly wasn't expecting too much probably because of my last minute booking, and really was blown away by how beautiful the cabin and area is.

The cabin is surrounded by redwoods, and is very secluded. You can walk down to the river really easily, or just hang out in the living room gazing out at the redwoods. There's also two large decks, a hot tub, and even a canoe for cruising down the river.

There's a lot to see and do nearby, especially if you want to do some wine tasting. Also, even with the drought and fires, the area around the cabin and really all along 116 still looks very lush and much less dry than other areas of California currently.