The pictures do not do Mira Vista Retreat justice. This hilltop house above Mesa overlooks the entirety of downtown Santa Barbara and, if you walk around the 4 acre working avocado grove on the premises, the Pacific Ocean. As mentioned, the property is somewhat of a working agriturismo with avocados, oranges, lemons and mint surrounding the home, and will see gardeners periodically. Yet despite its size, it is only a 6 minute drive from State Street and all the restaurants and bars downtown Santa Barbara has to offer.
The home is incredibly quiet, full of light, has high ceilings, an excellent open concept and offers every amenity you may need to make for a comfortable and memorable stay with your family. There is a chef's kitchen, two washer/dryers, and a basement home theatre with stadium seating not included in the photos. Hot tub and outdoor fireplace for cool nights, built-in grill for al fresco dining. There were days where all we wanted to do was crack open a bottle of wine and watch the colors of the distant mountain range change as the sun set from behind us.
We stayed in this house for just over a month and couldn't be happier with the amenities. This truly felt like home to us. The property managers, Jennet, Stephanie and Jason were always available to address our needs and quick to resolve any issues we encountered. They were genuinely interested in ensuring that we had a wonderful stay - and we did. Hats off to them.
If you are balancing this with another property, know that you cant beat the location, you cant beat the views, and the service was perfection. Don't even bother reviewing another listing, you've made your choice.