On a hillside overlooking Tamalpais Valley and the Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, our property borders the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in Marin County. Mill Valley neighbors Sausalito and Tiburon. Sonoma and Napa are short drives away.

Through the years, our family has enjoyed the views of midsummer fog racing over the headlands and long hours on the deck as the sun retreats over the hill, warming the western face of our home. We've been creating restful sanctuary seating and nurturing the bonsai in the Japanese garden uphill. Now, we'd like to invite you to enjoy the light and serenity of this extraordinary place.

The 3,700 square foot home has large rooms with family antiques and modern fixtures to enjoy. Light pours in from all directions. A sunny downstairs corner office is a dedicated office space with 3 workstations, 3 Aeron chairs, a laser printer and an all-in-one inkjet and a shredder. We've filled the home with our friend's artwork. Between the furnishings and the artwork, there are a lot of unique pieces here.

You'll find 1 King Bedroom on the main floor, and three additional bedrooms downstairs. The home is an ideal size for a party of 6 or 8, but can handle 10 - the big downstairs bedroom can sleep 4, with a King bed and a foldaway Queen futon sharing the large space. All the bed linens are natural fiber, either cotton or linen, and the pillows in each bed are a pair of firmer foam pillows and a pair of down pillows.

Marinites are nuts for the outdoors, and there's no wonder why: some of the world's most exhilarating hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing and sailing are close by. On any given morning, you can walk 30 yards from the front door and be on a world-class hiking trail heading up Homestead Hill. The home is perched above State Highway 1, your route to Muir Woods (3.5 beautiful driving miles to the entrance), Muir Beach (4 miles), the trails and views from Mount Tam (6.5 miles to the Pantoll Ranger Station), legendary Stinson Beach (10.5 miles) and the majesty of Point Reyes (36 miles to the Bear Valley Visitor Center). As a former Friends of Mount Tam Hike Leader, Brendan has lots of local experience and suggestions.

Of course, all that activity works up an appetite. Mill Valley and the Bay Area host some terrific restaurants, often focusing on simple preparations of healthy comfort foods and seafoods. The orchards, vineyards and restaurants of Sonoma and Napa to the North are within access. The varied cuisines and sublime creations of San Francisco restaurants are tantalizingly nearby.

Dining at home? Fresh, local, organic ingredients are everywhere: Mill Valley sustains 2 Whole Foods grocery stores, along with 2 Safeways, and we have a local, family-owned, all organic market at the foot of our hill with lots of fresh-prepared options (Good Earth Natural Foods).

We love to cook! It's a privilege to grill outdoors 12 months a year, so of course there's a Weber Genesis gas grill on the deck outside the kitchen. The kitchen is roomy and efficient, with broad granite countertops, an electric convention oven, microwave and gas cooktop. All the essentials are here and then some: an in-line water filter, a Sub-Zero fridge, a Bosch dishwasher, All Clad sautée pan, stockpot and waffle-maker, a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, a Breville 16 cup Sous Chef food processor, a Kitchen Aid mixer with a doodle (spiralizer) rig, the Atlas pasta machine with ravioli form, an extra-large wok, a whole-fish poacher, cookie and cupcake pans, spices and herbs, oils and vinegars .... 4 diner stools pull up to the countertop, and 10 schoolhouse chairs surround the rustic pine table in the eat-in kitchen. The formal dining room seats 6, where you can take a breather at the grown-ups table. Outdoors, two benches flank the table on the kitchen deck, which can seat 8 with the addition of the safari chairs at the head and foot of the table. Oh, and the air quality this close to the coast is delightful.

[Dream In Marin, our home in Mill Valley, was first listed on VRBO in May of 2023, and is a little light on reviews as a result. However, we have been earning 5-star ratings from guests at our Big Island condo since 2006 (VRBO.com/104424).]

Take advantage of our low, start-up pricing!

PLEASE send me a note by clicking "Contact Host" beneath the "Request to Book" button if you are interested in booking. Please do not initiate contact with a reservation request.