This was our first holiday after a long pandemic year, and my husband and I wanted to be somewhere special where we could hike, bike, and feel restored again. When we saw this VRBO listing, we immediately envisioned ourselves in this elegant loft looking out to vineyards and the hills. When we arrived, it was a dream come trueâ and one we highly recommend!
We loved the spacious loft, bright white with sunlight coming in from all four sides, and its deck perfectly situated for gazing over the peaceful countryside. Our hosts, Gail and Belinda, were lovely and attentive to our needs and desires. Gail greeted us warmly and made sure we had fresh eggs, homemade granola, a baguette, homemade marmalade, and refreshing bottles of local rosé and syrah wines from their own vines to welcome us.
The king-size bed was very comfortable, the bathroom pleasant, the kitchen stocked with what we needed to cook in or heat up takeout food, and the living room had sliding glass doors opening on to the deck where we enjoyed picnic lunches and just sitting in the late afternoon, a glass of wine in hand. It reminded us a lot of a beautiful place we stayed in once in the countryside near Les Baux in southern France; and I adored taking outdoor showers right next to the vineyard!
It was a very special two-week experience, enhanced by Gail and Belinda's hospitality and ease with letting us become part of their country homestead. We enjoyed petting and feeding carrots to Enid and Beryl, the two adorable miniature donkeys peacefully grazing in their pasture with Gus the horse and several woolly sheep.
This loft was the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor pleasure! We biked to the Sonoma main square where we had our first dining out experience in 14 months at a delightful restaurant, The Valley, recommended by Gail and Belinda. We hiked in a number of nearby state parks, seeing the springtime wildflowers, stands of redwood trees, and dramatic overlooks from the hills. We then had the "beyond wonderful" joy of returning to our own place in Sonoma to relax and savor the delights of our day.
