Ramblings

Just happened to spot a profile on the fascinating Sim Van der Ryn in the November 2007 issue of the stylish Dwell magazine (tag: At Home in the Modern World)."For decades, (his) name has been synonymous with design that's in tune with nature," the article begins. His personal pride, Highland House is featured in Renting Paradise: San Francisco and Marin County.

Set high on a ridge bordering a nature conservancy and overlooking the magnificent Point Reyes National Seashore, Highland House is a place to indulge all your senses.

The house was built in two stages and many fixtures and furnishings are salvaged from the local area. One bathroom sink is carved from a massive piece of burlwood. The stairs to the master suite spiral around one of the original utility poles from the town of Inverness below. The house runs entirely on renewable energy from a 2.5 kilowatt sun-powered array.

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway -- and a glimpse of what's possible in a more environmentally-responsible future, take a look.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As you research your next rental, be grateful if you stumble across a link to an owner's "blog". A well-done (key distinction!) blog can be a living, breathing connection to updates, photos, personally vetted activities and seasonal events ... all the stuff you crave before you go.   

Sure, many are mind dumps. But many more are truly interesting, informative and thought-provoking. Postings are typically short, containing live links to more detail. At the end of many (not all) postings, there are links for readers to add their two-cents on that particular topic. Participating is easy and relatively anonymous. Check out the blog created by the owners of At The Bay's Edge featured in Renting Paradise.

If you find an owner who's taken the time -- and care -- to create a web site and maintain and informative blog, I can guarantee you can put your rental worries to rest. The other great thing in this info-overload age? It's easy to subscribe (an unsubscribe) to blogs, via buttons such as "My Yahoo".

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We dog-people are a special breed. So stuck on our four-legged friends that we want to take them on vacation with us -- leashes, dishes, slobbery toys and all. It tickles me that the number of web sites focused on finding "room at the inn" for dogs and their people is growing.   

In fact, I'm astounded that when I apologized in advance to one vacation rental owner with a particularly lovely home that we planned to vacation with bring THREE dogs, she scoffed "I've never had any trouble with pet-owners. It's kids I worry about."

ANYway: The latest dog-friendly I like is PetVR.com. It features more than 5,400 pet-friendly vacation rentals (homes, cabins, condos and B&Bs, by their definition).

I initially checked out the site when I was searching for a destination for our upcoming family vacation. I was looking for a dog-friendly beach on the California coast. Voila! PetVR provides a link to pet-friendly beaches by state And lo, there are plenty in California. However, I must admit they do not list the beach I finally picked in Morro Bay. And, er, I did ultimately select a home from another site.

But! That that in no way diminishes what PetVR has to offer. I appreciate the reach (selections encompass all 50 states and 24 other countries ... you'll find many more options than you will on some vacation rental site that hyave been around for years!). And I lap up the site's authentically goofy spirit. Their "Top Ten" lists include the "Ten Gassiest Dogs."  (Honestly? We have a little problem in that area with our Terrier-Corgi mix. I was afraid to check.)

Resources include a handy list of things you might not think to pack. In fact, the site is compiled for and by pet owners -- a singularly gregarious group. So click in whether you're traveling by car or internationally.

"More than 67% of pet owners travel with their pets," Dow Scoggins, president and creator of PetVR.com, said. "And, according to surveys, nearly 40% more would travel with their

pets if they found it easier to do so." (Okay, even a math-idiot like me knows that adds up to more than 100%. But, hey, I'm a dog-lover -- which means over-the-top already.)

And I'm not as over-the-top as it gets! My "kids" sleep in their own beds when they travel. But if your pet is more "discriminating" than mine, check out the Restful Paws Bed & Breakfast in Massachusetts (complete with indoor, bone-shaped dog pool) or The Paw House (where dog portraits and Doggie Mystery Weekends are available).

My advice? IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS ENOUGH TO TAKE THEM ON VACATION?  YA GOT NOTHIN' TO  LOSE BY CHECKING OUT PETVR.COM. Go fetch!

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just received a post card from the folks at The Blue Tree, a lovely Victorian flat near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, with news they are offering all return renters $100 off a week's rental throughout 2006.

That pays the cleaning fee for one couple. However, this spacious 2-bedroom flat is easily large enough for two couples. Each paying just a little over $100 per night (cleaning fee included). Such a deal in the city!

The Blue Tree is reviewed in detail in Renting Paradise: San Francisco & Marin Country. 

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)