The view of the ocean from the deck is particularly spectacular during the Winter months. As the sun sets, the clear skies turn flaming orange. The days are still warm, and great weather for hiking, horseback riding, uncrowded beaches and the best surfing conditions of the year. In the evening, you can dine out in Montecito or SB's Funk Zone; but the crisp evenings are also ideal for staying in the cabin and cozying up to the fire or catching up with friends and family out on the heated deck.

Up the stairs off the driveway, the main entrance opens to the expansive living room with high raked, beamed ceilings, built-in cabinets, shelves and window benches of classic mid-mod architecture. The kitchen is open, with a service bar and all the modern necessities, and sports a red porcelain sink. There is comfortable, down-filled furniture, a blue tooth speaker, and a Samsung Smart TV and the Roku media player with all the usual streaming apps in the living room. There is also an adjoining bathroom, with a spacious walk-in shower with a built-in bench.

The main attraction is the full deck which offers the best views of the ocean and surrounding hills and forest, and has an outdoor dining table, patio furniture and lounge chairs where you can enjoy both sun and shade. There is a patio heater and blankets/wraps nearby if a cooling fog rolls in. An app-friendly Celestron telescope is available, upon request, to gaze even deeper into the night sky.

Up the stairs, the master bedroom occupies the third-floor alcove with a queen bed, full ensuite bathroom and built-in wardrobe, and ocean views through a large picture window.

The large second bedroom is on the lower level, below the main floor, accented by a matching stone tile floor and wall. There are two full-sized beds, plenty of built-in closet space, another built-in window bench, built-in shelving with board games, and a large round, spinning lounge chair. The thermostat that controls the heat for the whole house is in this bedroom.

Outside the bedroom, the foyer has a sitting area with a trundle daybed (two twin beds) that can be used for extra guests. Off the foyer, there is a half bath/laundry room, and a fenced-in deck with it's own beautiful view of the ocean, a BBQ grill, and patio furniture. The deck opens to the driveway, and provides a private entrance to this floor.

The immediate outdoor space is complimented with a hammock, a trampoline, a swurfer (a hybrid swing you can also stand on for a surfing experience), large and stunning gnarled oak trees, seasonal streams and gardens, as well as the rest of the forest and it's inhabitants.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

While the cabin feels completely remote and secluded, the surrounding forest comes alive after dark with the sound of wildlife. Being back up against the foothills, and particularly at the back of 20 wooded acres, favors an exorbitant amount of wildlife on the property. There is always deer, and it is common to see them especially driving back onto the property after dark. There are also plenty of birds of prey, some regulars, like a white barn owl whose piercing shriek is unmistakable. If you hear it, keep your eyes on the night sky because you will often see it's ghostly white figure glide past the deck shortly thereafter. There is a fox that lives near the driveway, as well as a lynx. Note that there has also been recent cougar and bear and sightings.

DOG OWNERS: While this is a pet-friendly rental, please be respectful of the abundant wildlife. While there are no roads or traffic to worry about in the immediate area, there is wildlife that can injure your dog. If your dog is well-behaved, feel free to walk your dog off leash, but please keep them within eyesight. Also, take advantage of the lax leash laws on all the Summerland beaches, but again, please be attentive to the novice horseback riders on the beach. After a day hiking the trails, you should also check for ticks.