Very relaxing, but with plenty of hike options and water fun

Beautiful and quiet riverfront property in a charming neighborhood. The kids played all day on the kayak and floating on inner tubes. The remodeled kitchen was perfect for making big communal meals, which we enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the Carmel River. The host, Courtney, did a beautiful job furnishing the house with curious antiques and knick-knacks. It was such a lovely and relaxing vacation.

Phenomenal stay! If you want to get away from it all this is your place! Don't miss out! Anytime you can bring the kids and throw them in the river, which is in your backyard, see deer while having coffee and be surrounded by bird calls it's a haven and a memory builder at the same time. This place is beautiful and Courtney is so welcoming and attentive. My family won't ever forget this stay.

Along the river, beautiful scenery, the doors are tough to open but just have to push harder. The bunk room is in a shed outside. The VRBO is FULLY stocked! All supplies, knives, cooking utensils, spices, ketchup, mustard, etc is there which is rare. The host is very responsive and provides recommendations to everything in the area. Our whole group was very happy with the location and house.

We had a great stay. Lots of outdoor opportunities close by.

Loved the property, the river was gorgeous. Close to everything, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur. We did it all in just a few days and wished we had more time to chill at the actual property. We will be back!

It was a really nice getaway for 4 adults. The river was high so we could not kayak, but would love to come back. It was a little chilly, but we all still enjoyed the view with the fireplace. It was not far from Big Sur - that is what we were looking for. Host was great!

Me and my sister stayed at The Lodge with our parents for a change of scenery and to be together. We spent magical five days there. Thought it was middle of December, the trees did not loose their leaves, and taking the canoe down the river felt like paddling through the liquid gold. The Lodge has a The Spiderwick Chronicles vibe, and we have spotted few fairies :-) Kitchen was fun to cook in, especially as a big group of aspiring foodies. Last but not the least, our host Courtney was always a text away to make us feel welcomed, comfortable, and to meet all our needs. We look forward to coming back in the summer time.

The house should not be rented in winter The bathroom have no heat at all The master has a WWSales electric heated and the rest of house is dependent on 2 gas fireplaces Do not go there in winter

Very cozy and well situated lodge with tons of charm. Communication with Courtney was timely and friendly. Would happily book again.

This is a cozy little cottage on the Carmel river. The view of the river is spectacular and there are many beautiful birds who frequent the trees and riverbank. There are working fireplaces scattered throughout the different rooms, which made it feel especially cozy during our stay in late November. The outdoor fireplace is also a great place to hang out with your friends and family. The only difficulties with the property is the layout of the home where guests who are staying in the larger bedroom have to pass through the smaller bedroom in order to reach the living area and kitchen. They could technically go outside through the patio and then reenter the main space - but that is unlikely to happen during the colder months or at night. So this can be awkward if you are sharing the space with friends. The other thing is that the four bunk beds are located in a shed that is completely outdoors and separated from the main house. This might be okay for older children, but is not feasible for younger children who cannot access the locking mechanism or are too afraid to cross a dark patio near a river at night to use the bathroom. Overall - we had a great stay and enjoyed our time in the Carmel valley.

I was a little nervous with my 6yo falling into the river but the river is shallow and there is zero current. She ended up kayaking instead and wants to come back to this place every year! Kids absolutely loved the backyard, and bungalow with beds (we heated it with heater as the nights would get very cold). House had everything, from coffee, herbs, cooking supplies to laundry detergents, shampoos, etc. Highly recommend this place 👍

Exactly as expected. The house was charming with thoughtful touches throughout. The backyard lived up to my expectations. My wife and I stayed for our 20th anniversary and couldn’t have picked a more relaxing location. Thanks so much!

Awesome house right on Carmel River. The host Courtney is great, checks in a lot before you arrive to make sure you have what you need. Well stocked pantry too. Privacy in a sweet backyard/patio. Would for sure go back

The cottage sits on the river just as shown in the photos and is absolutely charming. It’s rustic and well appointed and makes for a wonderful stay. Kitchen is updated and well appointed with everything you need (aside from a dishwasher), lots of spices and olive oil. Next to the kitchen is coffee pantry which we all loved and is so practical in the morning. Courtney (our hostess) offers Kurig and French-press. Fresh roasted beans and lots of coffee capsules. The two bedrooms that are next to each other are cozy and comfortable. One has an en-suite bathroom, the main bedrooms bathroom is in the hallway right by it. Both bathrooms are updated, small but comfortable. If two couples are staying - you have to walk through the guest bedroom to get to the rest of the house, or you can walk outside and in. It all worked out fine. The third couple used the bunk bed shed, which is sufficient and comfortable, but more suitable for children. We were all in a “cottage mood” and could not have enjoyed the house more. Outside is on multiple levels with many seating and dining areas. Just lovely. The river is shallow this time of year, but we still had fun in the water. The location is quiet and just a few minutes from town. Courtney is a gracious hostess, responds in minutes, had treats for us when we arrived, is accessible and happy to make suggestions for any of our needs. It was a great 4 night stay and we all want to come back.

I was so happy with this home. We visited my daughter in LA and we were looking for a place near Big Sur. This was right in Carmel Village and close to everything we wanted to do. The owner left great recommendations particularly for our mountain dog who loved going in the water outside the door. We loved the decor, bedroom fireplace, and stocked kitchen. You can tell the owner puts the effort in. This is the absolute best place I have ever rented. We all loved it and it’s really unique and and a special place to stay.

My family had a wonderful stay at this property. Everything is well appointed and the outside space is gorgeous so many places to sit/eat/relax. Lots of places to eat close and a short drive to Monterey or Carmel for all kinds of activities. Love the walkie talkies for the outside bunkhouse kids will have a blast!

Very weird layout. No privacy curtains. Bunk room is a separate shed. Not attached to the house. Weird. Can be locked from the outside, which doesn’t seem safe. River out back is nice. Kitchen is well stocked. Very bad lighting at night.

The property far exceeded our expectations and the host Courtney did as well. So many recommendations and made it so simple. We’ll be back!!!

The location on the river was great. Very peaceful and relaxing. Our family enjoyed a kayaking on the water together.

Rustic chic lodge on Carmel River in CA. House had all your needs and outdoors with so peace & beautiful. Deer, Blue Jays abound. Wonderful vacation spot with family. Highly recommend.

We truly enjoyed our stay in this wonderful home on the Carmel River. This is a soul nourishing location. To wake up each morning to the beautiful view and sounds of nature was just a wonderful way to start the day. Living outside each day was the best part of our stay. Eating every meal at the table next to the river was relaxing and apart of the overall great experience. We did use the kayak that is at the property and brought our own water toys as well. The rustic lodge style home was well stocked and ready for us to enjoy. Courtney the owner was great to work with and was so quick to respond to any questions we had. Lodging/Glamping/enjoying the area wildlife are just some of the things that you will find here and cannot get at a hotel. We are looking forward to returning soon.

Such a beautiful property! It had the best parts camping (birds in the morning, crisp air, quiet nature/river nearby) without the dirt and the bugs. Even better than glamping because the accommodations are so wonderful and thoughtful. The basket of warm blankets by the back door, the abundance of board games and books in the living room, the well stocked pantry with all the necessary gadgets and finally a rental with sharp knives! They don’t even mention the washer and dryer on the listing, a huge help when traveling with kids. Not to mention how close it is the so many areas, a little over 1 hour to the Santa Cruz boardwalk, but super close to the beautiful Carmel by the Sea, lots of wine tasting and interesting eateries and hiking spots very close by, and the river! On the river! So lucky to have found this location. We would love to come again!

We loved vacationing here! Wife and I enjoyed the river and had a blast! The beds are really comfortable and the kitchen has everything you’ll need to make delicious food. The host is very professional and just a really nice person. We can’t wait to go back

The property is so peaceful and takes you back in time yet with all needed modern comforts. The neighbors are very kind an owners very responsive to anything you need. Such a magical place!

We were in town for a wedding at Holly Farms. The venue was about 15 minutes away from our place. It was a great place to meet up with friends and relax. We ate 3 meals in the backyard and all of us did the kayak. The owner was very quick to respond when we experienced a power outage and helped us quickly locate the flashlights and lanterns. Even the neighbors gave us info on the outage. We were worried there was no AC. You do not need AC. We were worried about bugs (we are from LA). Not one mosquito bite. There was bug spray at the house in case if you needed it. The house was stocked with plenty of blankets and the kitchen had everything you needed. We really enjoyed our stay!

Wonderful house on the river , with a great back yard and scenic view . Stayed with my family for 3 nights . Very well equipped place , Courtney is a very generous host who thought of everything that a visitor would need including extra tooth brushes ! My family had a very unique experience at the house that’s full of vintage and historic decor all around :)) loved it The two bedroom open into each other , so you would need to pass from the master bedroom to the second bedroom to go to the living room unless you use the patio door . Over all we surly enjoyed our visit

This home located directly on the Carmel river is a peaceful slice of paradise. The cute country roads were charming. The kids loved playing on the river. Kayaking and chasing Crayfish were a big hit. The backyard is situated perfectly that you almost feel like you have the river all to yourself The setting was tranquil and the house was well stocked. The antique decorations were playful and the beds comfy!

A beautiful place. Only issue we had was that the garbage disposal was broken.

Excellent location, minutes away from city, but feels like you’re in the middle of the countryside

Amazing host, home was cozy and welcoming and the view was stunning. Quiet and relaxing. You can walk to the Village if you enjoy exercising it’s about a 15-20 minute walk. We loved everything about this place which is perfect for 2 couples. Being pet friendly and having a private yard was a plus for us. I also have to mention that I have never rented a place that has everything you can think of. There’s a large pantry with all the essentials you need and more.. We would definitely come back here! ☺️

If you are looking to unplug and getaway from all the white noise, this is the spot, yet you are 5 minutes from the darling Carmel Valley Village with shops/restaurants & tasting rooms. We stayed for wedding event at the Bernardus and made more of a trip out of it, we practically lived in the backyard, there is even a canoe to take down the river, tons of hikes around even just around the sweet neighborhood. I can't say enough, Courtney thought of everything, we cooked & she had everything you could wish for to cook with and serve. Lots of animals, ducks, birds, deer & occasional dog in the river, so fun and relaxing, we just adored our time away! Oh and we loved having the fireplace every morning while we drank our coffee! Highly recommend this spot!