My fiancè and I booked a weekend stay at the Straus Ranch sight unseen for our immediate family only - covid friendly wedding. WOW--we felt so blessed staying at this property that was a welcoming home and bucolic dream wrapped up in one. After pushing up our spring wedding we had already had a bit of heartache in not having all of our loved ones there, but we couldn't have imagined what a lovely gift this place would be--it's pure magic! Vivien and Michael were wonderful in helping us troubleshoot some of the details. The kitchen was fully equipped with all the essentials to whip up a family meal and the rooms were cozy and quiet enough to please our toughest critics (my 2 and 4-year-old nephew and niece). The property is a quick drive to Pt. Reyes Station/several hiking spots and don't miss the fresh oysters (book ahead) down the road at Hog Island Oyster Co. Thank you Straus Siblings~We hope to return to the ranch in the future to relive the magic!

I cannot say enough kind things about Vivian and Michael. They were kind, communicative and welcoming. Their family house was truly as beautiful as the photos, and made for a lovely weekend with those closest and most important to us!

We wanted to find a property large enough to allow for social distancing and with outdoor space for the same reason (even though all in the same circles). The property was beautiful and as described if not better. The hosts were accessible and gave us our space. The house is very well equipped which was great for our culinary adventures! We loved being right by the water and close to great food to enjoy tomales oysters. We would recommend this to others and would come again!

Our family was looking for a place to get away in the midst of all the 2020 craziness and the Straus farm ended up being exactly what we were looking for. The farmhouse is lovely and well-appointed; we particularly loved the fact that the kitchen was stocked with just above everything we could have wanted and more. Vivien and Michael were fantastic hosts, with Vivien going way above and beyond what we could have expected by giving us a tour of the cow pasture and even meeting up with us to deliver a forgotten suitcase (long story which involved an emergency appendectomy for one of our daughters :)). Michael did his part as well by giving us some tomatoes out of his garden. Highly recommended.

Fantastic

We had such a wonderful stay during our house remediation and it felt like a home away from home in this relaxing setting. Michael and Vivien were quick to answer our questions and help us with anything we needed. The house has so much character and was beautifully attended to with soft beds comfortable linens and fully stocked kitchen. The barn, bay and outdoor games were enjoyed by all. Thank you for having us stay!

Lovely historical home. Perfect location for a family gathering.

The space was perfect for two grandparents, two couples and three little ones (6, 4 & 1). The children enjoyed the cows, fun toys, and the yard -- the adults enjoyed the well supplied kitchen and comfortable beds -- and we all enjoyed the peace of West Marin. I read my grandchildren Vivien's book about talking to cows (and even the adults learned something about bovines). Best was being licked by a young cow when they visited us at the back gate.

This house, this home, this land. Such a beautiful place for our gal-get-a-way. The beds are super comfortable (let's be honest this is vita) the kitchen is wonderful and well stocked with all the accoutrements for stay-in meals. Michael and Vivian were amazing hosts helping us with restaurant and hike recommendations. I cannot express enough what a lovely stay visit we all had.

Michael Straus began our visit with a fascinating, in depth tour of the ranch. He is a "people" person who totally engaged 10 of us, ages 2-83 years old. The home is beautifully decorated and designed to be lived in. It is very welcoming with comfortable furniture, a wide selection of books, games and dvd's. The kitchen is remarkably well equipped and stocked with spices, condiments etc. The bathrooms are also well stocked. There was even nail polish remover in the cabinet! I think every room in the house has breathtaking views of Tomales Bay and of the hills. The grounds are user friendly with comfortable outdoor furniture placed in wide open, well maintained lawn areas. The renovated barn is gorgeous and would be a festive location for events, weddings etc! We brought many snacks and breakfast/lunch food but didn't want to cook dinner. Nick's Cove is across the street and serves delicious food! I would have happily dined there several times but wanted my family to visit Point Reyes Station. I highly recommend Straus Family Ranch for a comfortable yet luxurious stay in the countryside.

We spent Christmas week in this beautiful historic farmhouse and it was absolutely perfect. Waking up with a view of sparkling Tomales Bay, cooking in the fantastically-equipped kitchen or curling up with a book in the cosy den: the whole family was delighted and we are already planning a return visit.

Perfect in every way and I don't believe in perfection. We absolutely LOVED it and feel very fortunate to have been able to stay here with friends. We have little kids but were already envisioning getting them married here. The hosts are absolutely lovely and that just adds to the experience. Point Reyes/Marshall is just about one of the most beautiful/peaceful places in the world. The house is full of character and charm, is well maintained and clean and on one side you see cows and Tomales Bay on the other. It's truly magical. ;)

Barn swallows, cows, sea-beans to harvest on the nearby beach, trails to walk, oyster places easy to get to nearby, perfect living spaces to gather people to sing, play games and not least eat in, very well-equipped kitchen (and barbecue), comfortable beds, quiet! Exactly what we hoped. We stayed here--8 adults and a two-year-old--very happily. Will return. Thank you, Strauses!

We were a group of college teammates reuniting 20+ years later to celebrate a one of our friends and stayed at Straus Ranch for the weekend. It was truly magical. The house itself is lovely with high quality kitchen, beds, a handmade wooden dining room table. And the grounds, outdoor lighting, barn, cow neighbors, and location right across from the water make it feel like a real getaway from the bustle of everyday life. We also appreciated the extra-special touches like fresh organic cream for coffee. Thanks so much Michael & Vivien.

Words cannot express the dreamy weekend we had! I cannot begin to thank Vivien and Michael enough their overly generous hospitality. I booked Straus Home Ranch for my sister's bachelorette party. We were looking for a low-key weekend getaway with plenty of activities and rose. 11 of us arrived on Thursday evening. The home was in pristine condition when we arrived, the front yard was stunning with beautiful yard lights and it was clear the kitchen was fully stocked with spices, tools, and anything else you may need. We booked Stacy, who lives nearby and is available to cater for the whole weekend. She greeted us with the most beautiful charcuterie board and a lovely summer chicken dinner to follow. Friday morning Vivien and Michael were kind enough to open up the big barn for our scheduled yoga class (Michael recommend Trish, a local yoga instructor, she was absolutely wonderful!). Following our class, Michael took us on a tour of the land and gave us insight into the history. So cool! We had the opportunity to meet the cows as well :). If you see cow "1149" his name is Carlos, tell him hi for us! We took advantage of the available yard games - there were tons, the spacious patio, and took a minute walk over to the beach for the rest of our afternoon. Dinner was at Nick's Cover, where we walked to, enjoyed yummy cocktails on the pier and a delicious dinner inside. Saturday we took the cheese tour (Viviene gave plenty of suggestions of the best spots to stop!). Our last stop on the tour was Marin French Cheese, highly recommended! Grab some cheese, honey, bread, and a bottle of rose that you can enjoy by the pond on their property! To finish the night we grabbed oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co. The ranch had all of the tools required for schucking including a bbq for those that didn't want to eat the oysters fresh! We could not have asked for a more beautiful weekend- from every activity being so close to the bsolutely stunning home. We are already planning a trip back! Thank you Vivien and Michael for going above and beyond!

We loved staying at the Straus family farm. What an unbelievable property. Strung lights in the front yard were such a lovely touch. We enjoyed drinking wine and gazing at the water view from the large lawn. The house was well-equipped and the beds were comfortable. The owners were a joy to work with. Highly recommend this place!

I just spent a magical overnight at the Straus Home Ranch with some friends. I only wish I was able to stay longer. A super comfortable place to gather with friends to cook and eat wonderful food and drink. We were also able to do some hiking and some got to kayak. It was only a 2 hour drive from home with some stunning views along the way.

A fabulous place for two families to unwind after the holidays. The Straus family, Vivien and Michael, were very helpful with sharing information regarding the house and surrounding Point Reyes area. We loved our time there and look forward to a return visit.

When I first visited Straus Home Ranch for a wedding site visit, I knew immediately this is the one! The hosts: Vivien & Micheal, were the best hosts you could ask for. They always answered our questions within 24hrs and provided so much information & details, which made the entire planning process stress-free. During the wedding weekend, they made sure we had everything we needed for both rehearsal & wedding events. Our guests were impressed by the beauty of this place and our families had a wonderful stay in the ranch. We love this venue and would certainly consider come back to this area!

I could go on and on about my INCREDIBLE stay at the farm house, but words can’t describe the magic. A massive THANK YOU to Vivien and Michael for making us feel welcome and making sure we were well taken care of. Again, heaven.

Six of us met to celebrate our Medicare birthdays. We wanted beauty, quiet, walks, a bit of adventure, a nearby restaurant, but mostly talks, talks, talks and much laughter. The ranch was perfect: we could be together when we wanted to, and private when we chose. We spent hours in the kitchen and around the dining table, or reading in the sun coming through the endless windows, and by the end of our too short stay, it was hard to leave the Adirondacks in the front yard. The ranch was just what we needed!

We visited Straus Home Ranch for 15 minutes in the rain and still knew it was the most special place. The landscape, the history, the aesthetic of the farm house...Straus Home Ranch is both inspiring, and makes you immediately feel at home thanks to the most thoughtful and generous hosts. As one of many examples, my sister reached out to see if they had a pack + play available for my 1 year old niece and they offered to get one knowing it would benefit other guests in the future. We will be back for many more celebrations in the future. I can't recommend highly enough.

Well managed and very comfortable ranch house that features four private bedrooms upstairs and a spacious common area downstairs. We used Straus Ranch for a photography workshop, and the participants loved it. Highly recommended.

With a family of five visiting us from England, we wanted to showcase the best that Marin County has to offer, and that meant a stay at the wonderful Straus Home Ranch. There we found the perfect marriage of people and nature, scenery and history, superb accommodations in a serene environment. Michael sat us in a field among cows and told stories of life on the farm. The house dates to the earliest days of agriculture in California, and yet the Straus family are incredible pioneers and innovators, founding the Marin Agricultural Land Trust that has preserved so much farmland (and inspired imitators around the globe) and establishing an organic dairy that now has 75 percent of farms in Marin and Sonoma also raising organic cows. In addition to all that, the house is perfectly modern, extremely comfortable, and the perfect place for big family meals. And it served as a launchpad for everything we love in Point Reyes. We especially recommend the Tomales Point hike, an eight-mile round-trip ramble with views of Tomales Bay and the ocean and the added treat of a vast herd of magnificent Tule Elk. We stopped at the Inverness Park market on the way -- who could believe such a small rural market had such a sophisticated big city deli? With other food coming from Tomales Bay Foods, Cowgirl Creamery, Bovine Bakery, and the Palace Market, we ate like kings. Thanks Michael and Vivien! We will be back!

We came with 7 adults, 4 kids and made the Straus Ranch our weekend getaway. We had a wonderful time in a wonderful house, prepared by our wonderful host, Vivien. BBQ under the stars, a tent on the green grass in the garden, turkeys and fawns running wild behind the house- and peaceful nights. Thank you, Wilhelm (Straus) for finding and building this place- and thanks to Vivien and Michael for opening it to us.

I was looking for a low key, private home to host friends for my birthday party and the Straus home met all my needs and then some. The home is beautifully maintained and is large enough to house a group. The rooms are well appointed and the beds are very comfortable. The front lawn was the perfect venue for an afternoon of wine and oysters from Hog Island up the street. The setting is everyone one can hope for from Tomales Bay. Vivien Straus was the utmost host, introducing us the the Straus cows and a tour of the fields. She even mailed back a few items we forgot. It's great to support good people. Highly recommended!

This home is gorgeous and romantic. Despite my high expectations from looking at all the photos and reviews, the beauty, charm and cleanliness of the home actually exceeded my expectations. There is so much beauty and rich history here--the lush gardens, the lights stringed outside between the huge sprawling trees, the views of the farmland and the bay from the windows, the dark wood floors, red barns, the inviting row of adirondack chairs, the incredible fragrance from all the trees and flowers outside, there's too much to list here. The house made our party of 12 women celebrating a 50th birthday very special. They allowed us to bring air mattresses for the extra two guests. There was plenty of room and everyone was very comfortable. The kitchen and the bathrooms are well stocked and the dining room is especially lovely. It would be a great venue for an intimate wedding. I would love to return for years to come. The owners (Vivien and Michael) were so responsive and helpful with any questions and suggestions. I have rented many houses through VRBO and this was by far the best experience I've ever had.

The home was very comfortable and the area is a great vacation spot. Lots to do or even better you can spend a lot of time relaxing. Hosts very friendly and accommodating. Home is ideally suited for families. Lots of room for the kids and nice little beach across the street. Highly recommended. We hope to go back!!

We celebrated our wedding at the Straus Home Ranch with about 40 guests and I could not have been happier. The location was perfect for our small and intimate celebration. Since the outdoors were so beautiful and peaceful, most of our guests spent the entire time around our bonfire pit in the garden in front of the house. However, the house and shed were also available if people wanted to be indoors. The house itself is so beautifully decorated and remodeled, it has an amazing cozy vibe to it. It has all the amenities and items you would need to spend the night, even shampoo/conditioner/body soap in dispensers in the showers! With plenty of clean sheets and blankets and towels. The kitchen is stocked with utilities like a full sized fridge, coffeemaker, etc. The shed gave a great rustic feeling and was perfect for placing all of our tables with snacks and decorations and gifts. The garden was beautifully lit and great for our bonfire and for our bar and catering setup. Vivien and Michael were the most helpful, thoughtful and accommodating hosts. I received immediate responses from them any time I asked my billion questions. I constantly sent them emails asking questions. They worked so hard to make this day perfect for me and I am so appreciative of their help. The view of the Bay adds to the calming ranch scene. This location is perfect for people that want a quiet place to be away from all the city noises and really create an intimate and personal environment. The property had everything we needed, from fold up tables, to wooden benches, to outdoor string lighting, and all the amenities necessary. My family loved the place so much they talked about getting family together again in the future to go back and just spend a couple of days there to relax and get away. My guests could not stop talking about how beautiful and different the place was and how it was the best wedding celebration they had attended. Waking up the next day to the smell of the trees and outdoors was so serene and breathtaking. The views are something you need to see for yourself to understand. If you are looking for a small venue for a very unique, affordable and enjoyable wedding, I recommend this highly. I searched for a long time to find what I wanted and nothing compared. I could seriously go on and on about all the other positive aspects of this place, but it's best that you contact the hosts themselves and ask anything you want, they'll get back to you very quickly!

We are grateful to have had our wedding ceremony at Straus Home (22 guests). The care and thought put into layout, decor, and landscaping created the perfect ambiance for our day. Straus Home's interior and surrounding property have much character, which allowed our guests to find their own comfortable nooks to spend the day. Vivien and Michael are the most gracious of hosts, thoughtful, efficient, and responsive; they have made many upgrades to accommodate weddings without losing the charm of this property. The love and legacy of the Straus family makes this property magical, and it's beautiful setting by Tomales Bay is not to be missed.

Straus House is truly a magical place. Right across from Tomales Bay with gorgeously manicured grounds and interior details, we couldn't possibly have enjoyed our stay more. On top of the physical space, Vivien and Mike couldn't be nicer people - we hope to be back many times in the future!