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On a recent girls trip to Sonoma County, we chose the town of Santa Rosa to be our home base due to its’ central location. Santa Rosa is a quick drive from San Francisco, taking only about an hour and twenty minutes. It’s 30-minutes from the Armstrong Redwood Natural Preserve and about an hour or so from the coast. There are also wonderful dining options in Santa Rosa and best of all, many of the small-group wine tours can easily pick you up from this location! Leading up to our trip, I had scoured hotels, which can be a little pricey in Santa Rosa, and since we were a group of three and all preferred to have our own bedrooms, it was easier to find a vacation rental in Santa Rosa that suited all of our needs.

Overview

This Santa Rosa rental property is a duplex with one unit on the main floor and a second unit upstairs. Both have been recently updated and we booked our stay on the main floor of the house. I’ll be completely honest, this was my first time booking an Airbnb as I’m very much a hotel type of gal, but the overall process was so smooth and I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in to found out the house looked even better than the photos! From the moment you book this vacation home, you’ll realize that the host is amazing and really goes above and beyond. Within 24 hours of booking the reservation, I received a very informative guide to the area including the hosts’ favorite places to eat, where to grab groceries, and which wineries are their favorite. This guide helped me shape our itinerary and is something I wish every host and even hotel offered! On the morning of our arrival, the host sent us a message including directions on how to get in the house, where to park, and some general house rules; all of which were very easy and helpful. Upon our arrival, we were greeted in the kitchen with a bottle of wine, popcorn, chocolates, and a handwritten note welcoming us which was a really nice touch.

The Features

As mentioned before, this house was recently renovated and oozes a very coastal cottage chic vibe. It’s cozy and stylish with a little bit of rustic and modern all rolled into one, giving it that California cool aesthetic. All of the rooms are filled with natural light, and are warm and inviting. We spent most of our time in the living room catching up with one another. This space had tons of seating and is perfect for groups, and we also loved how comfortable the furniture was.

This 3-bedroom wine country rental features:

• Private, off-street parking with a gated entrance.

• A workspace area complete with a desk and chair in the living room.

• Ample seating in the common areas.

• Washer & dryer in the back of the house off of the kitchen.

• Hardwood floors throughout.

• Beautiful kitchen filled with all sizes of pots & pans, utensils, and all other cooking essentials.

The Rooms

Each of the three bedrooms have their own unique décor, but all are very bright, clean, & airy. The bedrooms are very spacious so you won’t feel cramped at all. The closets and storage in each room is also ample & I loved being able to unpack my suitcase and put away all of my clothes once we arrived. Two of the larger bedrooms are located on the same side of the house as the bathroom with the bathroom separating them. The third bedroom is next to the kitchen, right past the dining room, and is about half the size of the other two bedrooms. This smaller bedroom has a trundle bed, but it’s large enough for an adult. Surprisingly enough, we all thought the beds themselves were very comfortable and had no problem sleeping during our stay. One thing that I would call out is that the floors and walls are pretty thin as the home is older, so we could hear our neighbors upstairs sometimes.

The Location

Ah, the location! I really can’t say enough good things about the location of this Airbnb. This rental property is located right in the heart of Santa Rosa. It’s situated on a quiet street just blocks from the quaint downtown area and the popular Russian River Brewing Company. Our favorite dinner in Santa Rosa was at The Spinster Sisters which is in the historic district and is less than a 5-minute drive from the vacation home. If you’re looking to visit the nearby town of Sebastopol, you’re in luck because it’s just a short 10-minute drive! Aside from dining options, there are quite a few grocery stores nearby, include my personal favorite, Trader Joe’s. There’s a shopping mall nearby as well in case you forgot to pack something (like us who didn’t realize how cool it would be in August and didn’t pack a light jacket or sweater).

Happy travels!

- Tess

Tess Arnold

Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip!  If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!