Berkeley Parents Network: Vacation Cabins

Berkeley Parents Network

Vacation Cabins

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Places to Go > Vacation Cabins

Inexpensive local vacation cabin?

Aug 2005

I've read the recommendations in the archives but can't seem to find anywhere to take a short vacation that isn't $200 a night! Everything in CA seems so outrageously priced -- Just looking for a small cabin to rent just about anywhere within a 5 hour drive from the East Bay. Any suggestions? I can't even find a hotel in the Bay area for under $90 a night (and that's for a hotel at the Oakland airport -- not too romantic or family)
frustrated with CA cost

We rented this cabin near Auburn, CA: http://www.cyberrentals.com/USA/California/Northern-California/vacation-cabin-Gold-Country/p105165.htm

She has raised her rates to $99 per night but the weekly rate is now $825. It's hard to find something cheaper, but you can cook your own meals to save money and nothing around there is expensive. The cabin was rustic (no dishwasher) and somewhat remote. But, had a great deck (felt like a treehouse), and a nice fireplace. The lake was small but nice but way too cold for my taste (my husband and sister-in-law had no problem swimming in it). It was about a 2 hour drive from Oakland. I have good luck with cyberrentals. The places was small, but great for a family of four. We had my husband, my sil and me and two friends came over for one night from Oakland (sat to sunday). The owner might be willing to negotiate a lower rate. mizlandry

We like Ripplewood in Big Sur -- private cabins, reasonably priced ($75 - $135), in a nice setting. No frills but there is maid service, real bathrooms, towels, all that stuff. They have a couple that are good for families of 4-5, and most have kitchens. If you go to the Monterey Aquarium on the way, you can pick up some food at the grocery a few blocks up before you leave for Big Sur (which is expensive, especially for dinner)! At Ripplewood, there is a little restaurant across the street that is good for breakfast, though. Go hang out at Point Lobos the next day. Great mini-vacation. http://www.ripplewoodresort.com/
Melissa

May I recomend Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station located 60 miles north of Sonora on Hwy 108 in the Sierras? My husband and I have been going there for years for his family reunion each summer and my son has gone since he was 6 months old. Do not let the name fool you. If you expect Resort style ammenities as the name might imply, you will be disapointed. The lodging is rustic cabins with kitchenettes, comfy beds and individual bathrooms in each cabin. There is a fire pit and picnic table outside each cabin. The cabins have electricity until the generator is turned off (usually 11pm during the week and 2pm on weekends) so flashlights are needed and the kitchenettes are sparsly furnished so be sure to bring items you can't live without as well as groceries as the general store can be pricey. The cabin we rent sleeps 4 and costs around $70/night + tax. Within a short walk there is a restaurant, general store, quaint saloon, horseback rides (recomended for children aged 8 or older), the north fork of the Stanislaw river from which trout are usually plentiful and of course the meadow. Bodie, Mono Lake, Sonora, Pinecrest, Columbia are some places you can go for a day trip. Laura

Hi, we own a cabin in the Sierra Nevada too near Calaveras Big Trees State Park, in a town called Dorrington. Our cabin sleeps 6-8 and weekly rates are available. There is a private lake for swimming within walking distance and lots of other things to do (hiking, caving, wine tasting) in the summer and we are about 1/2 hours drive from Bear Valley Ski Resort. Please email me for more info. amelliott21[at]comcast.net

Cheap cabin to rent for a week

May 2005

My summer plans are not fancy, just work and camp for kids. But I would like to take them on a simple, relaxing week away. I'm looking for a cheap cabin/house to rent for a week, probably from July 5th-9th to avoid 4th of July chaos. It doesn’t need to be big, we have sleeping bags and know how to use them. Can be anywhere in California though closer is better. It doesn't need to be in the most picturesque place, but must be near water: beach (but probably too expensive), river, or pool, where the kids can spend many hours of kid happiness in water and mom can spend many hours reading a book. Simple hikes, bike rides, and other outdoor adventure a plus. Does this place exist?

Check out www.pinemountainlake.com. Then click on vacation rentals. This will link you to realtors who handle vacation rentals. This is a nice size lake 2 1/2 hours from the inner East Bay and 1/2 hour from the west gate to Yosemite. It is near the town of Groveland. It is a private development with homes on the lake and other homes with lake priveleges. There are many rentals and they range (depending on size and location) from $125/night and up. We stay there, not on the lake, and take the short (less than 10 minutes) to the lake and hang out all day. Except for holiday weekends, it is uncrowded. The main beach has a grassy sloping lawn with shade trees and a nice sandy beach. There is a snack counter. We set up our chairs at the edge of the sand then let our kids play in the sand/water for hours. It is very like a midwestern lake. It is big enough for waterskiing but we have rarely been disturbed by motor noise.

If you want to go to Yosemite, in July I would skip the valley and head to the high country - take Tioga Road off 120 between Groveland and the valley. Lake Tenaya is an alpine lake, crystal clear and cool. Great place to spend the day.

Have fun! anon

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