Magnificent Canyon View, Huge Deck, Outdoor Dining

See all properties

Save

Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6158 sq m

Popular amenities

Air conditioning

Free WiFi

Kitchen

Outdoor space

Washer

Dryer

Explore the area

San Rafael, CA

Mission San Rafael Arcangel4 min drive
Dominican University of California6 min drive
Marin County Civic Center8 min drive
San Francisco, CA (SFO-San Francisco Intl.)46 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Guest Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Separate dining area

Outdoor play area

Garden

About this property

Contact Host for longer term stays.

3 BR/ 2 BA furnished home in lovely quiet San Rafael neighborhood, between San Francisco & Sonoma/Napa.

The home is located in San Rafael’s Sun Valley neighborhood - West End, on the border with San Anselmo, with magnificent canyon views from the living room, dining room and master bedroom. The entire rear of the house features an expansive deck with separate glass sliding doors from the living room, dining room and master bedroom.

The deck outside the master bedroom and the dining room features a wrought iron round table and chairs for morning coffee, dining, drinks, or just enjoying the view.

The front bedrooms, kitchen and breakfast area face a lovely front yard where you can enjoy the wonderful afternoon sun. Our fig tree yields delicious fruit in the fall.

Well equipped kitchen has a cozy breakfast nook, newer four-door stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher and electric range and newer microwave and oven.

Dining and living room with gorgeous finished wood floors. Spacious indoor/outdoor family area with high ceilings, large windows. Fireplace does not burn and is for "Show" only.

Two front bedrooms have hardwood floors and plenty of closet space. They share a remodeled guest bathroom.

Master bedroom has hardwood floors, an ensuite bathroom and large walk in closet. Sliding doors to the deck where you can enjoy views of the open space or enjoy your morning coffee.

Home also features plenty of street parking.

Home has plenty of storage.

OWNERS RESIDE IN SEPARATE, CONTIGUOUS APARTMENT. OWNERS ACCESS THEIR DOWNSTAIRS APARTMENT THROUGH THEIR OWN ENTRANCE.

This is a non-smoking property.

NOTE: Effective Jan 1, 2020, the City of San Rafael began collecting a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) in the amount of 12% of the nightly room fees and the cleaning fee. ONLY GUESTS STAYING 30 days OR LESS are subject to the City's 12% hotel tax.

Our Guidebook
https://tinyurl.com/OurVRBOGuideBook

Property manager

Lee Dorfman

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Mountain view

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Toddlers (2+ years) are considered guests.

Events

No events allowed

Small cocktail/ dinner gatherings okay

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No smoking of any kind in the house or in the yard

NOISE - Please walk softly to minimize sound transfer to the apartment downstairs. Please do not walk on your heels. No running.

SAFETY - Do not lean on the deck railing. Limit 8 people on the deck. Toddlers and other “climbers” must stay off the deck.

GARBAGE AND OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS Please see Rental Agreement for additional rules and various other important matters.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Note from host: Small cocktail/ dinner gatherings okay

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

San Rafael

Located in San Rafael, this holiday home is in the city centre. The area's natural beauty can be seen at San Francisco Bay and Muir Woods National Monument. Travelling with kids? Consider San Rafael Pacifics Baseball - Albert Park and Book Passage. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.

San Rafael, CA

What's nearby

Mission San Rafael Arcangel - 4 min drive
Falkirk Cultural Center - 4 min drive
Dominican University of California - 6 min drive
Marin County Civic Center Farmers' Market - 8 min drive
Marin County Civic Center - 8 min drive

Getting around

Richmond Transit Center - 25 min drive
Oakland, CA (OAK-Oakland Intl.) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬18 min walk
‪Insalata's Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
‪M.H.Bread and Butter - ‬4 min drive
‪Pond Farm Brewing Company - ‬3 min drive
‪The Hub - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Magnificent Canyon View, Huge Deck, Outdoor Dining pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Magnificent Canyon View, Huge Deck, Outdoor Dining?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Magnificent Canyon View, Huge Deck, Outdoor Dining?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Magnificent Canyon View, Huge Deck, Outdoor Dining located?

This family-friendly holiday home is located in the city centre, within 2 mi (3 km) of Imagination Park, San Anselmo Memorial Park and Marin History Museum. Robson-Harrington House and American Legion Log Cabin are also within 2 miles (3 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Claire N.

1 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful place

A lovely spacious house with fabulous views and sitting areas on the back deck and a small garden in front. Immaculate and well-appointed with kitchen necessities, linens, and seating areas. Easily accessible for wheelchair users. Convenient to San Rafael, Highway 101, and Sir Francis Drake. This was our second stay, and we'll book it again the next time we visit the area.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dennis A.

30 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bay Area Visit

Great place! Wonderful views, quiet, clean, and in the middle of everything. There’s a ferry to downtown San Francisco that’s 10-15 minutes away (30 min boat ride to the main Ferry terminal), Muir Woods, Sonoma wine country, Sausalito and more all within a short drive. Comfortable beds after long days sightseeing. Thanks Lee!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elaine J.

19 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house with a great view

We really enjoyed our short stay in San Rafael. House was lovely, clean & comfortable with lots of space for our family. Enjoyed sitting out on the deck - great view. Would definitely stay here again if we are returning to this area.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anita C.

23 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house and super friendly host!

The house is amazing and as pictured. One thing to note though is the recycling rules, please read before your stay so you don't end up sorting trash like we did on our last day (we didn't read carefully until the night before our check out). Host was very friendly and easy to communicate with! We enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Colin G.

18 Mar 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice House but Not My Kind of Stay

The house has good bones but the whole arrangement of the owner living in the basement and all of the rules (there's even one about toddlers running in the house, clearly he has never had kids) is a little off putting, so make sure you are totally fine with this. I thought I was and turns out I wasn't! It seems that the cleaning is done by the owner and not professionals. I misplaced my keys and saw lots of dust bunnies in the corners of the house. I personally prefer more of a hotel-like stay and this was more like staying at a friend's house. Also I don't feel it is fair to charge a cleaning fee when the house isn't clean. I can see why people rated it so high, but this just isn't my type of property.

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pam M.

31 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sisters’ birthday celebration

This house has a wonderful layout, large rooms, magnificent views, comfortable furniture and beds. We were able to find all supplies for cooking and entertaining for our small family gathering. The sunrises and sunsets were amazing! Thank you for sharing this special location.

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara G.

6 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay in Marin

Members of my family and I had a wonderful week at Lee's house. I lived in the Bay Area for 30+ years and rented the house to host Thanksgiving for members of my family. The house was very comfortable and had a nice dining room for us, as well as a lovely deck. The neighborhood was nice, and there was ample parking. The house was accessible to everything we needed or wanted to do. Lee and his wife were cordial and responsive hosts, and I would recommend this property to anyone wanting to stay in Marin County.

Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brenda P.

5 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend Stay

Excellent place.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda R.

30 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely view

Lovely location, lovely view! We enjoyed our stay!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara H.

19 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful home

We had a family celebration in San Rafael, and this home was perfect! The home is roomy and well-equipped. The view is unbeatable. We hope to stay here again when we have a family get-together. Our hosts were accessible and helpful!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

wayne and bev D., Michigan

10 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely home

Very clean and comfortable.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debby F.

1 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding weekend

Well maintained property with beautiful views. Easy access to Marin peninsula, wine country, and San Francisco. Besides the views and deck, we found everything we needed for our weekend stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Meredith B.

12 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay and convenient location

This was our 2nd time staying at this property with our adult children. Location was perfect for us to visit family who live in Marin and in SF. Quiet neighborhood and beautiful view from the expansive deck. Lee is very accommodating! Hope to return next year.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

6 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magnificent Canyon View

We were visiting for a family wedding. We were comfortable and had everything we needed. We loved the view! Lee’s communication about his place was clear and helpful. Would highly recommend.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet B.

30 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home away from home

This is a lovely property and the owners have been very accommodating and helpful. We would stay here again. 😊

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Diana H.

20 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Disliked: Location

Family reunion

Beautiful view and home- just difficulty finding parking and to get to house very steep and narrow roads.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph M.

16 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Very Cozy Home!

This home is very nice and comfortable! It has a nice view of the bay and it's located close to downtown.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Susan R., Portland, OR, USA

2 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family wedding

Everything was clean and well appointed. The second bathroom was pretty small. There were several outside sitting areas to accommodate the shifting sun. Overall a very nice weekend.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charlotte O.

15 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning View! And Comfortable Stay

I found everything I needed to be comfortable, including a complete kitchen, a large living room and dining area, bedroom with a comfortable bed, a spectacular view, and all the things I needed to feel at home. I especially like having my coffee sitting and enjoying looking out on the beautiful scenery.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Antonio O.

23 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding

Impeccable, beautiful house with all the amenities and great (and generous) attention to detail. Outstanding location to visit San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiburon, and Napa and Sonoma valleys, and to enjoy San Anselmo, Fairfax and San Rafael. Communication with the host is always quick and easy.

Stayed 9 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire N.

20 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exellent spot

Lovely house with beautiful views from the back deck and a sheltered garden in front. The house is well-equipped and very clean; the location is convenient for hiking, exploring, groceries, and restaurants. The hosts were very helpful and responsive. We will definitely try to stay here again next time we're in the Bay Area.

Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aaron A.

13 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Marin Location

Super clean, excellent views. Everything we needed for a great stay to play some golf in Marin. Had a great time!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela H.

5 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Blessed to have stayed here

Everyone was in love with the house, the area and the views. Comfortable accomodations and we couldn't have asked for a better place to spend together for a wedding on Friday. Nice area to walk. Highly recommend this house.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lucile M.

31 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding

House is clean, tastefully decorated and well equipped. Views are amazing. Beds are comfortable. Five stars!

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jon G.

27 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas in Marin

Great property, great view, great host! Very close to restaurants, grocery, sightseeing, hiking etc.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

About the host

Hosted by Lee Dorfman

Why they chose this property

Our home is a welcoming and relaxing destination perfect for the whole family or good friends traveling together.

This is a perfect place to cook dinner or order in and enjoy the fabulous view of the canyon (and partial view of the Bay).

Relax on the deck and watch for our local wildlife - deer and fox have been known to visit our backyard, while the sounds of coyote from across the canyon can frequently be heard.

Enjoy the big screen TV or curl up with a book on the chaise lounge.

And there are many activities and restaurants available if you prefer to go out.

What makes this property unique

Our West End location is prime, centrally located between San Francisco and Wine Country (Napa and Sonoma).

There’s easy access to both downtown San Rafael and downtown San Anselmo. Mission San Rafael is just minutes away, as are numerous fine restaurants, shops, brew pubs and grocery stores. Enjoy one of Marin County’s gems, the Rafael Theater, where quality independent films from around the world are shown.

The Mt. Tamalpais Watershed is one of Marin's most valuable natural resources. Within certain constraints, permitted activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and picnicking.

Popular destinations include Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Muir Beach and Stinson Beach.

Local San Rafael activities include the farmers market on Sunday mornings from 8 AM till 1 PM at the Marin Civic Center.

On Thursday evenings, downtown San Rafael’s Fourth Street is closed. Local produce is available and plenty of food trucks as well.

Tour our local Mission founded on December 14, 1817. Call ahead for tour times 415-454-8141. Tours are mostly self-guided.

Be sure to visit the Civic Center, a Frank Loyd Wright masterpiece.

A full list of suggested destinations to explore (and our favorite restaurants is available at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QmgFd9aBweuFV71paOdtSBH4pi5TpP6gpz7bqtakbrI/edit?usp=sharing