Entire home

Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets.

Photo gallery for Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets.

Open floor plan livingroom, dining and kitchen.
Living area
Fully equiped kitchen with professional JennAir range.
Warming or ambiance stove.  Spend a romantic evening with a fire.
Large kitchen island for the whole family.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

6 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8240.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Hot tub
    Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Nevada City, CA
  • Double Oak Vineyards and Winery
    9 min drive
  • South Yuba River State Park
    11 min drive
  • New Bullards Bar Reservoir
    19 min drive
  • Auburn, CA (AUN-Auburn Municipal)
    53 min drive

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Livingroom Futon

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Office

1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

First Floor Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Outdoor Shower

Outdoor shower

Second Floor Bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Office
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets.

Gather family, friends and pets for a relaxing getaway. Spread out in our spacious Swiss chalet cabin home. Work remotely in the dedicated office, enjoy a cup of tea on the wrap-around porch, swim in the river and eat dinner on the patio. We are close to Yuba river's swimming holes, hiking & mountain biking trails, cycling, fish or boat at nearby reservoir, & explore state parks.

The space
Welcome to Serenity House, a Swiss chalet cabin located 25 mins outside of Nevada City in the North San Juan. Explore the craftsmanship, woodworking details and beauty of this iconic country home.

The house sits on 4 acres with a pond that is fed by the overflow from a natural spring, there are 3 structures. The main house is 2,584 sq ft 3 levels with 6 bedrooms with private patio and green house, the 9 car garage is an estimated 3,685 sq ft and the barn is 1,534 sq ft.

The main house is a 3 level Swiss chalet cabin with exposed wood, balcony, private patio and with a wrap around porch.

On the main level is the Master bedroom, living room, pantry and office. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need to prepare delicious meals. Eat at the kitchen bar or have a sit down meal for 8 or eat outside on the private gated patio end the evening in the hot tub or star gazing on the lawn. The livingroom includes a wood burning stove for both warmth and winter ambience.

The second floor has an open space for yoga and meditation. There are 3 bedrooms and the 3rd floor has 2 bedrooms. All the beds are Tempurpedic mattresses throughout the 1st and 2nd floors.

3rd floor attic bedrooms are fun for the kids or the young at heart. In the summer these rooms are hot. Please plan accordingly if you need to use these rooms. See bedroom details for bed layout.

Home features: Wifi is enough for work/school from home zooms/streaming but not for gaming or those that require a large bandwidth. There is a professional range, dishwasher, washer and dryer, a large garage for those traveling with boats or trailers. The house does not have AC. The house stays very cool during the hot weather. We have fans throughout the home and swamp cooler in the main living space. We do not have TVs in the house. There are plenty of board games and puzzles are provided and a plethora of family games, board games, lawn games and cards.

Children are welcome and will love it here. There is no fence around the pond. We have horses on the property with a hot wire (electric) fence. Children must be supervised at all times.

Guest Pets
We can accommodate friendly small non shedding dogs under (30lbs). There is an additional fee $40 for large and shedding dogs.

We have a electric fence diving the property. Pets are welcome to explore the property with supervision for their safety. We have chickens, horses, cat and a dog on the property.

Please let us know if you're bringing a pet so that we can keep chickens in their run for the duration of your stay. We will need to introduce our dog to you, guests and any pets. You can also choose to keep your pets in the fenced private patio if you do not want your pet to socialize with our animals.

Farm Animals
Please do not interact with the horses. Do not feed the horses. They are on a special diet. Do Not enter the electric fence pasture. This is for your safety.

Save your kitchen scraps for our chickens in the bin provided. They will love you and thank you for it. You can interact with the chickens if they are roaming near the house. Otherwise for your safety. The property is divided with an electric fence.

Hot Tub
We want to be socially responsible. You can help by observing the rules: 1) Always showering first before using the tub. There is a outdoor shower next to the hot tub. 2) After each use, please put a 1/4 of chlorine 3) No pets are allowed 3) Set the hot tub to Economy mode when not in use

Guest access
We live on the property. Guests have access to the entire house and private patio. You will be sharing the land with us, friends and farm animals.

Capacity
Yes there are more beds than our listed capacity. On occasion we will allow more people -- please inquire if you need add more people. These decisions are made based on fire safety, demands on water and septic.

Other things to note
PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff Potential. Much of Northern California, Nevada City included, is subject to power shut offs from the local utility, PG&E, when it is determined that weather conditions are creating a high fire danger (typically, high winds, low humidity and warm). The house is equipped with a generator to keep the water avilable to the house and your phones charged. Propane is available for gas stove and hot water. By booking this house you acknowledge that there is the potential for loss of power in the area and at the house during your stay. Refunds will not be given if a power shutoff is predicted or occurs.

Early Check-In/Late Check-Out: If it can be accommodated (no one else is checking in or out on your arrival or departure day), we can sometimes offer either early or late check out, outside of the typical hours of 4 p.m. check-in/11 a.m. check out, at a rate of $10 per hour. However, we typically will not know if the request will be possible more than 1-2 days prior to check-in. If you know that you'll need an early check-in/late check-out, consider booking another night!

Location - We are 25 minutes outside of Nevada City. The drive is a winding road through a canyon. If you need to be in town frequently we don’t recommend you stay here.

We live in a wildfire area. No open outdoor fires, BBQs are permitted or smoking.

No Smoking - This is a no smoking house and property. If it is found that any substance has been smoked anywhere on the property (particularly inside the house anywhere you will be charged $250 for smoke remediation.

Absolutely no drugs and no parties.
Quiet hours are 9 PM to 7AM.
No shoes in the house.

Property manager

Mai Lee
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 28
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children must be supervised at all times.

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and weddings
Quiet time is 9 PM - 7AM event must end at 8:45 PM

Pets

Pets allowed: less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Friendly pets, only. $20 per pet.

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Quiet time is 9 PM - 7AM event must end at 8:45 PM
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 first aid kit

About the area

Nevada City

Located in Nevada City, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Tahoe National Forest and South Yuba River State Park, while Nevada Theatre and Off Broadstreet Theatre are cultural highlights. Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum and Grass Valley-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Nevada City, CA

What's nearby

  • New Bullards Bar Reservoir - 19 min drive
  • Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 - 22 min drive
  • Center For The Arts - 27 min drive
  • Nevada County Fairgrounds - 29 min drive
  • Scotts Flat Lake - 35 min drive

Getting around

  • Sacramento, CA (SMF-Sacramento Intl.) - 98 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Ridge Cafe - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bigley's Market & Brass Rail - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Double Oak Vineyards & Winery - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ikes Quarter Cafe - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Country Store - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Big vacation home for your family, friends and pets. located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is 1.9 mi (3.1 km) from Tahoe National Forest and 3.1 mi (5 km) from Double Oak Vineyards and Winery. South Yuba River State Park and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Peter B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay in the Sierras
We had a lovely long weekend staying in the house. We got some great recommendations for swimming spots nearby and enjoyed visiting some gold rush locations. We were able to come back and relax in comfort.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicole S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome getaway!
This was a beautiful location for an escape to quiet. Thank you and look forward to returning. 😊
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Annie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Getaway!
Mai and Andrew were great hosts! Plenty of beds for our group. Great spot for a working or relaxing retreat.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Secluded and peaceful
This home is absolutely beautiful and so relaxing. Tons of space. The hosts are friendly, responsive, and helpful. They even offered us fresh eggs. It rained a lot during our stay so use of the hottub did not happen, but it was clean and big enough for everyone. The stove was broken, but the owner let us know before hand and it will be repaired soon and didn't affect anything with us. The road to the property is windy and a ways out of Nevada City, but we didn't mind making the trip into town. Parking is a bit rough and there are houses close by, but everyone was quiet and respectful. It really is a hidden gem. We played games, enjoyed the claw foot tub, and had some great family time.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christopher G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay in nature outside Nevada City
The property is about a 25 minute drive outside Nevada City and is a great place to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature. The house was gorgeous and came with everything we needed to enjoy our stay. Mai and Andrew were great hosts. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Leigh H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
October Retreat
It was my first retreat I hosted for my business. There were 11 of us. The kitchen space was wonderful. The yoga space was great. We even had room for our massage therapist to offer massages!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Debra R., Rio Vista Ca

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Ladies yearly get away!
Mai is a great hostess.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charlene B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Serenity House
Fabulous property- perfect for our whole family to enjoy our boating vacation at Bullards Bar! Even better in person than the photos on VRBO. Mai & Andrew were there and met all of our needs. We will definitely book again- I’m too old to do the tents and camping- this was our “Glamping” vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
All I can say is wow!
Mai & Andrew are two of the most incredible people we have ever met! The best hosts & the most beautiful home. They accommodated more then we could have ever asked for. If you’re looking for a cozy hideaway in the trees, surrounded by natures beauty. This is the place for you. No tvs, so pack some games ;)! Thank you Mai & Andrew!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beatrice S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful retreat for the family
We had a wonderful family vacation! We all enjoyed the spacious and beautiful home and outdoor space. Our furry family members had a great time running through the grass and the pond and their new friend Red. We enjoyed meeting our hosts, who welcomed us so warmly. A great vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ariel N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing Stay!
It was an absolutely amazing stay. Mai and her husband were so kind and welcoming, it was nice having people who made us feel welcomed and allowed us to have our family in their home. Waking up and hearing the chickens each morning along with seeing a beautiful horse outside your window, was quite the treat! This place has made us fall in love with Nevada City, along with Bullards Bar Reservior, which is where we spent a lot of our time at as well during the stay. We'd stay again! 😊
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Corrine F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Annual Women’s Trip!
Our group of women have been getting together annually for 31 years. This is probably the most perfect place we have ever stayed. We loved the spacious house with so many beds!! It was comfortable & felt like our own home. The views across their multiple acre property were so relaxing - green fields, quivering aspen trees, pine trees, flowers. There is a pond in the middle of the property to add to the splendor. The kitchen is open, well equipped & made group cooking easy. There were lots of lounging around areas inside & outside on the porch. We saved food scraps to feed the chickens. Our dogs fell in love with Red, the resident dog & Ruby the gorgeous horse. LOTS of nearby hikes for us, interesting cultures spots & the small market down the street was super well stocked with organic produce, bulk items - anything you need! We will absolutely be back next year.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Madison C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely secluded Get-Away
High recommend, communication was quick and easy - Mai was lovely when we met her upon check in. We had a 12 person group of Family and spouses to celebrate a birthday - it was roomy and fit us all with ease. Anything you need for a weekend stay was right at you fingertips.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful and Relaxing
I stayed at vacation rental for a wedding in the area. The house was amazing and had all the accommodations that we needed. The place is so peaceful and relaxing which we needed after our son's wedding. Mai the owner brought over fresh eggs in the morning, which was a blessing because we were so busy, we forgot to go shopping. If you are looking for peace and tranquility this is the perfect place.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eric L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet, clean, spacious
Mai and Andrew were great hosts. A 20 minute drive to Bullards Bar where we spent most of our time. They were very accommodating and met all of our requests and then some. If we do another trip in the future, their place will be on a short list of options. Everyone had fun and enjoyed their time.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paul C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful property, great house!
Our family had a great time at this property. Rural and quiet, the kids caught frogs and played with the chickens. Our dog loved it too. The house was great with a large, well stocked kitchen, open dining area, and lots of comfortable couches and chairs to plop down on to relax or read. Beds were comfortable, plenty of place for a large family to stretch out. Hot tub was great too. Mai was an excellent host. We liked the location as it provided a quieter, more rural experience, yet you are within 15 minutes to multiple swimming holes on the Yuba. Nevada City isn't too far if you need to run into town. Good spot to relax and swim in the river or to use as a jumping off point to ride bikes in Nevada City or Downieville. Would definitely recommend this property.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristin T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect break away from it all
We had a great stay. The location was perfect- about 25 mins from downtown Nevada City but also secluded so we could really get away from everyday life. The property was perfect. Lots of space for the kids and dogs to run around. The house was stocked with basic condiments and all the cookware you could need. Star gazing at night was spectacular. Mai was very attentive and a great host. Would definitely recommend and hope to stay here again in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pre-Christmas family getaway
From the very beginning we felt so comfortable in this home. The kitchen is nice and big and very well stocked. The beds were super comfortable as well. The hosts were really responsive to the couple of requests we had. Other than some non functioning lights everything was great!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mick S., Marin County

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
STUPENDOUS SERENITY
Before getting to the serenity, what really makes this VRBO special are the owners, Mai & Andrew, such delightful and thoughtful hosts. The house is very large and set on 4 acres of fenced land. Our 16 month old puppy had great fun exploring and guarding the land from incursions of geese and wild turkeys! It is so quiet. How delightful to be away from the hubbub and background noise of the burbs. And yet there is a hot tub, one of the essential conveniences of modern living! On the practical side, the kitchen is well-equipped, the beds comfortable, the house impeccably clean, and as a bonus, Mai has stocked the kitchen with all those condiments that are annoying to have to purchase on vacation. The fascinating Nevada City is only 15 miles away and we enjoyed the South Yuba State Park and the abandoned, well preserved, gold mining city at the Malakoff Diggins State Park. In summary, the perfect combination of relaxation and things to see! We slept so well in the serenity of the location, enjoyed relaxing on the wrap around deck overlooking the grounds and venturing forth to the places mentioned above. We hope to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Mai Lee

Host profile image
Spiritually inclined. Calm and friendly. Curious about people, culture and life.
Daily meditator, yoga practitioner and truth seeker. I am a nonprofit executive. My husband and I love traveling and meeting new people.

We live on the property in the Guest House a few yards from Serenity House.

Why they chose this property

We recently purchased this beautiful property after living next door for 3 years. We have been in love with it since the first time we saw it. We are continuing the tradition of sharing home with travelers from around the world. This property had over 96 5-Star reviews.

Big enough for you to spread out. Beautiful acreage. You will love the wood working details. They don't build homes like this anymore.

What makes this property unique

Nature heals the soul. Beautiful acreage views, pond, and wrap around porch. Our property is fully fenced. We are centrally located to the best Yuba River swimming holes.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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