Pleasant Bay Lookout (epic sea view + hot tub)

Treehouse in Bellingham, Washington

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bath
Hosted by Aimee And Peter
  1. Superhost
  2. 12 years hosting

Listing highlights

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the keypad.

Beautiful area

Guests love this home’s scenic location.

Bay view

Guests say the views are lovely.
The Pleasant Bay Lookout is a small private room with a spectacular view. We love welcoming guests to this tucked-away oasis of peace and beauty.

Meeting accurate expectations is very important to us - we only accept requests from those who let us know they've read our entire listing description. Thank you!

The space
The Pleasant Bay Lookout is nestled in a forest overlooking the Salish Sea. Its stunning beauty and simplicity have been showcased widely on many websites, in local magazines and as an Airbnb top pick. The Lookout is simple: one room (121 square feet) with a a modern sofa that converts to a bed, a comfortable recliner, glass wall with a breathtaking view, and a deck to experience the sound of the sea, songbirds and sun, rain and shifting clouds.

Given the small square footage, there is no sink or bathroom in the Lookout and the sofa bed takes up much of the space in the room when its open. As one guest said: "The space is small in footage but huge on character and coolness. The glass wall leads out to a deck with a beautiful view of the woods and the bay. The view makes the room feel as big as the whole out of doors." The Lookout experience is more like glamping than luxury accommodations.

We care about beauty, connection, real things, and the Lookout reflects that; much of its features were made by us or locally sourced. There is a branched tree from our property to hang your coat, a live edge coffee table made by Peter, and thoughtfully chosen art on the walls. It's common for visitors to the Lookout to arrive and cast off plans they may have: many fall into the state described in Italian as "La Dolce Far Niente - The Sweetness of Doing Nothing."

The sensory delight increases when you go outside the Lookout – the forest is alive with songbirds, shorebirds, raptors and peekaboo views. Raccoon, owls and deer wander through, and Chuckanut Mountain trails and beaches are a short walk, bike ride, paddle or drive away. There are many options for nature excursions and adventures right outside our door.

The Pleasant Bay Lookout is ideal for nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, and those who want simple accommodations in a beautiful natural setting.

• Meeting accurate expectations is very important to us, so please let us know you've read our entire listing description and understand the arrangement between the Lookout and main house when you send a booking request. Thank you!

Guest access
Guests have 24/7 access to the Lookout. Access to our family's home includes the downstairs bathroom in our house, exclusively for guest use, with separate entrance (a 35-45 second walk from Lookout, open 24/7 for your use) and outdoor hot tub (see Other Things To Note section of the listing description for more about hot tub's shared use).

Please note there is no beach access on the property.

Other things to note
• NOISE - Our property is bordered by a forest to the west; woods, road and Chuckanut Bay to the north; Pleasant Bay to the south; and the Burlington Northern railway very nearby to the east, just beyond and below the Lookout. Trains pass by frequently day and night and the freight engines' rumble can be noisy (though they thankfully seldom blow their whistles here). There is occasional work on the tracks below the Lookout, about 4-5 days/year at entirely unpredictable times. Some guests find earplugs helpful at night with the intermittent passing trains, or get accustomed to it as background noise (quite infrequently, a guest finds the passing night trains intolerably loud - it's really a subjective experience). We live in a neighborhood, so sounds of children playing and neighbors talking mingle with owls hooting, coyotes yipping in the distance, a nearby neighbor's chickens, and geese honking overhead.

• PETS - Sorry, we don't allow pets in the Lookout (but we do in our Chuckanut Forest Studio: Airbnb room # 1769152)

• SHARED SPACE - While the Lookout is a separate space, we welcome you into our family home for use of bathroom (via a separate entrance) and outdoor hot tub.

• FOOD PREP - There is a small refrigerator, microwave and dishware under cover near the Lookout bathroom entrance. We recommend accessing takeout in Bellingham or keeping food prep simple while you're here.

• SIZE - Note the square footage (121 square feet). The Lookout is comfortable and cozy by day, and more snug with the queen-sized sofa bed open at night.

• MOBILITY CONSIDERATIONS - As the Lookout isn't large enough for bathroom/sink, guests use the bathroom in our family home. Be aware this is a winding walk on a wooded path not ideal for those with mobility limitations: up and down two short flights of stone steps, and through gardens on uneven pathways.

• BEACHES - Though there is a small private beach below the Lookout that we wish we could share, it is for local community use only. Other beautiful beaches are a short walk or drive away.

• TECHNOLOGY - Cell service is spotty at our home. Though we do have WiFi, texting and phone reception is unpredictable. Note there is no television or stereo system.

• GUS - We have a small non-allergenic dog named Gus who will be very happy to greet you (he thinks he's a guard dog... but he's not).

• HOT TUB - Though the hot tub is located behind our home, Lookout guests have access to it 24/7. It's just a short walk around to the back of our home. Note that it's an older model tub with minimal jets to soak in under the cedars and firs. While it’s nestled in the forest, and yours to use without others, we do occasionally walk past, as it sits alongside our home. The hot tub is also utilized at varying times by us and our Chuckanut Forest Studio guests. Typically there’s not a conflict with people wanting to use it at the same time.  If someone happens to be in it when you walk up, just wait a bit and it will be all yours!

• WEATHER - Weather in Western Washington is unpredictable any time of year. Snow storms and heat waves are unusual, but may occur 1-2 times/year. Fall and winter occasionally bring high winds that can lead to power outages on our property. Though we can’t offer refunds, we will do our very best to ensure your comfort in the case of unexpected obstacles due to weather events. Please note the Lookout has heat and a fan, but no air conditioning.

• ENTERTAINMENT - The Lookout is best for those seeking simplicity: bird watching, contemplation, listening to the tide and wind in the trees… there is no television, so bring your laptop if you’d like to watch something on the screen.

• PARKING - Please use the directions we send you, along with phone maps, so you know where to park and how to find the house and Lookout. Follow our forested driveway to the top for parking - be forewarned that backing down can be tricky (there's parking at the bottom of the driveway, if you prefer). There is no pavement on our property, so you'll have the forest all around you, and under your feet as well. We can only accommodate parking for one car for Lookout guests.

• CARBON - We provide a 220V plug-in for electric cars, and offer a discount to anyone who arrives via bike or on foot.

• THE STUDIO - There is one other rental on our property (the Chuckanut Seaside Forest Studio), which you pass by when you come up the driveway. Please be mindful of others, as there are usually additional guests on site.

• LET US KNOW - As mentioned elsewhere in the listing, meeting accurate expectations is very important to us, so please let us know you've read our entire listing description when you send a booking request. We aim to follow a healthy communication policy of LIBK (Let It Be Known), so also let us know if there's anything you want or need before or during your stay!

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Bay view
Sea view
Wifi
Free parking on premises
Shared hot tub
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

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Rated 4.94 out of 5 from 1,655 reviews.

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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 95% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 4% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 1% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Bellingham, Washington, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighborhood highlights

The Chuckanut area and Bellingham region are an outdoor recreation and nature lovers' paradise. With Chuckanut Mountain behind us and the Salish Sea in front, hikers, bikers, and kayakers will find easy access to many recreation activities from the Lookout. The Interurban Trail is just up the road. Heading south on the Interurban you'll reach the trails, lakes and seashore of 2683-acre Larrabee State Park in five minutes; walking north, you can stroll or bike five miles to town if you'd like, all on a forested trail overlooking the sea. The world renowned beauty of Chuckanut Drive is moments away – enjoy it by bicycle or car. Fairhaven is 10 minutes and downtown Bellingham is 20 minutes by car. The Skagit Valley is just 20 minutes south. Venturing east, you can reach the glorious mountains, rivers, and waterfalls of the North Cascades in just over an hour. Driving west, you can be on a ferry to the pristine San Juan islands in under an hour. If you'd like, you can touch a glacier and explore an island in the same day!

If you'd prefer a more urban vacation, Bellingham has great markets, diverse shopping opportunities, varied restaurants and nightlife, great local breweries, and one of the most beautiful university campuses in Washington state. We're situated equidistant to Vancouver BC and Seattle, so big city attractions are just a 90 minute drive away.

Meet your host

Superhost
2880 reviews
4.94 out of 5 average rating
12 years of hosting
My work: Counseling
Speaks English and Spanish
We feel so fortunate to live in beautiful Bellingham, on a special piece of land purchased by Peter's forward-thinking parents in 1964. We value giving back to our community and sharing the gifts we’ve received, both in our work and personal lives. Our three thriving vacation rentals are an expression of that ethic, connecting people to Whatcom County in unique and authentic ways. Our two rentals - Pleasant Bay Lookout & Chuckanut Seaside Forest Studio - in the forest by the sea have offered rejuvenation and re-connection for many; inspired numerous marriage proposals; provided retreat space; hosted honeymooners, travelers & artists; motivated adventurers to hike, bike, paddle and explore; and also offered "Il Dolce Far Niente" - The Sweetness of Doing Nothing. Our Garden Street Studio lends itself to urban explorations on foot or bike, from breweries to beaches, farmer's markets, museums and music venues, and the beautiful Western Washington University campus. We have a combined 52 years in this area, and feel grateful to be able to share the bounty of Whatcom County: proximity to the sea, nearby mountains' trails and vistas, and all that Fairhaven and Bellingham have to offer. Professionally, Aimee is the founder of an environmental education and service learning nonprofit, and has been an outdoor guide for over thirty years. She is also a life coach for teens and women. Peter is an amateur local historian, sailor, and entrepreneur (his latest project is the Heliotrope Hotel, also listed on Airbnb). As lifelong Pacific Northwesterners, both of us are committed to helping our community thrive, and enjoying and sharing all it has to offer. We are passionate about being active outdoors, healthy living, creativity, and authentic connections with others. We've greatly enjoyed the expansion of our community via our vacation rentals – sharing our special spaces with others from around the world has made the quality of our lives even better! We apply a strong sense of integrity and purpose to being vacation rental hosts, and hope to help make each guest's visit uniquely positive.

Aimee And Peter is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Pool/hot tub without a gate or lock
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
Carbon monoxide detector not required

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