We have been listing the Mushroom Dome Cabin with airbnb since July '09 and have had the most reservations of any of their listings. There is a reason we are so popular: the cabin is near a Redwood Grove, at night, there is hardly any sound here - maybe crickets. It is a Paradise here: a great place to unwind & restore.
When you make your request to stay, please tell us how you are handling the Covid-19 pandemic. I won't accept your reservation until I hear back from you.
The space
As we are no longer allowed by Santa Cruz county to rent the Mushroom Dome Cabin, we are now listing the LAND of Paradise Suite, a room in our unique home. (LAND: Love And Nature Divine) Make a reservation for the Suite and you will have unlimited access to the Mushroom Dome Retreat.
We have 10 acres next to land without fences so you will get to enjoy nature: just hang out on the deck, take a hike in the woods, watch the hummingbirds on our deck, go to the beach or gaze at the stars - as long as the moon isn't full. ; - ) During the summer, if there isn't any nightly fog, we can see the Milky Way here.
To check our availability, click on the "Request to Book" link. If you want to stay here on a weekend, you will usually need to make your reservation request about 5 months in advance.
We have another listing: the Hummingbird Haven. It usually has more availability.
(Please read all of this description before making a reservation request: we want our guests to be comfortable with our provisions.)
The cozy and clean semi-rustic retreat space has a loft under a geodesic dome (the "mushroom cap"). In the loft is a Queen-sized super popular Casper Mattress which allows for very comfortable meditation and/or sleeping and just hanging out. We provide clean sheets and pillow cases. Plenty of blankets are also provided.
The other "bed" is a couch that we can make up into a bed. If there are going to be 2 of you, but you want separate beds, please make the reservation for 3 or let me know ahead of time - there is a $10. charge for using it as a bed.
On the main floor of the Meditation Mushroom Dome retreat (a Pentagon) is the couch, a pull-out table and 2 chairs. (3 more chairs outside) We provide a small refrigerator, a Hot Air Popcorn Popper (and the kernels), French Coffee Press, an Electric Water Kettle, a wine opener, dishes - and more. We have 2 tables where you can enjoy meals, games, etc.: 1 inside and 1 outside on the large deck that faces the redwoods. We also have a barbecue grill on the deck. We provide Organic Coffee, teas, Oatmeal, popcorn, butter, sugar, nutritional yeast (for the popcorn!) spices, oil and vinegar and various snacks. Our well water is treated by an ozonator, a UV light and a soft water filter.
If you have a baby and you won't be needing the second bed, make your reservation for 2 and let us know if you will need a small pad for the loft. Again, if there are 2 of you but you want to use the second bed, please let me know ahead of time.
The cute bathroom has a Travertine shower, custom tiled sink and a Swedish Separett self-contained composting toilet. Some guests have had a problem with our bathroom, so I want to make it clear that we have a curtain for the door to the bathroom and we require that you put your used toilet paper in the trash. (it won't smell) If you follow the instructions for how to use the toilet, it won't have any odor. If the thought of using a composting toilet grosses you out, then don't make a reservation here. ; - )
We provide towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, a hair blow-dryer, etc. (a word of caution: the bathroom has a low ceiling. If you are over 6' you may have to do a little ducking here and there.)
As Saturdays are very much in demand, (and we like to be free on Saturdays), we don't accept Saturday arrivals.
On 3 day holidays, we require a 3 day reservation. (This includes Presidents Day, Memorial Day, M. L. King day, and Labor Day.) But to stay here on a weekend, you will usually have to book the cabin 5 - 6 months in advance - unless you are lucky to find a cancellation!
Check-in time is between 4 and 10pm. If you want to come sooner or later, this can sometimes be arranged. Check-out time is noon.
As we have experienced some damage from guests, we are now requiring a $100. security deposit. If you want to bring a dog, we charge an extra $10. per dog.
Although it feels very isolated here, we are less than 10 minutes to Aptos Village where you will find stores, New Leaf (a very large natural food store), restaurants, a health food store, Safeway, etc.
We are centrally located on the Monterey Bay: 10 minutes from the beach (Rio Del Mar and Seacliff State Beach) as well as the 10,000 acre Forest of Nisene Marks State Park for miles of hiking or dirt biking in the Redwoods and along Aptos creek. We are 20 minutes to downtown Santa Cruz, 25 min. to the Beach Boardwalk, 45 minutes to Monterey and the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, 50 min. to Carmel and 1 1/2 hours to Big Sur going south and San Francisco to the North. Yup, we are located in one of the most beautiful areas of California. (these times are not during rush hour(s) ; - )
If you love hummingbirds, bring your camera. Our garden is the year-round home to many Anna Hummingbirds. (We usually have about 300 - 700 depending on the time of year) During the summer, we are also called home by many Rufus and Allen Hummers as well. So you have got to see our "Hummingbird Airport" where we feed them about 4-6 qts. of syrup on a summer day!
Please, no smoking or vaping in the cabin or on the property. We used to let smokers stay here, but they stink up the cabin and it is a fire hazard outside.
Some cell phones don't work here, but since we have wifi in the cabin, if your phone works with a wifi network, you are good to call. You can sometimes get Verizon service on the swinging seat by the driveway.
To learn about things to do in the area, do an internet search for Santa Cruz, CA.
Dogs are welcome to stay here but with a few requirements: We will request a $10. fee for 1 dog. Since we have so many animals, we require that your dogs be kept on a leash when outside. Also, we don't allow dogs in the loft or on the couch downstairs so please bring a doggie bed. (your doggie can go on the couch if you bring a cover for it) And don't leave your dog here by themselves: we had quite a bit of damage from dogs that were left and stressed. We have a gate that we can set up so your dog can be off the leash on the deck - while you are here.
If you are bringing a small child, we can put a folding futon (2/3rds of the futon or a foam pad next to the bed ) Just let us know ahead of time. Keep in mind, though, that a child should not be left in the loft by themselves as the bed is fairly high up against the rail.
As we are about 3 miles to the nearest bus stop, it is pretty difficult to stay here without a car.
You are invited, if you feel you would be harmonious here. Check out our chickens, cats, miniature dog and enjoy the very fresh air. If you come here when there is no moonlight and the sky is clear, you will see lots of stars.
Tired of the heat in the summer? Since we are on the edge of the "fog belt", it can be both sunny and cool here. If you want a noisy place, you won't like it here: most of the sound here comes from the birds or crickets chirping, the tree frogs croaking and the breeze blowing through the trees. People do live on the land here though, so don't expect it to be totally devoid of human sounds and the occasional chain saw or wood chipper. ; - )
