Discover an urban haven less than three miles from the White House, and blocks from the nation’s third designated national park. Whether you're looking for a restorative respite for your Washington, DC adventure, or a calm space to take a day off the demands of city life, Rock Creek Sanctuary could be just the space you need to relax, recharge and rest, so you can enjoy all the District has to offer.
The space
Rock Creek Sanctuary doubles as comfortable and convenient DC lodging and a micro urban retreat space. It's full of lovely touches to delight you, from comfortable furnishings to charming surprises tucked in for you to discover and enjoy. You may find some garden flowers on the windowsill, freshly baked bread, or figs from the backyard tree. You might even rollerskate!
Located in the English basement (garden level) of a row house in leafy Mount Pleasant, DC, Rock Creek Sanctuary offers a variety of options for day and overnight use. Lounge in the large main reading/sleeping space, meander the trails in nearby Rock Creek Park, stop for coffee at one the neighborhood’s lovely cafes, fix up a nourishing meal in the eat-in kitchen, eat outside on the patio overlooking the garden and relax in a hammock before setting up a firepit as the sun goes down. The space offers a European-style king bed (two twin beds which can used separately or combined) and a fold-out couch. An air mattress is available upon request. (Note that as it is a basement level space, it is lacking in high ceilings. My 6’2” husband can navigate just fine, but extra tall guests will want to avoid jumping too enthusiastically!) The space also has a private bathroom and a small private deck, in addition to patio access. Shared washer/dryer is available, as is WiFi, but we'd be happy to turn it off if you want to fully unplug.
Guests are welcome to reserve space overnight or for day use only (request to get a special offer), making it the perfect place to rest your weary feet after a day of sight-seeing OR carve out time for yourself while kids are in school, schedule deep work thinking, take a writing retreat, or just be still with yourself. We also welcome small indoor/outdoor events, like a cozy arts night or small group retreat. The space is ideal for a solo getaway, but can comfortably fit 6-10 people for day use, with 4 overnight guests. You can also request a day use add on if you’d like to extend your final day beyond our usual check out time.
Guest access
You'll have full and private access to the garden apartment that is Rock Creek Sanctuary, and shared access to our patio (with private cafe table, a shared outdoor dining set, hammocks, outdoor heater & fire pit) and the utility space (where the washer / dryer & extra supplies are stored). You have a private entrance/exit through the garden, but can also use the shared utility room entrance/exit.
Other things to note
Our family loves welcoming guests from around the US and even the world! Thank you for understanding that we are not a tourism or property management company, just a family sharing our home. Rock Creek Sanctuary occupies the English basement of our family home, an old, historic DC row house. We share our front and back yard with our guests, so our paths may cross–we’ll look forward to saying hello! We hope staying in a family home offers you a sense of safety and community, quick access to tourist attractions tucked in a pleasant neighborhood vibe, and insider DC tips.
But we realize it isn't for everyone! We want our guests to love their stay, so here are a few notes to ensure you're getting the right space for you:
- We're not on duty 24/7 like a hotel, but get back to you with the best service we can, as soon as we can.
- If you are used to a lot of space, DC's narrow urban row houses (and narrow parking spaces) may seem tight!
- Getting into the Sanctuary involves stairs.
- If it is total silence and privacy you seek, we are probably not the best choice! Life with three small children in an historic house means the pitter patter of wee feet and periodic house creaks and groans are unavoidable. We do our best to respect quiet hours in the mornings and evenings, and our children are our of the house most of the day on week days, but there will likely be some sounds of family life echoing through. (We do provide a white noise machine.)
- A gardener periodically enters our back yard to tend to some plants, so if you see someone walk in, that’s who! We will try to notify if we know he’s coming to avoid surprising you.
- We have a friendly old cat named Fatty (but definitely not fat) who lives in the main house with us. You may see him wandering about and are welcome to say hi/pet him.
Finally, kids are most welcome! We live next door to a playground and the yard affords a little space to unwind. If your family is bigger than 4, just reach out, we’d love to make it work for you. We have a high chair some kid stuff in the space. (Guests with kids are welcome to move breakables out of the way for their stay). Don't see what you need? We may well be able to lend you something if a need arises. Just ask!
Registration Details
Hosted License: 5007242201002757
