'You have a beautiful home,' are the first words guests say when they arrive through our front door. The maple floors throughout the first floor, soaring ceilings, dramatic staircase leading to the landing on the second floor, and year-round gardens that are on display from every window and slider--all lend a sense of calm and warmth.

The open floor plan leads from the living/dining area to the family room and kitchen. The house is set up for entertaining, whether a formal dinner party in the front room--complete with a working fireplace, or an informal garden party--which can spill over from the family room to the large redwood deck. The updated kitchen/family room features an oversized quartz Island, the perfect gathering for family and friends. The island comfortably seats four.

There are three bedrooms and a full bath upstairs (one of the rooms is an office and not available for the swap). The master suite is on the first floor and includes a master bath with travertine floors, a jacuzzi tub, separate shower, and dual vanities. The master bedroom has a king-size bed. A sliding glass door leads from the master suite to the garden.

The garden is completely enclosed by fence, though the rear fence has been cut down to 3 feet to provide a view of the 4-acre open space--a veritable bird sanctuary in our backyard!

Other amenities include a laundry room, a brick patio at the front of the house, well maintained gardens that include a bearing lemon and fig tree. We have a year-round vegetable garden--and will try to time a harvest for your stay!

Our neighborhood was developed 20 years ago. Thanks to strong city controls, we have a neighborhood park just down the street, lovely walking paths throughout the neighborhood and all utility lines are underground. It is a safe, neighborhood with tree-lined streets and lots of open space within and at the edge of the neighborhood. Supermarket just a mile away. Costco and other box stores, about 3 miles away.

The city of San Luis Obispo (earning "the happiest place on earth" designation this past year!) is a small college town of about 45,000 with a vibrant downtown and a well known university (Cal Poly). We are about 4 miles south of downtown San Luis Obispo. It is wonderful pedestrian downtown with lots of shopping, restaurants and one of the historic California missions (containing an museum and a Catholic church). Thursday offers "Farmer's Market night," when the main street is closed to traffic and turned over to produce vendors, barbecue stands and entertainers.

The Central Coast California is known for its vineyards; we are at the northern edge of the Edna Valley, known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are over a dozen wineries within about a 6-mile radius. There is a wonderful links-style public golf course (Dairy Creek) about 10 miles north. (You're free to use a nice set of right-handed clubs!). Avila Beach and Pismo Beach are just a few miles away. Santa Barbara is about 2 hours drive south, Hearst Castle is an hour north. San Francisco is about a 4-hour drive. LA about 3 hours.
For at look at the town on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UnZtOQlH2w&annotation_id=annotation_300696&feature=iv#t=3s

We will take great care with your house and do all we can to insure a wonderful visit to San Luis Obispo.

High speed wireless internet is available throughout the house. We have 3 large flat screen HDTVs (master bedroom, family room and garage) with the full selection of Direct TV channels and blue-ray. In the garage we have a club-level spin cycle (set up for HDTV viewing!) and free weights. We also have a collection of road and comfort bicycles and a set of right-handed golf clubs.

Open to any dates

As long as Jim has in internet connection, we can travel anytime! Due to family connections, we can only consider destinations in California (Orange County and San Diego County).

Though we are also interested in other areas of the country, at least for the next year, family obligations make it difficult to venture beyond Southern California.

We are a happily married couple, originally from Massachusetts. We raised two children, now adults, who live in Southern California, pursuing degrees in the arts. Polly is now retired after a rewarding 25 year tenure at California State University, San Luis Obispo. Jim is self employed and now works from his office in our home. His company produces educational media for nursing school and hospitals. Because Jim owns his company, he has a great deal of flexibility.

Our son, Sean, age 25, is in the graduate program in Theatre at the University of California at Irvine (in Orange County, California). Our daughter, Julia, age 23, lives and works in San Diego, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Dance at California State University, San Diego. They both perform throughout the year and we visit them often. We have dates for most of their upcoming performances, but also like to visit them at other times, and can be flexible about those dates. We could stay anywhere from Orange County to San Diego.

English (UK)