Vacation rentals with a fireplace in Lake Merritt

Condo in Oakland

Lovely 1915 Duplex Apartment near Lake Merritt

Cozy up on the sofa in front of the gas fireplace after a day exploring sites around the Bay Area. This second-floor duplex apartment is spacious--1,700 sf--and features a newly remodeled bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. There are seven exterior steps leading to the front door and 16 interior steps from the foyer to the private apartment. The steps are wide with a sturdy handrail. You'll be only two blocks from Lake Merritt with three miles of walking/running paths, and an easy walk to restaurants, farmers market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and the historic Grand Lake Theater. The upstairs apartment is large and spacious. You will enter the front door and ascend the main staircase to your private apartment. The stairs are wide, but not steep, and have handrails. The master bedroom has a queen bed with a Tempur-Pedic mattress; we use scent-free, environmentally friendly detergents on all our linens. There is a second, smaller bedroom with a twin bed, desk, broadband WiFi access, and TV with cable, including HBO and Xfinity on-demand. The twin mattress is new. The newly remodeled bath is tiled with Carrera marble. The classic oversized tub with shower dates back to the home’s origin, but the other fixtures are new, consistent with the home’s traditional style. The fully equipped kitchen has new appliances. You’ll have everything you’ll need to prepare a simple meal or a more elaborate dinner. Speaking of dining, there’s a formal dining room and a smaller dining area in the living space for more casual meals. On chilly evenings, cozy-up on the sofa in front of the gas fireplace. The light-filled living room has large windows where you have a close-up view of chickadees feeding in the birch and maple trees. Like most Bay Area homes--especially older ones--we do not have central air conditioning. Oakland's average summer/fall temperatures range from a high of 69-74 degrees; lows 53-57 degrees. But sometimes we have a heat burst that goes into the 80s. We have a window air conditioner in the master bedroom. There are screened windows that can be opened in every room. The good news is that you can leave your umbrella at home most months -- summer/fall is our dry season! My husband, Gordon, and I live in the downstairs apartment just off the foyer. We have a friendly young Corgi, who’s not allowed in the second floor apartment in case you’re worried about allergies. He’s super friendly and a good watchdog, alerting us when someone comes to our door, but is mostly quiet the rest of the time. We have a new washer and dryer in the basement, which you can use. There is on-street parking and possible tandem parking for one car in our driveway. A 94 walk score combined with convenient access to Uber, Lyft, and public transportation make having a car optional. We’re a quiet couple who will respect your privacy. We’re glad to share advice about local restaurants, sights, and getting around. I’m a passionate cook (and cookbook collector), so if you need to borrow anything from my kitchen, just let me know. Gordon is equally passionate about cycling (and collecting bikes). We’ll be around during your stay, so if there are any problems (hopefully not!) we’re available to take care of them. We’ll stay out of your way, unless you need something. Our home is only two blocks from Lake Merritt, which is circled with a necklace of lights and three-plus miles of walking/running paths. Our Adams Point neighborhood is very walkable—casual, popular restaurants and coffee shops are just around the corner. It's also an easy stroll to Trader Joes, Whole Foods, the historic Grand Lake Theater, and much more. The easiest way to get to San Francisco is the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) that takes you to downtown San Francisco in about 20 minutes. (We often take Uber or Lyft to and from the BART station on 19th Ave in Uptown. Or you can walk 1.25 miles around the lake to the station.) The AC Transit bus stop is two blocks away. We are about a block to highway entrances for easy access to all major highways--it's an easy day trip to visit the wine country or Silicon Valley, as long as you avoid rush hour!

Aug 1 – 8

Condo in Berkeley

Classic Bright Modern Spacious 1bd/1ba Apartment

Quiet & spacious 960 sq ft modern, bright one-bedroom apartment with wireless high-speed internet. This private & newly renovated open floor plan & chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances is ideal for long stays. The apartment features a sunny deck off the kitchen and backyard for dining or relaxing. Centrally located in a tree-lined walkable neighborhood. UC Berkeley and BART in short distance. Drink your morning coffee on sun-drenched deck and at night cozy up by the indoor fireplace.

Tiny home in Oakland

Sun-drenched art-filled garden cottage in Dimond

Gorgeous, sun- and art-filled studio/cabin with kitchenette and bathroom, separate from main house. Set in a beautiful California version of a traditional French or English-style walled garden. Safe, friendly neighborhood. Enjoy the sounds of birds in your quiet, beauty-filled oasis. In backyard of large house also occasionally available. New queen-sized mattress. 2 adults maximum. 3rd person ok if small child only. Studio is too small for more people. Not a full kitchen.

Jul 28 – Aug 4