Walnut Grove, USA

*I will put a complete set of photos of the house up soon, and more of our second home too; am out of town right now. Also, we did many exchanges on Intervac in the 90's when the children were young. Just starting up again and are so excited.

In the Northern California countryside, this home on a 100 acre vineyard farm is perfect for a family retreat. It comes with 2 cars, a chef if you wish, and a large swimming pond with: canoe, 2 person kayak, two one person kayaks, tractor tire inner tubes (so fun), a large shady beach with a rustic kitchen,BBQ, and much seating...an absolutely dreamy place to while away the time. The home is surrounded by acres of lawn (the sprinklers are almost always running!) many trees for children to play and explore, and with much driveway... wonderful for walking, running and biking. Speaking of biking, there are miles and miles of country roads, most along rivers and sloughs. The area is rural agriculture, so the scenery is beautiful and very interesting, California being "America's Bread Basket", and the island on which we live, "Grand Island", an important part of it. A River runs through the nearby small town Walnut Grove (2 1/2 miles), the historic "Sacramento River" on which thousands thronged to "Gold Country" long ago during The Gold Rush in the 1840-50s. The old Gold Towns are about an hour away and very charming. *They are just off your drive to our second home on world-famous Lake Tahoe, which you are welcome to use (3 hours away, sleeps 13, 180 degree view of the lake, see a few photos on here). On the river that runs through Walnut Grove you can take the kayak, and 2 personal kayaks. The city of Sacramento, the Capital of California is just 30 minutes away. World famous Napa Valley wineries are an hour away, Berkeley and San Franciso 1 1/2, all have excellent restaurants, theater and more of course. Though our small nearby town of Walnut Grove, has most necessities, it doesn't have much more than that. Unless you enjoy "local dives" as we do. "Mansion Row" as it's affectionately called by locals, most built by our family generations ago, is worth seeing in this otherwise humble countryside of not-so-humble California. We love having it all within reach and know you will too!

The house has 6 bedrooms with 5 queens, and 6 [bunk] beds in the third floor Dormitory. The first floor has a small but full bathroom with tiny shower for convenient use when outdoors. The 2nd floor has two lovely full bathrooms with tub and showers, and the third floor has a small but full bathroom with small shower. Only one [smallish] TV, and it is in the master bedroom.

There is a lovely dining room table in the main part of the home that seats 13...but we all love to eat out at the beach with BBQs in the summer, swimming often going into the warm summer evenings, the sunsets exquisite most of the time. And the firepit is wonderful for s'mores! We have a semi-commercial attached kitchen with two refrigerators, and two wagons and large coolers for taking things to the beach (in addition to the family kitchen). This kitchen has a table that seats six and an attached small living room also. The large 900 sq ft main living room in the home is formal, not really appropriate for summer beach and sand and young children (requires much clean-up and care) though you may use it if you wish. Same for dining room table and kitchen, as we only have silver silverware (no stainless steel) and fine china. You may use it (but the silver stays locked in the silver cabinet as must the china, so its inconvenient as the stainless steel eating utensils are all out in the commercial kitchen, as well as normal plateware). The chef uses this kitchen if you have her. She's a big help if you need something. As is the gardener Monday - Friday, and the property manager Josh is always on call if any problems arise.

We have a second home which you are welcome to use (see several of the photos) on world-famous Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains, just 2 3/4 hours away. It sleeps 13 also, has 4 bedrooms (with 4 queens, four [bunk] beds, one twin) and two full bathrooms. The large deck has a 180 degree view of the lake, and there is a neighborhood white sand beach on the absolutely pristine lake. It is a humble house with a magnificent view. Trails abound, and especially Desolation Wilderness near the home beckons. Bikes are for rent nearby, a paved bike trail partially around the lake starts near the home.