Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California
Light, open, soulful home residing on a beautiful large land outside neighborhoods with trees, sunshine, birds, wild life, gorgeous views, outside clawfood bathtub, exclusive privacy. A "far away" retreat a mere 10 minutes to downtown Santa Barbara. Rest, recalibrate, renew. Be. Happy!
Pure magical land and well loved home off private drive. Extremely serene, quiet setting with peaceful gorgeous energy, green growing things and fine air. This magical home resides on a larger 11 acre property graced with oak, pepper, sycamore and walnut trees is surrounded by horse trails, more land and national forest. Santa Barbara is stunning ALL year round! The incredible thing about this place is that it's a mere 2 miles to shopping malls, Whole Foods and restaurants (5 minutes) and 10 minutes to just about anywhere downtown Santa Barbara. We're also 30 minutes from the wine country... Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and Solvang. The land is unique because it feels like you're very remote and off the grid out in nature (which you are) but then it's just minutes to get anywhere in Santa Barbara. Very find rare to find such a spot with so much surrounding private serene land!
Bringing people into nature is a total love and passion of mine. It would be an honor getting to have you part of the unfolding story of this sacred land.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in staying, I always like to connect by phone for a brief soulful hello, answer questions and make sure it's all feeling in alignment. Love this exchange to feel human and from the heart. And I want people getting just what they need, wherever that may be... so ya, let's talk! In order to do this though as the site is a little tricky, please send your coordinates and we so as to be sure the offering is the right fit for you. Want you landing in the right place wherever that might be!
More on the space. The house has it's own private gated entrance and parking and a large fence at the back, so it's very private. The layout is very open and light with modern living room/kitchen, mountain views and a wood back deck with a wonderful claw footed bath tub. Soulful and homey with epic views of the mountains.
The open door ways expand out to the land which becomes an extension of the living space. The birds that land on the outside fountain are amazing.. birds of every kind.. sparrows, humming birds, blue scrub jays.. there's the sound of red tail hawks, crows, laying chickens (fresh eggs for you!) and neighboring horses. The sun is supreme here, the air quality medicinal and the weather has a habit of being a perfectly kind 73 degrees and sunny. Hang out by day or by moon with the countless places to dwell.
There is a true home feeling here... soulful with wood floors, a two headed hand tiled shower, organic California king mattress, claw foot bath tub off the back deck outside, a chef's kitchen and other good things you'd want in a dwelling, not to mention an UPRIGHT ACOUSTIC PIANO in the bedroom!
Wireless internet yes. Cell phones usually work great though you might need to find the sweet spots.
OTHER OFFERINGS: I have chickens who are fed very well laying all organic epic EGGS! When they are laying you may occasionally be graced by the best eggs you can get anywhere.
p..s.s. as this is a nature connection offering, to understand the full range of the ecosystem. Birds cannot exist without insects, growing things cannot exist without Earth. As I long for you to get exactly what you need, please be sure you are one who can welcome nature as a whole understanding this before you book. While we do everything in our power to remove daddy long legs and certainly the space is CLEAN, still the occasional spider or moth can enter the spaces especially with doors open (i DO recommend doors open!). And to understand it is benign and safe here to do so. IF you prefer a sterile hotel room, do go that route. Nature connection is not for everyone and I want you happy wherever you land!
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This is a retreat offering.. a place to unravel, renew, reorganize. Though community is a lovely thing, this is not the time or place to invite guests
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Santa Barbara
Located in Santa Barbara, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and Arlington Theater are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Golf Club. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Earl Warren Showgrounds or Santa Barbara Bowl. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 13 min drive - 12.4 km
Santa Barbara Harbor - 13 min drive - 13.5 km
Santa Barbara Bowl - 17 min drive - 14.3 km
Getting around
Carpinteria Station - 24 min drive
Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 27 min drive
Restaurants
In-N-Out Burger - 10 min drive
McDonald's - 8 min drive
Starbucks - 10 min drive
Kin Bakeshop - 10 min drive
Lighthouse Coffee - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 5 total).
How much does it cost to stay at Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California?
As of 7 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California on 8 April 2026 start from NZ$329, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Serene Magic Retreat Home on Large Nature Preserve in Santa Barbara, California located?
Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, this holiday home is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Kiwanis Meadows and 3.1 mi (5 km) from Upper State Street. La Cumbre Plaza and Santa Barbara Golf Club are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Private, Quiet but only 10 minutes to Santa Barbara
The house is perfect for a couple, with a nice-sized master bedroom, kitchen, living room and bath. It's rustic and homey, but clean; and the owner is very accommodating.
It's very quiet and secluded, with birds bathing in the fountain in front of the house, and various paths to walk. There's a short hike to the top of a hill, also on the property, where you can relax and take in view of the surrounding hills and the ocean. We would stay here again.
We were looking for a comfortable, quiet, and secluded getaway place for a couple of days away from LA (and honestly, away from Santa Barbara proper too), and this place was just right. It felt like a hundred miles away from everywhere. (No mobile service helps!). Very comfortable inside and around the property. Highly recommend. Jennifer T was very friendly and welcoming.
sidney m.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Porter D.
11 October 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Not Quite What It Seemed
The property manager was very responsive and provided good directions for getting to the property.
The property overall is really pretty.
A thorough cleaning before guests arrive would have been great (e.g., the freezer was stocked full of frozen things and there was used food in the refrigerator which is a health hazard, the pulls on the cabinets were sticky, etc.).
The electricity was touchy and the wifi worked intermittently. Many of the amenities were not working on our arrival and some, not all, were fixed the following day. The rest were fixed on the 2nd day.
It’s not super quiet or super private as we found people looking into the windows at various times and parties starting pretty early in the morning.
If you enjoy glamping, you will definitely enjoy this.
Porter D.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 25 October 2021
Dear Porter.. thank you for your thoughtful feedback. The broken appliances and spotty electric etc.. was due to the Edison grave error when they replaced the power poles on the land incorrectly.. which while I alerted you to, it was still an inconvenience and for this I'm very sorry. I did my very best to have everything replaced and repaired but it was out of my hands given that the repairs and replacement of appliances could not be addressed immediately given the nature of what it takes to bring these things together. Also when the repair people/ electrician came when you were out, we must've missed the timing with cleaning the floors where they walked? Otherwise, while this is not a new hotel room, it's cleaned with great care each and every time.. so i'm a little at a loss what was not up to par in your opinion in the way other than a little dust on the floor?. Parites DO NOT happen here, though the repair people, Edison, Electrician and appliaance people came to do their assessments. Tricky for me to strike that balance of coming through with my promise to you while staying clear out of the space. And ketchup and such in the fridge is part of the offering, so while I understand if you don't choose to use these items, most guests expect to have the basics here. In short, I"m sorry it couldn't be the most it could be. It's always my aim to do all I can to make a visit amazing for people who visit this special land. Thank you for your feedback Porter!
This peaceful and quiet oasis gave us the opportunity to become reunited with nature. It was a wonderful place to practice mindfulness and get reconnected. We stayed on the property often for meals, bird watching and to watch the sunrise and sunset. If you are a road biker it is a great launching pad for great climbs. If you are a runner you have a 10 minute drive to the beach. It is a short distance to wine country and restaurants in Santa Barbara. Both my husband and I would highly recommend this retreat.
Beth L.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Ah.. my total heart pleasure getting to host you two dearest Beth. Thank you again for the grace of your visit!!
Pleasant hideaway in the hills just outside Santa Barbara. Close to everything, but secluded enough to feel like a private get away. 10/10 would rent again.
Michael C.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Christopher V.
13 October 2015
Unique and special! Loved it!
My wife and I only had one night to get away and we could not have enjoyed this place more. Jennifer was warm and inviting, the house was cute and cozy and the was land was just plain beautiful. We brought some food up with us and once we parked, never thought about going anywhere. The best part of the stay is sort of intangible, just a sense of serenity and calm that is wonderful and refreshing.
We happened to luck into a performance Jennifer gave in her barn that night, which is really more of a very cool loft space. Beautiful music and again, just a unique wonderful experience.
Rounded out the night in the hot tub under the stars. All-in-all our one night felt like a real getaway, because of how removed and peaceful it is. Very much hope to return for a longer stay!
Christopher V.
Archival
8/10 Good
Cecily D.
8 August 2015
Renewing Retreat
Once we settled in we could totally relax, the cottage is quirky and artsy with paintings a piano and cute photos of the owners kiddos. We love to cook and there were plenty of cooking utensils and supplies. The shower was one of the highlights, it's all tile with enough room for two. The landscaping was gorgeous with lemon trees and flowers. Even though the owners barn is about 40 yards away we never felt intruded soon. It is a beautiful property were you can unwind and get reacquainted with your partner or yourself. :)
Cecily D.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
13 July 2015
Lovely, secluded and charming as heck.
Exceeded expectations across the board. Friendly chickens (in a coop, not just pecking at your ankles), haunted pianos, giant swimming hole style pool, tubs and trampolines! It's a bit of paradise. The energy here is so chill and wonderful. Jennifer will make you feel immediately like you've been friends for years. I dare you to stay there and think about a single one of your troubles. You won't be able to do it. Can't wait to be back there!
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Was SUCH a pleasure having Jamie and his awesome girlfriend visit my home and land. They brought the best energy in and really fun to get to hang out with them a bit at the pool. (Good deep laughs. Thanks for that Jamie!) Just great guests.. Clean, respectful, communication spot on... Would highly recommend these stellar human beings as guests.
I'm a sounder of music, spinner of words, musician/ recording artist passionate about nature, being in the moment, local organic food, running, yoga, biking, meditation and being a mom.. It's my total passion and joy to share this land with guests, creating an inspiring environment for people to reconnect with each other and nature... get back to the basics of being alive!
Why they chose this property
This property is unique for it's off the grid spaciousness (we're on 11 acres!!!) surrounded by properties with greater acreage and national forest. It's a stunning natural land and a HOME- the combination of which allows one's nervous system to truly RELAX. Ahhhh! I treat this place as a nature preserve for visitors to experience. YET we are only a few minutes from the wonderful city of Santa Barbara... rich in culture, entertainment, art, great food, Santa Ynez wine country, (which is another world in itself!), mountain trails and beaches both private and local. This place is basically in the center and has the best of all worlds at the tip of your finger tips. But the truth is, it's so beautiful and relaxing here.... many just choose to bring their food and never leave the land!
What makes this property unique
Here you are coming into a well loved home with a host who is passionate about creating the most magical soulful experience for guests, which is a VERY different energetic experience than what any hotel or resort could offer. All income from sharing this space with the good folks who come, go right back into beautifying and nurturing the property.. Very welcoming, soulful, spacious and private.