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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day!

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A heated pool
Exterior
3 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
Smart TV, fireplace, books, offices
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Reviews
10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8232.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    PoolPool
  • Hot Tub
    Hot TubHot Tub
  • Fireplace
    FireplaceFireplace
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFiFree WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Escondido, CA
  • Popular LocationRady Children Hospital5 min drive
  • Popular LocationCalifornia Center For The Arts7 min drive
  • Popular LocationSan Diego Zoo Safari Park14 min drive
  • AirportSan Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)33 min drive

Most relevant reviews

ExperimentalCarousel

10/10 Excellent

We totally enjoyed our stay! The house was lovely, clean and comfortable. It is fully stocked. The neighborhood was safe...
Martha S.
Jan 15, 2024

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day!

California Dreamin', our HOME, is a contemporary 3 bed/3 bath lodge-like house able to easily accommodate a maximum of 8 guests. Guests have EXCLUSIVE access to the entire resort property - 2,500 sq.ft. house, 3/4 acre garden and grounds, salt water pool, spa, firepit, yard, orange trees and bowls court. It's ALL yours!

The house is spacious yet comfortable, with plenty of natural light. It is tastefully furnished, boasts a large gourmet kitchen, Smart TVs and a natural gas fireplace in the living room. We have beautiful mountain and sunset views, and are in a prime space for stargazing as the neighborhood is very void of light pollution. The home is just blocks from Lake Hodges, where you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, fishing, bird watching, and picnicking.

All bedrooms have their own bathrooms. We provide luxurious bamboo bedding for a refreshing night of sleep. The master suite is extremely spacious with vaulted ceilings, a chaise lounge, a large walk-in closet, an ensuite bathroom with an over-sized soaking tub, and an additional, separated side office room. It also has its own door to the outdoors.

There is on-site parking for at least 6 cars.

THE LOCATION
We are close to Lake Hodges, the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, and a scenic 20 minute drive to the coast. We are just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego and the airport. We are also within driving distance of the world-famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, LegoLand, the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds, the Carlsbad Flower Fields, the La Jolla cove, and more.

SUE & PETER
This home is our labor of love and 28 years in the making. Sue & I raised our two daughters here and in 2015 finally finished the renovations. We transformed it into the contemporary home we envisioned when we bought the property in 1993, yet it maintains the charm of a home well lived in and loved! Despite being in a semi-desert locale, we created an oasis - nestled among a colorful, mature, natural and green habitat. The "back 40" is a fun place for the kids to explore, grab an orange, or say hello to the neighbor's horses!

GUEST HOUSE
The front Guest House has been occupied by one tenant since 1998. They have their own parking space, separate access to the Guest House and their own private outdoor area. They do not have access to the pool, spa, firepit, bbq, lawn bowls, etc. while you are at the property.

Property manager

Peter Ritchie

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach sun loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Heated pool
  • Fence around the pool
  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Spices
  • Ice maker
  • Coffee grinder

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Towels provided
  • Shampoo

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Fenced yard
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Work spaces

  • Office
  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Local meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • On the lake
  • In the mountains
  • In a rural location
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo

Things to do

  • Water sports equipment
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golf privileges
  • Kayak on site
  • Tennis on site
  • Golfing on site
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 2500 sq ft (232.3 sq m)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

San Diego Family Retreat . . . Book NOW FOR Summer 2019!
California Dreamin' . . . On Such a Winters Day! Escondido

About the neighborhood

Escondido

Located in Escondido, this vacation home is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Moonlight State Beach and popular attractions include San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Del Mar Fairgrounds. Traveling with kids? Consider Queen Califa's Magical Circle and A Balloon or Biplane Adventure by California Dreamin'. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Visit our Escondido travel guideOpens in a new window
View more Vacation Homes in EscondidoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Rady Children Hospital - 5 min drive
  • California Center For The Arts - 7 min drive
  • Stone Brewing - 8 min drive
  • Palomar Medical Center - 8 min drive
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park - 14 min drive

Getting around

  • San Diego Coaster Sorrento Valley Station - 24 min drive
  • Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Cheesecake Factory - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Red Robin Gourmet Burgers - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Westfield North County Fair Food Court - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day!?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day! located?

This family-friendly Escondido vacation home is located by the sea, within 3 mi (5 km) of Rady Children Hospital, Queen Califa's Magical Circle and Lake Hodges Pedestrian Bridge. Grape Day Park and The Vineyard at Escondido are also within 6 mi (10 km).

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' . . . On Such a Winter's Day! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 150 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 156 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 156 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Family vacation
Great house for a family vacation!We were joined by our adult children , and visited by extended family. Loved the hot tub and pool!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kathy F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise!
This property was absolutely perfect for our vacation! So much to do, we enjoyed the pool, jacuzzi and lawn bowling. It’s close to the Safari park, shopping and great restaurants. Peter is a very responsive host. We will definitely be returning! Thank you!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joseph M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Time
Better than expected. The place will was better than expected.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Home
We totally enjoyed our stay! The house was lovely, clean and comfortable. It is fully stocked. The neighborhood was safe. The landscaping around the pool is beautiful as are the views from the house. We enjoyed picking oranges for breakfast an added bonus for sure. Communication with the property manager was spot on. If in the area again we would definitely rent again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pauline H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice Property
It's a nice clean property nested in a good neighborhood but a little far way from airport and attractions.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marianne S.

Liked: Cleanliness
California Dreaming
Thank you we enjoyed our stay
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Holly K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Christmas Trip
We came on a family Christmas trip and the house was very nice. The location was close to stores and restaurants. The house was comfortable and had everything you need. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Blair M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house in the mountains!!
We had an amazing stay! The house was impeccable, fully stocked, and clean. It was a great setup for our family traveling with grandparents with two king bedrooms. We had the pleasure of briefly meeting the owners, who were so kind. Highlights: the pool and hot tub, the beautiful views, and the orange trees Will be back again!!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Escondido
We had a great time with family and your place was perfect. Couldn’t ask for better weather and accommodation. I come about every 2 years and will look u up again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tiziana B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great, Comfortable Home
We stayed here for my husband's 50th birthday. The home was clean and comfortable. It was close to everything and the pool and hot tub were great after a long day of walking. Would definitely recommend and stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sonia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Home away from Home!
Wonderful property and wonderful host! Loved the location. We had a great time in the beautiful yard. We enjoyed playing lawn bowling, that was a lot of fun. The pool is beautiful and clean. Fresh oranges from the trees were delicious. Would highly recommend this property. Looking forward to staying again next year. Thanks Taylor for the quick responses!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laurie S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
We absolutely loved the house and the area!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Thank You!
The yard is the biggest wow factor. The privacy, the beautiful landscaping and of coarse the pool! We live in a small unincorporated town in AZ and truly enjoyed celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary by floating in your pool for a week. Thank You!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tanya E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property
The property and pool area was beautiful and clean. House was clean and had everything we needed. The property manager was very helpful and fast to respond. Having so many oranges for fresh orange juice was great. My two sons (3 and 5) loved this place because of the pool and playground. The yard is fenced in and the doors all have top locks so we felt safe letting the littles run. Thank you so much for the wonderful stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

The Pattisons' H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Exactly as described
The whole family loved it.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable stay
Beautiful stay for our family of two with kids. Lots of space and comfortable beds. The only suggestions would be to have some pool dishes and side tables. The pool was a blast for the kids and adults! Thank you for letting us enjoy your beautiful home.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Love our California vacation!
Wonderful!¡!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent Property for All Your Needs
Me and my family (3 sets of adult couples) really enjoyed this property. It is conveniently located next to many local restaurants and a three-story shopping mall. It is also only 30 minutes from San Diego. As for the property itself, flawless! The hot tub was perfect after our long days. It is large enough for 6 or 7 people, 8 if you don’t mind a tighter fit. The landscaping and layout of the property itself makes you feel more secluded and private. The house was stocked with many items and was very clean. It was great having a separate bathroom inside each bedroom. Please note that the quiet hours after 10PM are strictly enforced (understandably), and that there is a property manager on site (in a small studio like apartment/home). This didn’t bother us. The property owner was always available to help us out, and when we ran into a problem with the hot tub, he sent someone out immediately to fix the issue. Overall, I would definitely recommend staying at this property if you are looking to visit the San Diego/Escondido area
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Don O., New Richmond, WI

Liked: Cleanliness
Roomy Retreat !
Very comfy large updated house and lovely grounds. Hot tub was great. Glitches with 2 TVs & furnace. Friendly owner. Good descriptions of local amenities. Easy shopping location. Definitely stay again. Wonderful oranges!
Stayed 15 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful spot for a family!
We had such a nice stay at this house, they had everything we needed and more. The owner and the property manager were kind, helpful, and available if we needed anything. The house and grounds are exactly as beautiful as they’re pictured, and perfect for our family (with kids ages 3 and 6) plus the grandparents to share while we visited for a family wedding. I hope we can come back and stay again someday!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris M., Lakewood, Colorado

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely and Convenient for family time
We stayed for 4 nights recently at this property and were pleasantly surprised by how large the home was. We only had the four of us but the home could easily be comfortable for a couple smaller families or families with small kids. The outdoor area was really nice and everything was in fantastic shape. The location was convenient to attractions in San Diego, close enough to the beach, and Escondido had anything you could need. We loved the outdoor area, especially the pool and hot tub and played the lawn bowling quite a bit too. Would definitely stay here again if we were visiting the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

David P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Dreamin' of going back
Everyone in our party loved this fabulous house and the beautiful spacious grounds. The entertainment area outside near the heated pool had very comfortable patio furnishings and a great firepit as well. The lawn bowling game was challenging yet so much fun. The grounds also had a few orange trees that produced the most amazing fresh squeezed juice. The house itself had very comfortable living room, dining and bedroom furniture with modern kitchen appliances, but most importantly was beyond clean. The property manager Taylor is doing a great job as not only was the house spotless, and well-stocked with supplies for our daily needs, but she was also very responsive to any questions we had before and during our stay. Until our next visit, we will be dreaming of another trip to California Dreamin'.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Markus B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wished we could have stayed longer!
Simply: Thanks a lot! This property was perfect for us, as a familiy of 6 including teenage kids. The pool was amazing, the house was clean and well equipped. The location itself, not too far away from San Diego but with everything you need nearby, worked perfectly for us. Thanks to Taylor and Peter for making this a nice summer time for us!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Crystal P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best time with new grand baby
We so enjoyed our stay at your beautiful home It was the best stocked VRBO we have ever stayed at. We loved the oranges and the blackberries and tomatoes growing on site. The pool was refreshing and relaxing. We would love to return B Makooi and C Punch
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Janet H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Property - just perfect
This lovely house and gardens was just right for our wedding stay. It was so spacious, (with parking space galore) and had plenty of room for all the wedding party to get ready the morning of, relaxing until it was their turn for hair and makeup. So glad there was an iron and ironing board for the dresses, since the steamers didn't work so well. We made use of the beautiful pool area for reading and hanging out. Loved the view! The beds are comfy, and there are 3 bathrooms - just great. Loved the mini-orchard in the back yard. We really enjoyed our stay, and highly recommend this property!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022