If you love the experience of getting away while remaining conveniently close to a major metropolitan area, La Grande Maison is your ideal retreat. Nestled within the stunning landscapes of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this charming getaway offers a serene home base with breathtaking views and reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi—all just a quick 25-minute drive from SF. It’s a rare combination that blends tranquility with accessibility, making it an exceptional choice for your next escape.<br /><br /><b>The space</b><br />You’ll love taking short walks across the street to the breathtaking Muir Beach Overlook, where you can witness stunning sunsets over the sparkling blue Pacific. Alternatively, enjoy leisurely strolls through the majestic giant redwoods of world-famous Muir Woods, just three miles away. If you’re a wine enthusiast, the picturesque wine regions of Napa and Sonoma Counties are only an hour and a half drive up the road. Your host, a former resident of Sonoma County, is ready to share insider tips on the best wineries in the area. As one of our guests beautifully put it, "It's like staying at Lake Tahoe, but without the drive.<br /><br />Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen<br />The gourmet chef's kitchen is fully equipped and ready for you and your family or friends to create unforgettable meals together. Featuring double electric ovens and a five-burner gas cooktop, this culinary haven boasts stunning full-slab Brazilian granite countertops, custom-built maple cabinetry, and high-end fill and spot lighting. With a modern refrigerator/freezer, a dishwasher, and an extra-large deep double sink, every detail has been thoughtfully designed for your convenience.<br /><br />As you prepare delicious dishes, your guests can gather at the elegant granite bar, sipping wine and engaging in lively conversation, making the kitchen the heart of your culinary experience. <br /><br />The Great Room<br />The Great Room stretches the entire length of the house, offering an expansive sanctuary for relaxation and family connection. An inviting open floor plan centers around an elegant arched wood-burning fireplace, complemented by rich oak hardwood floors reclaimed from a historic church, each plank whispering stories of its past.<br /><br />The entire back wall transforms into a stunning panorama of sliding glass doors and windows, seamlessly connecting indoor comfort with the breathtaking landscape beyond. From this vantage point, you'll be treated to sweeping views of majestic Mt. Tamalpais and the lush valley that leads to Muir Woods, bringing the natural world directly into your living space.<br /><br />At one end, a full wall of custom maple bookshelf cabinetry creates a sophisticated backdrop for the children's dedicated play area—a thoughtful design that allows young imaginations to flourish while maintaining the room's elegant aesthetic. The opposite end features a charming maple farmhouse dining table, positioned to capture the same extraordinary views, creating an inviting space for family meals and gatherings.<br /><br />This Great Room isn't just a space—it's the heart of the home, where every architectural detail and design choice celebrates family, comfort, and the stunning natural beauty that surrounds it.<br /><br />The Master Bedroom Suite<br />Experience ultimate relaxation in the Master Bedroom Suite, featuring soaring 30-foot vaulted ceilings and double-opening skylights. A cozy sitting area with a desk invites you to unwind with a good book or catch up on work, while the luxurious California King bed, complete with dual-control mattress pad warmers, ensures a restful night's sleep.<br /><br />For families traveling with a baby, the spacious walk-in closet conveniently doubles as a nursery, equipped with a crib, rocking chair, and a foldable travel crib. We warmly welcome children; however, please note that the house is not childproof.<br /><br />When you need a tranquil space to concentrate, the built-in loft office provides an ideal retreat. This serene and private workspace is perfect for one or two individuals, featuring a stylish desk with two chairs, a whiteboard for brainstorming ideas, and a cozy torch-style floor lamp to create a warm ambiance. Whether you're tackling important projects or enjoying quiet reflection, this loft office is designed to inspire productivity and creativity. <br /><br />The Master En Suite Bathroom<br />Indulge in the roomy master bathroom, featuring a custom vanity with a stylish top bowl sink and a fully enclosed glass shower. Enjoy the luxury of double-opening skylights that brighten the space, along with a towel warmer and elegant travertine tile throughout.<br /><br />The Family Room<br />Relax in our spacious family room, where comfort meets entertainment. Sink into the large leather sofa as you enjoy streaming your favorite shows and movies from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, The Disney Channel, ESPN+, PBS, and YouTube on the 52" high-definition Samsung TV or through our high-definition over-the-air antenna. This version enhances clarity and engagement while emphasizing the luxurious and welcoming aspects of each space.<br /><br />The Second Floor Bedrooms<br />The second floor is a haven of comfort and style, featuring two spacious bedrooms connected by an elegant loft hallway. Both rooms boast internal windows that offer captivating views of the great room below, creating a sense of openness and connection throughout the home.<br /><br />In one bedroom, you'll find a luxurious California King bed equipped with dual-control mattress pad warmers, ensuring a perfect night's sleep tailored to individual preferences. A laptop-friendly desk provides an ideal space for remote work, while the room's windows frame stunning views of majestic Mt. Tamalpais, bringing nature's beauty right to your doorstep.<br /><br />The second bedroom offers equal comfort with a sumptuous pillow-top queen bed, also featuring dual-control mattress pad warmers for personalized comfort. Another thoughtfully placed laptop-friendly desk makes this room equally suitable for work or relaxation.<br /><br />Both bedrooms blend functionality with luxury, providing serene retreats that cater to both rest and productivity. The loft hallway connecting these rooms adds an extra layer of architectural interest, offering yet another vantage point to admire the great room's grandeur.<br /><br />The Second Floor Bathroom<br />Step into a sanctuary of elegance with our grand full bathroom. A custom maple vanity anchors the space, featuring double sinks with gleaming brushed nickel hardware. Expansive mirrors reflect light, creating an airy atmosphere that leads to an extra-large soaking tub/shower, elegantly enclosed in pristine glass—a perfect retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.<br /><br />The Third Level Crow's Nest<br />Our guests often describe the Crow's Nest as an enchanting adult-sized playhouse that sparks imagination and wonder. This charming two-level room offers a unique sleeping experience that feels both whimsical and intimate. The lower level features a cozy single bed, while the loft—inspired by traditional Japanese sleeping arrangements—offers a super-comfortable foam-topped single mattress nestled directly on the floor, creating a cocoon-like sanctuary that invites peaceful slumber.<br /><br />The Basement<br />Practicality meets convenience in our thoughtfully designed basement. A front-loading washer and dryer, complete with a convenient folding table, ensure you can easily take care of any laundry needs during your stay. For wine enthusiasts, a built-in wine cellar stands ready to safely store up to 25 bottles, maintaining a perfectly consistent temperature to preserve your favorite vintages. <br /><br />Wifi<br />For staying in contact during your stay our blazing fast and stable wireless wifi makes Le Grand Maison a perfect spot to get away and work remotely or just treat yourself and your family to a wonderful staycation or vacation. <br /><br />Wedding?<br />We’ve hosted several weddings at La Grande Maison. Additionally, The Muir Beach Overlook with its sweeping ocean views is just a few steps across the street and is a perfect place for a wedding. Finally, the Pelican Inn hosts many weddings as does Slide Ranch, both of which are within a 5-10 minute drive from the house.<br /><br />Hiking<br />If you like hiking, the Owl Trail starts literally across the street from the house and runs north from the Muir Beach Overlook through dense chaparral with rangy views of the coast down to Slide Ranch. Look for seabirds perched off shore, and owls in cypress trees along the trail. No need to drive to get to a wonderful hike. There are also a number of additional hiking trails in the Muir Beach area<br /><br />Muir Beach<br />The beach is a 5 minute drive down the hill, but if you’re feeling like a challenge it’s about a 20-25 minute walk down the hill. Going down is the easy part while coming back entails a pretty good climb.<br /><br />The Decks<br />The extensive decks on the back and side of the house provide outstanding views of Mt. Tamalpais and surrounding hills and valley. You’ll find a playhouse to keep the kids entertained, and enough places to sit to be able to enjoy great conversation and mesmerizing views. A six burner gas grill is ready for grilling up some great meals.<br /><br />Climate<br />Living on the Pacific Coast means that we have a moderate climate for most of the year. There are usually only a handful of days during the year when it’s hot enough that air conditioning would be useful. As such, we don’t have air conditioning nor do the majority of homes in Muir Beach.<br /><br />Dinner Parties<br />When we say no parties or events we mean that we don't want people renting the house solely for the purpose of throwing a big party. However, small get togethers such as inviting friends over for a dinner party or a small engagement party are perfectly fine, with a maximum of 15 people total including our guests.<br /><br />Number of Guests<br />We limit the number of adult guests to 8, but allow up to 2 infants or children under the age of six.<br /><br />Living on a Hillside<br />Since we live on a hillside, there are 17 steps to get down to the house from street level. There is a photo of the steps in the photo section. It's not difficult to get down or back up as we have a solid railing for guests to hold onto if they need that support. FYI for the elderly in your party.<br /><br /><b>Guest access</b><br />The entire home is yours.<br /><br /><b>Other things to note</b><br />Deb and I live in an apartment in the former garage, which is a completely separate structure on the premises. We respect your privacy (and our own) and leave you to yourselves to enjoy this wonderful place. Our guests have their own separate, private entrance to the property. <br /><br />Hiking Along the Owl Trail - To Slide Ranch<br />The Owl Trail, a 2.1 mile round trip starts across the street from our house at the Muir Beach Overlook. It's named for great horned owls that roost in the area's cypress trees, runs north from the overlook on high bluffs to Slide Ranch, where it splits for North Beach and South Beach.<br /><br />North Beach is small, turbulent and private with large sea stacks just off shore. South Beach is more accessible, with biologically rich tide pools and abundant wildflowers along its bluffs.<br /><br />Elect South Beach at low tide and during peak blooms, and North Beach for a more rugged and secluded experience:<br /><br />Slide Ranch was founded in 1970, a non-profit environmental education center located on an historic dairy farm within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.<br /><br />Its mission is to teach visitors about the impact our choices have on food, health, and the environment through hands on activities and independent exploration of the farm and surrounding coastal lands. Slide Ranch offers day and overnight educational programs for all ages.<br /><br />Whale Watching from Muir Beach Overlook<br />Visit Muir Beach from January through April to see hundreds of gray whales migrating past The Overlook across the street from our house or down at Muir Beach as they make their way from the Arctic to Baja. Humpback whales also might be seen moving in pods of seven or 10 from November through March. The rest of the year – summer and fall – visitors can visit the Farallon Islands, where humpbacks, blue whales, sperm whales and orcas feed.<br /><br />Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000-mile/9,656-km journey between Alaska and Mexico—and then back again. These whales travel from feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to mating and breeding lagoons along Baja California in Mexico. It’s one of the most amazing wildlife migrations on the planet, and also relatively easy for humans to witness. In some locations, you can see whales spouting, breaching, and fluking from ocean bluffs, especially if you have binoculars. While gray whales get the spotlight along the California coast, other cetaceans—including orcas, humpbacks, porpoises, dolphins, and gigantic blue whales—ply the waters at different times of year, bumping up your chances of seeing something amazing out there in the sea.