Big Bertha's! Perfectly Equipped Forest Retreat!

Big Bertha's has all the ingredients of a beloved vacation home. It is comfortable, stylish, unique, well-appointed, and private yet conveniently located. Inside and out, Big Bertha's expertly combines convenience and comfort with playful cabin chic. Guests love the luxurious linens and special amenities at Big Bertha's!

Amenities include a bocce ball court, hot tub, gas grill, well-stocked kitchen, charming dining room writing desk, reading spots, games and books, smart TVs, high-speed internet, gas fireplace, and kids game room. Big Bertha's is equally equipped to accommodate families, groups of friends, couples, lovers, food lovers, wine lovers, writers, philosophers, morning people, evening people, middle-of-the-day people and, well, pretty much anyone!

Big Bertha's sits on a hillside and is two levels. From the driveway, two flights of stairs lead to the deck and front door. Just inside the front door is a quaint mudroom with hooks for coats, a spot for muddy shoes, and the washer/dryer.

Upstairs - The recently remodeled kitchen features stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry, and opens the dining area. The bar counter transitions smoothly to the dining area, where the dining table comfortably seats 8. Don’t miss the coffee station! A sliding door leads to the deck with a gas BBQ, picnic table, and (seasonal) folding Adirondack chairs. An open doorway from the dining area leads to the living room with extra features like a chess table and writing desk. A short hallway, accessible from both the living room and the kitchen, leads to two bedrooms (one with a queen bed and one with two twins) and a full bathroom (shower over tub).

Downstairs - A spiral staircase connects the upstairs living room and downstairs “suite.” Featuring a game room, with a double futon for additional sleeping space, smart TV with Netflix (no cable), a Foosball table, and a small master suite with a queen bed, and a small, yet full, bathroom with a shower. Sliding doors lead to a small lower deck with two (seasonal) Adirondack chairs - a great spot for a morning cuppa!

Outdoors - The main outdoor living areas are on the same level as the upper story of the house. In addition to the deck with gas BBQ, outdoor gas fireplace, and al fresco dining, there is a side yard with a bocce ball court and a back patio with a hot tub and outdoor shower.

Big Bertha's is named for the original owner, Bertha. She and her husband built the house in 1952. When walking though the hallway, notice the artwork, which are framed pieces of the original flooring found during the remodel.

Know Before You Book:

Maximum Occupancy and Quiet Hours: The maximum occupancy at Big Bertha's is 7 people not including kids under 3 years old. Quiet hours are from 9:00 pm until 7:00 am. Outdoor amplified sound is prohibited at all times.

A Note About Our Cleaning Fees: Thank you for supporting our local business! When you stay with us, you support local families at work. We think everyone deserves a decent living wage, and we make sure to set the rates and fees so that our cleaners earn a living wage in beautiful Sonoma County.

Parking: There is parking in the driveway for 3 vehicles. RVs, trailers, and campers are prohibited, per the Sonoma County Vacation Rental Ordinance.

Bed Sizes: Bedroom One (upstairs): Queen Bed; Bedroom Two (upstairs): Two Twin Beds; Bedroom Three (downstairs): Queen Bed; Futon in downstairs living area.

Heat Source: Central Heat and gas fireplace in the living room.

Cooling: The house does not have air conditioning, but the upstairs bedrooms each have a ceiling fan, and the downstairs bedroom naturally stays cooler. Being near the coast and under the redwoods, nighttime temperatures drop and opening some windows is usually enough to cool the house.

Kitchen: In addition to the usual appliances, Big Bertha’s kitchen includes a dishwasher, gas range, and lots of extras.

Bathrooms: Upstairs bathroom: shower over tub; downstairs bathroom: shower only. Both are accessible from hallways.

Location: Big Bertha's is in the Guerneville neighborhood of Guernewood Park - just west of downtown. It is a 5-minute walk to the Russian River and a 20-minute walk into town. There is a playground, tennis courts, neighborhood beach, and a restaurant all within a few minutes’ walk. It is a cozy residential neighborhood. It is a mix of permanent residents and vacation rentals, families, working folks, and visitors. To honor this balance, we ask guests to park only in the driveway and respect the quiet hours in addition to general family-friendly, residential neighborhood expectations. Thank you for helping to continue the tradition of a mutually beneficial relationship between vacation rentals and the local community!

Rural Setting and Critters: We live in a rural area with ants, spiders, rodents, and larger critters from raccoons and mountain lions to bears. While we make the best effort to protect against them from coming into homes, we also do not use poison as it can harm wildlife, pets, and children. We appreciate your help in putting tasty smelling items into refrigerators, proper disposal of trash, and understanding that ants (especially) come in without warning and may not have been present at the time of cleaning.

Road to Big Bertha’s: The road is narrow in spots - please heed the speed limit – and slow for pedestrians and pets.

Stairs: There are 22 stairs from the parking area to the front door. Inside, there is a single-story spiral staircase between the living room and lower level. Please look through the photos if stairs are a concern.

Pet Friendly: This home welcomes up to 2 well-mannered dogs. Due to insurance carrier guidelines the following dog breeds are restricted from being at this residence: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Stafford Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, any dog commonly known as a Pit Bull, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, attack or guard dog, fighting dog or dog bred for fighting, dog with a history of injuring other dogs, mixed with one of more of the breeds listed above, mixed with a wild animal (including by not limited to wolves), known or expected to be harmful/dangerous/injurious to others, and any canine with a prior history of causing “bodily injury.”

Fencing: The yard closest to the house is fenced – this includes the hot tub, BBQ, outdoor dining, Bocce Ball, and upper deck. The driveway, parking area, and lower deck are not.

Work from HERE: Big Bertha’s has a secretary-style writing desk in the living room with chair, outlet, house phone, and excellent light – a great spot to set up a laptop.
Advertised Wifi Speed: Xfinity Residential *Boosted.

TVs: The house is equipped with 2 smart TVs. While traditional cable TV is not provided on either television, guests can log into any of their personal streaming apps on the Smart TVs. On both TVs, the Samsung TV Plus app allows access to national and local news, as well as a variety of other TV programs. Each TV has a DVD/Blu-Ray player.

Landline Phone: Local calls only.

Downstairs Ceiling: The downstairs ceilings are 7'2", which is slightly lower than average.

Baby/Kid-Specific Items: A pack-n-play and foldable highchair are provided.

Outdoor Fireplace: The outdoor fireplace is converted with a gas insert, so you can enjoy a cozy spot under the redwoods and stars. Sonoma County prohibits wood-burning of all types outside at vacation rentals.

Driving Distances:
Proximity to wineries: Korbel Winery is 4.3 miles and an additional 5 minutes to Westside Road and dozens of renowned wineries.

Nearest River Beach: A few minutes by car or 0.3 mi by foot to Guernewood Park Neighborhood Beach. Johnson's Beach is a 1-ish mile walk/drive, and all around fabulous place to enjoy the river, rent boats, inner tubes, beach umbrellas, and grab a beer and bite to eat - when they are open for the season. Otherwise, you can wander the beach, but the boats and concession stand will not be available. Dogs are not allowed at Johnson's Beach when they are open for the season.

Nearest Ocean Beach: There are many ocean beaches along the Sonoma coast, but one of the closest is Goat Rock State Beach just south of Jenner - 12 miles from the house. One of the beaches at Goat Rock is dog friendly.

Distance to Downtown Guerneville: 1 mile
Northwood Golf Course: 2.5 miles
Distance to Santa Rosa Airport: approx. 16 miles

Sonoma County TOT #: 2094
Sonoma County Vacation Rental Permit #: ZPE14-0094
Sonoma County Vacation License #: LIC24-0343