Welcome to The Big View House - The name says it all!
This 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2-story private house is situated in an amazing setting right on the wild & scenic Kern River with unobstructed and commanding views of your own riverscape and rugged mountains beyond from every room.
The main floor offers a master bedroom with a queen bed and en suite full bathroom with a walk-in shower. The 2nd bedroom has a queen bed with a full guest bathroom with a bathtub/shower directly across the hallway. Both upstairs bedrooms lead out onto a beautiful mountain river view balcony. A well-stocked full kitchen, laundry, dining table area and inviting living room with a rugged stone wood-burning fireplace complete the upstairs floor. There is an interior staircase that connects the floors. A door separates the floors if needed.
Downstairs has its own keypad entry door from the outside. You'll have a second living room with its own wood-burning fireplace, a 3rd queen bedroom, a large kitchenette & a full bathroom with a walk-in shower. This space also has a 4th queen sofa bed in the adjoining fireplace room. This room has its own outdoor access through a sliding glass door and is separated from the bedroom by a short hallway with a privacy curtain.
Each upstairs bathroom looks out to a beautiful, private & lush plant atrium. We use local wood on the walls and local river stone on the fireplaces. Our home was designed to bring the elements of the landscape into the space to create a peaceful, natural experience.
Your private escape provides comfortable, thoughtfully designed spaces and modern conveniences - vintage artwork, favorite books/games, a record player with classic vinyl, Bluetooth speakers, binoculars, lanterns, river life jackets, outdoor blankets/towels, yoga mats, cozy furniture, and best of all - plenty of room for family and friends.
Outside, the cooling river refreshes the landscape as it passes by, surrounding you with the calming sounds and scents of the southern Sierras. In the landscape, you'll find native plant-filled terraces, seating areas, a generous hammock, and mature shade trees. The large patio includes a dining area with propane BBQ (propane provided) and wood-burning chiminea (firewood bundles for purchase at the house). Lounge on the deck or under the shade of a dogwood tree and watch the river go by.
The entire property is fenced from front to backyard with lockable gates. Past the backyard fence is a quaint, historical river water canal that is crossed by a short footbridge with security handrails. After the bridge crossing is the river's edge concrete patio with lounge chairs & a picnic table. This patio area has a metal handrail only, no fence. There is a natural boulder path with a handrail down to the river water. You must be sure-footed to access the water. There is a very nice swimming area at the house depending on the season & weather - please ask us about what to expect during your stay :)
Bring your bikes and ride the short mile to downtown – or a walk there in 15 minutes- where you can get your morning coffee and have a look around. Go for a run or nature walk to Bull Run Creek at nearby Whiskey Flat Trail right down the street, hike in the Sequoia National Forest, visit the Giant Redwoods at the Trail of 100 Giants or meander through the Kern Audubon Preserve, mountain bike, fly-fish the North Fork of the Kern for famous wild trout, try a kayak lesson, a raft trip – or head to Isabella Lake for paddle boarding - the area is filled with endless activities for the adventurer of any age. Kids can have some fun at Riverside Park playground downtown. Or just throw a fishing line in the Kern in the backyard - it's actually a great trout fishing spot!
As the sun sets, watch the rugged eastern mountain ranges light up. When night comes on, you can settle in with a book from our curated library, or a board game in front of one of the two fireplaces on chilly evenings. When you're ready for bed, you'll fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the river.
In town, there are plenty of options for lunch, dinner or some antique browsing. Explore everything the incredibly diverse area has to offer, or just stay around the house - ample space abounds inside and out, and at night the sky is yours to look upon.
All access for guests of the home & property except for the housekeeping pantry, basement and garage which are all locked. If you need the garage, this can be arranged - just let us know your request.
We're always available by text or call. We're in town most of the time just a few doors away. We have local people that can help with urgent matters if necessary. We'll text you at check-in and check-out to make sure everything is a-okay! We have a camera pointed at the driveway in order to ensure only registered guests are on the property. We don't record audio & we don't have any other cameras on the property.
We're situated in a picturesque & quaint residential neighborhood with houses on either side of us. The community is made up of people who enjoy the relaxing river life - a mix of full-time residents & vacation homeowners. Each home on our end of the street has its own private river access. We get along with all our neighbors & value those relationships.
At 1 mile from downtown Kernville, restaurants, shops & other activities are close by. The streets are wide & quiet - great for walking, jogging, bicycling, pets & kids. The town is dark-sky friendly which means we don't uplight, so everyone can enjoy the epic nightly star show.
The roads in town & at the house are all paved, well maintained, wide & calm. There are no traffic lights in Kernville! A car is a must to see most of the hiking spots & sightseeing, but you can walk to town and the nearby Whiskey Flat Trail (about a mile distance to each). Bicycles are great for around town & some closer hiking trails. We love the walk into town through our rustic neighborhood (especially with our dog). Bring your bikes for road & trail riding. Guided river rafting tours are an amazing way to see the river! Tubing too. We'll share all our tips in a digital guidebook that we provide after booking.
POLICIES:
1. Guest max for nightly rate is 6. Extra guests are $50 per night per guest up to 2 extra guests max.
2. Guest MUST review and accept the Rental Agreement and Contact Form that'll be emailed after booking.
3. No fireworks/outdoor fires are allowed (propane BBQ and indoor fireplace are OK)
4. No events, parties, photoshoots without prior Owner approval. We have a Nest camera pointed at the street entry to ensure only registered Guests are on the property.
5. Two well-behaved and house trained dogs will be considered for pre-approval. Please tell us about your pet. $60 pet fee per stay will apply.
*PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS when booking:
1. What brings you to the area?
2. What is the # of adults and # of children of any age in your group?
3. Are you bringing a pet (Yes or No)? If yes - please let us know breed, age, weight for pre-approval.
:) Thanks!
