BEAUTY AND THE BEACH ON THE SAND: EXPERIENCE SPRING FEVER!

We took our family to Anne's this past March for our yearly family getaway. We had always wanted to go to California for a trip and this was perfect. Everything you could need was at the house, whether you wanted to cook inside, grill outside, do some water sports, you name it. The house was very room and we all had a space to ourselves, but were able to hang out together in the kitchen/living/dining areas.

Our favorite spots were the beachfront deck and the sun room. Day or night I could just sit and listen to the waves crash. We got to see the dolphins go by everyday, at least once. Paddleboarders were going buy periodically too. We even saw a seal on the beach one morning.

There is also so much to do withing 15 mins either way from the house. We ate dinner at Dukes, which since we had eaten at the Dukes in Hawaii, was kinda neat to eat at another one. The food was very good and the view was awesome outlooking the ocean. We also went down to get some gelato at Grom's. You can easily get back to the Santa Monica Pier going East on PCH. We also took our daughters horseback riding at Park Place Stables. The horses were very friendly, healthy and easy to work with.

Anne was a charm and very easy to get ahold of and very accomodating. We completely enjoyed ourselves. If you need a family getaway, this is the place.

We just returned this evening from the most relaxing week ever at Anne's Beauty and the Beach home in Malibu. From the moment we arrived and were warmly met by Anne, we realized how special this property was. We had seen the pictures online, but they really didn't do justice to how amazing this house is. The attention to detail, including many fresh flowers, at this unique property is exceptional. Upon entering the beautiful gate, you enter a gorgeous Japanese garden full with perfectly manicured plants, trees and a toweing waterfall leading to a peacful koi pond. You then enter the main house which is stunning both in its architectural Japanese design and the breathtaking views of the crashing Malibu waves.

The woodworking throughout the house including cabinetry, doors, furniture, flooring, etc. is entirely custom and gorgeous. We spent most days reading books, walking on the beach, grilling, napping, and reconnecting, all while being tranquilized by the constant crashing of the Malibu coastline right at our footsteps.

We had a great Italian dinner at The Sage Room (get the pesto lasagne!) and lunch at Umami (2 days as the truffle burger was to die for!). Umami is hard to find, located in the Fred Segal building in Santa Monica. GROM gelato is as good as any we have sampled in Italy. Chart House had OK food, a bit pricey, and the same view as Anne's place, so probably wouldn't recommend. Paradise Pier had great lunch on the beach but parking is dicey and attendants were rude.

We really needed a week to decompress and there could not have been a better respite. We would return in a heart beat.

If not, spend some time at Anne's magnificent home. You owe it to yourself and family, at least once in your lifetime. Yes, there are dozens of other rentals up and down the coast, but I am certain you won't find one as perfect.

The entrance immediately sets the tone; once you walk through the gates, time dissolves behind you, the vast Pacific comes into view, and you're well on your way to experiencing your own perfect week. My wife and I have spent considerable time in some the world's most exotic destinations - Bali, Phuket, Nice, Barcelona, and more - but our week here has become one of the most memorable of our lives.

Our daughters (ages 4 & 6) loved walking up and down the beach, swimming, relaxing in the sunroom, eating food we cooked on the grill, watching the dolphins swim by, and reading books at night to the sound of the ocean in the background. For those lunches or dinners we didn't feel like cooking, we ate Thai food at Cholada, a short walk across the PCH (please be careful crossing!).

The location is extremely convenient to the rest of LA, although I don't know why you would ever want to leave. Of course, we took little trips to Santa Monica/Venice (so close!), Disneyland for the kids (an hour's drive), up to Topanga Canyon for breakfast at Pat's (10 minutes), but we always wanted to just get back "home".

It's been nearly a year since our perfect week, but our family has been thinking about it nearly every week since. So I'm finally getting around to writing this review, looking for just the right words to describe a feeling you can only really "feel" by being there yourself. If you are seriously looking on this site for a great vacation experience, I encourage you to stop looking for other places, contact Anne (she's awesome!), immediately and book your own perfect week.

Thanks again, Anne!

Warmest Regards,

Robert & Shoba