The view of the ocean from the deck is particularly spectacular during the Winter months. As the sun sets, the clear skies turn flaming orange. The days are still warm, and great weather for hiking, horseback riding, uncrowded beaches and the best surfing conditions of the year. In the evening, you can dine out in Montecito or SB's Funk Zone; but the crisp evenings are also ideal for staying in the cabin and cozying up to the fire or catching up with friends and family out on the heated deck.

Up the stairs off the driveway, the main entrance opens to the expansive living room with high raked, beamed ceilings, built-in cabinets, shelves and window benches of classic mid-mod architecture. The kitchen is open, with a service bar and all the modern necessities, and sports a red porcelain sink. There is comfortable, down-filled furniture, a blue tooth speaker, and a Samsung Smart TV and the Roku media player with all the usual streaming apps in the living room. There is also an adjoining bathroom, with a spacious walk-in shower with a built-in bench.

The main attraction is the full deck which offers the best views of the ocean and surrounding hills and forest, and has an outdoor dining table, patio furniture and lounge chairs where you can enjoy both sun and shade. There is a patio heater and blankets/wraps nearby if a cooling fog rolls in. An app-friendly Celestron telescope is available, upon request, to gaze even deeper into the night sky.

Up the stairs, the master bedroom occupies the third-floor alcove with a queen bed, full ensuite bathroom and built-in wardrobe, and ocean views through a large picture window.

The large second bedroom is on the lower level, below the main floor, accented by a matching stone tile floor and wall. There are two full-sized beds, plenty of built-in closet space, another built-in window bench, built-in shelving with board games, and a large round, spinning lounge chair. The thermostat that controls the heat for the whole house is in this bedroom.

Outside the bedroom, the foyer has a sitting area with a trundle daybed (two twin beds) that can be used for extra guests. Off the foyer, there is a half bath/laundry room, and a fenced-in deck with it's own beautiful view of the ocean, a BBQ grill, and patio furniture. The deck opens to the driveway, and provides a private entrance to this floor.

The immediate outdoor space is complimented with a hammock, a trampoline, a swurfer (a hybrid swing you can also stand on for a surfing experience), large and stunning gnarled oak trees, seasonal streams and gardens, as well as the rest of the forest and it's inhabitants.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

While the cabin feels completely remote and secluded, the surrounding forest comes alive after dark with the sound of wildlife. Being back up against the foothills, and particularly at the back of 20 wooded acres, favors an exorbitant amount of wildlife on the property. There is always deer, and it is common to see them especially driving back onto the property after dark. There are also plenty of birds of prey, some regulars, like big white barn owls who often seem to escort you on and off the property after dark (I think they like to watch for prey that may be scurrying away from your headlights). Their piercing shriek is unmistakable from the deck and if you keep your eyes on the night sky you may soon see it's ghostly white figure glide past shortly thereafter. There is a fox that lives near the driveway, as well as a lynx, and over the years I've seen several mountain lions and bears on the property.

DOG OWNERS: While the house is pet-friendly, dangers remain in the outside world. If your dog is well-behaved, feel free to walk your dog off leash, but please keep them within eyesight. While there are no roads or traffic to worry about, the immediate area still hosts flora and fauna that can injure your pet. A flea & tick regimen is strongly advised, and even then you should still check your dog for ticks at the end of your stay.

Certainly take advantage of the leash-free Summerland beaches, but be aware that the surf can get rough, and the ocean has its own flora and fauna that may wash up. More common, however, is the occasional tar in the surf that is often difficult to see (look for little black beads where water recedes) and before you realize it, your dog has stubborn tar on its feet and fur. Dawn dishwashing liquid is the best at getting that off, but please check before entering the house again. Lastly, those guided horseback riding tours at the beginning of the property go down to beach, so if you're unsure of your dog reaction to horses, it is probably safest to leash them or hold them by the collar until the horses pass. A panicked horse can easily kick or trample over your dog, and throw the novice rider off its back.