Fall and winter are our favorite time in Laguna. The summer crowds thin out, the light goes gold before four, and the beach is just a walk down the hill rather than a fight for a parking spot.

Our home sits just high enough up from the water for sweeping 180-degree ocean views and a sunset every night, but close enough that the sand is only six blocks away on foot. You come in through a private entrance off Coast View Drive, and there's a garage of your own.

There's plenty of room to settle in across the fifteen hundred square feet. We put a wood-burning fireplace in the main living room, and from November on you'll be glad it's there. The west-facing sunroom is a second place to gather — it's where the dining table sits, along with a comfortable chair and a sleeper sofa for extra guests, and where you'll want to be as the sun goes down over the water. When you feel like cooking, the kitchen is a proper one, stocked for real meals. When work follows you here, there's an office nook with a printer.

The two bedrooms and bath-and-a-half are joined by a sleeping loft above the second bedroom, perfect for kids. We keep the beds in high thread-count linens.

Outside, the cabana is a quiet place to enjoy the garden, and there's a barbecue when you feel like grilling. A washer and dryer are inside the home, the Wi-Fi is fast, and the TVs are smart. We keep beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and toys in the garage, so there's nothing to pack or buy once you're here.

There's plenty to do beyond the beach. Laguna itself has casual and fine dining, shopping, art galleries, live music, and theatre within easy reach. You're centrally placed for day trips, too — Disneyland is about half an hour away, Los Angeles is roughly an hour up the coast, and San Diego a bit further down.

A few things worth knowing before you book. This is the upper of two homes in an up-and-down duplex, so you'll have neighbors below, who come and go through their own separate entrance, deck, and garage off Temple Hills. Laguna Beach requires a 31-day minimum in this neighborhood, so 31 nights is the shortest stay we can offer. And if you've noticed we don't have many reviews — that's the same rule at work. We host longer stays and use the house ourselves, so fewer stays mean fewer reviews.

Your dog is welcome with prior approval and a pet fee. We just ask that dogs stay off the beds and furniture, and there's a gravel area on the main level for them. Please pick up after your dog; excessive hair, stains, or odors will mean an added cleaning charge.

Security Deposit: Host reserves the right to require a security deposit at time of booking.