Shell Beach California
Luxury Beach Vacation Bungalow

Pets? Absolutely!

I happened upon this Shell Beach California bungalow while I was planning a family vacation and was instantly smitten. However, I was afraid that five adults and three frisky dogs might seriously stretch the boundaries of the Buddha’s good energy, so I chose another home (with far less character).

Although it measures only about 1,000 square feet inside, The Laughing Buddha Beach House has an open floor plan, so it feels much bigger. And plenty private. Bedroom suites are on opposite sides of the house. The larger suite has noise-minimizing cinder block foundation. All doors have locks and hand-painted, Zen-style "do not disturb" signs. The living space extends into a private garden with a hot tub and chimenea fire place. There's also a front deck with a koi fountain.

Bottom line: this tiny jewel offers up more extra-special touches than many beach vacation rentals twice its size. Good things do come in small packages.

The Garden Goddess Suite is has a queen bed with a padded headboard under a romantic swag of gauzy fabric and window to the garden. Chandeliers and hanging lamps give this little cocoon a suffused glow. It’s a cozy place to catch up on your sleep, plug in your iPod and while away morning do some quality “reconnecting”.

The Fusion Family Suite has two sleeping areas —a king-sized bed tucked into a loft with a skylight (at the top of sturdy wooden ladder)-- and a queen-sized bed with cherry headboard and white canopy netting close to the gas fireplace and French doors to the outdoors.

There's a fireplace in the elegant dining area, which is open to the living room. There’s a pass-through opening window to the kitchen, with a vintage O’Keefe and Merritt gas stove and gourmet extras like a French press. Throughout this Shell Beach California bungalow, the colors -- warm earth tones, breezy blues and rich jewel tones -- wrap around you like a cashmere shawl. Antiques such as a 1928 jade desk from the Orient and a wide range of books are a constant surprise.

The shared bathroom, between the two suites, has a tub/shower combo.


Amenities

Everything you think you can’t live without is at this Shell Beach California bungalow.

• All three sleeping area have a TV/ DVD/CD players!

• An iPod docking station

• High-speed Internet

• Dishwasher and stacking washer and dryer in the kitchen

Plus, everything you need to turn the world off for a weekend or a week:

• A gas fireplace

• Lighting on dimmers to set the mood

• A mesmerizing aquarium with angel fish

• Soothing koi fountain on the front deck

• 300-count cotton sheets, down pillows and comforters; lush silks and romantic canopies

• A tropical garden with a hot tub and copper chimenea fire place

PLUS This Shell Beach California bungalow has all the little luxuries only a friend would think of:

• Organic linens and hypoallergenic pillows and comforters on request

• Organic French lavender shampoo, bath salts and bubble bath

• Egyptian cotton bath towels

• Bathrobes on request

• Beach chairs, towels and umbrella

• Fresh ground coffee, assorted teas, soy milk, sugar

• Handpicked DVDs and CDs to borrow

• The Laughing Buddha Beach House is half a block from the ocean's edge. There is no traffic or hill between you the polished black sand beach.

Affectionately known as "Buddha Beach" or "Starfish Beach" (for its tide pools), this one is a local secret)in Shell Beach California. Few tourists know about it this spot, so its makes a superb background for wedding photos, semi-private sunbathing in the many shoreline coves and launching your kayak for a jaunt to Dinosaur Caves a mile south. There's even a grassy park with picnic tables and a BBQ above the sand.

• Good energy is “built in," thanks to Diana’s knowledge of Feng Shui home design and constant loving care

• Lushly landscaped private garden oasis with tropical ferns and birds of paradise, banana plants, as well as honeysuckle vines and sweet-smelling jasmine; pesticide-free culinary herbs (rosemary, basil, thyme) you can pick for cooking

• Diana is happy to arrange a private in-home massage and/or astrology readings during your stay. Scroll down to read more about the four retreats she’s planning in this Shell Beach California bungalow.

• This quiet and secluded vacation rental in Shell Beach California is also close to the Pismo Beach California pier and surfing (5 minutes), San Luis Obispo culture (10 minutes) and California Central Coast wineries in Edna Valley (10 minutes)


What's not perfect

• Not right on the beach

• One bedroom is a loft; you have to climb a ladder going to and from the bed and the bathroom

• The koi pond, ladder, antique furnishings and art make this not ideal environment for small children.


In an emergency

Diana is a “hands-on owner” who lives just four doors down from The Laughing Buddha Beach House. She’s happy to leave you alone, although: “I know the Shell Beach California area like the back of my hand,” she says. So take advantage of her insider recommendations.

Why not add a weekend at another California beach house?

The Chumash Bluffs Trail This hike to a stunning panoramic ocean view is not in any guidebook! There are two ways up, beginning less than two miles from the Buddha. The wider, low road is a gradual climb. The narrow trail goes straight up -- a heart rate-zinger. At the peak, you’ll traverse more than three miles of lush forest: oaks, manzanita and wild sage.

The Steaming Bean Espresso and Internet Cafe Definitely a favorite with Shell Beach California locals. Most city officials -- including the mayor -- get their morning joe here. If you need a job, a massage, a boyfriend, this is the place to hang out. (Seriously, I met my boyfriend of four years right here.) The owner, Dave Diaz, embraces community spirit. A totally unpretentious place with great Chai lattes, full breakfasts and free Wi-Fi.


Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant Always and forever! Always the freshest seafood, greens and homemade pasta and the best pomegranate martinis ever. Just five minutes south in Pismo Beach California, this is a landmark and a happening place. Lines are out the door on weekends and they don’t take reservations, so get there early (and say hi to Gino for me).

Old Vienna German Pub and Eats The best Oktoberfest west of Munich is in Shell Beach California -- just a block from the Buddha! The weekend oompah band plays the Stones (hilarious!) -- and they are great. The founders brought their recipes from the Old Country, including half a dozen varieties of schnitzel.