Notes from the host
Inside Out Cottage in the Wood
The name “Inside Out” came about to describe this immersive experience where boundaries between you and the forest dissolve, leaving you with a sense of tranquility and connection. Wake up as the sun rises to a view of the dewy forest through the wall-to-wall glass doors that fold open completely, where there is no transition from the inside out. The optional wall-to-wall screen provides a sense of security in this intimate sanctuary while still allowing the cool breeze to flow into the house.
The space has flexibility for whatever you desire most in terms of experience. Feel like outdoor living? Then open the glass doors completely and immerse yourself in nature. Feel like doing a Zoom call for work? Then close the glass doors, let everyone else play on the deck open your laptop, and focus on work for an hour. The cathedral ceilings and large windows create lots of light and space. The ceiling fan keeps the air going for a comfortable time inside. The kitchenette with an induction cooktop is a great way to cook your own meal without heating up the entire space. Or, you can do traditional BBQ on the grill and enjoy the solitude of the trees.
From the parking area, go down the set of stairs and walk straight back to the deck on the walkway on the side of the house. The main door is on the back deck. The front unit is separate so please do not use the front door!
The neighborhood is quiet and it’s about 5-7 minutes driving time to the Village.
Please make sure to follow the sign with arrows to West Victoria Court (not East Victoria Court). The address numbers are on the main post of the stairs as you park in front of the house. Walk along the side of the house through the gate to the back of the house for entry.
A generator is on site so there will be no annoying power outages that are so common in this area.
About the Area:
Lake Arrowhead, Lake Gregory, and Big Bear Lake are recreational lakes in the Southern California San Bernardino mountains. They offer fresh crisp air, cooler weather (10-15 degrees) in the summer, and snow in the winter. They also offer a more relaxed and low-key energy “vibe” making them ideal locations for getaways to renew the mind, spirit, and body and to reconnect with family and friends.
We answer frequent questions regarding the lakes and have put together some information below on what makes each location unique so it is easier to match with your specific goals for your time away. Upon booking one of our properties, you will receive more detailed information on how you can spend your time in the area.
Big Bear Lake is a public lake and friendly to all types of boats and water sports and is the largest lake of the three. There is a short paved bike and walking trail that goes along the lake. Big Bear is a City and is more populated with stores, restaurants, and nightlife than the other two locations. It has more of a “desert” feel in terms of its topography. Big Bear is 26 miles up the mountain from Lake Arrowhead, Although none of our properties are in Big Bear, we recommend it for a day trip.
Lake Arrowhead is a private lake and is accessible to guests staying at properties with lake rights if the owners have permitted guests to use their ALA (Arrowhead Lake Association) passes. If this is the case, the Amenity “lake access” will be checked on the listing. In our list of properties, the Gingerbread Cottage is providing lake access. With lake access, specifically, the lake trail is accessible. There is a $10 per person per day fee that is required to be paid to receive a wristband for access. More information can be found on the ALA website. Swimming is allowed from the lake trail at any location except the beach clubs (these are restricted to owners). There is no ability to launch boats or SUPs on the lake. The Village is lakefront and is the main area for shops and restaurants and has a fitness center as well. The Queen boat is a tour boat on Lake Arrowhead that provides much of the history of the town - tickets can be purchased at the shop by the lake. There is a local company that offers water skiing lessons boat tours and rentals. This area has more of a small town and alpine feel to it. The Villas area (south side of the lake) in Lake Arrowhead is cooler and gets more snow that lasts longer than the north side of the lake which gets more sun in the winter and is hotter in the summer. The Villas area is an older area with older homes and narrower streets. The Tudor House is an event center offering Sunday brunch and a variety of events. Skypark is a local attraction as well as Snow Valley for skiing for both Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory. Lake Arrowhead is 15 minutes up the mountain from Lake Gregory.
Lake Gregory is a public lake in the town of Crestline, a small town about 20 minutes from the base of the mountain of San Bernardino. It is the closest mountain town to events and locations “down the hill”. In the past few years, the lake operations have become privately managed with significant improvements being done at the lake including the development of a water park, beach improvements, and boat, kayak, and canoe rentals. There is a fee to access the beach area and the water park and no fee to access the 2 1/2 mile trail around the lake. Fishing is allowed and more info can be found on the Lake Gregory website. Crestline has a small-town alpine feel with the lake nestled amongst the tall trees. Crestline gets less snow than the other 2 lake locations. The quaint town has restaurants, coffee shops, and thrift stores.
Twin Peaks/Blue Jay sits in between Crestline and Lake Arrowhead and is convenient to both lakes. It has its restaurants, shops, and thrift stores. It is famous for its outdoor farmer’s market on Thursday afternoons (seasonal).
To make it more affordable for couples, a $12 additional guest fee per night applies after 2 people.
The minimum age is 23 (families with kids welcome).
For 28+ night stays, please inquire first (not instant book); the following deposits apply:
Refundable damage deposit is $100
Refundable cleaning deposit is $350
45-day cancellation policy and for shortened stays
Note: The cleaning fee for 28+ day stays is higher than the short-term cleaning fee in the listing.
For stays 28 nights or longer, the cleaning fee is $175. The difference between this fee and the initial cleaning fee paid upon booking will be collected along with the deposits before check-in.
Immediately after booking you will receive our short rental agreement to review and accept.
PETS: Beginning in December 2023, we are happy to announce our Happy Paws Community Program to help local animal shelters re-home and save the lives of animals. We are now donating 25% of all pet fees to a local shelter/animal rescue. We are also launching our Happy Paws promotion for pet parents who help us get the word out about the Program by posting a picture of your pet on I-N-S-T-A-G-R-A-M at our home and receive $25 off the pet fee (details below). The picture must be posted before check-out and tag @yellowbrickroadhomesplus. The refund will be provided back to you within 5 days of check-out.
The Short Term Pet discounted fee for non-shedding dogs is $25 per night per pet If your dog is on the list we will need a picture of you and your pet(s) (together) submitted prior to check-in day.
The Short Term regular Pet fee for other dogs or approved pets is $50 per night per pet.
The Long Term Pet fee (28+ nights or longer) is $150 per dog per month. For non-shedding pets on the list the monthly fee is $95 per month.
There is a refundable pet deposit if more than 2 approved pets of $500.
Here are the list of non-shedding dogs:
Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
American Hairless Terrier
Australian Cobberdog
Australian Silky Terrier
Basenji
Beagle
Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise
Bolognese
Border Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Chinese Crested
Coton de Tulear
Dachshund
French Bulldog
Giant Schnauzer
Hairless Terrier
Highland Terrier
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lakeland Terrier
Lhasa Apso
Löwchen
Maltese
Maltese Shih Tzu
Miniature Schnauzer
Poodle Mix
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Saluki
Scottish Terrier
Shih Tzu
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Welsh Terrier
Whippet
Xoloitzcuintli
Yorkshire Terrier