Arboleda
San Juan Bautista, California

8/98 UPDATE: new summertime photos interspersed throughout...following our recent return for another Arboleda-fix!!

Note: Guarrard no longer graces Arboleda; but I feel he belongs on these pages...so his photos remain as a remembrance.

12/97 UPDATE:We felt Arboleda calling to us anew...it was time to make another rejuvenating visit! We found once more a peaceful harbor, away from the tempests of day-to-day life.  We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kim again and discovering all of the newest touches that she's added to her gracious home during the last year. Clouseau gave us another cheerfully enthusiastic welcome, before curling up in front of his woodstove!  He now has competition for the title of friendliest host, though...a totally adorable kitty named Guarrard has taken up residence (and ownership)!  I wasn't successful in my attempts to sneak him out when we left; Kim knows to watch for purring bundles hidden away in her guests' bags...Guarrard-napping has been planned by many!  We found on this return that it's been a good year at Arboleda, with many fascinating visitors and events.  Best wishes for more serendipity to come, Kim!!

Our 12/96 visit to Arboleda was something of a departure for "Jan’s Journeys" since it isn’t a typical B&B, inn or lodge. What it is...that’s a bit more difficult to characterize. Kim Cox, the owner, describes Arboleda as a country getaway designed with groups in mind. Other descriptions that readily come into my thoughts are haven and refuge; that’s what we found it to be...a serene shelter from the clamorous commotion of everyday living.

When we drove onto the tree-studded property and past the striking house, we realized that a very special experience awaited us. As soon as we opened our car doors, we received our first warm greeting from Clouseau, the eagerly affectionate resident dog with a happily (and constantly) wagging tail! As we walked between the columns, wrapped festively in gauzy ribbon and leaves, we reached the eye-catching front door which Kim fashioned herself, arranging bits of crystal, rock and seashell in resin on a junkyard castoff. Like many of the fanciful touches prevalent throughout Arboleda, this entrance reflects Kim’s singular decorating talent and unique style, as well as her supreme eye for artistic scavenging! One step inside the entry brought a charming surprise: we found tiny golden cherubs cavorting across the wall...lovingly positioned there by Kim while the plaster was still wet and the plasterers patiently continued plastering around her!

When Kim built this home of her dreams in 1995/’96, she envisioned sharing it with past, present and future friends...as a retreat center for small groups. Arboleda can accommodate up to 14 guests and is perfectly suited for many types of gatherings: weddings and receptions, family reunions, a get-together of old chums, corporate conferences or team-building activities, creative workshops...to mention just a few. Two of the rooms, "Sunrise" and "Sunset", can sleep 1 or 2 persons and contain private half-baths (sink and toilet). Tub and shower are located in the shared bath facilities for the other two rooms, "The Sleeping Porch" and "Room with a View", which can sleep 4 and 6 people respectively. By the way, the western decor of the Porch was inspired by that boisterous novel by Tom Robbins, "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues", and the beds (and the towels in the bathroom) are assigned to the names of its heroines. We spent the night in Sunrise and were lulled by the soft sounds of the stream outside our window.

Kim’s clothing design and manufacturing background is evident throughout Arboleda. From the fabric draped gracefully from the loft and around the French doors, to the mirror frames created from buttons, to the dressmaker’s form nestled on the mantle, to the "dead earring" tree decorated for Christmas with long-discarded earrings from the retail stores she used to own...there are touches of whimsy in every niche. The mantle of the ample fireplace was hewn from a tree cut down during construction, and the fireplace face is made of local rocks interspersed with gaily sparkling pieces of polished glass (these little "jewels" are also found glittering in the window sills...personally embedded there by Kim, of course). Part of the fun of visiting Arboleda is discovering all of these capricious treasures hidden throughout, and it immediately becomes obvious that Kim is a master at turning found objects into objets d’art!

Arboleda’s main appeal lies in the cozy comfort of this lovely home and in Kim’s warm hospitality. Whether enjoying a glass of wine and a chunk of brie by the woodstove in the spacious kitchen, listening to CDs and tapes or watching a video in front of the fireplace in the great room, or enjoying one of Kim’s fabulous breakfasts while the sounds of Vivaldi fill the sunny dining room, you’ll feel like a welcomed guest in the home of a friend.

The passive solar house was built to fit unobtrusively into its surroundings. A stroll around the property takes you past the outdoor BBQ pit and patio, beside small ponds, and along trails leading through the trees and over streams to be forded on well-placed logs...you’ll suddenly come across a wooden chair conveniently located for relaxing contemplation of the entire peaceful scene. This is pure tranquillity!

The nearby town of San Juan Bautista is a quaint village with small shops and restaurants, presided over by the graceful old Spanish mission which is still in operation. In fact, the day of our departure a couple was going to begin their honeymoon at Arboleda after their afternoon wedding at the mission. There’s also a Fred Couple’s signature golf course 9 miles away;   the Fremont Peak State Park and Observatory is 7 miles away; "garlic capital of the world" Gilroy (and its outlet stores) is 20 minutes away; and the Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove) is a 35-minute drive from Arboleda.

Even with all of the nearby activities, you’ll want to spend some quiet time at Arboleda following the advice stenciled on one wall: "Don’t just do something, sit there". Kim designed her home in the manner of a Mediterranean country house in the South of France. It evoked memories of Santa Fe for us. Perhaps that’s part of the charm; Arboleda is the essence of whatever unforgettable locale the guest has experienced!

If you’re searching for a unique spot for a wedding, a reunion, an offsite staff meeting, a group conference, a gathering of family or friends, or a learning experience at one of many scheduled seminars, Arboleda may very well be the perfect location. To find out more about this unique retreat center and some of the workshops currently being offered there, you may contact Kim Cox at (831) 623-1066, e-mail arboleda@hollinet.com, or visit her website at http://www.arboleda.com/. Be sure to tell her "Hi" for Jan and John!

Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- January 17, 1997
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:39:51 GMT