Garden of Eatin'

"Live simply and eat fresh." That's the motto at Mar Vista Cottages, a gourmet hideaway located on the ruggedly beautiful Mendocino coast. The rustic cottages and spectacular location are allure enough, but here's the bonus: Guests at Mar Vista get full access to the site's sprawling organic garden, filled with a potpourri of produce (strawberries, artichokes, garlic, chives, oregano, tomatoes, basil, sweet peas, and green beans, to name a few). You get a harvest basket when you check in; just fill it with the fare you want and cook it up in your cottage kitchen. Fancy a scrumptious veggie omelet? The on-site hens ensure that fresh eggs are in full supply. And if you need culinary inspiration, the owners of Mar Vista provide a recipe book for you to flip through; favorites include fried green tomatoes, Szechuan eggplant, and pretty much anything that uses olive oil. Between meals, you can hike along the coast, surf, or just sunbathe. After your gourmet meal, end your day with a sweet soak in the Japanese tub, which uses water from the creek that flows through the property. Go ahead, veg out.

Mar Vista Cottages, 35101 South Highway 1, Gualala; 707-884-3522. Cottages start at $155 per night, and there is a two night minimum. Note: Mar Vista Cottages is very dog friendly!