California, Prunedale, USA

Where the Oak Hills Meet the Slough. Royal Oaks is a rural pocket of north Monterey County, all rolling oak hills, working farms, and about 3,300 neighbors who came for the quiet. 620 Hidden Valley Road sits right in it, on a private lot with an expansive deck that runs the length of the hillside. You'll take your coffee out there most mornings, with the oaks close and the long view running down the valley. The kitchen has been fully remodeled with stainless appliances and white cabinetry, and the bathroom's been updated to match. Recessed lighting runs through the downstairs. The living areas are well separated, and the primary bedroom has ample space. Out back, a detached office gives you a workspace apart from the house. By evening, the deck becomes the main room. The solar system makes efficient energy. What sets the location apart is a short drive away. Kirby Park's ramp puts a kayak straight into Elkhorn Slough; seven miles of tidal channel that's home to sea otters, harbor seals, and more than 340 species of birds moving along the Pacific Flyway. Moss Landing and the open bay are just past it, and the beaches at Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel are all within reach. A private place in the oaks, with one of the richest stretches of the California coast right down the road.