Hit the Target

Perched close to the banks of Lake Arrowhead, this home is proof that the concept of rustic luxury need not be oxymoronic. Here, you'll find plenty of wooden ceiling beams, tan leather furnishings and pleasing views of treetops from the large windows to remind you that you're a fair way from the city, but there's still a wealth of high-end amenities at your disposal.

If you want relaxation, there's a steam room and Jacuzzi, as well as a seventy-inch TV in the living room next to a fireplace. In the garden, you'll find a barbecue and loungers on which to lie out in the sun for a while. Add to that a ping-pong table, and we don't think boredom's going to come into the equation at any point.

Especially not with the outdoors activities to do in the local area. The home's gated community has its own dock and lake deck, and it's possible to hire boats to explore the lake. Not only that, but it's just as easy to try your hand at watersports. When you want a day on dry land, The Pinnacles Trail can be reached in a quarter of an hour's drive. Lake Arrowhead Village takes ten minutes or so in the car when you're after restaurants and shops.

Home truths:
*A cot and baby safety gates can be provided
*There's space to park up to four cars on the driveway
*The home is split across three levels so it might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*There's an adjoining two-bedroom guest house that can be rented out separately