Serenity Gardens Bed and Breakfast

My boyfriend and I checked in at Serenity Gardens Bed and Breakfast on New Year’s Day. We had just finished snow camping in Yosemite for four days, and were hard pressed to find a place for the night. The first few places that we called were booked. Luckily, this worked out in our favor because we got to stay at Serenity Gardens!
We were originally going to stay in a room in the main house, but upon our arrival, Jackie offered us the cottage in the backyard, appropriately named «Tranquility Cottage» for a small additional fee (and I mean… small. And totally worth it). I mean, this place was spectacular. Very private, quaint, homey, and cozy… exactly what we were looking forward to after camping! There’s even a hot tub in behind the cottage. We were in heaven!
The price we were charged included the room, taxes, and breakfast, which when I calculated it, worked out to be equal to or even cheaper than many of the hotels/​motels looked at… and they don’t even include breakfast! And the breakfast was amazing… Jackie is quite the cook!
Speaking of… Jackie is the best host! Her and her husband Jerry are so great. Great conversation, and they really made us feel like we were staying at a relative’s home, that’s how comfortable they made us feel! Jackie brought a carafe of coffee for us in the morning, along with some snacks. She was very flexible with our timing, and even let us stay late into the day to rest up for our drive home. I really can’t say enough about how great she was! I really appreciated her.
Needless to say, I definitely recommend this place. We don’t have many reasons to come to Merced, but we were definitely thinking about making the extra trip just so we can stay here again. I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like it (it’s sort of straight out of the movies when you think of a B&B!)

We’ve stayed at Serenity Gardens before (in the main house), and this was a totally different experience. It’s a very secluded and quiet space. We loved the cozy garden hideaway, complete with hot tub and streaming movies, and a matched pair of super comfy recliners. The newly refurbished cottage included a detached bath/​kitchen combination, with microwave and mini fridge. The composting toilet was a new experience for us, and we were impressed with how easy it was to use.
We liked the little touches, such as the finished carpentry made of weathered wood, and our own little grove of redwood trees with a small picnic table. Even though it was nearly freezing outdoors, electric heaters gave us temperature control in each building, and our queen bed had fleece bedding and dual controls on the electric blanket. The hot tub (made by Softub) was just right for two people.
We also liked knowing that a flock of happy hens lives about 50 feet away in their own aviary.
If you appreciate things being a little different, give this unique experience a try.

If there were six stars, I’d give them that! This was our first bed and breakfast experience, and it was amazing! The house was beautiful, and our «room» was bigger than some whole houses! We had a deck overlooking the beautifully landscaped backyard. The breakfasts were delicious, and presented so beautifully! Jackie and Jerry were amazing hosts, and we’ll definitely be going back! !

This is absolutely the best place to stay in Merced, CA! Jackie and Jerry are the best hosts ever! If you’re tired of motels then this B&B is the way to go.

I travel to Merced on business several times per year. I prefer to stay in small inns and B&Bs and was very happy last year (⁷⁄₂₀₁₄) to find Jackie and Jerry’s home in an upscale neighborhood of this valley town. I enjoyed my stay so much I returned this week (⁴⁄₂₀₁₅) for my second stay. Serenity Gardens is my top choice in Merced. Jackie is rightly proud of the lovely home and gardens she’s created.
Jackie keeps two rooms in a huge home for guests. Appropriately appointed, the upstairs room features a lovely master bedroom suite with king bed, and a bath that rivals a castle’s. In fact, there’s a Jacuzzi tub nested in a turret! Downstairs room faces is spacious with a queen bed, satellite TV, and a full bath with tub/​shower. Jackie graciously offers almost full access to the home, living and dining areas, kitchen, patios and gardens. Two gentle dogs, Spot and Bonita, laze around but also do not intrude. It’s nice to be greeted by a pair of wagging tails and Jackie’s greeting, called out from wherever she is.
This is a community home, and Jackie and Jerry live their lives amidst the guests’ without it feeling intrusive and without me feeling like I am imposing on them. I would say this is a great place for thoughtful conversation and sharing of stories with both hosts sensitive and intuitive who «read» their guests and engage appropriately. Because I work in community health, understanding the communities where I work is essential. It is a jackpot for me to find two people who’ve lived and worked in the community their whole lives and are willing to share their experiences with it. Again, access to this treasure trove of history and current local affairs is by choice. All you need to do is ask.
Jackie provides caring and excellent service including breakfast menu planning based on what is fresh from her garden. Be prepared to have options and make decisions: omelets, French toast? Scrambled/​fried? Etc. Guests can anticipate a range of egg dishes featuring eggs freshly gathered from the backyard flock of hens. After that, she can help guide you if you want to do anything in the area, get anywhere in town, visit Lake Yosemite, UC Merced, shopping, restaurants, whatever you need.
I liken my stays to happy visits with a favorite aunt and uncle. Familiar, caring, hard working, balanced, and serene. I thank them both for providing a space for relaxation and rest as well as good conversation and their big hearts. I am almost reluctant to post this since I may be risking no vacancy next time I visit.