Rio Sierra Riverhouse — Hotel in Exeter

Five stars because our room and amenities exceeded my expectations. First of all, my husband and I stayed two nights here with our 14 month old son to celebrate our second anniversary and they provided a clean pack and play/crib for our boy! That meant so much to me... we were going to let him sleep with us but thankfully we were able to enjoy our nights together here. The location is about 1.5 hours from the entrance to Sequoia National Park but I would have rather stayed at Rio Sierra instead of gone to see the big trees.

The river was SO much fun. To anyone with kids, I was surprised to see that some previous guests layed out rocks near the shore to create two 'kiddie pools' which allowed our son to have fun and let us feel more secure about having him in the river.

A few things I adored were all of the private and relaxing spots to sit down in the shade or even in a hammock. The towels provided were large and soft, easy to find and smelled like honey, oh my they smelled SO GOOD. Mars seemed to have a green thumb (like myself) so I REALLY loved what she did/does with the place. She has utilized every inch of that place to grow gorgeous foliage/flowers.

Our room was gorgeous and inviting. I felt very comfortable and the shower/tub had a giant moon light above it and a large potted plant sitting on the tile beneath the light. I will include a photo. What a romantic bathroom with more than a few night light/lamps and plenty of counter space. We had breakfast once made by Deborah($15) and once made by Mars($10) and although Mars was smaller, and they were both healthy and wholesome. You can make special requests ahead of time by texting Mars.

In closing I would like to mention how kind and well spoken Mars is. I was coming around a corner to get something from our room when I was greeted by Mars big smile, hand on her hip, asking, "are you my guest?". She was kind enough to unexpectedly serve us ice cold hibiscus tea while we were relaxing under the shade after a swim. She answered all of my questions and even told us the detailed story of how she acquired Rio Sierra, who built it, etc. The house was already charming but that just added to it.

In closing, I have a few cons to note for future guests. If you or anyone you are staying with is a light sleeper, be aware of the squeaky old wood flooring. I grew up in a house with squeaky wood flooring so although it was nostalgic, it made walking to the bathroom with a sleeping baby in the room quite a mission. Also, our bed was comfortable (especially the pillows) but squeaky as well. If you are afraid of lizards, they are everywhere. It really gives the place more character. I love reptiles but I also know some scaredy cats.

My last comment is on a charge we had after we left the river house. We were confused about a 'room cleaning fee' of $25 so I gave Mars a call simply to ask if we had made a mess or something of the sort. I had never seen a separate charge for a room cleaning. Mars explained why they do it that way and quickly offered to credit us back the $25. How sweet of her! We just cannot wait to go back...

The purpose of our stay was to visit Sequoia. We spent our days up in the park & came back to our room to eat & relax. RIVER: Having the river right outside the room was the best! We swam & played in the water. Just be mindful of the currents & play safely. There are very safe areas & areas where you could get hurt. We watched others for a bit & talked to some locals that gave us info on how to play safely in the water. It was beautiful & peaceful to listen to & watch the river (straight from your room or from the many relaxing areas set up on property). We were told that there are times when the river is not swimmable (too rough or too low), so if that is something you want to be able to do, I would inquire about that when booking. ROOM: The room had everything we could need. We didn't cook, but made use of the fridge & freezer (to hold our bagged ice for our cooler & to freeze the water in our water reservoirs for hiking,) all of the glasses, pates & cutlery. Beds were very comfortable, the view was amazing. The room can get warm due to the large windows & afternoon sun, but the air worked well when cranked all the way up. Nice towels & plenty of them. Everything was clean! I appreciated the travel coffee cups with lids. COMMUNICATION: Mars, the owner, had excellent communication. I appreciated getting info on the weather, park, services around town, etc. She also responded quickly to questions. Our whole family...

Time and Nature have sculpted this magical spot along the Kaweah River. Proprietor, Mars, and her staff have tended to every comfort for an unforgettable stay near the gateway to Sequoia National Park.

We recently returned here for a second stay and certainly will not wait another ten years between visits!

Our mother/daughter getaway was the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Of our three days, we spent two never leaving Rio-Sierra Riverhouse (except for an exceptional dinner at The Gateway and delicious ice cream treats at Reimers). Those days of luxuriating in and next to the river were as healing and rejuvenating as communing with the big trees in Sequoia the other day.

We can't recommend this place enough!!

Note: Our first visit, years ago, was in April when the river was too strong for swimming or wading beyond dipping toes. This second visit, mid-August, afforded us swimming and floating, always staying conscious of the...