If you’re a baby boomer traveler who’s visited the northern California coast, you’ve probably noticed the cottage-type accommodations in seaside villages like Elk, Little River and Mendocino. They remind me of the motor courts my family used to visit in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee or in the golden days of Daytona Beach, Florida (perhaps olden days is a better description). However, Sea Rock Inn, the Mendocino accommodations for our recent coastal California sports car road trip, takes cottage lodging to an entirely different level than I experienced as a child.
After a thrilling drive on Highway 1 north from Jenner, even more beautiful than the famous Big Sur portion of the coastal road in our opinion, we arrived in Mendocino to discover a coastal ringside seat At Sea Rock Inn, a member of Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of America. The suites and cottages, all with some type of balcony with ocean view, are perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific. In addition, Adirondack-style chairs, strategically placed on the property, offer a place to stop, sit a spell and observe the ocean crashing over rocks near the shore.
Our suite provided more than enough room for the two of us. Alan, who is a bit of a purist, appreciated the wood-burning fireplace. It wasn’t long before he had the pre-set fire lit and the complementary half bottle of Hush Innkeeper’s Reserve 2008 Mendocino Chennin Blanc poured. We sat in red leather chairs, toasting the scenic drive on Highway 1 before I soaked my road-weary muscles in the bathroom’s large, jacuzzi tube. And, my favorite plush bathrobes from The Robe Works were hanging on a hook in the bedroom—a cream colored one for me and black one for Alan.
After a long day on the road, we snuggled under the Scandia comforter in the king-size four-poster bed. The sound of the ocean lulled us to sleep.
The staff greeted us by name when we arrived for breakfast the next morning. Served buffet style, our meal included quiche, homemade muffins or scones, fruit, cereal, coffee and juice. The ocean view from the breakfast room windows was an added bonus.
From Sea Rock Inn, it’s an easy walk to Mendocino Headlands State Park where trails skirt the bluff satisfying the most active baby boomer. Are you an artist or boomer photographer? You’ll find plenty of dramatic scenery to inspire creativity. Walk a bit further and you’ll come to the town of Mendocino. The New England-style shops, businesses and Victorian homes were the setting for the TV series, Murder She Wrote.
Linda and Barbara from the Sea Rock Inn staff are knowledgeable about the Mendocino area, offering advice on activities, shopping or dining. After delicious meals at Mendocino Café and Café Beaujolais, we were happy to have followed their advice.
But don’t spend all of your time touring. With comfortably designed accommodations, every convenience imaginable including free wi-fi, hang out in your room or on the lawn at Sea Rock Inn. Grab a muffin and hot cup of coffee from the reception area. Claim your chair with a view and recharge your boomer battery.
Have you stayed at Sea Rock Inn in Mendocino? Post a comment to tell us about it. Two days was not enough in Mendocino. We’ll be returning.
Disclosure: This travel experience was provided by Sea Rock Inn and Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of America.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I've never been to this area, but I think it is the area featured in the movie Same Time Next Year, which is my absolute favorite! The inn looks similar to the one in the movie and the photo of the coast could be an exact match. I would love to visit there someday – it sounds absolutely perfect!
This sounds absolutely delightful! Love that there were different color robes. My husband and I are forever getting our robes mixed up at hotels since they're always the same color and size. What a nice attention to detail. And I'm sure all the other details were just as carefully planned, too.
Oh….I am a budding photographer and would just love the chance to take photos of all the beautiful scenery you describe! It truly sounds like a delightful spot.
I'm with Alisa, the Inn sounds like a great getaway destination. I've never travelled in northern California, but this definitely convinces me I need too!
I would love to go to sleep to the sound of the sea. What a lovely place! Thanks for this recommendation.
What a stunning place. And I'm most intrigued by the his and her, black and cream bathrobes. That's a new one for me
Twitter: ottsworld
May 1, 2010 at 2:43 am
More beautiful than the Big Sur portion of the drive…really??? Big Sur is my favorite – but now you have me intrigued!
Looks like a lovely Inn!
Since walking and hiking are two of my other passions I love the fact that this inn is located near Mendocino Headlands State Park and all its trails. Put this one on my list to check out the next time I get to No. California.
Elk, Mendicino…it's been too long (and it's really not that far from me!), Love that part of the world, thanks for both the full disclosure & for bringing back some sweet travel memories.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
May 6, 2010 at 4:44 am
Sherry, what we liked about Highway 1 from Jenner to Mendocino was the view. The road hugs the coast, climbing over big open grassy hills, you can see for miles.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
May 6, 2010 at 4:44 am
The color-coded his and her bathrobes were a first for us too. A nice touch.
Funny how me have a things about real fires – it brings out the boy scout in them – it sounds like an idyllic place to stay.
A cream colored one for me and black one for Alan.
Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far.
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