During the week, I work in the city. On the weekends, sometimes, I crave a bit more peace and quiet. Ways to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, because, truly, I am far from a city girl.
About once a year my other half and I make a trip up to Mendocino County. This year, I was craving the small town charm of Mendocino, so I pulled up 2 of my favorite places to look for places to stay for the night: Hotel Tonight App and Hotels.Com.
And that’s when I ran across the Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites. I briefly looked through their photos, and the charm and history was all over this hotel, and was exactly what I was looking for.
The weekend came, and we were off on our trip towards Mendocino. Driving through the winding roads off the 128 through the vineyards of Anderson Valley to the drive through the beautiful, tall Redwood Trees, to the first signs of the sea.
We skipped right past Mendocino, and headed right into Fort Bragg. It was on my travel list to stop off at Glass Beach, and this trip it was going to happen:
But truthfully, because of all the visitors this beach has seen since 2002, when it was opened back up to the public, very little sea glass is left. Although visitors to the beach will still scrounge around for their sea glass, and you can still find it.
It’s crazy to think that this beach became what it is because it all started as a massive dump site where residents of Fort Bragg would drop off their garbage. The sea water would splash in, and eventually smooth out the items into the smooth gemstones that they have become today.
We then headed towards Mendocino to check into our hotel: Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites:
Upon first walking into the hotel, you will be drawn to walk around the lobby, as it is filled with historic items representing the time and era of the beginnings of this historic hotel.
A brief history:
Constructed in 1878 and restored in 1975, The Mendocino Hotel & Garden Suites offers 51 deluxe accommodations: romantic, Garden Suites: cottages situated on two acres of botanical gardens with fireplaces, Italian marble vanities, private balconies and spectacular ocean or garden views; and Victorian-style Inn rooms with access to ocean view balconies. Enjoy antiques, fine art, stained glass and Oriental carpets and three restaurants.
It also happens to be the only hotel within the town of Mendocino that looks directly out at the ocean!
The rooms weren’t big, very much representing the early 1900’s era. Doors unlatched out onto the Hotel wrap around balcony where guests could walk out to the front, and enjoy the ocean view. Or leave their doors open to give them a bit more space into their small rooms.
But, historic charms were present throughout the hotel:
Part of the Hotel Lobby.
There were also 3 adjacent restaurants to the hotel. The Bistro Cafe, that stayed open until 3pm, after 3pm, the Restaurant would move to the inside bar area where locals, and guests could spend time in the hotel lobby enjoying a drink or a meal.
The Inside Lobby Hotel Bar Area
Then there was the fine dining room, in the back of the hotel lobby, where a fine dining experience could happen. It was truly a fun, historical place to be and stay.
A few of the cons:
If on a business trip, the wi-fi did not work up in your rooms, but was reliable in the lobby area, so all business would have to happen in the lobby area.
Right next door was a local bar, that, at night, especially on the weekends, could get a bit rowdy, so if guests left their doors open, they’d hear more than they could bargain for.
The spaciousness of the rooms. Rooms were small, but the historic charms of this hotel made it worth it, and there were plenty of other areas to hang out in around this hotel, especially in the lobby area.
Pros:
Being in close proximity of the town of Mendocino. The only HOTEL inside the town.
Close walking distance to the Ocean to enjoy incredible views or a good hike:
If you’re looking for a true historic hotel with all the charm, this hotel definitely has that!
And, lets be honest, a hotel with an attached restaurant, let alone 3, is always a plus (plus, their Sunday Brunch is pretty wonderful!)
Would we stay again? Yes, absolutely! The Charm was all over this place, and what truly made us fall in love with this hotel.