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Feeling pampered and well-looked after in a beautiful natural setting in Mendocino, California
(Disclosure: I received the media rate for my stay at Brewery Gulch Inn. Observations and opinions are my own.)
Mendocino is a small town 135 miles north of San Francisco along California’s scenic Pacific Coast Highway. The town is designated as a Historic Landmark and is a delight to wander through, with its Victorian architecture, dramatic coastal views, and shops and cafés. Two miles south of town, on a bluff overlooking the coast, is Brewery Gulch Inn.
The ten room inn, designed by architect Caroline La Pere, was built in 2001. Surrounded by incredible views, it is simple and luxurious with a relaxed and welcoming vibe. The Inn prides itself on its attention to detail in making guests feel comfortable and at home. This care was evident during my one-night stay.
The feeling of being well taken care of began when I made the reservation. I was asked about food allergies. My husband and I have none. I was asked whether we were celebrating any special occasion. We were in the middle of a Pacific Coast road trip and our stay at Brewery Gulch Inn just happened to coincide with our anniversary.
The feeling of being well looked after continued when I received a reminder email a few days prior to our stay. The email included information on how to find the Inn, suggestions for places to eat along possible routes we might be taking to get there, and notification of areas where cell service was limited, with advice to call them if we hadn’t left Highway 101 by a certain time so they could save us food and wine from the dinner buffet.
Our room was welcoming in so many ways (even without the Champagne) – gas fireplace and leather club chairs, jetted two-person tub, plush robes hanging in the closet, fresh flowers, fine linens, and a box of Dutch Hill caramels on the comfortable bed. On the desk we found a collection of items designed for relaxation – a card deck of yoga poses and meditation, a book of poems on sleep and dreaming, and an adult nature-themed colouring book and pencil crayons.
The Great Room was an inviting place to sit and relax, visit with other guests or play a board game. Here we found a massive collection of movie DVDs (over 500), which could be taken to the room and watched on our flat screen television. We watched a movie that evening but it took quite a while to go through the printed index of available selections before making a selection.
A “light dinner” buffet, including complimentary wine and beer, and breakfast are included in room rates. Focus is on nature and organic food from local farmers. Breakfast includes pastries, freshly-squeezed juice, and a choice of made-to-order menu option. The dinner buffet and breakfast were both delicious.
The menu on the evening of our stay:
Roasted Flank Steak over wild greens with Portabello-Onion Relish & White Truffle Oil
Sundried Tomato and Artichoke Hearts Polenta Cakes with Parmesan Cheese
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Scrambled Feta & Fresh Basil, Balsamic Vinegar
Roasted Haricorts Verts with Agrumato Lemon
Sauteed Yellow Corn and Zucchini, Onions, Oregano
Seeded Batard and Sweet Butter
Mixed Berries Créme Fraiche Romanoff
The setting of the Inn was as an important part of the experience as the accommodations and amenities. The views from the deck and individual patios or balconies were spectacular, different with each turn of the head. The grounds were nicely landscaped. The air smelled fresh and clean. Bird feeders at the corner of the deck attracted a variety of birds.
Brewery Gulch Inn is constructed from eco-salvaged redwood. Lumber mills along the Pacific Coast supplied wood for the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Some of those lumber mills were located along Big River, north of the Inn. Logging occurred in summer months when river currents weren’t strong enough to float logs to the mill. As they stacked up in the water, the weight pushed the lower logs (called “sinker logs”) into the river silt. When winter rains came, the dams of logs were dynamited and logs floated to the mill, leaving the “sinkers” behind. Perfectly preserved logs, up to sixteen feet in diameter, were discovered in the late twentieth century during an earthquake retrofitting project on Big River Bridge. Some of the logs were used in the construction of Brewery Gulch Inn.
There is wifi at the Inn, but that seemed irrelevant once I settled in. I used it briefly to confirm the next day’s route, but that was it. My laptop stayed in its case. The only thing we kept on the desk was the champagne bucket. The Inn was all about relaxing. I didn’t want to tune in to the Internet. I wanted to slow down, disconnect from the stresses of the world, and be soothed by nature and the amenities at the Inn. It was a time to treat myself. Current proprietors of Brewery Gulch Inn, Guy and Sarah Schoeneman, say they look forward to helping each new guest “create memories that will last a lifetime.” I will treasure my memory.
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48 Comments
Tag Along Deb
June 1, 2016 at 10:18 amLooks like you had a very nice stay and that the resort goes above and beyond.
Donna Janke
June 2, 2016 at 11:29 amDeb, the resort did look after every little detail. Very relaxing.
Tam Warner Minton
June 1, 2016 at 4:07 pmI just love Mendocino. This looks perfect!
Donna Janke
June 2, 2016 at 11:30 amTam, Mendocino is a cute place. The Inn was fantastic.
jacquiegum
June 2, 2016 at 6:42 amDuring a few of my California trips we traveled through Mendocino, but never stopped. But Brewery Gulch Inn looks fabulous! I’ll remember it if I get back out that way:)
Donna Janke
June 2, 2016 at 11:31 amJacquie, the town of Mendocino is well worth stopping at next time you drive that way, even if only for an hour or two or three. For a longer stay, you can’t go wrong with Brewery Gulch.
Indrani
June 2, 2016 at 8:26 pmThe place looks fantabulous! I feel like grabbing a chair, a book and curling up there in the lawn.
Great captures. Happy #TPT
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 8:35 amIndrani, it’s the perfect place to curl up with a book on the lawn.
budgettraveltalk
June 3, 2016 at 4:28 amI love the bedspread in the Pine Room and the chairs out the front and the deck. How lovely to stay in such a beautiful place.
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 8:37 amThe deck was so inviting.
Jill
June 3, 2016 at 6:59 amLooks like a delightful spot! But then again, I love Mendocino and the California coast so it couldn’t be anything but delightful to me!
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 9:03 amJill, this was my first visit to the area and I’ve just discovered how delightful Mendocino is.
Ruth
June 3, 2016 at 5:13 pmMy mouth is watering at this moment. The menu descriptions you have included in here sound delicious. Overall, the inn looks fantastic. I feel like it is the perfect place to celebrate an anniversary. I will need to pass this post to my husband.
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 9:04 amRuth, it’s a great place to celebrate an occasion.
Nancie
June 3, 2016 at 6:24 pmHi Donna! What a fantastic experience! Nothing seems to be taken for granted. I agree with Ruth on the menu. My mouth is watering. Good on you that you left your computer in its bag for the weekend! Welcome to Travel Photo Thursday. #TPThursday
InsideJourneys
June 3, 2016 at 8:05 pmHope you had a fabulous anniversary celebration!
I just love when businesses add little touches like a card or note. Champagne (very appropriate for the occasion) takes it up a notch!
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 9:06 amDefinitely fabulous.
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 9:06 amNancie, it was pretty fantastic. Thanks for stopping by.
Brooke of Passport Couture
June 4, 2016 at 1:06 amLooks like you had an incredible stay and journey! The living space is as beautiful as the outside views.
Donna Janke
June 4, 2016 at 9:07 amBrooke, the living space complemented the natural beauty – it was well done.
corinnevail
June 5, 2016 at 5:03 amThis looks like a great place to slow down, escape the worries of everyday life, and recharge. Beautiful.
Donna Janke
June 5, 2016 at 7:46 amCorrine, that is certainly what it felt like for me – a place to slow down and recharge.
Ruth Heather Johnston
June 5, 2016 at 11:08 pmThis looks really cosy! Brewery Gulch Inn should be commended. I love the gift shop and the old suitcases too.
Donna Janke
June 6, 2016 at 7:30 pmRuth, it did have a cosy and pampered feel.
Anita and Richard @ No Particular Place To Go
June 6, 2016 at 1:40 amI love the setting of the inn – so many places to relax, de-stress and just enjoy being exactly where you are. Sounds like the Brewery Gulch Inn did everything they could to ensure that you created a memory of your time there as well as making your anniversary celebration a day to treasure. I’ll bet this was a high point of your coastal wanderings! Anita
Donna Janke
June 6, 2016 at 7:33 pmAnita, the setting is indeed beautiful. Our entire coastal trip was pretty special. Brewery Gulch was certainly one of the high points.
alison abbott
June 6, 2016 at 8:27 amService with a smile is #1 in my book and leaves a lasting impression. I am definitely adding the eco-friendly Brewery Gulch Inn to my list of stays the next time I am in the area.
Donna Janke
June 6, 2016 at 7:34 pmAlison, I think you’d find lots to enjoy at a stay at Brewery Gulch.
MoreTimeToTravel (@MoreTime2Travel)
June 6, 2016 at 8:02 pmThe Brewery Gulch looks like such a lovely place to experience Mendocino County. It looks and sounds like such a one-of-a-kind property that fits its setting.
Donna Janke
June 8, 2016 at 6:47 amIrene, it is a lovely place.
Jeannette Paladino
June 6, 2016 at 8:10 pmWhat a wonderful place! I’d love to visit it — if only I lived on the west coast. i’ve never heard of an Inn providing all that advance information by email while you were still on the road. Now that is customer service!
Donna Janke
June 8, 2016 at 6:48 amJeannette, the advance information was useful and it certainly made me feel welcome.
The GypsyNesters
June 6, 2016 at 8:48 pmAlways nice to be pampered a bit. Looks like a great place and wow, what a breakfast!
Donna Janke
June 8, 2016 at 6:50 amVeronica, it’s definitely nice to be pampered once in a while. I could get used to more of it!
Johanna
June 6, 2016 at 11:42 pmBrewery Gulch Inn looks like a gorgeous place to stay. Elegant, rustic charm in a beautiful setting with fabulous food – not too shabby!
Donna Janke
June 8, 2016 at 6:50 amJohanna, not too shabby indeed!
Grey World Nomads
June 8, 2016 at 9:17 amGreat stay – so sunny and relaxing.
Donna Janke
June 9, 2016 at 8:18 amIt was a great stay.
Sue Reddel
June 8, 2016 at 2:36 pmThis looks just lovely. I’d love to spend a long weekend just relaxing, reading and eating there.
Donna Janke
June 9, 2016 at 8:19 amSue – that would be a delightful weekend.
Grey World Nomads
June 8, 2016 at 4:51 pmThe “light dinner” buffet with complimentary wine and beer doesn’t look very light. Great place to enjoy!
Donna Janke
June 9, 2016 at 8:20 amNot my definition of a light dinner either. It was delicious and filling.
Patti Morrow
June 9, 2016 at 6:49 pmI did a road trip through Mendocino, Humbolt Park and the Lost Coast a few years ago. Loved the area!
Donna Janke
June 11, 2016 at 9:28 amPatti, it’s a lovely area, isn’t it?
Nathalie
June 12, 2016 at 11:24 amThanks for sharing this wonderful experience. I have a feeling I’d be spending most of my time relaxing on the deck.
Donna Janke
June 14, 2016 at 3:04 amNathalie, the deck was a nice place to sit and relax.
Suzanne Fluhr
June 12, 2016 at 5:18 pmWhat a lovely interlude at the Brewery Gulch Inn and even extra special because your visit happened to coincide with your anniversary. We drove Highway 1 north from San Francisco to Seattle one year. The drive is spectacular and being able to end a day and begin a day at a place like this would be a wonderful bonus. Actually, it looks like guests should at least treat themselves to a 2 night stay.
Donna Janke
June 14, 2016 at 3:08 amSuzanne, a 2-night (or longer) stay would be nice to really enjoy the Inn and relax.