Quaint Hotel with Verdant Gardens and Pacific Ocean Views

In the lobby lounge of the Mendocino Hotel & Garden Suites, a Tiffany-style stained-glass dome pours polychromatic light over guests perched atop barstools crowned with velvet seats. Studded with rubies, the kaleidoscopic skylight bears floral and foliate designs gleaming amid brass ribs. At ground level, a collection of antique furnishings adorns the entryway, ushering guests toward eclectic, Victorian-style quarters. In each Luxury Garden room, lace frames broad windows offering peaceful views of lush gardens or undulating Pacific waters. Fluffy down comforters top one king or two double beds, and cozy warmth radiates from Italian-marble fireplaces.

Eclectic furnishings accent the hotel, beginning in the lobby where a Louis XIV–style love seat enfolds paramours within pleated cushioning. Persian runners lead toward the lobby lounge, where patrons sip local brews in the company of a carved wooden gargoyle before venturing toward the Victorian dining room. Filled with lighted glass screens, an eclectic collection of wooden chairs, and one-of-a-kind antiques, the restaurant weaves the hotel’s vintage theme into its gourmet dining experience. Seasoned chefs plate a selection of natural, organic entrees prepared with ingredients sourced from local farmers. The wine list—a designee of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence—encompasses an array of blush, rouge, and blanc varietals. For casual noshing, lodgers can nibble at breakfast and lunch items in the Garden Room, famous for its olallieberry pie, or snack on small bites at the wine and tapas bar.

Two acres of sustainable gardens surround the hotel, making it a prime spot for viewing wildlife, such as the two-dozen quail that frequent the garden's flower-freckled grounds. The emphasis on nature spreads to the Doll House Spa, where staff members administer serenity-inducing massages using products made with natural ingredients derived from the ocean and organic gardens.

Mendocino, California: Quiet Coastal Village Nestled Amid Towering Redwoods

Perched high atop a bluff in its namesake village, the Mendocino Hotel enjoys unhindered panoramas of the Pacific Ocean. In the 1870s, the quiet coastal town bustled with loggers who harvested the area’s towering redwoods and enlivened its saloons, pools, and fast houses. Although the village has since eschewed its rowdy reputation, the redwoods continue to thrive. Along the bluff, the giant trees shadow traces of old buildings and old anchor lines set into rock. Briny air permeates the town, carrying all the way to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, where meticulously manicured formal gardens contrast with untouched landscapes. Guests can stroll through thick pine forests, peer into fern-fringed canyons, and frolic on flower-covered bluffs. After getting their fill of local flora and fauna, sojourners can peruse manmade creations at the Mendocino Art Center. Displays of visual and performing arts celebrate still and moving forms, and various studios invite budding Botticellis to fine-tune their own brushstrokes. For those interested in learning more about the area, the Kelley House Museum, set amid an acre of gardens, recounts Mendocino’s history with artifacts, exhibits, and photographs of yesteryear.