Sometimes great things happen when you least expect them. I discovered Gualala last summer, thanks to one of my favorite teammates. It was such a romantic getaway that not only I had to write about it, but I also decided to go back this year.
Recommended if you are looking for something:
- Romantic
- Relaxing
- With good food
Gualala is a hidden gem, located 3 hours drive north of San Francisco. Most people will drive through this small town heading towards Mendocino or Forth Bragg (expensive and overrated in my opinion), which makes Gualala less crowded and perfect for a quiet getaway.
Where to stay
Stay at the St.Orres Hotel, no doubt! The warm atmosphere created by both the people working at St.Orres and the decor will immediately make you comfortable and feel like in a homie mountain cabin (it’s not in the mountains).
This hotel, with its bizarre architecture, built entirely of wood, is located between Cooks Beach and a redwoods forest. The primary structure has eight cozy small rooms with super clean shared bathrooms on the same floor, a fabulous restaurant and a terrace where you can relax while drinking a glass of wine watching the sunset. I’d recommend staying in room #3 if you want to save some money and still enjoy the view of the ocean from the room.
For an even more romantic stay, you can book one of the cabins build between the redwoods, they even have a private jacuzzi (I’d recommend booking in advance for those).
What to do
You can spend some time in Cooks Beach, 5 minutes walk from the hotel, and if it is not a foggy day (if you’ve been in northern California in summer you’ve probably experience foggy days), drive north on Highway 1 and enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean.
If you are looking for a more active day, check out the hikes in the Gualala Point Regional Park.
Dinner at St.Orres
N.B.: everything closes at 9 pm, make sure to plan your dinner accordingly. We didn’t, and almost ended up without food if it was not for the fantastic staff of the St.Orres that served us dinner even though their restaurant was fully booked for the entire evening. They provide one of the best dinners in the whole area, and you should book a table as soon as you check-in.
Well, at the end we ate in front of the fireplace in the bar area (the best possible spot in the whole restaurant). The food was delicious: I ordered scallops with goat cheese and watermelon and the best ginger cake I’ve ever had.
See you soon Gualala 🙂
Simi