Stafford Inn, Mendocino, CA

[view from our room]

This past weekend was my boyfriend and I's five year anniversary, so we wanted to do something a little bit special. Not having the money to fly to Hawaii for only a few days, we needed someplace close. A co-worker of ours told us about a little "inn by the sea" in Mendocino. Mendocino is about 3 hours north of here [Oakland] on the coast. You could take highway 1 all the way up if you wanted (not for our carsick compadres) but we took the 101 to highway 128. It was a really beautiful drive with lots of teeny towns and family-owned wineries.

[beach next to the inn]

We stayed at the Stafford Inn. The Stafford Inn is a "four diamond eco-lodge overlooking the Mendocino coast." I have no clue what a diamond rating is - but four sounds impressive. And it was. Each room has a working fireplace and view of the ocean. When we arrived, there was an adorable note from the owners and vegan candies (they next day they brought vegan cookies ;). The inn has an indoor pool that is inside of a greenhouse. There are free yoga and taijiquan classes almost everyday. You can purchase a facial, massage or acupuncture. AND they offer complimentary bicycles during your stay (or you can rent a canoe).

[view of our room]

Overnight guests also get to enjoy free vegetarian breakfasts in the morning. Though their restaurant is almost completely vegan (with TONS of gluten free options) they do offer eggs and cheese with some of their breakfast items.

They are concerned with "sustainability, the community and 'conscious' tourism." They compost all the food scraps into their acres of gardens. They use energy conservation techniques for their lighting, laundry and heating. They use bio-diesel trucks and all green cleaning supplies. AND the whole place is pet friendly (even to kitties!). Need I say more?

[llamas that live on the premises]

This place is wonderful and I highly recommend it even if you aren't vegan. I certainly am going back as soon as I can <3

love you, mean it

Emily