The Hill House Inn

We got into Mendocino very, very late. Our advice? Always OVERESTIMATE the time it takes to get somewhere on the West Coast. We thought it would be about a two-hour drive from the southern tip of the Redwood National Park to Mendocino. However, Highway 101 is about a 45 mph road at best, and once you get onto Route 1 at Leggett, it turns into a 15 mph road with many carsickness-inducing switchbacks for about 20 miles, and no sign of life until Ft. Bragg. So after FIVE hours we arrived at Hill House - the last guests to check in.

However, the woman at the front desk was very friendly and directed us to our $99 oceanview room. (In the morning we could see the ocean - if we looked to the left and squinted). Furnished with semi-antiques, the room was a welcome respite from our day. Unfortunately our door was right across from the ice machine, so although we couldn't hear the ocean waves, we did awaken to the sound of falling ice cubes.

Unique Quality: A quaint inn (the exterior has been used in the show "Murder She Wrote") with furnishings unique to each room. The room included use of robes, coffee maker, high-end toiletries, and oceanview rooms have a wooden deck with Adirondack chairs overlooking the Pacific (although there is some distance to the water).

Continental breakfast was not included but is available for $6.50 I believe. An on-site restaurant and bar for those who get there in time for dinner.