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02.25.10

North Bay Under Cover

Bed and breakfasts get a bad rap, but they're not all filled with flowery wallpaper and potpourri. We found a few in the North Bay that blend cozy and modern—no doilies! Get under cover.

osprey peak bed and breakfast

Pleasure Point

Just an hour from San Francisco, Point Reyes is a favorite for outdoor fun and relaxation: There's plenty of hiking, biking, kayaking, beach combing, not to mention delicious locally grown food. Instead of making it a day trip, spend the night at the year-old Osprey Peak Bed & Breakfast. Set high among a bishop pine forest, this Japanese-inspired home oozes warmth, relaxation, and sophistication. Pine wood floors, tall ceilings, big windows and large decks blend with the natural surroundings. And with just two guest rooms, it's never crowded. Husband and wife owners, David Herbst and Nancy Beck, are friendly, generous hosts who start your morning with regionally produced goodies like Bovine Bakery breads, Cowgirl Creamery cheese, McEvoy Ranch jams, and seasonal fruit. (Tea and cookies are afternoon treats.) From Osprey's doorstep hiking and kayaking destinations abound. Chicken Ranch Beach is a 15-minute walk and Blue Waters Kayaking is down the street. Pick up some locally harvested oysters and barbecue them on Osprey's common area deck; keep an eye out for the namesake raptor, there's a nest on the property. Spread your wings; say ahhhhh.

BONUS: Osprey Peak Bed & Breakfast has a massage studio (owner Nancy Beck is a certified masseuse) and a Japanese soaking tub.

Osprey Peak Bed & Breakfast, 10 Miwok Way, Inverness; 415-669-1467. Rates start at $150 per night on weekdays and $175 per night on weekends. No dogs.

Activity
Overnights
Region
North Bay
The cottage inn and spa sonoma

Swirl, Sip, Sleep

A weekend in Sonoma is meant to be enjoyed like its wines: slowly, savoring the experience. Which is why The Cottage Inn & Spa is a splurge-worthy destination. Just a block from the action at Sonoma Plaza, this Mediterranean-style gem combines comfort and luxury. Each suite is unique, with a fireplace, Jacuzzi tub, king bed and Mexican tile flooring. The Paradisio Room (pictured) is a common area that's ideal for relaxing and sipping wine by the handcrafted fire-and-ice fountain. Those seeking a little extra pampering can get an on-site massage. In the morning, a basket of breakfast treats will be hanging on a hook outside your front door. Warning: The Cottage Inn and Spa is so calming it may be difficult to venture the one block to Sonoma Square! Whenever you're ready….

The Cottage Inn & Spa, 310 First Street East, Sonoma; 707-996-0719. There are six suites and one standard room, which doesn't have a fireplace. Low season rates (through March 14) on suites start at $225 per night on weekdays and $250 per night on weekends. The standard room starts at $150 per night. No dogs.

Activity
Overnights
Region
North Bay
Marin Headlands Hostel

Headlands Hospitality

Looking for a quick, inexpensive getaway but don't want to compromise on location? Check out, and into, the Marin Headlands Hostel. Set in the heart of a national park and just 10 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge, this budget retreat comprises two historic buildings from the early 1900s. Private rooms start at $78. Like most hostels there's a common kitchen, lounge and recreation room. What sets this hostel apart is the surroundings; towering eucalyptus trees, and trails leading in all directions. Black Sand Beach is just a 20-minute walk; Rodeo Lagoon and Beach are just down the road; Mount Tam and Muir Woods are a short drive away. Feeling really adventurous? Hike the 6 miles from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands Hostel. The only catch to this bed is that you've gotta bring your own breakfast. Cheerios or cheese omelet?

Marin Headlands Hostel, Fort Barry Building 941, Sausalito; 415-331-2777. Private rooms start at $78 per night. Dorm rooms are $24 per person per night. No dogs.

Activity
Overnights
Region
North Bay
Adventure Center

Trips of a Lifetime

There are trips. Then there are trips of a lifetime. For the latter, look no further than Adventure Center. As the leader in small-group adventure travel for more than 30 years (most trips max out at 18 people), they offer a wide range of options­­—from no experience necessary to demanding multi-day treks. Always wanted to walk the Great Wall of China? Hike Iceland's volcanoes? Stroll the wine lands of Burgundy? Or take on Patagonia's Torres Del Paine Circuit? All of these are among Adventure Center's more than 200 outings in 30 countries. Better yet: Adventure Center doesn't hike its prices! Most trips are between $1,000 and $3,000, when others charge two to three times that—for the same trip! Plus you'll always get expert guides to take the stress out of planning. Browse the intuitively designed Web site for hiking and cycling vacations. Trips range from "Grade A" (leisurely walk and wine through Tuscany) to "Grade B" (hiking to high alpine villages in Austria). Don't just plan your next vacation—plan the trip of a lifetime!

TIP: Forget the rental car. Let the pros at Adventure Center plan your next cycle tour; from small-group road rides and mountain bike tours, to self-guided adventures where your luggage is delivered from one hotel to the next. Pick from a range of tours in 30 countries. Let's ride!

Visit AdventureCenter.com or call 800-211-9721 to find your next big trip. Aren't you ready for more than a vacation?

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