Deer Creek Inn

I had a great time here. The bed was seriously comfortable, the house is clean and historic, and the river views are lovely. Downtown is close, with plenty to see, and getting there makes for good exercise. She makes the best damn breakfast quiche you'll ever have. The owners have that usual bed-and-breakfast-owner kind of weirdness, but in a good way. One heads-up: the toilet area in the master bathroom is really cramped, and could be very uncomfortable if you're heavyset. The tub area is beautiful, but they have strict rules about keeping water off the floor, so keep an eye on kids or a sloppy SO.

We loved our weekend stay in this beautiful Queen Anne Victorian. The turret room felt like stepping back in time, and it had every amenity we needed. Ruth's breakfast was delicious, too.

This beautifully restored 1890s house sits on a gorgeous hillside by the river, with a riverside garden where you can relax over coffee or wine. The location is excellent: free parking at the inn and less than a five-minute walk to the city center. Ruth greeted me at the door and gave an interesting history of the house and Nevada City. The inn was cozy and comfortable, with a queen bed, air conditioning, ceiling fan, plenty of outlets, reliable wifi, and a small cable TV. My room also had a lovely porch looking over the river. The property isn't accessible for disabled guests. There are steps to enter, and from what I could tell, every room requires climbing stairs. I mention this to help elderly or disabled travelers plan, not as a criticism. Deer Creek Inn is one of California's best. Locals should spend a weekend here, and visitors should take a couple days outside San Francisco to see this amazing little town.

Ruth was welcoming and made us feel at home during our one-night stay in mid-June. The house is in good shape, without the musty smell we'd read some other local B&Bs had. Breakfast was delicious, and there was plenty of strong coffee. They also offered complimentary brandy, apparently a charming touch from the old days. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat.