Ocean Cove Lodge Bar & Grill

There's plenty of open space to explore nearby, with Fort Ross about five minutes away and Pt Arena around 45 minutes up the road. The location really earns five stars. Room options vary quite a bit. We first booked an older two-bed room, then managed to move into newly remodeled room 4. It was clean, the bathroom felt fresh, and there was a handy drawer organizer in the closet. Breakfast wasn't listed with our booking, so we brought our own.

The room looked recently remodeled and was very clean. The shower had everything we needed, including towels, shampoo, conditioner, and a hair dryer. One odd detail was the ceiling fan's LED light, which was missing the cover that should diffuse it. The included breakfast was the biggest letdown. It was just coffee from a hot water dispenser, sugar and half-and-half packets, a couple of small rolls, and a few unripe bananas and tangerines in a vase. For more than $280 a night, that felt pretty skimpy. At least bagels with butter and jam would have made it feel like a continental breakfast. The price was confusing too. We were first quoted one amount, but the screen showed about $50 more when we went to pay. Then the email showed a third price, though thankfully that turned out to be incorrect. These rooms cost a lot, and that breakfast was disappointing.

I booked because the listing showed rooms looking out over the ocean. Most do, but ours didn't. We were put at the end of the building, facing away from the water, and the only window looked onto a woodpile. The room had a small double bed and nowhere to put a suitcase. There was nobody else staying here tonight, so getting the worst room felt especially frustrating. It's the smallest hotel room I've ever had.

The room was cozy and really clean, with large windows that opened easily to let in the sea breeze. The view from my front door was lovely once I looked past the old-fashioned restaurant. Staff were helpful, though I wouldn't quite call them friendly. I found the lodge while looking for pet-friendly places, and was glad they gave me the room right beside the fenced dog yard. I'd definitely come back with my dog.