http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/ Unique Inns reflect the diversity in style and personality of its innkeepers and locales. Discover the essence of what makes each a Unique Inn. en Copyright 2008 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:41:55 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss On the banks of Napa Creek, this 75-year-old Tudor mansion is refreshing with its white plaster accented by blackened oak timbers. Lush gardens and redwoods immediately distinguish this Napa Valley Inn from the wine country surrounding it. Innkeeper Wendy Tamiso has created a retreat within a retreat: Candlelight Inn embodies the essence of elegance in a verdant oasis graced by manicured gardens and a spacious swimming pool. Accommodations are superb, with all the amenities that discerning travelers have come to expect. The Innkeeper’s care for her guests is manifested by Candlelight’s elegant three-course breakfasts and impeccable concierge services. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/candlelight_inn.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/candlelight_inn.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:39:20 -0800 For over a century this Queen Anne Victorian has reigned over Napa. Today, La Belle Epoque is a luxury retreat surrounded by lush gardens. Innkeepers Lynnette and Steve Sands have diligently assured that their Victorian Inn remains queen. Rooms are carefully appointed with antiques and amenities setting the standard for luxury in Napa. Guests are welcomed nightly to an elegant reception featuring Napa Valley’s premium wines from the Sands’ collection, hors d'oeuvres and fine imported cheeses. The Innkeepers design custom tours of the Valley’s wineries and according to their guests’ tastes, provide suggestions for fine dining, golf, and balloon rides. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/la_belle_epoque.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/la_belle_epoque.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:39:58 -0800 Located in the center of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander wine valleys, the Honor Mansion is a beautiful 1883 Victorian transformed into an intimate resort by Steve and Cathi Fowler. On four acres of landscaped grounds, the Inn offers tennis, bocce, croquet, PGA putting and an invigorating lap pool. A deck surrounding a koi pond provides serenity. This landmark’s pristine elegance is reflected by the Fowlers and their professional staff who provide personal attention to every detail. The Inn is surrounded by wineries, golf courses and is within walking distance of the town square’s outstanding restaurants. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/honor_mansion.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/honor_mansion.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:40:36 -0800 In the stunning valleys where Sonoma’s vineyards meet the Redwoods just an hour north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is Occidental, a quaint village famous originally for family-style Italian dining and, today, for the Inn at Occidental. The Inn’s Main House built in 1876 has been lovingly restored and furnished with antiques and an extensive folk art collection. Each accommodation is uniquely themed and the Innkeepers graciously attend to every detail. The Inn blends the tradition and spirit of the Sonoma countryside with the elegance of an outstanding wine country inn. Occidental is only 15 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/inn_at_occidental.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/inn_at_occidental.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:41:06 -0800 For over thirty years, three generations of the Smith family have been welcoming guests to their little slice of Heaven. Nestled amongst Napa Valley’s vineyards, the Inn is a tranquil oasis in the heart of California’s wine country. With antique-filled rooms, relaxing spa services, sun-drenched pool, and star-canopied hot tub, some guests never make it to the surrounding wineries. For those who do, the Smiths and their staff are eager to help arrange truly memorable days of sampling the finest in the area. In the afternoon, guests gather with the innkeepers to compare experiences over more great wine and tables laden with homemade appetizers. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_wine_country_inn.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_wine_country_inn.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:53:20 -0800 Tucked into Sonoma Valley’s picturesque village of Glen Ellen, the restrained yet exquisite Gaige House provides a memorable lodging experience. The Innkeepers' attention to detail is impeccable; rooms are decorated with handsome furnishings, an abundance of orchids, and distinctive touches such as private in-room Japanese gardens. Breakfast is prepared with the creativity more often associated with the finest wine country restaurants. The Gaige House offers spa services, a murmuring creek, and a hammock in which to enjoy it all. Rated #1 Small Hotel in Wine Country Zagats 2006 Hotel & Resort Guide. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_gaige_house.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_gaige_house.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:54:07 -0800 In North Beach, the most romantic and fabled neighborhood of San Francisco is Maria and Daniel Levin’s Washington Square Inn. This small boutique hotel offers the intimacy of a bed and breakfast in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The rooms are intimate and charming with the amenities expected at the finest hotels. The neighborhood is delightful. Once the infamous Barbary Coast, the area became known as Little Italy and eventually North Beach, home to the Beat Generation. Today some of the city’s finest restaurants and galleries are within a few minutes walk of the inn. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/washington_square_inn.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/washington_square_inn.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:54:51 -0800 Surrounded by towering elms like those that line the streets of historic Murphys, the Dunbar House offers privacy, comfort and casual elegance. This restored Italianate home, built in 1880 by one of California’s early business magnates, provides one of the finest country inn experiences in California’s Gold Country. The innkeepers offer sumptuous afternoon appetizers with handcrafted local wine. Breakfasts, graced with edible flowers, are an experience themselves and can be enjoyed in the dining room by the fire, in the gardens, or in the privacy of guest rooms. The century-old gardens are beautiful, featuring heirloom roses and fountains. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/dunbar_house_1880.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/dunbar_house_1880.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:55:49 -0800 On the National Register of Historic Places, the Groveland Hotel, built in 1849, was known as “the best house on the hill” during the Gold Rush. Peggy and Grover Mosley painstakingly restored the adobe hotel and neighboring 1914 Queen Anne Victorian. Their dream was to recreate a true Old California hotel with today’s amenities. Accommodations feature featherbeds and luxurious linens. The Mosleys offer a bona fide saloon and Victorian Room Restaurant with garden courtyard dining. The town of Groveland boasts the charms of small town California amidst the spectacular Sierra Nevada and is the doorway to Yosemite National Park just 23 miles away. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/groveland_hotelyosemite_nation.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/groveland_hotelyosemite_nation.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:56:18 -0800 The Old Monterey Inn in the heart of Monterey embodies the finest traditions of this timelessly gorgeous California destination. Rooms are luxurious and the attention to detail is impeccable. Set amidst an acre of spectacular gardens on a quiet, oak-studded hillside, this 1929 half-timbered English Tudor Inn exudes warmth and romance. Guests delight in the graceful and sophisticated surroundings, outstanding breakfasts, and exceptional hospitality. A wonderful experience is the romantic couples’ massage performed by firelight in the SpaRetreat Room. Innkeeper Patricia and her knowledgeable staff provide personalized itineraries, along with every amenity expected at the finest world-class hotels. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/old_monteray_inn.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/old_monteray_inn.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:56:56 -0800 The “Tiffany Diamond” of Carmel, the Vagabond’s House is a block from galleries, boutiques, and outstanding restaurants. The handsome brick and semi-timbered Tudor inn is Carmel. Antique-laden rooms surround a magical stone courtyard with a great oak standing watch over trickling waterfalls and camellias. In the morning, guests receive breakfast in their rooms to enjoy in front of their fireplaces. Wine and cheese are provided during Innkeeper’s Afternoons in the courtyard when guests meet, share experiences, and take time to view Dennis LeVett’s collection of antique toys in the intimate lobby. Carmel’s white sand beach is within a few scenic blocks. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/vagabonds_house.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/vagabonds_house.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:57:23 -0800 Overlooking the Martin & Weyrich vineyard, Villa Toscana is a Tuscan-style palazzo. Exquisitely detailed, the Inn features hand made imported tile, custom tables, high ceilings with rough-hewn beams and breathtaking views. David & Mary Weyrich’s love of beauty is obvious in their use of exquisite fabrics and hand-loomed linens, lending a romantic aura to this unique destination. Guest suites, each named after a Martin & Weyrich varietal, are located around a courtyard dominated by a California oak. The rooms are impressive – each a modern interpretation of Tuscan elegance, and provide a tranquil romantic setting for a honeymoon or simply to renew a relationship. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/villa_toscana.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/villa_toscana.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:58:10 -0800 On a terraced hillside with tropical gardens and flower-splashed patios, the historic Casa Laguna exudes the ambiance reminiscent of a time when Laguna Beach was an artists' colony and a hideaway for film stars. The secluded patios enhance the sense that this classic mission-styled Inn may still hold Hollywood secrets. Today the patios, with their fountains and rare Catalina tiles provide retreats for travelers after a day exploring Laguna’s shops and beaches. Sunsets are spectacular and are best seen from the Casa’s classic bell towers. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/casa_laguna_inn.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/casa_laguna_inn.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:59:01 -0800 This elegant Inn began life in 1913 as a residence designed by master architect Irving Gill. The gardens were created by noted horticulturist Kate Sessions, who spared nothing in their design. Today, the Inn is a La Jolla landmark, epitomizing all that this beautiful seaside village is and was. The Inn’s rooms and suites are individually decorated possessing their own theme and personality. This internationally known destination is just steps away from the best beaches and snorkeling in California, as well as the finest shops, restaurants, art galleries, and museums; and it is central to the main attractions of San Diego. http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_bb_inn_at_la_jolla.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/the_bb_inn_at_la_jolla.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:59:48 -0800 Welcome to the Unique Inns review blog. To read reviews about an inn, simply click on the "Comments" link beneath the inn you are interested in, or click on the inn's name in the right-hand column. To leave a review, click on the "Comments" link beneath the inn you wish to review, and you will be taken to a form to fill out. Once you submit the review, it will be received by one of our site moderators, and posted on the site. Thank you, and enjoy! http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/welcome_to_unique_inns.html http://www.uniqueinns.com/innlight/blog/welcome_to_unique_inns.html Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:41:55 -0800