I was thrilled to find the Little River Inn in Little River (Mendocino, CA). It looked delightful, overlooked the Pacific Ocean and backed up to Van Damme State Park and lived up to every one of our expectations!
From the Bay area, it’s about a 3-4 hour drive to Mendocino. On route, you’ll enjoy views of beautiful vineyards, make your way to a twisty curvy drive through the amazing redwoods and come upon sweeping coastal views as you near Little River.
The Little River Inn sits high above the beach with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and has been hosting guests for five generations. A charming Victorian-style inn that is quaint, comfortable and charming while also elegant and peaceful. The gardens were delightful and full of color. The Inn offers free Wi-Fi and has many DVDs and VHS tapes available to borrow from the front desk.
For this visit we had two private rooms (Ocean View Deluxe) next to each other instead of a two bedroom unit. The three kids shared a room with two queen beds while we enjoyed one king bed. Both rooms had a fireplace, very large bathroom with a huge Jacuzzi tub and a very large shower with its own deck and two rocking chairs (made out of recycled milk cartons, even!). The rooms were much larger than a typical hotel room and also featured a television, mini fridge and a coffee maker. We also found a nice list of things to do in the area with young children.
While my husband and the kids took off to explore the Van Damme State Beach via a nice, easy trail from the property, I sat on the deck enjoying the crisp sea air and seriously amazing view. Right outside our deck was an expansive green lawn, a perfect place for the kids to play.
The main dining room features the work of five-star chef, Marc Dym, who has been Executive Chef at Little River Inn since 2006 and is married to Cally Dym, the fifth-generation Innkeeper. The dining room is small and filled up quickly while we were there, so reservations are recommended. The dining room boasts a HUGE wall-sized window along one end over a beautifully manicured garden that looks like a painting. It was simple, yet elegant to enjoy while dining.
Ole’s Whale Watch Bar offers a complete bar menu offering lighter fare and an incredible view of the ocean.
The in-room Jacuzzi tub was a nice ending to the day with the fireplace lit, the balcony door open and the moon shining bright over the ocean.
While the inn is located right on the highway, it is very quiet and peaceful, situated up above the road overlooking the beautiful coast. The inn boasts a 9-hole golf course that can play like 18 with three placements and dual greens on holes 7 and 9. There is also a driving range, putting green and a fully stocked pro shop. In addition, two lighted championship tennis courts are free to guests. Non-marking shoes are the only uniform required. Finally, the spa is the perfect place to relax, indulge and rejuvenate.
The Little River Inn is located at 7751 California 1, Little River, CA and is also a pet-friendly property. 707.937.5942. www.littleriverinn.com
The writer and her family received complimentary and reduced rates for their stay for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are her own.
