If you’re looking for a place that offers warmth, comfort and a spectacular ocean setting, this is the place for you. While living in Sacramento, my husband and I wanted to plan a weekend getaway somewhere not too far from shops and restaurants, but not necessarily in the middle of everything. Close enough for a day’s drive as well. A friend of ours suggested the Lighthouse Lodge located in Pacific Grove just minutes from Monterey and Cannery Row.

The hotel is a short walk to the ocean where at dusk you can catch a beautiful sunset with nothing to block your view. The hotel is separated into lodges and suites, with the main difference being that the suites are most similar to a room at the Hyatt, a bit more quaint and intimate. It was recommended that we book a lodge, and I’m extremely glad that we did. The lodges are all set apart from the others, which gives you a sense of seclusion and privacy.

When you step into the lodge you feel instantly at home. The lodge features a “real” living room, and when I say real I mean there’s a big comfortable couch with enough room to spread out while cozying up to your honey. An oversized chair in the corner is ideal for wrapping up in a blanket while drinking coffee and reading a book. The wood-burning fireplace is at the center with as a gentle reminder that you have no reason to leave the room except for food.

The décor is very contemporary, with fabulous works of art hanging on the textured walls. The champagne draperies, when opened, reveal lush trees and bushes giving you the impression that you are far and away. Vases with long stem flowers and floor plants give the room just the right touch of sophistication. The recessed lighting and table lamps provide a certain ambiance that you would imagine in a romantic movie setting. The bedroom, which features a King size bed filled with pillows and a big Down Feather comforter, is through French doors. The bathroom is a world unto itself and happens to be one of my most favorite things about the lodge. The tub is equipped with massage jets, and is big enough for two, maybe even three people.

The lodge features a restaurant and the food is so good, it gives new meaning to the word breakfast.
Along with the ocean there’s also a very beautiful golf course nearby - perfect for going on a morning job or an evening walk. If you’re in the mood for a drive, there’s a well-known, 17-mile drive - for a small fee - that you can drive along the coast to admire the serene beauty of Monterey and gawk at the multi-million dollar estates often featured in Architectural Digest.

If you have the time, and extra cash, the world famous Pebble Beach golf course is not too far away, and has hosted such celebrities as Tiger Woods and Clint Eastwood. A trip into downtown Monterey is a must for a chance to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Steinbeck museum. Just make sure you make it back in time to catch the sunset.

The Lighthouse Lodge is most definitely a hotel that offers exquisite comforts with an elegant setting, a place that I will return to.

Lighthouse Lodge and Suites
1150 & 1249 Lighthouse Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA
Tel: (800) 858-1249
www.lhls.com

- Reviewed by Sabrina Romero (sbronti@yahoo.com)

Sabrina Romero is a freelance writer and Realtor. She lives in California.