Stanford Inn by the Sea

The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino on the California coast is an eco-resort with yoga classes and the award-winning Ravens Restaurant.

The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino

All Photos (c) Donna Dailey

When we arrived at the Stanford Inn by the Sea near Mendocino, we'd no idea what a very special place we'd be staying at.

A few days earlier someone had been telling us some of the things we absolutely had to do when driving further north, one of which was dining at Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino. She said it had some of the finest food she'd ever tasted. We wrote the name down, now knowing then that Ravens' is the restaurant for the Stanford Inn. So at least we knew the food ought to be good.

Guest bedroom at The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California

Our Room

Rooms at the Stanford Inn

The Stanford Inn style is rustic comfort. Rooms have wood-panel walls, real wood-burning fireplaces, eco-friendly toiletries, organic coffee-making facilities, and they all have their own decks. Many have views out to the Pacific Ocean, across the Inn's herb and vegetable gardens.

Our Pick of the Northern California Guides

But rustic doesn't mean basic. Rooms also have wireless internet, HDTVs with DVDs and VCRs, fridges, microwaves, and stereo systems, and ours had one of the biggest and most comfortable beds you could wish for. Room rates also include the exceptional breakfast at Ravens' Restaurant.

Our Room

Mendocino Eco-Resort

The Stanford Inn describes itself as an eco-resort, which is a claim that everybody under the sun makes these days. Any hotel that asks you to re-use your towels claims it's being eco-friendly. But in the case of the Stanford Inn it is built into the very fabric of the place, and is simply a part of the way of life of the owners, Jeff and Joan Stanford.

We were lucky enough to talk to Jeff, who introduced himself to us in Ravens', and we had a fascinating time talking to him after dinner about his beliefs and his life. He's a passionate man whose passions are reflected in the way everything is done at the Stanford Inn.

Our Bedroom at The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino

Canoes and Bicycle Hire in Mendocino

Within the grounds of the Stanford Inn is the only privately-owned stretch of the Big River estuary, now known as the Big River State Park. Here you can hire kayaks and redwood outrigger canoes to explore this protected part of the beautiful coast. Bikes are available for hire too, with the Big River Trail just one of the cycling options.

The View from a guest Bedroom at The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino

View From Our Room
The Herb and Vegetable Gardens

Other Amenities at the Stanford Inn by the Sea

Yoga classes are available for guests, and there's a range of massage, facials and other treatments that can be booked. Ayurveda Treatments and Acupuncture are also part of the services available, with a hidden-away Massage in the Forest centre in the Inn's grounds. There's also a hot tub and a delightful indoor swimming pool.

Contact Details

The Stanford Inn by the Sea
Coast Highway and Comptche Ukiah Road
Post Office Box 487
Mendocino
California (CA) 95460
Toll Free: 800-331-8884
Phone: 707-937-5615

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