Living on the central coast, there are many wonderful places to stay.  About an hour south of home, you can be in the seaside town of Pacific Grove where the accommodations move from hotels/resorts to quaint bed and breakfast cottages and boutique-style hotels that make you feel like you are home yet away from home.  Recently, we stayed at the Pacific Grove Inn, a combination boutique hotel with the intimacy of a bed and breakfast.

Pacific Grove is located on the northern most tip of the Monterey Peninsula, at the entrance to Monterey Bay and is considered to be the “Butterfly Town USA,” also holds festivals such as “The Good Old Days Celebration.” The beautiful coastline on Ocean View Boulevard is almost rivaled by the old, yet graceful Victorians that line the town’s streets. 

Located on a quiet corner just a few blocks from historic downtown Pacific Grove, the two houses express a beautiful architecture that dates back to the history of the town.  Between the main house and the Tuttle house where we stayed there’s a small parking lot that keeps your car off the street, making it easy to access your ride or getting your luggage to and from your room.  Around the property there are many places to sit and relax, chat, have a drink, or meditate, the property being amongst a normal neighborhood adds to the feeling of a homey non-huge-resort atmosphere.The main house is where the comforts come in.  After check-in, about 4pm you are treated to a lovely wine and appetizer hour.  Wines from California are featured in a red or white for your liking and there is also fruit-infused water and tea available for those who are looking for a non-alcoholic drink.  Fruit plates, crackers, cheese, and other creative hors ‘d ourves are offered for the lenght of an hour.  Two rooms are available to sit in, the parlor has a grandfather clock and china cabinet to admire while looking out the picturesque windows looking out to the ocean in the distance.

The dining area has a dinner table available to sit amongst the other guests family-style, both rooms have direct access to the parking lot, the main house rooms, the reception area and the front door.  Also in the dining room you’ll find a cabinet of family-friendly VHS movies to check out on your honor for viewing in your room.  During our stay we met the new General Manager who happily greeted all guests enjoying the appetizers, sharing some personal stories, history of the area, as well as inquiring about our lives.  The manager’s easy personality felt like you were visiting with family, aTnd had wonderful information for guests on places to dine, visit, and explore. Just before turning in you can enjoy freshly-baked cookies and milk in the dining room, or grab a few and take them back to your room with a movie.

Blending old world charm with modern day luxury, our room was cozy but had everything we needed for our stay including a balcony with two chairs and a table.  Here you can enjoy your wine or cookies, chat with your partner and enjoy the weather.  At a distance we could see the ocean on the beautifully fog-free evening of our stay.  The fireplace in the room makes for warmth during a cooler evening or just added romance for your night.  Aside from the patio chairs, the room has two chairs for seating if you don’t want to lounge on the bed. Bathrooms are small with a compact tub/shower, a smaller person could enjoy a bath and then wrap themselves in a warm towel from the heated towel rack.

The Victorians and the decor reminded me of something you’d see in Grandma’s home when you were growing up.  The patterns, wallpaper, and decor is antique looking and (purposely?) out-dated but the linens felt like you were in a 5-star resort.  The bed was like sleeping on a cloud, not to mention the immense quiet throughout the night.  With two rooms close by on our floor I half-expected to hear everything the neighbors were doing including conversations which was not the case!

For 2 hours in the morning, there’s a gourmet breakfast included with your reasonably priced stay.  Pancakes with homemade jams, bacon, freshly made breads, fruit, coffee and juices, along with dry cereal made for a full house when I arrived.  My husband needed a couple more moments of shut-eye, so I enjoyed coffee then took some treats back to our room.  The staff (the GM, the chef, housekeeping, and Maura) were pleasant and even with a snafu that occurred, it was all handled with class and grace.  We enjoyed the Pacific Grove Inn, the stay was like staying with family or your best friends, who wouldn’t enjoy that?

Our stay was hosted, all opinions are our own.