Mendocino Coast: Little River Inn review

January 31, 2019 By

The Mendocino coastal area offers stunning natural beauty, warm hospitality, quaint, unpretentious towns, and outdoor exploration galore! It’s a great region in which to base your California northern coastal road trip, and a stay at Little River Inn is a must!

Tip: We tacked a trip to the Mendocino coast onto our Grown-Up Getaway to Sonoma, and the two destinations paired beautifully, but kids love the Mendocino coast as well!

Little River Inn review:

This multi-generational family business lies right on the coast at Little River, just minutes from Mendocino. Families have their pick between seaside luxury accommodations, oceanview rooms, oceanview fireplace rooms, and Victorian gables. Our oceanview fireplace room was spacious, and boasted a wood-burning fireplace, which we really loved. We also loved the value: check for current pricing on the official website, but off-season deals abound at the Little River Inn. The large patio was semi-private and featured several chairs from which to view the ocean, which is directly across Highway 1. From our room, we could even spot seals on the beach at Little River.

Yes, other area hotels probably have sea views as well, but what sets Little River Inn apart is the spacious grounds with so much to do. There’s a golf course on-site, which dips into the woods behind the hotel, as well as a putting green and tennis courts. The small but welcoming spa sits next to the golf clubhouse and pro shop, and offers a full array of services, as well as beauty services. We loved that this option existed, especially during the winter months when the weather might keep you inside.

And if it does, no worries: our room had cozy arm chairs situated by the large windows overlooking the ocean, where we settled down with books. Ole’s Whale Watch Bar is a local favorite, it seems, with a friendly staff and a deep wine list. We loved their signature cocktails, too. Families could order off a bar menu in Ole’s for casual dining, or head into nearby Mendocino for a variety of diners and cafes. Since we were visiting Little River Inn without the kids, we opted to make a reservation in the inn’s dining room, where we enjoyed a stand-out meal. Try the award-winning crab cakes! Dessert was fantastic, too.

Outdoor exploration:

We recommend booking at least a two-night stay at Little River Inn (mostly because we didn’t want to leave when it was time to go!). In the immediate area, there’s lots to do outdoors if the weather is cooperating. The best beaches can be found at Van Damme State Beach (just about one minute away), or Caspar Beach, on the Point Cabrillo Drive off Highway 1.

We went hiking at Van Damme’s Pygmy Forest (ask at the park ranger station at the entrance to the park for directions, as its in a different location, and free to enter), and we wished we’d had time to explore The Fairy Trail inside the Botanical Gardens at Fort Bragg. Jug Handle State Preserve also has hiking, including an ecological science hike for older kids.

Order breakfasts directly to your room each morning to get an early start on your day, or visit the Little River Inn dining room. Their specialty is the Ole’s Swedish pancakes, but I also loved the eggs benedict. There’s a small market and gas station across the street as well. Pets are welcome at Little River Inn for a $25/night fee, and parking on-site is free, as is WiFi.

From Little River, head up the coast past Mendocino to explore Eureka and the redwoods, or cut back to Highway 101 and back toward the Sonoma area if your trip takes you that way!

Disclosure: We were guests of the Little River Inn for the purpose of review. All opinion remains our own.

Five favorite coastal campgrounds for families

May 21, 2018 By

Families wanting to make the most of the camping season need to head to coastal, temperate zones to avoid temperature extremes (bonus if they can find yurts or cabins at the campground). Family camping is economical, easy to plan, and often close to home! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite coastal campgrounds for families in the Pacific Northwest and California. At each of the following state campgrounds, you’ll find miles of beach, shady trails, ample camping space, and programs for kids. Check the websites below for exact pricing, but on average, California and Oregon state park fees are very reasonable (under $20 a night for tent camping and under $30 for hook-ups). Don’t forget hot cocoa and most importantly, the s’mores!

 

 

Sunset Bay State Park OR: Located just outside Coos Bay, Oregon on Highway 101, it’s safe to say Sunset Bay is my family’s favorite coastal campground. The sites are nestled in a beautiful forest just steps from the beach, flat, paved loops allow for perfect bike riding around camp, the showers are heated and facilities up-to-date, and the beach itself is gorgeous. Best of all, yurts are available (reserve far ahead!), as well as two additional state parks within easy hiking distance.

Cape Blanco State Park, OR: The beacon of the Cape Blanco lighthouse welcomes campers to this windswept section of Oregon’s pacific coast, where rugged cliffs and high coastal plains lead from Highway 101 to the campground. The sites overlook the beach and light with lots of space for kids to play and explore. All sites are first-come, first-served at this park, but there are four rustic cabins that can be reserved ahead of time. I’ve never seen this park truly crowded, and love the stark beauty of the storm-battered coast along this exposed shore. In season, families can take a lighthouse tour, too!

Harris Beach State Park, OR: One of our favorite beaches for its natural beauty and natural playground qualities for kids, Harris Beach is located just north of Brookings, Oregon (again, on Highway 101). Kids love to explore the rock formations along the cliff sides of this beach, as well as the creek that feeds into it from the nearby campground. I love that the campground has plenty of sites, and is on the bluff overlooking the beach, giving campers wonderful views of the ocean (and keeping day crowds away from the sites). The town of Brookings is near enough to offer conveniences, but far enough removed that families truly feel away from it all. And like Sunset Bay, yurts are available to rent (but be sure to reserve early!).

 

Navarro River Redwoods State Park: This gorgeous state park just off scenic Highway 1 near Albion in Mendocino County boasts beachcombing, swimming, picnicking, and camping at Paul M. Demmick campground. The redwoods here are fantastic: in summer, you’ll be cocooned in a shady bower (when you’re not seeking the sunshine on the beach), and kids love playing in and around these massive trees while at the campground. For a fun way to spend the day, venture to the Russian river for a swim!

San Onofre State Beach, CA: This sunny California beachside state park near the city of San Cemente offers sunbathing, surfing, and boogie-boarding in addition to San Mateo Campground, which lies one mile away via sandy trail. The pros of this camping experience are many: think blue skies, warm evenings, and beautiful surf. There are, however cons: the proximity of both the freeway (I-5) and Amtrak train tracks are definitely annoying, and the beach can certainly get crowded in summer. With 3.5 miles of sand at your disposal however, you’re sure to find a place to lay your beach towels!

Bonus campground idea: Check out Hug Point State ParkHug Point State Park for a more economical beach trip near Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

A stay at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with kids

August 9, 2017 By

Parents might assume a Ritz Carlton hotel is too, well, ritzy for a family vacation. In fact, the family-friendly offerings at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel make the acclaimed resort a smart choice for families looking for great vacation value.

ritz carlton laguna niguel

Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with kids:

The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is located right on the Pacific Coast between the beach towns of Laguna Beach and Dana Point, CA. While a stay is expensive by any standards, your room rate stretches beyond luxury accommodations (which are often lost on kids): families will enjoy excellent service, a completely relaxed atmosphere, hassle-free access to a beautiful beach, and local expertise tapped from the team of concierges, bellhops, and front desk staff.

ritz carlton laguna niguel

Kid-friendly offerings at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel:

Families looking for an ideal beach day can take advantage of the Ritz Carlton’s Beach Butler Service, which not only brings your family straight to the beach via beach shuttle, but also keeps your hands free: ‘beach butlers’ will bring all your essentials to you (and always have towels and sunscreen on-hand).

Ritz Carlton laguna niguel

The Dana Pool is tucked into a garden courtyard, with exposure to sunshine but not wind. Located adjacent is pool dining and beverage service, and ice water is always available. We loved that plenty of pool toys were available, and that kids were welcome in the hot tub. An additional pool exists on the Monarch side of the hotel, and tennis courts and basketball courts are also available for families, as well as a full-service fitness center for adults.

ritz carlton

On site at the Laguna Niguel property is Eco Adventures, with opportunities for families to experience the local environment with sea hikes, snorkeling, surfing, and more. We attended the then-called Forests Under the Sea snorkeling program, which included a fun (and informative) naturalist talk followed by a full snorkeling trip to nearby Woods Cove in Laguna Beach.

Check it out on the Pit Stops for Kids YouTube channel:

We were able to learn more about the sea life we’d been spotting while snorkeling on our own, and learned what we could do to help sustain the beach and ocean life eco-system. Tip: Ambassadors of the Environment is available to non-resort guests as well, and is a great value for those looking for an informative half-day ocean excursion.

Ritz Carlton Ambassadors of the Environment

Date last visited:

July 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right off PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in Orange County, CA.

Room rates:

Room rates vary by season and type, from $500-well over $1000. At the time of our visit, we stayed in an oceanview fireside room, located off the Dana Lawn. This location was great for kids: it featured an outdoor fireplace and small patio leading to plenty of lawn space for kids to play on (complete with a horseshoe pitch). Rooms include marble bathrooms, luxury bedding, and in the case of an oceanfront room, amazing views. Note: one thing our Ritz Carlton room lacked was complimentary coffee and tea service, standard in almost all luxury hotel rooms. (Secondary note: my kids are only frowning in the following photo because the sun is in their eyes. They didn’t care about the lack of coffee service…that was all me.)

fireside ritz carlton room

Dining:

The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel offers several dining options for families, all featuring wonderful service and ambiance (but all costing families accordingly). We ate an incredible meal at Raya, where our server couldn’t have been more friendly to the two kids I had with me (ages 11 and 13). The food was delicious, but even more impressive was the sunset seen over the Pacific from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Raya is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and while dining here for every meal will not be budget-friendly, I do recommending budgeting for at least one special meal here.

For faster, easier-on-the-wallet fare, the Marketplace serves up a nice, quick breakfast. The poolside dining offers high-qaulity snack and lunch foods (including excellent nachos), but for stays of more than a day or so, I recommend buying some groceries and making use of the mini-fridge. The concierge can recommend many off-property restaurants as well. Tip: if you plan to eat most meals on-property, it may be worth the expense to book a ‘club level’ room. Club level guests enjoy five daily food services included in their room rate, including lunch foods, full breakfasts, and cocktails.

Directions:

From most points in Orange County or LA, guests will take I-5 to Crown Valley Parkway, then turn left (south) on the PCH. From Laguna Beach, the hotel is a straight shot down the PCH (about 15 minutes’ drive).

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, the Ambassadors of the Environment program, and Raya as guests of Ritz Carlton. While this hospitality is appreciated, it did not come with expectation of a positive review. (And I did pay for my own nachos.)

SaveSave

SaveSave

Hearst Castle State Park

July 12, 2012 By

Families traveling on a California Highway 1 road trip will want to stop at Hearst Castle State Park, especially if their car-load comprises of school-aged kids, tween, and teens. Visible (and impressive!) even from the highway, Hearst Castle is a half-day stop right outside San Simeon, CA. From the visitor’s center located near the coastline, guests can choose from several tour options before taking a bus up the winding hillside to the estate (approximately 15 minutes). The rangers suggest families start with the Grand Rooms Tour, which takes you through just that…the main rooms of the main house.

hearst castle

This tour takes 45 minutes from the time you depart the bus, and kept everyone from the seven-year-old to the adults entertained. (Children younger than five might be bored, but the tour is still do-able, because of its short length.) Our guide did a good job of giving us details on how William Randolph Hearst entertained his guests in these visually opulant rooms, and the kids enjoyed eying all the fancy tapastries, silver, and oranate decor. I enjoyed learning which of the articifacts had actually been procured from Europe and Asia, and which had been made on-site (both equally amazing). We learned how long it took to build the estate (over 15 years!) and quite a bit about the remarkable architect, Julia Morgan. After the tour, families are set loose to explore the rest of the grounds (outside) at their leisure. We took another hour or so to explore (you definitely want to check out the Neptune Pool and views from the guest houses!). I was also anxious to see the indoor pool, and thought I had lost my opportunity until we were funneled into it en route to the departure buses (so don’t worry, you won’t miss it).

neptune pool hearst castle

The Hearst Castle staff recommends getting to the visitor’s center 20 minutes before your tour time to catch the bus, and we recommend getting there an hour before that, in order to view the 45 minute IMAX-style movie prior to seeing the estate. It’s very well done, and gives kids a much better sense of who the Hearsts were before they see the rest. (I was in need of the refresher myself.) For our 1 pm tour, we arrived at 11:30, and had just enough time to see the movie and line up for the bus before 1 pm.

Note: You can’t bring food or drinks with you to the estate grounds (only bottled water), so leave the picnic in the car, and be sure to give everyone snacks beforehand. It does get hot on the hill, so bring water!

hearst castle bus

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 1.

Admission price:

The Grand Rooms Tour is $25 a ticket for adults and $12 for children (under five are free). Most of the additional tours are the same price, with the exception of the Evening Tour, which is pricier. The ticket price includes the bus ride, movie, and exhibits at the visitor center. Parking is free. Purchase Hearst Castle tickets ahead of time during busy seasons!

Hours of operation:

The visitor center is open whenever tours are offered. (Most days, tours begin at 9 am.) See tour schedule for exact times.

Food services:

The visitor’s center offers a museum cafe next to the gift shop, but it was such nice weather, we opted to picnic at one of the tables dotting the parking area. (This was more appealing than it sounds…the parking lot overlooks the ocean.)

Directions:

Signage from Highway 1 in San Simeon takes visitors right to the park, or click for detailed directions to Hearst Castle.

Three Highway 1 beach pit stops from Monterey to San Simeon, CA

June 28, 2012 By

Some of the most beautiful coastline in the world exists on California’s Highway 1 between Monterey, CA and San Simeon, CA. Directly after Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey (definitely stop there before beginning your day), the way is windy and slow, but never fear: the California Highway 1 road trip is made to be savored with frequent pit stops, so even young passengers can handle the hours of car time. After making the drive with our three school-aged kids (ages 7, 10, and 12), I’ve compiled our favorite three beach pit stops on Highway 1.

pfeiffer beach

Pfeiffer Beach:

Shhh. This first beach, run by the national forest system, is a secret. Directly after the tiny town of Big Sur, CA, families have the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Ok, Pfeiffer may not quite be a secret, but it’s certainly not well known…or well advertised from the road or online. Here’s how you find it: right after Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you’ll see a yellow ‘No RVs’ road sign on the right-hand side, next to a row of mailboxes. Turn right here onto a narrow, one-lane road. Almost immediately, you’ll see a sign that reads, ‘Pfeiffer Beach, 2 miles’. Continue two miles (you may have to stop occassionally to allow opposite traffic through) to a national forest booth, where you’ll pay a $5 per car fee. Parking is adjacent.

pfeiffer beach caves

Pfeiffer Beach is nestled between huge crags of cliffside past a lush grove of Cypress trees, and features several rock arches amid the crashing surf, a gentle stream through the sand into the water, and most interestingly, big patches of the world’s only (so they say) purple sand. The famed Pfeiffer Beach purple sand is made from erosion from the nearby cliffsides, and is quite cool to see. Also fun is the stream and climbing on the large rocks on the beach. Reserve at least an hour here!

purple sand at pfeiffer beach

Of important note: Very strong undertows exist at Pfieffer. The water is quite cold, so your kids probably won’t be tempted to swim, but even wading can be dangerous. It’s best to enjoy the beach but avoid swimming. If you’re still dubious, read the memorial displayed at the parking lot, and take heed to be safe!

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park:

Not to be confused with Pfieffer Beach, JPB State Park is located further south, at 47555 Highway 1. The state park offers a lovely cliffside trail from the parking lot through a tunnel under the highway to the site of Julia Pfeiffer Burn’s dear friend Helen Hooper Brown’s beachside home (which she later dedicated to Pfeiffer). From the terrace (all that remains of the home), families are rewarded with beautiful views of the beach below, including a waterfall to the sand. Though there’s no beach access here, a stop is definitely warranted. A side trail leads to a working water wheel, and kids enjoy going over the bridge to the Brown terrace. You probably won’t need more than 1/2 an hour here unless you also decide to picnic.

JPB state park waterfall

Elephant Seal Rookery:

After JPB State Park, the highway becomes even windier, but just when kids can’t stand it anymore, the way straightens out before San Simeon, CA. Right before the town proper is the Elephant Seal Rookery. Signs are well posted along Highway 1, but trust me, you couldn’t miss it if you tried: even from the car, kids can spot the hundreds upon hundreds of elephant seals on the sandy beach. There’s a large parking area and a path that spans the beach, but visitors cannot step onto the sand…this is the seals’ territory! Posted signs explain the rookery (seal nursery), and let visitors know what the seals are up to in various seasons. For instance, when we visited in May, the babies were juveniles, whereas March visitors would have seen newborns. While still at home, check out what’s happening via the elephant rookery live cam!

san simeon tide pools

Note: there are no bathrooms at the rookery! Luckily, San Simeon is only a few miles away.

Have you found a great Highway 1 stop between Monterey and San Simeon? Please share in the comments!

A stay at the Morgan Hotel, San Simeon CA

June 5, 2012 By

I discovered the wonderful value for families at Broughton Hospitality boutique hotels during our stay at Mill Valley CA’s The Acqua, and our experience was equally positive at The Morgan Hotel, a San Simeon hotel for families.

Morgan hotel lobby

The Morgan can be found just five minutes from Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon, and is only 45 minutes from the California wine country near Paso Robles, but the appeal for families is in its amenities, not its location (as there are plenty of motel choices in the area, some with better beach access). Like other Broughton hotels, the Morgan is the perfect hybrid between a economy motel and a boutique hotel: it looks pretty standard from the outside, but inside, it’s clear that this is no run-of-the-mill motel.

Morgan hotel breakfast

The lobby is very well decorated, with soft couches and an oversized checker board, and features a sunken dining area for the morning breakfast buffet (more on that later). The rooms are oversized (deluxe fireplace rooms are only marginally more per night) and nicely decorated, and free wifi is included throughout the hotel, including in guest rooms. Parking is free, as is the breakfast buffet, which was pretty standard (cereal, oatmeal, packaged pastries, and a variety of toast and bagels) but perfectly adequate. The real draw for kids is the lovely outdoor heated pool. It’s located in a walled courtyard behind the lobby, and best of all, it’s protected from the wind off the ocean. (If you want beach access, it’s only a few blocks away, behind the Best Western. We found fun tide pools there in addition to a nice, wide flat beach to play on.)

morgan hotel room

Our only complaint about the Morgan was that it’s showing its wear here and there: some of the bathroom fixtures were less than sparkling (due to age), and dust did accumulate behind dressers and the like. It takes a lot to bother me in this regard, so I was content, but pickier families might take issue. (Of course, for me, free wifi beats out almost anything!) There’s a decent Mexican restaurant located next door, but we drove three miles to Cambria, CA, where we had a nice pizza and burger dinner at J B J’s Round-Up Pizza.

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right off Highway 1.

Room rates:

Standard rooms (double or king) were listed at $109 at the time of our visit, while deluxe rooms (large, with canopy beds and fireplaces) were listed at $119. We found either rate to be a very good value for the amenities offered. Add ons can be made at the time of reservation, like wine selections, cookies and milk delivered, or an in-room massage by certified massage artist.

Directions:

The Morgan is located at 9135 Hearst Drive. From Highway 1, turn onto Vista Del Mar to hotel.

As I disclose whenever applicable, the Morgan hosted our family at no cost, for the purpose of review. While we appreciate this hospitality as it allows us to bring relevant information to readers, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

May 31, 2012 By

Families looking for things to do in Monterey, CA or en route along Highway 1 to Big Sur should definitely stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Located just a few miles outside Monterey on Highway 1, Point Lobos offers great hiking with kids in Monterey, with miles of hiking trails, scenic vistas, hisorical sites, and picnic grounds in some of the most beautiful acreage I’ve ever seen. We started at Whaler’s Cove, where a posted sign instructed us to speak in quiet voices…the seals were using the nearby beach as a pup rookery. We could see the mother seals and babies from the parking lot. Nearby, families can view the historic Whaler’s Cabin, and a steep staircase takes you to the bluff overlooking the bay and the network of hiking trails.

Point Lobos State Park

The trails are easily navigated, though parents will want to remind kids to stay on the trail. There are steep areas, and during certain seasons, poison oak is in bloom. (We saw a lot when we visited in May.) We opted to take the 1.4 mile North Shore Trail, which connects with the Seal Point parking area and trailhead. Along the North Shore Trail are numerous overlooks where seals, otters, and even whales can be spotted, and at Seal Point, tide pools are visible in low tide. The nearby Cypress Grove Trail tours the oldest Monterey Cypress grove in the world, and is a great option for famlies not quite up for the longer hikes. Guided walks and nature talks are also scheduled throughout each week.

point lobos tide pools

Note: Dogs are not permitted in the reserve, even if they stay in the vehicle.

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Right on Highway 1.

Admission price:

Admission the the reserve is $10 per car. You’re buying a state park pass, so if you’re visiting any other state parks on your trip, it will be good for those, too!

Hours of operation:

8 am to 7 pm during Daylight Savings, and from 8 am until 1/2 hour after sunset in winter.

Food services:

None, but picnicking areas are throughout the park.

Directions:

From Monterey, head out Highway 1 three miles south. Look for the posted signs.

A stay at Monterey’s Portola Hotel and Spa

May 29, 2012 By

Stepping into the spacious lobby of Monterey CA’s Portola Hotel and Spa, you just might think you’ve taken a wrong turn and stepped back outside instead. The wide, open space is canopied with lush, live trees giving way to bright skylights, and the front desk staff is equally sunny. Upon arrival, my kids (and the adults!) were offered warm chocolate chip cookies, and the kids were ushered into the Portola Pirate Program, a fun and inventive perk including a goodie bag of pirate treasure and an interactive scavenger hunt around the hotel grounds. The boys immediately departed to scour the lobby for their first clue (an impressive pirate ship model), while my husband and I left the car with the valet service and trailed after them.

portola hotel and spa

The Pirate Program serves a duel purpose that parents can appreciate: it gets the kids moving after time in the car, introduces parents to the amenities of the resort (the treasure hunt includes stops at the hotel’s two restaurants and adjacent candy shop), and emphasizes the hotel’s policy of valuing kids and family. We really appreciated how welcome our boys were to literally have the run of the place.

Portola Pirate Program

After settling into our courtyard-view room (which was very nicely decorated, and included welcome, if not fairly standard) amenities like a mini-fridge, ample closet space, and spa robes as well as extra touches like slatted blinds and chic decor, we checked out the outdoor heated pool (adjacent to the spa, which sadly, I didn’t have opportunity to try out). We did enjoy taking a glass of wine to the hot tub while the kids splashed in the pool before dinner. We were tempted by the outdoor fire pit and fresh California cuisine at the hotel’s Peter B’s Brew Pub, but in the end, the kid-friendly offerings on Fisherman’s Wharf (only steps away) won out. Note: Jack’s, the hotel’s main restaurant, looked a bit too dark and stuffy for our taste, decorated more like an old-school nautical club, though the staff was friendly and kid-welcoming.

Portola hotel and spa pool

We ate in our room in the morning (easy with the mini-fridge and plenty of counter space), but plenty of coffee and cafe-style breakfast spots are in walking distance (including a coffee shop right at the hotel). Also on-site: a candy store, a great bike and outdoor equipment rental shop, Adventures by the Sea, and a fitness center. I loved how close Monterey’s Historic Walking Tour was (the historic custom house was right outside the resort), and how easily families could connect with the many bike and walking paths. We could easily walk to the Coast Guard Pier to see the seals, and all the way to Cannery Row, should we desire. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Carmel’s 17 Mile Drive are only minutes away by car. All in all, the Portola is a great home base for visiting Monterey with kids.

Distance from the interstate:

Five minutes from Highway 1.

Room rates:

Rates at the time of our visit varied from $225 for a standard (courtyard view) double room to $309 for a harbor-view room. We experienced a courtyard view, which was still lovely…upgrading is not necessary for a peaceful, pretty view. The Portola offers valet parking for $20 a night or self parking for $17.

Included amenities:

The Portola’s nightly rate does not include a complimentary breakfast, but does include a heated outdoor pool and spa, fitness room, and kids’ Portola Pirate Program. Free wifi is available in the spacious (and comfortable) lobby area, and available in-room for an additional fee. Room service is also available.

Directions:

The Portola Hotel and Spa is located at 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA. From downtown Monterey, it’s an easy few blocks to the hotel (right outside the busy Cannery Row area and adjacent to the Historic Fisherman’s Wharf.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Portola Hotel and Spa as guests of the hotel and Monterey County. Though their hositality is appreciated, as it allows us to review amenities for traveling families, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.