It seemed like we had checked the most popular places for a Northern California weekend getaway off of our list. Point Reyes, Healdsburg, Guerneville, Sea Ranch, we had done them all, and we were looking for a new place to explore that was only a few hours outside of the Bay Area. That's when I heard of Timbercove in Jenner, CA. To be honest, I didn’t even know there WAS a Jenner, CA, but after researching it, it looked beautiful. So a couple of weekends ago we made the 3 hour drive from the East Bay, up the coast, to the lovely Timbercove Resort, and boy, what good a weekend getaway can do for the soul!
Timbercove Resort has been around for decades, but it was recently remodeled last year by none other than THE Novogratz. Fun, right? Their funky cool style can be seen indoor and out, and it fits seamlessly into the cool, lodge-feel of the original Timbercove. I loved that we were in the middle of nowhere, yet didn't have to compromise on enjoying good design!
Some favorite design details? Well, most everything is cute, down to the room key cards. I loved the purposefulness in the small things. For instance there is a record player in every room and a record library in the lobby, so you can jam out to your favorite tunes when you're not listening to the ocean. The mini bar is stocked with healthy, locally sourced snacks, all in the cutest branded packages. I’m a coffee snob (there’s no way around it!), so I loved the drip coffee available in every room. Oh and let’s not forget, the sassy door message! Our suite was also complete with a cute SMEG fridge, and I won't tell you how I geeked out over the simple-to-use Nest heating system. It's the little luxuries in life.
While I want to say the design was my favorite thing , it’d have to come third to the hotel’s amazing restaurant, Coast Kitchen, and THE LANDSCAPE/WHALES. Yes, that’s right, we saw whales, right off the freakin' coast, but first, let’s talk food.
Coast Kitchen is a super impressive, in-house restaurant that follows a farm to table food experience and my god, is the food delicious. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, do yourself a favor and enjoy a meal here if you happen to be in the area. You don’t want to miss the Crab Beignets, Beef and Chorizo Burger, Fried Quail or the 12 Hour Braised Short Ribs with Polenta, believe me. They also have a very impressive wine list full of local Sonoma and Napa wines. Yum-my. You can eat indoor or out, or even enjoy nibbles in the lobby bar. We lucked out on some stellar weather so were able to enjoy a few meals outside, overlooking the ocean.
Ok, now the best part about Timbercove? Obviously it's the 25 acres of beautiful coastline. Situated just yards from the water, the property of the resort itself is really spectacular. You can wander from your room and go for a hike, spot seals and osprey nearby, play bocce ball while whale watching, and sip rosé while sunset gazing. We were lucky to visit during whale watching season, which I'd highly recommend you do! I wasn't convinced we would see anything, but I was certainly not skipping a minute with my eyes glued to my binoculars. We weren't even out for more than 30 minutes before seeing some action. To our surprise, we ended up spotting about ten whales — a few playing so close to shore, you could thrillingly enjoy the show with your naked eye. Speaking of binoculars. Have none? Don't fret. Of COURSE, each room comes equipped with them, so us city folk don't have to worry about where to find a pair! It was truly a magical seeing huge, majestic grey whales right off of our balcony and it's an experience we'll never forget.
I could have stayed for hours looking out into the endless blue ocean and listening to the waves crash against the rocky shore. Oh wait, I did. And it started from the moment I woke up. The reality is, I didn't even have to be outside to enjoy the scenery. The sunrises and sunsets were so beautiful from our room. Waking up, in the most comfortable beds ever, to the sight of a pink horizon made me never EVER want to leave. I can’t wait to visit again!
