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Destinations / TRAVEL BUZZ
BODEGA BAY While there is speculation that Bodega Bay may actually
have been Sir Francis Drake’s “Nova Albion” California landing site rather
than Drakes Bay (is it too late to switch the names?), there is no denying this
Sonoma Coast haven is every bit as gorgeous as its southern neighbor. Greeting
visitors since 1972, the 83-room Bodega Bay Lodge is situated just above Doran
Beach, with expansive views of the varied human and wildlife activity in the
bay. Just one hour north of Marin, the recently renovated property includes
a bocce ball court, an infinity-edge hot tub and a large outdoor fire pit ideal
for after dinner conversation. The property’s Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen
has also been upgraded, but the big news is the five new ocean-view suites
designed by Sausalito’s Laura Cook, which bring a whole new standard of
luxury to the place: each suite has an overstuffed king bed and adjacent queen
sofa bed in the spacious living area, state-of-the-art entertainment system,
granite fireplace, soaring vaulted ceilings and the pièce de résistance, spa-like
bathrooms with deep jetted tubs. Weekend rates start at $429 for rooms
and $789 for suites. bodegabaylodge.com
Coastal
Restoration
Looking for an Indian summer escape? These three
popular spots have been around for decades with
sounds of the sea to lull you to sleep, and they’ve all
just had a refresh. MIMI TOWLE AND KASIA PAWLO WSKA
SANTA CRUZ An hour’s drive south will get you to
a place synonymous with surf and summer fun. Dream
Inn, possibly the best-named hotel ever, was constructed
in 1963, proudly displaying its clever moniker with a
room rate of around $20 a night. Through the decades
the property changed hands and lost rights to the name,
then got it back about a decade ago and reemerged as the
main luxe option in Santa Cruz. Fast-for ward to this
summer, with a renovation that’s brought an Instagram-worthy expanded and improved pool and hot tub area,
plus beach-chic rooms with private balconies, aquatic
art and flat-screen TVs. You’ll find elevated cuisine in the
award-winning Aquarius, also home to the Jack O’Neill
Lounge, named for the wet suit pioneer who helped put
Santa Cruz on the surfing map: he opened the first trademarked Surf Shop in this exact location in 1952, and his
boards are on display in the bar. Weekend rates start at
$379. dreaminnsantacruz.com
MARSHALL In 1913, the Marconi Company,
which sent the first transatlantic wireless message, built stations in Bolinas and Marshall trying
to repeat the feat — this time across the Pacific. It
worked. In fact, the Marshall station was the first
in the nation to learn of the attack on Pearl Harbor
and transmitted the news across the U. S. In the
following years the station itself was relocated to
Point Reyes and, in an unusual twist, the Synanon
Foundation, later exposed as a malevolent cult,
acquired the Marshall property. Now a State
Historic Park, the 62-acre Marconi Conference
Center houses overnight guests in 40 rooms.
Recently redone by interior designer Landes Good,
the resort-like setting offers local seasonal cuisine
and rooms with natural Coyuchi linens. History-minded visitors will find not only radio ephemera
inside the hotel but also remnants of the original
antenna’s concrete anchor still visible up on the
hill. And if you needed just one more reason to
visit, right across the street, Hog Island Oyster Co.
has taken over beloved Tony’s Seafood Restaurant,
the family-run eatery on Tomales Bay opened by
Croatian fisherman Anton (Tony) Konatich in 1948
— retaining the restaurant’s original name. Rooms
start at $250. marconiconferencecenter.org
Air to the
Thrones
For Game of Thrones
fans, the online travel
agency CheapOAir is
offering these “
thro-nies-friendly” flight
and hotel deals
throughout season
seven. All offers
are good with the
booking of a five-night/six-days stay.
cheapoair.com M. T.
1 Visit the corner of
Essos in Barcelona from
New York for $770 per
person at Hotel Mas
Salagros EcoResort &
Aire Ancient Baths.
2 Visit the Riverlands
and the Vale of Arryn
in Reykjavik from New
York for $827 per person at Icelandair Hotel
Reykjavik Natura.
3 Visit Tollymore
Forest Park in Belfast
from New York for
$863 per person at
Titanic Guest.
4 Visit Sunspear, the
capital of Dorne in
Seville, from New York
for $888 per person at
Aguilas5 Sevillasuites.
5 Visit the fortress
city of Mdina in Malta
from New York for
$947 per person at
Dragonara Court.
6 Visit the House
of the Undying in
Dubrovnik from New
York for $1,064 per
person at Apartments
Mandy.
