Timber Cove Resort

Cutting back on screen time and returning to the simple pleasures of long walks, good conversations, reading actual books — it’s a worthy goal, but it’s easier said than done. Sometimes you need a little help to unplug. Enter Timber Cove Resort, situated on a quiet stretch of the Sonoma Coast, high on a bluff over the Pacific. It’s not that they have some sort of strict leave-your-iPhone-by-the-door policy. It’s just that the resort is slightly removed from civilization, outside of cell phone range — even the wi-fi is a little spotty up here.

Perfect, right? After all, the Sixties-era Timber Cove, built of native redwood and stone, was originally conceived as a meditation lodge. After thorough renovations in 2016, it’s more rustic-chic than strictly rustic — in-room amenities include modern record players, yoga mats, and organic bath products — but it’s still as peaceful as ever. A sunrise yoga session is, of course, optional. But consider a weekend here a welcome opportunity to get back to basics. You know, basics, like relaxing by your private fireplace, wrapped up in a sustainably produced wool blanket, gazing out at the ocean while sipping a glass of local wine from the minibar. Basics, like a clifftop hike, or playing vintage board games after dark instead of staring at a glowing screen.

Each of Timber Cove’s 46 guest rooms and suites feels like a mini-retreat. With high-beamed wooden ceilings and ocean views — all but a few rooms face the sea — they’re cozy and cheerful, simply outfitted in crisp white with leather accents and the occasional tribal textile, the beds handcrafted by artisans, the paintings on the wall created by local artists.

But the resort’s real asset is its public spaces, and the outdoor wonderland that frames them. Even on the foggiest northern California day, a huge stone fireplace adds a warm glow to the lobby and its stylish wine bar; when the clouds clear, take in sunset from the firepit before heading to dinner at Coast Kitchen, the resort’s restaurant, featuring Sonoma cheeses, local produce, responsibly sourced seafood, and, of course, a wide selection of California wines. You could drive to a few wineries from here, some near, some less near, or you could go out exploring small coastal villages and hidden beaches — or stay onsite, where you’re comfortably disconnected from it all.