The Lodge at Bodega Bay

There’s no such thing as a perfect hotel. But there’s something truly satisfying about a hotel that’s perfectly tailored to the destination, that delivers exactly the experience you’re looking for. If the destination in question is Sonoma, we can probably guess at what that experience might be — and we can tell you that the Lodge at Bodega Bay is prepared to provide it.

Easy access from San Francisco? Got it. The lodge is an hour’s drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge, close enough for an quick weekend getaway. Peace and quiet? Yes, indeed. The property occupies seven acres overlooking a quiet beach that extends for two miles: peer through a pair of binoculars and you might spot a migrating whale. Proximity to wine country? Of course. And speaking of wine, it’s only natural that you’d expect a first-class dining experience. The Lodge at Bodega Bay hits that mark, too. Note the sustainably sourced seafood menu at Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen, and local wines served by the stone fireplace or outdoors at teak rocking chairs positioned around a crackling fire pit. Even the organic coffee in the lobby is excellent. Is the hotel eco-friendly? Please, don’t bother asking.

Above all, perhaps, this is a hotel that understands its clientele. You want a wood-burning fireplace in your room and a private balcony with an ocean view, and you’ve got it. You want a complimentary glass of wine in the evening — and the comforting knowledge that there’s a great fitness center to sneak off to tomorrow in case you over-indulge at dinner tonight — and you’ve got that, too. Guest rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, with hardwood floors and king-sized beds, iPod docks, artisanal bath products, LCD flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and large bathrooms laid with porcelain tile and granite.

Infinity pools may be a dime a dozen these days, but th Lodge at Bodega Bay has an infinity-edge hot tub facing the bay. It’s a fine place to unwind after a day of wine-tasting or hiking or cycling on one of the lodge’s fleet of bicycles. We’re about done running down the checklist for the perfect weekend in Sonoma. But let us know if we’ve missed something.