4.5 STARS
Co-worker:…read more"What did you do Labor Day weekend?"
Me: "I went to Costanoa in Pescadero."
Co-worker: "Whoa, roughin' it?!"
Me: "I stayed in the lodge."
Co-worker: *ROLLS EYES*
Me: "Hey, I need to be close to a bathroom, okay?! I'm not poppin' a squat in the middle of the night...with my luck, it would be over poison oak."
Opened in 1999, Costanoa is a massive 48-acre coastal resort that's perfect for some R&R or a quick retreat from the city.
DRIVE FROM THE CITY
About an hour away, even the drive there felt like part of the getaway...super calming and scenic with gorgeous coastal views and glimpses of beaches along the way.
Some parts have no posted speed limit and luckily, the cop just waved to slow down.
PROPERTY
Costanoa has a little something for every level of outdoorsiness - traditional campsites, glamping tent bungalows, RV sites, cabins, and the lodge for those who need indoor plumbing.
The property itself is huge with a garden, farm, goat stables (the goats are named after food!), playground, lawns, picnic and BBQ areas, a dog park, trails, communal fire areas, and multiple bungalow villages.
The General Store is surprisingly well stocked with pretty much all the essentials: a huge selection of cold drinks, beer + wine, snacks, frozen food (tv meals, burritos, hot dogs, ground beef, etc), toiletries, ice, firewood, batteries, s'mores kits, goat feed, Costanoa merch, and more. There's also a microwave for guest use but it was very dirty.
The Activity Center offers games, crafts, and scheduled activities. You can also rent pedal karts for 1-5 people by the hour to cruise around and explore the property. I found the property walkable tho.
FOOD
There's one on-site resto: Cascade serving farm-to-table California coastal cuisine. It's the only resto in Pescadero open every day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We tried Cascade for dinner (3 stars) but that's for another review.
There's also Pine Tent, a seasonal outdoor spot serving pizza, beer, and wine but it's only open on weekends during the season.
We bought food from the nearby taqueria and famous deli (10 minute drive) but found it underwhelming.
Def meal preppin' next time!
LODGE SUITE
Recently renovated, our suite was pretty spacious and included a separate living room, king bed with a hella comfy mattress + pillows, double vanity, deep soaking tub, separate shower, mini-fridge, and private patio.
There's heat but no A/C, and the ice machine is located outside on the ground floor.
There's also no TV, but we came prepared and brought a mini projector.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Juan is AWESOME, both over the phone and in person. Super helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, some of the other front desk staff came off a bit unwelcoming.
On the upside, I mentioned during booking that we were celebrating a birthday and they surprised us with a goodie basket filled with snacks, chocolate, a Costanoa cap, and a handwritten card. Such a thoughtful touch.
DOG-FRIENDLY
Costanoa is very dog-friendly with the exception of the pitch-your-own-tent campsites but there's weight and breed restrictions. There's a $75 flat pet fee per stay for the Lodge, cabins, and glamping tent bungalows.
Cascade's outdoor deck/patio is dog-friendly.
PARKING
Parking is free for the first two cars.
NEGATIVES
* Their website is pretty clunky and doesn't show availability at a glance. It's annoying having to click through individual dates just to figure out what accommodations are actually available.
* There's basically no cell service (Verizon)...even with WiFi, I couldn't make a call. In case of an emergency, there's a landline at the lodge's lobby.
* Speaking of Wi-Fi...it's spotty and slow.
Overall, Costanoa ended up being exactly the kind of getaway I was looking for: peaceful, scenic, dog-friendly, and outdoorsy without requiring me to actually rough it. It was the ideal place to unplug and connect with nature. Will def be back next year!