What a rare and special find is this, nestled just off the beach on the northern Mendocino coastline! Private access to an amazing beach... a sacred freshwater creek running through it... trails to old-growth redwoods... a carriage house and farmhouse from the 1800's... an array of unique, hand-made accommodations, each with an uncanny attention to detail. A perfect destination for those who want a nourishing get-away to a rustic, enchanting kind of property you don't find often in this realm. read more

We had the absolute best experience staying here in their cabin. We will definitely return. I highly recommend staying here. Thank you!

This was a very pleasant surprise on our trip to Redwoods National Park. The Inn is an 1800's ranch building, with all the weathering you would expect. The room was a delightful parlor like bedroom with beautiful period furniture, and a modernized kitchen area. It was very clean and cosy. It was the highlight of our trip. read more

Our third visit to Howard Creek Ranch. First during the pandemic, first time in The Octagon. I really missed their breakfast. Truly added charm to the stay. The Octagon cabin (ALL OF THEM, really) is such a fantastic example of Sonny's artistic craftsmanship. Visitors should be aware that these accommodations are creations from the owners minds. Each piece of glass or tiny accent of wood is a decision. You get to sleep in art. I'm a fan of an outdoor shower and this cabin had one. Also, a wonderful jacuzzi! The pools just off the porch are still under construction and currently home to an army of tadpoles and baby salamanders (stared at them for hours). Instant water heater, so you'll have plenty of hot water. No suds in the tub! There is a microwave, blender, and mini fridge at The Octagon. Also 2 sinks, limited silverware and dishware. Come prepared with easy meals and snacks or dive into Ft. Bragg for meals or supplies (about 20 miles south on hwy 1). Above the farm is a trail leading up and down the mountain. The foggy mist lingered throughout our stay, which I was delighted with. On the mountain, you'll find evidence of what I hope will become future sites to rent or camp at (not yet!), you'll find an enchanted forest and a beautiful view at the top! Highly recommend exploring these woods safely. Below the farm is the beach. Quiet and beautiful! Find out the tide times and take a walk for hours. Watch the sunset. Often, the horizon is cloudy by you'll see the silver off the sun as it passes the line of the ocean. Breathtaking. Animals! When we visited, there was a brown bear sighting at the state beach across the street. I saw evidence of its presence at the top of the mountain and I gather the toppled waste bins at HCR on the morning we departed were signs of its shenanigans. Deer, so many birds, and snakes are at home in Westport. The ranch is also host to a few wonderfully friendly cats (kittens too!). There's also a mallard so friendly, In not sure it knows its not a dog. Bring books, cards and games and musical instruments. Sonny plays and, if the time and mood is right, a jam will commence. I've read a few reviews from over the years that Sally has a prickly way of speaking with guests. I haven't experienced it myself, but I suppose I can see where one might pick that up. My advice: don't be a ninny AND toughen or grow up. Most of the interactions I've had with staff here have been delightful and uplifting. I don't mind a little attitude and I don't expect every single person at every single business I patronize to kiss my bum or be Mary Poppins. I suspect they'll do fine if you can't abide a proprietor who's rough around the edges or has had a bad day. Have also read suggestions that they implement an online reservation system. Sally and Sonny are extremely personable, creative, caring people. When you make your reservation over the phone, it's an opportunity to interact with a human ON SITE who knows about the most recent changes, will ask you questions to test you out (HCR may not be for everyone and I know they'd rather host people who enjoy themselves than take your money while you're having a miserable time). 30 seconds on the phone vs. 30 seconds online... you'll be fine. My two cents to everyone at Howard Creek? Keep doing what you're doing. The site changes and improves everytime we visit and I'm in love with it all. My wife and I and our friends plan on coming back as often as possible forever. Still highly recommend. read more

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We love HCR. It is a restorative, tranquil place that is close to nature. We stayed in the Walden Room this time. We had a fantastic view of ocean while sitting out on our private deck and enjoying grilled Salmon. Sonny brought back breakfast (a loss due to COVID). He makes blueberry muffins, fresh coffee and will make you an egg sandwich. The room is crafted by hand with wooden walls and beautiful tile. It has a kitchenette (sink, counter, microwave and mini fridge) I highly recommend it. read more

I've been going to Howard Creek Ranch for over a decade. I've only stayed in cabins (Meadow, Boat, and Beach), but I've gotten tours of most of the other rooms. I adore this place and the people running it, but it's not for everyone: The setting is gorgeous. The garden is a lovely place to wander, or enjoy a snack when it's sunny. I love the swinging bridge, the gate and walkway up to the main house. I feel like I'm entering another world. Walk 5 minutes west to the ocean, east up the hill through lovely, secluded forest. Currently there are a couple of ducks who might waddle around the grounds with you as you protect them from hawks. Breakfast is amazing, often featuring flowers and veggies from the Ranch's gardens. Breakfast is currently not allowed by the county, due to the pandemic. The only way to reserve a room currently is by calling, and they told me when I called. I don't know why others were surprised by it. In normal times, all the guests meet in the dining area of the main house & Sally and/or Sonny may share some fantastic stories of their travels or life on the ranch. I've had some great conversations with guests and staff. The info sheet in the rooms tells you to bring your credit card to breakfast when you're checking out. That shouldn't have been a surprise either. All the rooms and cabins have old West Coast charm, which Sonny and various helpers have restored and expanded with recycled old growth redwood and other novelties. If you appreciate sustainability, you'll love it. I couldn't believe how much the Meadow Cabin has changed over the years. It felt very safe to have my own bathroom & kitchen during this pandemic. I'm allergic to dust. This isn't in my head, it's confirmed by allergy tests. I don't even have to take Zyrtec when I'm here! Some rooms do have a bit of a musty smell to them, but I've never had a reaction or found them dirty. The sheets, bathrooms, sink, shower, etc are clean. I'm a little neurotic about checking sheets & have at other hotels requested to change rooms when the bathroom is less than stellar. HCR is clean. This is the place for you if you like being able to open your window, and don't like what we usually deal with at hotels: recycled air, or Tide & Febreez wafting throughout. I was nervous when I saw my drawer of silverware, because pretty much every place I've been to that has silverware for guests is filthy. Not so here! No sticky, rusty, or dirty pieces in the lot, all sparkling clean. Thank you, HCR! I saw the pictures from another guest. Not all spots are mold, not all dark-colored mold is "black mold." Sometimes older shower ceilings get stained from minerals in the water that build up in condensation. Granted, maybe at one point it was live mold, but I am certain they have scrubbed & bleached it to death & it's just stained. If clean, sterile stains are upsetting to you, that's ok! But some rooms here may not be for you. Again, the showers, tubs, sinks, and toilets in the cabins I've stayed in have been spotless. People who enjoy interesting nick-knacks from bygone eras will enjoy poking around. Minimalists, I love ya, but you might feel there is too much going on. Sunny has a genius for finding beautiful old windows and wood from older buildings and using them to build and expand rooms and cabins. If you hike around you may find some of these collections. I think of it like an artist's studio: you'll find unfinished pieces that they work on as inspiration comes to them, or they'll have things they know will come in handy when the project presents itself. You have to actively look for these places, though. It's not strewn about, as some have suggested. If you're lucky, Sonny may tell you about his past works or future plans. I wish I had even half his skills or inspiration! I told some German friends that I stayed at a B&B recently, no mention of where. They asked, "The one with the boat-cabin?" They remembered staying here over a decade ago & how much they appreciated my recommendation. Potential downsides: The prices did feel a bit steep, but I guess the Bay Area has reached all the way up the coast. Look at room prices at other nearby places, which are not as pandemic-friendly. It's mostly the same or more. You may not get WiFi in your cabin, but you will in the carriage house & probably in the Boat. I could get it across the creek from the carriage house. I appreciated being mostly cut off, but able to check messages a few times a day. If you are in a wheelchair, I don't think you'd be able to get around much here. Other mobility difficulties should be manageable, just ask about your particular room or cabin when reserving. If mosquitos love you, you may want to avoid the Meadow in warmer months. If you crave a beautiful, very unique, rustic place with genuine, hard-working people, Howard Creek Ranch will be up your alley! read more

The perfect weekend getaway! Howard Creek Ranch Inn sits on THE most beautiful multi-acre property right on the Mendocino County coast, surrounded by forest, flora and fauna. We stayed in the Beach House, a detached cabin which is closest to the beach (you can walk there in less than 5 minutes) and had a direct ocean view from the deck. It's a lovely & cozy cabin with quilt covered beds (one on ground level & one upstairs in the loft), a kitchenette, a wood stove fireplace, patio seating and a private hot tub on the deck. If the weather isn't too cold, you can leave a window or door cracked, and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. As much as we adored the Beach House, we want to come back to try the other unique cabins! Plus the staff was very friendly, the surrounding nature is so lovely, and there were cute cats & kittens roaming around the main house. Howard Creek Ranch Inn felt like a dream that I can't wait to experience again. read more

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We had a lovely and peaceful time away from the Bay Area at the Meadow Cabin. We loved the patio hot tub, and it was a nice, cozy place to be to enjoy our honeymoon. The trail to the beach combined with the trees and forestry were fabulous We will definitely be back. read more

Super epic. Great rooms and nice people. Go look at the place and fall in love with the Location.

We really wanted to like this place but HBR let us down in several areas. Pros: Unique rooms with cool redwood woodwork and tile. Large rooms In the Carriage House and some with spas. Secluded location on coast just off Hwy 1 and within couple hundred yards of the beach. Cool backstory on the property history. Cons: Pardon the long list but this place fundamentally failed to meet basic hospitality expectations. Customer service: We dealt with one of the long-time owners. She was not rude but was not friendly or helpful. When asked about directions she rattled off about eight steps too quick to retain (the area does not have internet) and said she would email instructions. She didn't. Asked about breakfast options since they were not serving ANY breakfast, she said she eats yogurt each morning. She wasn't trying to be funny but seemed annoyed that we would ask. Note there are no food options within about 15 miles. Pet friendly and they were flexible at the last minute to let us rent one night despite a two night minimum. The room had very few supplies and appeared to be from Target. The mattress was terrible and we slept poorly (key failing of any lodging). The gas fireplace heater was way too hot and would not shut off. We had to turn off the gas supply. This is obviously an issue due to the various handwritten notes asking not to turn off gas but the system would not stop heating. It's broken. Fix it. For a hair dryer, we had to walk about two hundred feet across a rickety bridge and call the owner at the main house to have one placed in the lobby. The very old looking hair dryer failed to work. By the way, we paid $200 for this room. The grounds had some decent landscaping but were mostly in disarray. Overgrown weeds, straight up junk, broken tile and deteriorating patio features, etc. The buildings are best described as dilapidated and had to be full of safety and building code violations. Be very careful stepping on the homemade bridge over the creek. Check In: We called to say we would arrive late. Owner said envelope would be taped to the front door. However, there was no signage and we searched for ten minutes in the dark before another guest directed us to a house across the way. They had the same issue the night before. No guest should have to search like that on a strange property late at night. Summary: HBR is a very tired and rundown business. If I had driven up during the day I would not have recognized the property as an Inn. The exterior was falling apart with wood and paint in severe condition and plywood patches throughout. This is not an exaggeration. It needs major renovation and a fresh attitude. It has great potential but needs lots of work. I would have given this one star but my GF wanted two because the rooms are unique (but not clean!! floors were dirty with cracked tiles and dirty, multiple broken windows in our room). We will not return until someone has rebuilt this unique place. read more

I went memorial day weekend with my daughter and husband, we wished we didn't have to come home and now that we're back home we just want to go back to the ranch. This isn't a 5 star hotel with shops and malls and constant phone service but what you do get is a beautiful ranch full of history and nature at every turn. The staff is also amazing. I want a big shout out to Sue and her son John for really taking care of us and making our stay so much more memorable and enjoyable. They were so helpful about finding things to do and we definitely can't wait to visit again and see everyone. read more

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This was my first time there and it was wonderful! No TV or internet at the Boat House, which was wonderful! Took a bit getting used to the set up But once we did, no problems. It was wonderful to be able to walk to the beach. We got some great shells and even saw a Starfish attached to one of the rocks. The place is beautiful! Can't wait to come back next year and try out a different cabin. Thank you!! read more

I feel that I have a duty to get this review correct. Everyone deserves to spend a night here. No amount of money from The Hilton can match this artsy, enchanting place. Magical is not in my diction, but link it to The Howard Creek Ranch. My fiance is flying to Arcata (my temporary home) from Austin Texas, and we are driving down HW 101 for his sake. I plan to marry on the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in an extremely informal service. My former fling, a HSU (Humboldt State University) professor, took me here. When we drove up, I was angry. From a distance it looks like a large barn. But up close, the garden is dream-like. It was not until I had to gently walk over a swinging bridge, above a stream, with Christmas lights, that I began to get excited. Sally and her husband worked so hard on their treasure. Sally is so quirky. Ask her about Hunter S. Thompson. Ask her about her desire to give every room a perfect quilt, not some hotel comforter set. She's a real hippie with an extremely strong work ethic, so for her and her husband's artistic hands, they deserve respect and praise. My 'fling' and I put on the rain boots they provide and walked through a low river like children. This stream lead us through a forest and to the beach. I saw tide-pools (my laptop screen saver is a tide pool, starfish and purple grass, from our stay here.) So the review about the smells: Nature baby. Inside the only scents are sweet Redwood (because of superior architecture the wood is Redwood, which most people enjoy smelling) and their extensive library (I love the scent of used bookstores.) Finally our stay. Imagine a hybrid of a Church, library, museum, and yet pure comfort. Tap your inner child. There are many musical instruments around for spontaneous jam sessions. Globes, books, a gorgeous spiral staircase, and a diary to write anything. I spent much time in the jacuzzi, and had a glass of red wine. The woman's review below me describes breakfast perfectly. I kept asking for more of her cooked pears. They should videotape (a joke) the eclectic group of happy travelers. The food was a bold five stars. And everyone comes from different places and are instant friends, united in happiness. There was a pregnant woman, a doctor, us: we all ran the socioeconomical gamete. It's been a year and I still think of Sally's cooking (I am a veggie, my former fling is a meat eater.) Since my experience I have been telling everyone to visit The Howard Creek Inn. It tapped into my creative side. I should add a photo of me in Sally's colorful garden. I will never find such a jewel again ( a probable fact, not a wish.) If you are a television junkie, and you can not relax and unplug from the world, then don't come. You must appreciate the love put into this oasis. The negative reviews bother me because this place is so romantic. Our downstairs guests/friends shared a bottle of wine and whale watched from their outside patio.Ocean front, stain glass rooms (many at least) a mouth watering breakfast with interesting people, books galore, pastures, a jacuzzi, and no cable! I'll be coming here every summer for the rest of my life. Whether your living in Annapolis, Maryland or Humboldt county, you will not find a place so uniquely romantic. *In my Yelp photos, I have one photo of Sally's colorful flower garden. read more

What a wild, rustic, relaxing place! We stayed in the beach house, with views of the ocean, the pitch-black darkness of the country at night, and the lullaby of crashing waves as we went to sleep. Not that we slept too much... with a covered hot-tub, a fireplace, and plenty of wine, there were a few other activities as well. : ) There are wonderful hiking trails on the property, as well as the Lost Coast trail in the vicinity, great beachcombing walks along the ocean. The breakfasts were delicious: Quiche, biscuits, muffins, fresh fruit, baked granola-filled apples, fresh mint tea, etc. The gardens were bursting with tulips, there was a baby sheep born last week nuzzling up to its mother, a grove of redwoods along the property's hiking trail, wonderful snapshots of perfection. The inn is a 20-30 minute drive away from Fort Bragg and the wonderful shopping area and delicious restaruants, the glass beach, and breweries. For some people this might be far... but I loved escaping civlization for a few days, only going back to it when we had to. But this is not your normal B&B... you don't have to be quiet and worry about following any rules, there is a complete and utter lack of pretentiousness, instead you are free to just be... to pull on wellies and rain slickers and ford the winding creeks, to snuggle in a private hot tub under the stars, or to explore the ranch's property. The inn itself is a work in progress... still progressing... so don't expect perfection of the modern sort. Instead, expect a soul-strengthening perfection of the wild, untameable nature of things and people. : ) read more

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I chose the place based on reviews and had never been to a B&B before. Maybe its not my thing. I liked that it avoided the doily strewn path to old lady madness and seemed rather rural. It is obvious that the proprietors have been working on it for years and years, and the hand crafted woodwork in the barn/carriage house is truly truly amazing. The old farmhouse is lovely, the garden is astounding. There was such care put into constructing and furnishing the space, the details were breathtaking- a single example is the solar room. The huge windows alternated with tiny inset panels of stained glass. The enormous (and cozy) bed was built into the room, and the floor patterned through alternating different wood grains and stains. Its difficult to describe the beauty of this room. J and I were really inspired by the creativity it took to construct this place, but overwhelmed by what can only be described as a highly functional form of hoarding/clutter.In the enormous carriage house, are at least a dozen different sitting areas. Couches, chairs, tables, lamps. There is a profusion of beautiful old furniture, but also a profusion of random crap. Personally, I'd clear out at least half of the moth eaten books and wooden ducks and frog statues and ugly 70s sofas and full dining table setups and glass cases filled with dishes and teacups and eggcups. But that's just me. The greater vision of this place includes moments of rare beauty. I'd keep the mouldering moose head and rusting replica covered wagon and gold hobby horse, but lose the porcelain dolls and slightly balding fuzzy fake rabbits. But its all one thing, and someone else would probably keep the floral velvet couches and lose the old phonograph or the rusted ice skates. Its a truly unique place, but I gotta tell you there are some unsavory corners. The construction is ongoing and the clutter is arranged in some places, barely hidden in others. The beach was close by, but so was the freeway, and there was an odd murky separation between Ranch Grounds and a truly grotesque park like area leading to the beach where refuse littered the ground and people seemed to be camped out near the murky water. The place had all these beautiful built in details like little shelves and window seats...but so much random crap piled on and around them detracted from the final effect. In any case, we enjoyed our room, which was lovely and detailed. The bed was cozy and we could hear the ocean. I felt very uncomfortable with the whole communal breakfast situation. I don't know if its customary to have all these random strangers eat together. We were all squished at a few dining room tables in the main house and obliged to socialize with a bunch of strangers from Illinois and Sacramento. Not that I have a problem with those places or people, just nothing to talk to them about. There was one other couple about our age, everyone else was middle aged or elderly. I just wasn't sure what to make of it. And breakfast was supposed to be this big deal too, but it was fruit platters and biscuits that were clearly not homemade and some eggy deal and sausages. I don't eat meat, so I was down to eggs, biscuits, strawbs and jam, which was fine but I later came to wonder if there hadn't been some kind of meat item in the eggs. It was ok, but nothing special, really. Then Sally insisted we all needed to crowd into the kitchen to settle payment. There just wasn't room for us and it was very uncomfortable. We had been the only people in the place when we checked in, and had seen only a few of the guest until this point and I just wondered if we couldn't have paid right away. I had some lovely kitten coffee porch garden time while J paid, then we grabbed out stuff and hit the road. J was driving fast and the road was twisty and I was reading a book, I don't usually get carsick, but this time I did. In fact I had only ever gotten carsick once before on a truly extreme road that was winding up a dormant volcano while I was reading a book. Anyway, I got pretty carsick and stopped reading and drank water and eventually had to pull over so I could puke among the lovely moss carpeted redwoods. I honestly don't even remember the last time I puked. And I don't know what happened. I drank a lot of oj b/c it was fresh and good and within reach, and J said maybe it was too much acid in my belly? I thought maybe the eggs had some kind of meat product involved that I didn't know about, but honestly I didn't have much of the egg dish. I still feel bad, a day later... so maybe I was coming down with something. I got some amazing pictures there, and was charmed by Sally and her kittens and the garden and the hummingbirds, but I wouldn't go back. It was like that junk sculpture house in the Sunset district, fascinating and beautiful in its own way. It was an odd experience, we were by turns charmed and nauseated, literally. read more

Howard Creek Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Westport, California

Why this place is awesome: - Can get a secluded cottage for around $150/night or less - Mostly everything was built by craftsman/co-owner Sonny - They've got wellies for you to go stomping across streams in - Can soak in the 2nd floor hot tub/solarium while scooping out sheep outside - Beach is all yours and a couple hundred feet walk from the main house - There's a suspension bridge you cross to get breakfast - Breakfast is yummy - Can't get internet (ha, work! I will not be checking my emails on vacation! CAN'T!) - Can be a social butterfly or a recluse while you stay there, whatever floats your boat - Unique experience, sort of "glamping"-ish, but less glam and less camping... so I'm not sure what that really means... Nevermind. It's just cool. read more

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Yokayo Ranch is a beautiful getaway! So close to town but yet you see in a whole new world as you enter the property. The whole weekend was absolute bliss. The beautiful atmosphere spoke for itself and all the guest were highly impressed. I had no worries on the day of the wedding as the wedding coordinator took care of everything little detail. She truly had everything covered from lighting candles, setting the fire and talking to vendors. I'm so grateful for Yokayo Ranch and I can't wait for our next visit. read more

Over the past 17 years, I have had the pleasure of visiting Howards Creek 10 times. This place is not for everyone. It is for people who NEED to get away, without the 5 star amenities of resorts, but the charm, love and warmth of a home away from home. Every room is different. Every experience is different. Sonny and Sally are special people and Sonny can keep you entertained for hours, between his amazing musical abilities and conversations. The place is eclectic. It is not fancy, but for the dreamer, the inspirer, the see'er the doer, the writer, the dreamer...... this is a slice of heaven. I will keep coming back for years to come and writing and reading my diary entries from previous times. I love it. read more

A very special place, but certainly not for everybody. I hate fussy bed and breakfasts. I have been to a few. Teddy bears. Hat boxes. Floral prints. Peh. It's so emasculating. But HCR is different. In a way, it is a product of its landscape, rugged and beautiful. And continually changing. Sonny is always building something. It seems every year we come back, there is another new room, or building. At the same time, some projects have been ongoing for all those years and have yet to be completed. Their flock of animals has changed. The bull is long gone. The ram is gone. The sheep are a new flock. But the llama is still there. Some things are beautifully polished. Others are not polished at all. Some things are strong and square, while others are more than a little rickety. But more than anything else, this place has a soul. And for most people who make the trek and return a second time, coming back always feels like coming home. N.B. If you decide to go, the nearest decent restaurant for dinner is about 40 minutes south. But there are grills and refrigerators, so you can bring food and charcoal from town. Other than that, you are on your own. Part of the fun is the exploration. read more

Stay away. They do not tell you that your room will be on top of a bar. They do not tell you that every time someone goes in and out of the bar your bed will vibrate. When the air conditioning goes out in your room they won't tell you that there is no manager because the manager doesn't work on weekends and cannot be reached. They will send the bartender who can do nothing because he's a bartender not a hotel manager. They say they're going to have the manager call you when the manager decides to come to work on Monday. That has been over 2 weeks I have not gotten a return call. They do not tell you that there are bands playing outside the windows most of the night. I will say the room is very nice. It's just very hot without AC and noisy and smelly from the bar below it. read more

This place is absolutely lovely and charming and gorgeous. If you are looking for modern amenities, it is not the place for you. If you are looking for a private paradise with easy beach access and quiet beauty then it is. We love the decor of our room. Its dark and lush and full of antiques and beautiful dark woods and fabrics. The wi fi works well and the staff is just wonderful. We will be returning and are so happy to have this place. Our dogs love it too. read more

Eclectic, quaint, interesting. Found this place on Yelp since we wanted a good jump-off spot for our adventure to Shelter Cove via Usal Rd. (you gotta try that someday - fun!). We got there late (read: Dark) - and this is not the place where, "they'll leave the light on for you". But they did leave flashlights on the porch! The other reviews are spot-on with their descriptions: dark, spooky, disconnected, etc. Hey - you're definitely out there! In fact, they even threw in a power outage so we ate breakfast by candlelight on a foggy morning. Character. Definitely character. Why 3 stars? It was a bit too dark. Just didn't feel welcoming. I thought it was "cool"; an adventure - like a night hike. My wife would describe it as "creepy", "uncomfortable". Our room was apparently the smallest of all and turned out to be a bit too small. Cramped, I'd say. And lacking privacy. Not that there was a lot of traffic around to walk past our floor length blind-covered windows but you kind of had that thought in the back of your mind. Wouldn't be too hard to be watched everywhere in the room except the exceptionally small toilet area. Breakfast was delicious, served family style. Plenty of food around a slightly crowded table. Points off for 1) feeling like we were late showing up at 9:05; 2) Feeling a bit rushed out as breakfast was wrapping up. Sonny (owner/builder) was more than willing to chat, both late at night while we were wandering around after we arrived and in the morning. Definitely need to meet him when you stay. We didn't stay long since we wanted to get on our trip but a longer stay would have left time for hiking, walk to the beach, pet a goat, chase a skunk, etc. read more

Let me start off by saying this property was absolutely breathtaking. A gorgeous view, private beach and the smell of fragrant eucalyptus... a little oasis. We stayed in the boathouse which was such a fun concept but you can tell it has been there for quite some time. I love the history of everything but everything needed a little bit of attention and some maintenance. The shower had a constant drip from the hot water handle that we tried to soften the sound with a towel. But the most unsettling was the rats in the ceiling. At first we thought maybe it was an animal on the roof but after sitting in silence you could hear them scratching running back in forth right above our heads in the bed. There were also paper towels stuffed into some of the holes in the ceiling which seemed a little bit inattentive. There was a wood stove that was ready to go when we got there which was a nice touch. It kept the room super warm, however the glass wasn't sealed on the face which was quite concerning. One of the best parts was that they accepted dogs in this cabin! It is a $15 extra fee per night to bring your fur friend, although not all cabins accept dogs. I did love the journals on the table that dated back to 1995, it was fun reading them aloud to eachother and even adding in our own little story. It was nice having our own private cabin but felt it could use some attention.. it has so much potential! We also took advantage of the on-site hiking to the Enchated Redwoods which was a good hike and quite cool! read more

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Huge ranch property that leads directly to the beach, about 15 minutes north of fort bragg. More than a bed and breakfast, it's an experience of nature and old-style living. Rooms are warm and comfortable, remodeled in a classic style by the innkeepers, Sally and Sunny. Don't expect internet or cell connectivity (they are working on wi-fi but it is slow) do expect lots of quiet and an experience of nature and a get away from it all. Two hours from the bay area. A short drive to funky and different Ft Bragg and chi chi and magestic Mendocino. Definitley worth the trip, pretty much the northern most b&B in the mendocino area. Google westport ca and you will find the closest, tiny town...Also they have a great trail up hill, Diablo the llama, sheeps and horses. Doilies are at a miminum! Get a room with a refrig. read more

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Let me say, I did not receive a "freebee" for writing this review. Howard Creek Ranch was John's and my first vacation together. We stayed at the Ranch for 7 glorious days and had the beach and forest at our fingertips. If you are not used to the "country life" or roughing it a bit, then this is not the place for you. We are from Los Angeles and came here to get away from the rat race of city life. It was quite a treat not to hear the usual emergency vehicles, see and hear the airplanes or other distractions. There was no cell service and wi-fi was turned on upon request. No tv and no radio. This was heaven to us. The mornings were special because you were able to meet other couples and hear of how they came about staying at the Ranch. I was a bit skeptical of the communal table but grew to look forward to who had checked in the night before. After breakfast you are on your own. Take a drive to Fort Bragg if you need supplies at more reasonable prices than Westport. If you stay in one of the guest houses away from the main house or carriage house bring charcoal, lighter fluid and MARSHMELLOWS! All in all, we got some wonderful pics, met great people, and saw lots of animals we would never see or hear in the city. Thank you Sally and Sonny for making our vacation a wonder-filled one. Ronnie read more

Howard Creek Ranch - The view of the creek from the Boat House window. - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Westport, California

If it's not your kind of place than you are not my kind of people. I have only stayed in the various cabins. Not the guest rooms. This place isn't for everyone. Yuppie folks may need to go somewhere else. "Sea view" cabin is quite possibly the best place for a Romantic getaway as is the beach house. Every time I go I thank the gods for this place. Square folk need not apply. read more

Let me start off by stating how much I love the property and our stay there. From the landscape, to the lovely staff, to the gorgeous views from all around the property, even down to the coffee (which is the best coffee I have ever had). I had a great time with my husband, and would love to go back again someday. I loved all the lovely animals that just roamed around and found this place to be magical. My only problem, which was a big one was the room. We stayed in the Captain's Quarters, which is advertised to be a large room with panoramic windows, along with your own private entrance and dining area. It was great the first night because it felt like we had our own little private corner of this amazing house. But that quickly changed as the weekend passed. I felt deceived by the advertising of this room because one night, we had people walk up and down the stairs of our "private entrance" four times. I was sitting there in my pajamas and this creepy old man just stood there, breathing heavily, watching me and my husband play chess... not once, but TWICE!!! And to top it all off, he kept leaving our door to our "private dining area" open whilst I was there in my pajamas. I asked my husband to lock the door to this private entrance as I turned the lights off to gives these clueless guests a hint. SLAM!! I get rudely woken up a little before 7am by someone closing the door to OUR private entrance. I would love to go back there again, but I will never stay in the Captain's Quarters ever again. The Meadow Cabin is the same price, and the Beach house is just a little more per night and you are truly away from the main house. I would recommend staying in those before opting in for the Captain's Quarters. And to the owners, please put up a sign at that private entrance that it is the Captain's Quarters along with that big wooden door that leads to the room. If it isn't private, I would recommend taking that off the website and your brochure because it wasn't fair to have strangers entering our room on what was supposed to be a romantic/relaxing getaway. read more

Beautiful setting, cozy cabins, wonderful breakfast, friendly and hospitable staff. Excellent experience.

This place feels like Mendocino county's best-kept secret, I got back yesterday and already want to plan the next visit. We stayed in the octagon cabin slightly up the hill from the main house and found ourselves constantly commenting on how cool the accommodations were. The bed was incredibly soft and comfortable and the owners' collection of cool antiques makes every corner worth exploring. Breakfast was amazing, the gardens were unbelievable, and there's a private path straight to the beach that takes no time at all. The only downside was the bugs. Even as a person with a pretty high squeamishness threshold there were definitely some huge spiders and centipedes (not in the cabin or bathroom for what it's worth). If you're allergic to cats you'll probably want to avoid the cabins. There's a very friendly little orange cat who pops up regularly looking for food, affection, and furniture to shed on. Bring some disposable wipes and some good walking shoes for a truly unforgettable getaway. read more

If you need TV, Wifi/internet, cell phones etc in order to have fun and require 5 star amenities please find loftier accomodations in Fort Brag or Mendicino. If you are down to earth, enjoy nature, eclectic off the beaten path hideaways and want to get away from the mundane and stress this place is for you! Breakfast is what your grandmother would make on a farm. Everyday was an adventure for my husband and I the ocean is a 10-15 min walk from the Sea View cabin and 5 from the main house. Since it's so far away from main stream tourism/people the beach has much wildlife. When the tide goes out you can find star fish, sea anemone and crabs a plenty. Sea otter and seals are not hard to spot either. We stayed in the Sea View, it was private, secluded and a 10 min walk to breakfast. It was similar to camping in that the kitchenette, shower and bathroom where open to the elements. The Jacuzzi was brand new and has a view of the ocean. We explored all the Carriage barn rooms with Sally's permission and found one amazing hand crafted room after another. It's amazing how they transformed a dilapidated barn and house and into what it is today. If I was to stay in the carriage house, I would choose the Walden room for it's beautiful tile work, bathroom and sun. Or the Redwood Suite for the size and ocean view from the deck. The entire place smells of redwood and the ocean. Not a spot of mold to be seen anywhere! Dolly the pony is fat and happy as she sits in a clover patch, grazing all day, she loves to be fed carrots. The only negative thing I could dig for is the need for a new mattress, next time I would bring a topper. read more

This isn't your average hotel experience. This place is wonderful because it feels like it has been lost in time. Huge antique collection everywhere, every room. It took my boyfriend and I an hour or so to settle in. At first, it felt haunted and it smelled stale. After a beer, we started to chill out and enjoy the quiet atmosphere and the privacy. The lady downstairs ( we stayed in the Blue Balcony Room) was chain smoking. The barn was dusty (allergies!), empty of people and any action and it was quirky. Good: indoor hot tub, comfortable bed, beach access, hearty and communal breakfast, non-chain atmosphere, unique character, beautiful garden ( birds, goats and sheep too.) Not so good: dust, unkempt grounds, old smells, hardly any people, no kitchen. We were expected something a little different. We adjusted and had a good and relaxing experience. read more

The good -The Boat room , cute room idea, charming with sky lights and antique lights, tucked in bed, cozy. The bad- hand built but not maintained. rocking toilet, no light in the shower, loose floor boards in the kitchenette, old and worn mattress. The not so good will-No power the first night and no offer to reduce our price or free up grade next time. No gesture of good will only a pat on the back. My girl friend and I both own businesses this wood not be except able. In this day and age you've got to keep your customers happy. Be prepared to ruff it if you take the boat room. read more

The owners are nice and the house is quirky (imagine spending the night in an antique store), but at $150-200 per night, you should consider the following: (1) The room strongly smelled like mothballs. It's the kind of odor that sticks in the back of your throat. (2) The king-size mattress was really two twins pushed together, and wow was it uncomfortable. It felt like the same material you'd find in a baby's mattress for a crib. (3) The windows had no screens, leaving you the undesirable choice between stuffy air and mosquitoes. (4) The bathroom and shower seemed like they were added to the room as an afterthought. They were tiny and cramped. (5) The ocean was a short walk away, but you have to walk through a field to get there. A field that sheep graze in every day. Not a pretty picture. Or smell, for that matter. It was like walking through a minefield. (6) The web site says: "Wireless internet access now available." But only in the house where breakfast is served. The house with all the rooms is too far away to pick up a signal. read more

As one reviewer put it, this place is not for everyone. The one thing I can say outright is that is definitely has character. First let me say that we had just come off of a 4 day backpacking trip followed by a 3 hour car ride. We were tired and all we wanted was to get to the shower and crash into a cozy bed. We arrive and we followed directions to call Sally from the front door. She said to wait in the living room and she will be right there. We waited for 20 min... I think Patrick put it best, It didn't matter who you were or what condition you were in, if we had showed up with a spear sticking out of your stomach, you would get the exact same tour. She walked us around the room we had just been sitting in for the past 20 min, then walked us across the very rickety old hanging bridge, and over to the barn. From there she was distracted from the tour by a small spider that she insisted on putting outside. But of course by the time she found a paper towel the spider had, "seen here coming" and disappeared. At long last we were shown to our room. We were in the carriage room, which was beautiful. The shower was hot and the bed was comfortable. And I have to say the breakfast the next morning was fantastic! Strawberry banana pancakes, fresh fruit, backed apple with granola and whipped cream, turkey bacon, a salsa-egg frittata with as much orange juice and coffee as you could drink. And it was very nice to relax in the company of your fellow B&B-ers. Payment is due after breakfast, therefor you once again have to deal with Sally. Again, she just goes at her own pace, taking card payments and flipping through her gigantic book of reservations. The lady ahead of me in line asked for a receipt and it took Sally about 10 min to come up with something resembling a receipt. To sum up, this place is comfortable and beautifully situated. With good food and gorgeous gardens, but you have to have the patience to put up with the proprietor's pace in life. read more

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My husband and I didn't have a lot of money to do an exotic honeymoon, so we decided to stay in local Northern California. I booked the room (The captain's room) based on the website. The pictures made it look beautiful. And it is. Well, it was a four hour drive from the Bay Area and by the time we got there it was dark. We were shown our room and I about melted down. I am not an antique fan and I am pretty creeped out by dolls. And this place has a LOT of both. My husband went into the bathroom and I sat on the floor and cried. The first night of my honey-moon and I was crying. My husband said not to worry that we can find another place in the morning. Well come the next morning, and we had their amazing breakfast. Filling, warm, and wonderful. After having a great conversation with Sally and the people who work there I was feeling a lot better. We walked down to the beach and around the garden. In the light of day, the place was beautiful. We did the hike through the forest, said hi to the animals, did a trip down to Fort Bragg. We even did the train ride through the redwood forest (yeah, we are tourists). I loved everything about my honey-moon. Glass beach, the botanical garden, milling around town, and Mendocino Brew. It was like an oasis and you can really relax and take a breath. We stayed there the rest of our trip and got to know some of the staff. They invited us down to the beach for a jam session. You really start to pick up the loose and hippy vibe. This is a place where you need to keep an open mind and it will sweep you off your feet. read more

A diamond in the rough. Howard Creek Ranch was truly an escape from the ordinary. And the ordinary bed and breakfast too. My boyfriend and I ended up staying an extra night because we loved it so much. I would consider driving up there just for breakfast! If you are looking for a more formal hotel or somewhere to shop, don't stay here. BUT! If you like houses with character, antiques, old fashioned living, or if you're looking for cozy rooms, soul food, endless beaches, hiking trails, and friendly people, I recommend Howard Creek Ranch. We stayed in the Solar Room the first two night and the Carriage Room the last night. Even though it would have been easy to be totally private, we befriended many of the other guests and got to see their rooms; I preferred the Solar Room because you could see the ocean out of the corner of the room and the wood work was amazing (the bed is built into the floor). Note: All the rooms have fireplaces, places to hang up/put away clothing, chairs, towels, shampoo, body wash, soap, etc. They've even got wellies and other gear if you feel like exploring the countryside. Basically you'll find everything you need- except toothpaste, and if you usually use conditioner or a hair dryer, bring those things. Also, it would be wise to bring extra food for lunch, dinner, and snacking. Cell phones probably won't work. I got a decent internet connection in our room, but I know other rooms didn't have one. The innkeepers, Sally and Sonny, and Sherryl (who helps out) are sweet people; they make you feel instantly comfortable. If you are a photographer or a nature lover, you will love this place. read more

Unfortunately the most accurate word that comes to mind when I try to describe this place is: NEGLECT. Upon arriving there is a beautiful garden and a cute check-in area that feels like an antique shop. You cross over a rickety walking bridge to get to your rooms -- and that was sweet and charming. But then you see a giant dumpster with trash spilling out of it and bags of trash ripped open on the ground by (I assume) dogs or raccoons. Okay, that is gross and seems odd to leave it that way and our host did not comment at all about the level of trash strewn about, but I was willing to be flexible: perhaps it has been a rough week. No. It has been a rough 30 years. We were shown to our room, the Redwood Suite... wowowow! Upon walking in the smell of mold and dust was so strong I felt like I was going to stop breathing on the spot. The host quickly showed us around and left. Looking around, the house was disgusting. I found items such as a cherry pit on the floor, a piece of withered cilantro next to the bed, an area of carpet completely covered in nail polish. Yes, sometimes hotels don't vacuum under the bed and remnants from previous guests can be seen, but these things were right out in the open. It was very clear that they literally do not clean A SINGLE THING in between guests. Cobwebs were everywhere. I could see the dust as it moved through the room in the air. The doorknob was completely broken so that we couldn't shut the back door or we would be locked out. I had to use a butter knife to get it open 3 times. The "soaking tub" has cracks all over it, was covered in days of bird shit, and had other people's dead skin caked on the sides. I had to clean it before use. The tub had NO FAUCET HANDLES. This room is $240/night and there are no f*%&ing handles to turn the water on. You have to shove a finger into the tiny whole where the handle should be and get it at just the right angle to get it to turn. A handle at the hardware store is less than $5. The kitchenette had a pile of silverware. Yes, just a pile. There was not a container for it, it just sits in a disorganized pile on the counter that you sift through to find what you want. The deck was falling apart, with a drop to the ground large enough that it needs a step installed. The grill was falling apart too. Everything there was one step away from not working at all. The clutter was extreme. There were 3 couches in our bedroom and two dressers, which had missing handles and when opened were covered in dust. In one I found a random tennis ball. The entire time I had a runny nose from the mold and a sore throat from breathing in dust. I read the entries in the guest book and people were raving about how they loved the place. We thought we were crazy. The place was so filthy. But then some other guests walked by and we asked them about the mold and dust in their room -- and they said their room was also atrocious and one of them had an asthma attack. We both felt so validated to hear that the other one also felt the rooms were moldy and dusty. I cannot believe this place has 4 star reviews. The only thing I can imagine is that those people have no sense of smell. If you have allergies, I would not recommend this place at all. The perks: it is remote, there is no reception, you are left completely undisturbed by anyone, there is a wood stove (with straight up cracks in the metal and the glass because it is so old, but it worked ok), and you can walk to the beach. The beach was amazing. We went to leave and check out and there was one final cherry on top: the spot that you are required to park has a tree that will cover your car in purple and brown sap that can actually stain if your car is light in color. Yes, my car is PERMANENTLY stained from this trip. And I mean alllllllll over. You would think after operating it for that long they would definitely know this happens and either have a different location to park in or build a carport. You would think that, right? But no, they won't even replace a $5 handle on a bathtub. read more

If the Lost Boys (Peter Pan, not vampires) and the Swiss Family Robinson got together to run a B&B, the result might be something like Howard Creek. Sally runs the business end of things in a fairly structured way (in particular, when she says breakfast is at 9am and bring your wallet, she means both). "Sunny" takes care of the fanciful architecture --- loft beds tucked in mirrored dormers, rope bridges, open-air shower stalls, hot tubs plumbed by Tom Swift (large manual valves, and 3 stages to fill and heat the tub), tile porch kitchens sheltered by trees, and endless stained glass. We stayed in one of the small separate cottages/cabins, which suited our more secluded preferences; the rooms in the main house would give more opportunities for mingling. The constant low-level churn of construction is noticeable (one mirror in our cabin was out for replacement) but not problematic. Food was probably the weakest part of the package. The breakfast french toast was plain white bread with margarine. Dinner is best handled by grabbing sandwiches and ice cream from a general store a few miles down the road, and eating in lawn chairs facing the sunset. Our cabin had a grill, but the rust suggested others had shared our food-to-go plan. Howard Creek is a truly unique experience. A little planning on the food front, and a readiness for crazy spaces, can make it a great getaway. read more

My girlfriend and I came across this place while researching spots in which to getaway within the Mendocino area. Of all the places, the Howard Creek Ranch sounded the most interesting. We stayed in the "Sea View"--a secluded cabin overlooking the "Sea" as well as the entire ranch. It was amazing; I had never seen a place quite like this. Except for the living room and the *extremely* cozy loft sleeping quarters, everything else was external. The kitchen, for instance, is located outside right off the spacious deck, as is the shower area. And I'm your typical "city boy"; one who'd never taken a shower outside before! But I surrendered to the entire experience and enjoyed every minute of it. It was great... On that note however, if I can digress a tad, the darkness of country night *did* freak me out a bit. Note: For all you UN-experienced campers, night time in the country is JET BLACK! SERIOUSLY FOLKS!!! And while I enjoyed the starry sky *immensely*, I had a difficult time relaxing completely. This is not to say that the experience is not a pleasurable one. On the contrary. However, those of you who are like me, a city kid with a highly active imagination, night time in the country will take a little getting used to, that's all. Anyway... Also, built into the deck is an outside bed and a Jacuzzi on its second level. You guys really have to check it out... Also, in the true tradition of "bed & breakfast", they offer an extensive *country* breakfast menu. Banana flap jacks, country fried 'taders', bacon sliced THICK, French toast, freshly sqeezed OJ, yadda, yadda, yadda--you name it! Unfortunately, since my girlfriend and I are such sleepers, we were only able to "catch the breakfast train" once during our stay. The Howard Creek Ranch is an asset to the Westport community. We definitely plan on returning--A+. read more

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I really wanted to like this place. My partner and I stayed in the Sea View Cabin. It was adorable is so many ways, but really lacked care and looking at basic details. Pros: Mendocino Coast - beautiful! Great view Outdoor shower with hot water was AWESOME! Adorable cabin that Sunny built in the 90s Hikes around this area are great! Cons: -The sheets smelled clean, but there was so many hairs all over the pillows. The top pillow literally looked like a dog had been sleeping on it. It was dirty and hairy. Not very appealing. -We tried to use the outdoor tub and was bombarded with the smell of propane. I went down to the main house to let them know and a young gentleman came up to check it out. This was after him assuring me there was no propane up there unless I left the grill on. (Note there is a huge propane tank right where you park the car.) I assured him that we had not used the grill and that it was the propane tank that seemed to be heating the large tub water. He came up and told us that the propane was not fatal and we should keep the doors of the cabin closed and stay in there to avoid the smell :( First off, propane doesn't smell! They add the smelly part so you know if a tank is leaking because it is DANGEROUS!!! Part of the reason I wanted this cabin was to have the indoor/outdoor experience and use the outdoor tub. He also told us that it may smell like propane because the tank was low. I asked if they could fix that evening or the following day as we had one more night in the cabin. The next morning I saw the owner Sunny and he said he would check it out that day. My partner and I did our activities that day hoping the situation was resolved. When we got back and tried again that evening to fill the tub, we were again bombarded with propane smell. I gave up on the tub. The next morning Sunny asked how it was and I let him know the smell was still there. Again I was told the smell is not an issue and to just fill the tub and let the smell dissipate. It's not very relaxing to tab a tub when you smell intense propane and this is not like BBQ light smell. This was an intense VERY strong smell. He then proceeded to tell me I must be really sensitive. This felt so patronizing. I am super disappointed in this place and was so excited to enjoy our get away. -The bed above in the cabin was off limits. -"Clean" dishes in the tub had food on them -There were bottle caps and trash on the ground -A chair was upside down in the brush below -Inside of cabin smelt like somehow had hotboxed it over the last week read more