the redwood croft was a surprising last stop on my wife's and my honeymoon trip around CA last summer. it was amazing. no joke. i grew up in a family of hospitality geeks, and i work in the restaurant biz, so a positive review from me comes with the ring of truth. i mean it! call now! read on for more pleasing detail.
here is the story. we had arrived at a disappointing reservation in Carmel and were unimpressed with paying close to 5 benjamins for the small, stale-smokey room next to the laundry. however, it was 5pm, so it was a big decision to ditch it. we searched our trusty Dog Lover's Guide to California and called upon Sita. she had an opening - on friday - afternoon - in august - stoked that they had no problem with our two 80# pit mixes romping about, we took a chance. we love davenport, we said. we had had a first date there, we thought. hopefully it would work out!
it more than worked out. dale and sita were gracious and hospitable, showing us to our room after our late arrival, before they headed out to santa cruz (sita was singing in a local restaurant, how cute!). the room was amazing, huge, with a kitchenette, a king bed, and an armchair which gryphon, our dane-pit mix, decided was the perfect dog bed ("the dogs are our guests too!" said Sita). the bathroom had a bidet (not into it) but an amazing shower that was so big, it was like a small pool. it didn't even need a curtain.
the grounds are another post altogether. as the name implies, the house is surrounded by redwoods. there are innumerable trees and bushes, lots of space for the dogs to romp and people to relax in, a hammock and a trampoline. (!) our pups were so much more excited here than when we were camping. i can't even believe i raised such city pits! i was happier, too, i must admit. truly, the place felt so comfortable, it was like visiting the aunt and uncle that you wished lived closer because they were SO much cooler than your parents.
we had a lovely dinner at the roadhouse down the street, another establishment big on service as well as quality. then we had breakfast in the morning catered by Dale and Sita. we were asked kindly when we would awake and when we did, there was hot, fresh coffee waiting. we had homemade blueberry pancakes on antique china, sitting down like real grown-ups with the other guests. morning #2 we enjoyed a game of scrabble with the other couple as well, while the pups played with their new friend, the shih-tzu puppy.
i could go on and on about how they truly made our honeymoon a special experience. but instead of read about it, you should experience it yourself. very few people pride themselves on the true definition of hospitality these days - selfless, joyful, holistic, graceful, hospitality - and my father ingrained in me just what that felt like. we found it at the redwood croft. i strive to achieve it with my guests, just as dale and sita do with each person who comes through their home. treat yourself and enjoy this retreat into the extraordinary. read more