Our first look at the Inn at Newport Ranch proved that we had made a wonderful choice as headquarters for an exploration of California's scenic north coast area.
The Inn sits in solitary splendor on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean on one side and lofty timbered mountains on the other.
We were met at the Lodge entrance by Manager Evan Manly and what followed was a quick tour of a wonderful carefully crafted wooden building with an interior artfully designed with a large lounge, a library, and dining room with massive fireplace.  Windows all around to view the surrounding countryside and ocean.
Then handed the key to our room which turned out to be a suite in a separate building. Our suite, named 'The Grove' included an entry cloak room, then a large lounge with fireplace, artful furniture that matched the surroundings, two bedrooms, each with bath, a fully equipped kitchen, an intimate dining area adjacent to the lounge and  an outdoor deck dining area as well.
Historically the Ranch is located in an area that in the logging boom of the 1800s included two towns and an ocean point that was used to load ships with the harvested timber.  But that is all gone now leaving the Inn situated on 2000 acres of pasture for its herd of 250 cows as well as miles of timber in the mountains that dominate the interior.
The Inn at Newport Ranch is new, open just one year, but already attracting national attention.  It is located just a few miles north of Fort Bragg on North Highway One.
The rooms and suites have all amenities including television and Wi Fi.  For us it prove the perfect place to explore Fort Bragg and the surrounding redwood groves.