Beautiful cabin or cabin-motel outside of Bay Area

March 20, 2018 3:07 PM

Do you have a favorite motel in the Sierras?

This Fall we're looking to spend our 20th anniversary (2-3 days) someplace beautiful but not crazy expensive.
We'd prefer a pretty river view rather than the beach.
Within about a 2 hour drive of San Francisco would be great.
I'm thinking the west slope of the Sierras, or could be along a coastal river.
Probably not Yosemite Valley (too crowded).
Too far: Shasta/Dunsmuir/Lassen/Bishop

Could be a cabin or a cabin-type motel, with incl kitchen & bath (we sometimes like to camp but not this time).
Easy walking to diner/river/fly fishing/picnics.

Any ideas on a spot like this??

posted by artdrectr to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

Take a look at the the Russian River area (between Jenner & Monte Rio, give or take). I've rented several times through Russian River Getaways and they've always been lovely - the people there can help you find something specific that fits your needs.
posted by brainmouse at 3:56 PM on March 20, 2018

Well I would have said the Rainbow Lodge about 20 miles west of Donner Summit, but it seems that they're not currently accepting individual reservations.

Try checking Amador county around Sutter Creek, Jackson, and Pine Grove. A lot of little boutique hotels and B&Bs have popped up in that area over the past few years.
posted by elsietheeel at 4:23 PM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

We stayed at this AirBnB and it was great. The hosts were amazing.
posted by sulaine at 6:00 PM on March 20, 2018

I stayed at the Buttes Resort in Sierra City summer before last and really liked it. I was in Cabin #4, which has a large deck above the Yuba River. The river is way down below and you can really only see trees, but you can hear the river. There was a small kitchenette and a grill on the deck.

One downside for you is that while the place is right in the center of Sierra City, there really isn't anything in Sierra City. There's a bar/restaurant across the street, but it may not even be open now.

There's lots of great hiking within a 10-15 minute drive, though, and Downieville is just down the road. It's also very small, but it has some shops and restaurants.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:31 AM on March 21, 2018

PS: Check out Truckee too.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:32 AM on March 21, 2018

Response by poster: Thank you all for these tips.
Mudpuppie, good ideas, love the Yuba and Truckee too. So far we haven't found the right spot but I know they're out there.

I found Sorensons, south end of Tahoe, which runs 145-180 for a cabin.

Or, maybe it'll be Yosemite after all, Big Trees Lodge (was The Wawona), I've stayed at the hotel but they have complete cottages. But $.

Still looking...
posted by artdrectr at 11:30 AM on March 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Ooh, that star-watching event at Sorenson's sounds cool.
posted by larrybob at 2:46 PM on March 23, 2018