COVID: Escape to Pacific Sanity

Posted on   March 18,2021   By John and Linda Compisi

The COVID-19 lock downs have driven most Americans to shelter-in-place and some to the verge of ‘bonkers’. We have certainly participated in the effort to “slow the spread” over the past 12 months. There comes a time, however, when, despite the minor risks associated with being outdoors, people, to quote Queen, just ‘want to break free’! We did, by spending a few days along the stupendous and explosive California Coast. Especially spectacular is the Mendocino Coast.

We have written previously about the innumerable inns, hotels, motels and AirBnbs that offer lodging with spectacular views. It would be very difficult to find an inn that combines coastal views, delightfully intimate upscale rooms and fine dining more to your liking than the Albion River Inn (ARI) in Albion. We know, because we have stayed at more than a few.

The Albion rooms offer simple elegance which is fitting with the main attraction of the Inn, the Pacific Ocean, the Mendocino Coast and the Albion River Bridge thrown in for variety. Our room had a very comfortable King bed with soft and soothing sheets and perfect bedding weight for these winter months. The bathroom floor was heated (oh so nice in the winter months) and the fireplace was thermostatically controlled gas. Many of the rooms feature wood burning fireplaces and large two-person bath tubs. The rooms are also equipped with a small refrigerator (important for wine and other beverages). We were welcomed with a half-bottle of a Husch Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay, which we enjoyed on our deck overlooking the mouth of the Albion River and the Pacific Ocean.

The Albion River Inn has a fascinating history that includes a stint as a blacksmith shop, a Ford dealership and an earlier incarnation of the restaurant. The Inns recent history began 40 years ago, in 1981, when Flurry Healy and co-owner Peter Wells, a former actor, purchased the 10-acre property. Over time Healy and Wells built the 20 cottages along the magnificent bluffs overlooking the nearby Albion River Bridge, the wooden deck truss bridge crossing the mouth of the Albion River just adjacent to the Inn property. At 300 meters long and 150 feet above the river, it is the last wooden bridge on California State Route 1. Interestingly, in 2009, Caltrans proposed to replace this historic bridge because the central steel truss appeared to be corroded and the bridge deck did not meet modern safety standards. However, in 2015, Albion residents, opposed to replacing the bridge filed to have it listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which would potentially slow any replacement. The bridge was added to the National Register on July 31, 2017.

As inviting as the location and the rooms are the restaurant and its gourmet quality cuisine are another reason to visit. The dining experience has consistently been top shelf as evidenced by the presence of local clientele. Even during the slower season for the northern California coast and outside due to COVID-19, it was quite busy. Executive Chef Stephen Smith, classically trained at the, now defunct, California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, has been at the helm in the Restaurant for years and has honed his style to a fine point. His take on California Coastal Cuisine is visually delightful and filled with flavor and texture.

When you are not relaxing in your room, enjoying the views or the fine food and beverages at the Inn, what is there to do? Some, like us, will have to force themselves to leave the property to take advantage of the variety of water activities (kayaking – both river and ocean), golf, hiking, biking, shopping (Mendocino City) and wine tasting (Philo and the Anderson Valley are less than 45 minutes away) to name a few. We enjoyed an easy but beautiful 8-mile round trip stroll in Van Damme State Park’s Fern Canyon Scenic Trail originally made accessible by the California Conservation Corps during the early 1940s. A truly idyllic experience.

In summary, if you are looking for a place to exit the COVID blues, we sincerely recommend the Albion River Inn!! Food, Fun and Beauty!!

How to get there: The Albion River Inn is located at 3790 N. Hwy. 1, Albion, CA 95410, about 150 miles north of San Francisco or 90 miles north of Santa Rosa.  Santa Rosa Airport (STS) offers the closest commercial airport hub (just 88 miles away) and is served by United, American and Alaskan Airlines. P: (707) 937-1919  Email: innkeepers@albionriverinn.com