Archive for the ‘The Madonna Inn’ Category

Oh, Madonna Inn, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Kitschy?  Yes.  Outrageous?  Absolutely.  Irresistibly charming? You bet.

I’ve been going to this San Luis Obsipo treasure since I was a kid, an inevitable stop on road trips up and down the California coast.

Motoring on the 101, we’d see the pink façade in the distance, finally arriving at that iconic sign off the main drag. We’d stop in the restaurant, stuffing our faces with delicious baked goods and drink sodas out of brightly colored glass goblets, then take a quick tour of the grounds and marvel in amazement. And if we we’re lucky, we drank enough soda to earn a visit to the restroom, infamously modeled after a cave.

Beyond the family visits and frequent tourists, the Madonna Inn has long been a honeymoon destination, enchanting couples for nearly 50 years. If you haven’t experienced this place for yourself, grab your sweetheart and some imagination and make a reservation during the specially decorated holiday season.

Recommended Resort:   The Madonna Inn. It’s hard to describe the ambience of the property, as it’s truly one of a kind. The rooms alone – 110 in all — are individually decorated…to theme. There’s the Love Nest, the Yosemite Rock, the Traveler’s Suite, and the Tack Room. The rooms are furnished with anything from vintage wallpaper, to bright wall-to-wall paint, to rock formations, to red leather. Anything goes.

Check In:  100 Madonna Road in San Luis Obsipo. 800-543-9666, madonnainn.com

Check Out:  The Spa. Separate from the main building, the spa is its own intimate haven, surrounded by the hills and a large swimming pool. Seasonal treatments include the Gingerbread Body Wrap — an intense hydrating body masque wrap followed by a butter cream massage — and the Peppermint Bark Body Polish — a skin exfoliation and shimmery polish with a chocolaty foot massage.

Don’t Miss:  The Dining. Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House is a feast for both the eyes and taste buds. Sit in one of the rosy-hued booths and sample some of the best seafood and steaks in the area. For a casual breakfast or lunch, you can’t beat the Copper Café, with its horseshoe-shaped Coffee Bar, woodcarvings, hand-painted walls and delightful baked goods. Yum.

Want more honeymoon ideas? Check out our other Mini-Moon and Honeymoon Blog Posts!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photos courtesy of The Madonna Inn. 

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