Story & Photos By Stan Wawer
California’s northern wine country is sprinkled with some of this country’s most charming B&Bs and country inns. In early December, my wife and I stayed in and toured seven eclectic, warm and appealing inns in Boonville, Healdsburg and Napa.
Our first stop was the Toll House Inn.
Toll House Inn
My wife and I spent a wonderful night at the newly renovated Toll House Inn in Boonville.
The inn is an historic Boonville landmark built in 1912. It’s a two-hour drive from San Francisco and about eight hours and more than 560 miles from the San Gabriel Valley.
It was a rustic, comfortable place under its old ownership when I last stayed at the Toll House
in 1998. The inn sits on 650 acres, five miles outside of town on the Boonville-Ukiah road with easy access to wineries, parks and more in the Anderson Valley.
We stayed in the lovely porch room, a ground-floor suite with private screened porch, full private bath with clawfoot tub, incredibly comfortable king bed and a single daybed.
For more info
rmation or reservations go to www.tollhouseinn.com or call (707) 895-2572.
Hennessey House
The Hennessey House is a true bed and breakfast. It is a classic Queen Anne built in 1889 by Dr. Hennessey, the former mayor of Napa. It has six rooms in the main house and four rooms in the carriage house.
The house was in the Hennessey family until the 1980s and has been owned and operated the last seven years by Kevin and Lorri Walsh. Hennessey House is open 365 days a year. “We’re here quite a bit,” said Kevin. “We live nearby.”
April through September is the busy season. “It slows down a little during the holidays,” Lorri pointed out.
“We did all the decorating,” Kevin said, “especially my wife.”
The unique kitchen ceiling has been there since 1908. It was put in by hand and then painted.
The Hennessey House gets a lot of repeat clientele. A different breakfast is served every day and anyone who comes to the door gets a goodie bag. When registering, say hello to Chardonnay and Cabernet, the two fish at the front desk.
The Hennessey House is at 1727 Main St. in Napa. For more information and reservations go to inn@hennesseyhouse.com, www.hennesseyhouse.com or call (707) 226-3774.
Napa Inn
The Napa Inn is known as one of the wine country’s most romantic inns. It is on a quiet street in historic downtown Napa. The inn is made up of two adjacent Victorians. The main inn is a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1899 as a wedding gift. A wealthy rancher from Barryessa Valley built the Buford House, next door to the main inn, in 1877. There are a total of 15 rooms — all done with a bit of whimsy.
Breakfast at the Napa Inn is a gourmet’s delight served by candlelight. Each afternoon and evening, refreshments, tea and liqueurs are served.
The Napa Inn is at 1137 Warren St., Napa. For more information and reservations, e-mail info@napainn.com, go to the Website at www.napainn.com or call (800) 435-1144 or (707) 257-1444.
Candlelight Inn
This place is drop-dead gorgeous. It looks like someone’s estate home in its setting along the banks of Napa Creek. The place oozes warmth and charm. It was built as a residence in 1929 and has been run as a B&B the last 20 years. “It’s an ongoing labor of love,” said Sam Neft, managing partner.
The original owner, a postmaster, planted the magnificent redwood trees on the property. In the back, near the pool, is an elegantly decorated carriage house.
There are 10 rooms in the house with high-speed wireless Internet access and printer availability. The cottage has its own Website.
Candlelight Inn gets a lot of honeymoon couples. Late September and October is peak season. Room rates are in the mid $200s during the off season and mid $300s in season.
Amenities include a three-course gourmet breakfast, snacks and drinks at all hours, free onsite parking and complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres and chocolate cake.
Most of the rooms have a private deck or balcony, two-person spa tub and fireplace. All have TV, telephone and air conditioning.
Candlelight Inn is at 1045 Easum Drive in Napa Valley. For more information and reservations go to www.candlelightinn.com, mail@candlelightinn.com or call (800) 624-0395 or (707) 257-3717.
Cedar Gables Inn
This elegant Shakespearean B&B had me as soon as I saw it from the outside. It totally had me when I walked in the front door and up the stairs to the main lobby with its mahogany wood, chandelier and oversized fireplace.
Built in 1892 as a wedding gift for E. Wilder Churchill and his bride Alice Ames, it is one of the “big four” 10,000-square-foot mansions in Napa. No nails were used only dowels. When the Churchill’s daughter Dorothy sold the mansion to Ella Balmer, Ella turned it into a boarding house and divided the house into 33 bedrooms. She planted two small cedar trees in the front yard and put up the Cedar Gables Inn sign over the front door.
During WWII it was used to house military nurses, eventually evolving into a luxurious bed and breakfast inn.
Winding staircases lead to nine beautifully appointed guest rooms. Some rooms have whirlpool tubs and fireplaces.
Downstairs is a replica of an old English tavern with a massive fireplace, leather chairs and corner bar. The secret passageways and hidden staircases add mystique and charm.
A three-course gourmet breakfast is served each morning and every evening wine and hors d’oeuvres are served in the tavern.
Cedar Gables Inn is at 486 Coombs St., Napa. For more information and reservations go to www.CedarGablesInn.com or call (800) 309-7969 or (707) 224-7969.
Churchill Manor
This place will transport you back to a bygone era. Elegant would be an understatement. If you stay here, you are going to want to sit in a big, comfortable chair by the fireplace with a good book or have afternoon tea on the porch for starters.
Edward Churchill built Churchill Manor, the first residence in the Napa Valley to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1889 on what is considered to be the original street of the Napa founders. He was the one who built Cedar Gables Inn mansion for his son E. Wilder Churchill (mentioned above) directly behind Churchill Manor.
All the fantastic interior woodwork has remained essentially untouched. The first floor has its original leaded and beveled glass doors, which open into not one, but four grand parlors, each with a fireplace. The 12-foot-high ceilings contain 17 layers of detailed redwood moldings.
The manor has 10 guestrooms, gourmet breakfast, afternoon fresh-baked cookies and nightly wine and appetizer reception.
Talk about a place where you get more bang for your buck. Room rates start at $165 for low season and $285 for the high season. The most expensive room in Churchill Manor is Stags Leap, a super-elegant king room with fireplace for $345 during the high season ($225 in low season).
Churchill Manor is at 485 Brown St., Napa. For more information and reservations go to www.churchillmanor.com, e-mail justbe@churchillmanor.com or call (800) 799-7733 or (707) 253-7733.
Camellia Inn
The Camellia Inn has that homey feel and perfect for those who love the classic B&B. It is in the charming town of Healdsburg and the heart of Sonoma County’s wine country.
Healdsburg is a town of great restaurants, quaint shops, wine tasting rooms and friendly residents. The Camellia Inn fits perfectly into this scenario. You can’t get enough love at this inn. Lucy Lewand and her staff are always ready to take care of your every whim. Lucy has more than 25 years of innkeeper experience.
She learned inn keeping from her parents, Ray (a former UCLA football player) and Del who opened and ran the inn after purchasing the house in 1981. Lucy joined Mom and Dad after completing her master’s degree in business administration from UCLA. Del died in 2006, but Ray can be seen some evenings pouring wines from Camellia Cellars, imparting his vast knowledge of area wineries and telling tall tales of his years as a Bruin lineman. He started Camellia Cellars winery and owns it with his other daughter Chris and her husband Bruce Snyder.
Each of the nine guest rooms features a private bath. A full breakfast awaits you each morning. In the evening, sample local wines and cheeses.
If you are a chocoholic like I am, you might want to stay on a Wednesday, which is known at the Camellia Inn as Chocolate Covered Wednesday.
There is a pool and air conditioning available in season, complimentary off-street parking, spa packages and whirlpool tubs for two and gas fireplaces available in Queen Deluxe rooms. Rates run from $129 to $325.
Camellia Inn is at 211 North St., Healdsburg. For more information and reservations go to www.CamelliaInn.com, e-mail info@CamelliaInn.com or call (800) 727-8182.
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