Cavallo Point Lodge

An hour after my plane landed in San Francisco I took the first turn off the Golden Gate Bridge, pulling up to this historic lodge. Within minutes I’d been transported from the blazing heart of the East Coast (the Bay Area’s natural air-conditioning—its fog—hovered above) and from the 21st century to the historic buildings of Ft. Baker, once a U.S. Army post. I’d been assigned one of the restored historic guestrooms, formerly the officers’ quarters. A sitting room, bedroom, porch (with a view of the bay), and a spacious contemporary bathroom could not have made me any happier or more comfortable. (I later took a tour of the newer rooms and suites up on the hillside, with their panoramic views of the bridge and bay, I’m quite sure my stay would have been equally as luxurious and relaxing). I could tell you about the state of the art spa, where I spent several blissful hours in the heated outdoor meditation pool, inhaling the eucalyptus and watching the clouds dance above. Or the amazing short hike that takes you behind the property with picture perfect postcard views of the Golden Gate. Or breakfast on the terrace. Or the complimentary yoga class I took one morning that left me set and centered for the day ahead. But as luck had it, I arrived the evening that an exhibit of legendary photographer Ansel Adams works was to be unveiled. Not only were some of Adams most iconic pictures in the show, but the photographer’s son gave the artist talk, reminiscing about apprenticing with his father. Talk about picture perfect.

Cavallo Point is the perfect staycation for people in the Bay Area. Just over the Golden Gate Bridge, the lodge is set amidst the Marin Headlands and within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 1866, the U.S. Army acquired the site for a military base to fortify the north side of the Golden Gate. Named Fort Baker, it remained an active post through World War II. Today, San Franciscans and visitors from around the world come here to luxuriate in the food, wine, spa, and nature on offer at Cavallo Point Lodge. The LEED Gold Certified hotel is a visionary when it comes to eco standards (even meeting rooms are named after rare and endangered species in an effort to create awareness). Guests can choose to stay in carefully restored historic officers’ quarters set along the main green or modern rooms perched up on the hillside. No matter which you choose, you’re guaranteed gorgeous bridge and city views. The hotel keeps guests busy with cooking classes, yoga, a world-class spa, bike rentals, and endless miles of trails. But sometimes the best part of your stay is simply sitting on your porch and watching the fog roll in.

The historic homes at Cavallo Point let guests travel back in history. The old officers’ quarters at Fort Baker, a former U.S. Army post, have been carefully renovated and restored into historic guestrooms with charming front porches that afford San Francisco skyline views. All of the white-washed buildings are spacious, but the two-bedroom suites are particularly family friendly. Many are also dog friendly if you want to bring your pup along.

When guests book a stay at Cavallo Point they have a choice between restored officers’ quarters and modern rooms perched on a hillside overlooking Fort Baker. The modern rooms were designed to meet the highest standards of green architecture. Housed in two-story buildings, these contemporary rooms have bamboo furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows, radiant heat floors, and gas fireplaces. Request a room with a patio or deck—the perfect spot to watch the sunset with a glass of wine. In addition to the view, guests can admire stunning large-scale photography adorning the walls. Each room features the work of one particular artist such as of a noted artist such as Sangyon Joo and Charles LaBelle.

Whether you’re a guest or a stressed out San Franciscan looking for some R&R, Cavallo Point’s Healing Arts Center and Spa will leave you feeling renewed. The sustainably minded spa offers every treatment imaginable. Massage fiends can choose from aromatherapy, Himalayan salt stone, cranio-sacral or the wildly popular signature massage, which blends elements of Thai and Swedish styles. Facials use organic products while body treatments range from sea kelp scrubs to vineyard- and orchard-inspired body wraps. The Center also offers healing therapies including acupuncture, energy work, and hypnotherapy. After your treatment, save time to soak in the spa’s heated outdoor meditation pool.

Cavallo Point’s stunning location nestled amidst the Marin Headlands begs guests to go play outside. The hotel offers a number of options for enjoying the great outdoors, including its new Well-Fit Outdoor Fitness program, which launched in July 2015. Personal trainers take groups through 60-minute workouts that might include obstacle courses, jump ropes, TRX and kettlebells all set to the backdrop of green hills and the Golden Gate Bridge. Morning yoga is complimentary for guests, while passes are available for purchase by visitors. And free guided hikes lead guests under the Golden Gate Bridge. The staff is happy to direct guests to nearby trails that promise stunning views of the bay and the bridge.

Farley Bar is the epitome of what a good bar should be: comforting, classy, and full of character. Named after the popular San Francisco Chronicle comic character created by the late Phil Frank, Farley Bar has become a hangout for locals and guests alike. Grab a seat at the bar, which is crafted from a fallen tree, or sink into one of the comfy leather club chairs. Whether you’re feeling peckish or you’re absolutely famished, the menu has you covered. Choose from truffle Parmesan popcorn, spicy house corn nuts and other small plates such as spicy duck wings steamed mussels. Heartier items include the awesome Dungeness crab sandwich topped with bacon, tomato, and avocado. The wine and beer lists are long and include excellent and sometimes surprising choices. Cocktails range from classic (Sazerac) to seasonal (the mezcal-based Unspoken Word). Don’t miss Monday nights, when Farley Bar hosts live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Cooking is a lot more fun when you have fresh ingredients and a pristine space to cook them. Novices and gourmands alike will love experiencing the Cavallo Point Cooking School. The 1,200-square-foot space is flooded with natural light and features state-of-the-art equipment including two flat screens linked to adjustable cameras, as well as homey touches such as Heath Ceramics dishes and country wood tables. More than 30 different classes are offered such as “Indian Cuisine by Pressure Cooker” and “Help! My College Bound Kid Can’t Cook.” No matter what the season, the four-hour “Cooking from the Farmers’ Market” class is always a favorite. The Cooking School can also accommodate groups for parties and retreats for between 30 and 50 people. Cupcake Social, anyone?

The fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down at Cavallo Point. Bay Area locals make sunset at this historic eco lodge a ritual. There’s no better way to end the weekend than watching the sunset from the porch of the lodge with a cocktail in hand or gathering with friends around the outdoor firepits to roast S’mores and sip spiked hot cocoa on cool Bay Area evenings. Plus, the bridge takes on an ethereal orange hue against the night sky.

Cavallo Point’s location at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and set right on the Bay means there are endless activities for guests to enjoy on water and land. The hotel’s staff can arrange tickets to visit the infamous penitentiary, Alcatraz, or day-trips to Angel Island. Spend a day sailing, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding in Sausalito or cross the bridge and take a walking tour of San Francisco, being sure to stop at the Ferry Building for the best local, artisanal treats.

After biking in Marin County or scaling San Francisco’s hills, guests at Cavallo Point Lodge can recharge with the two-hour “Ultimate Recovery” package. Muscle balm blended exclusively for the property delivers peppermint, ginger, and juniper to aching limbs. 601 Murray Cir Sausalito, CA 94965, (415) 339-4700. This appeared in the March/April 2013 issue.

For one of the skyline’s best views, check out the Cavallo Point Lodge, which is set in Fort Baker, a 350-acre national park just below the Golden Gate Bridge. It has 17 colonial renovated buildings that have red roofs and covered porches. Peppered throughout the grounds are a slew of Adirondack chairs and pine, eucalyptus and cypress trees, which fragrance the air. The buildings are arranged in a horseshoe shape around a huge green field with a flagpole in the center. Most of the historic buildings are restored officers’ quarters, which are the size of houses. These have sixty-eight rooms in total, then there’s an additional 74 contemporary rooms in several tasteful modern structures above the main buildings on a hillside. If you aren’t up for the short walk, they have electric golf carts to take you around.

Although I didn’t have the opportunity to visit Alcatraz while exploring the lovely city of San Fran, my boyfriend Evan did capture this misty view of the desolate island from the Golden Gate Park. As we crossed the bridge to exit the city on a cloudy week-day morning, I remember turning back and noticing, “hey, that bridge is red not golden”. Way to throw me off, SF. I was able to capture some wonderful foggy memories standing in that park, looking out over the bay and wrapping my sweater closer around me (didn’t expect such cold weather in July!). I particularly love the little harbor at the bottom left of this view, with all the sailboats lined in a row.

We were driving and hiking on Mount Tamalpais and on the way back decided to stop at Cavallo Point as we’ve wanted to go there for at least a year but just never did it. We are so glad we did. The views of the bay and the city are spectacular. The crew at the Cavallo Point Lodge are amazingly kind and tops in their craft and the outdoor fires and delicious cocktails and appetizers make for a wonderful afternoon. Cavallo Point has a way of making you feel you are in the era of the Great Gatsby with everyone in linens and the large lawn surrounded by white buildings with red roofs. It is truly a gem of the Bay Area!

Beauty surrounds you at Cavallo Point Resort. Everything here is close to perfect. The restaurant, bar, spa, rooms and, of course, views, are unsurpassed in the San Francisco area. We loved strolling the grounds and using our cell phones as audio tour guides. It was an ideal and relaxing way to start a trip to the fun, but hectic city.