The Inn At Newport Ranch: A Hidden Gem Ranch Along The Mendocino Coast

As darkness enveloped the Mendocino landscape, the twinkling stars served as our guide to the Inn at Newport Ranch as we navigated back from Fort Bragg after dinner. The gravel crunched beneath our wheels as we approached the hotel, only to be met with an unexpected sight: A cow, seemingly oblivious to the world around her, had made herself at home in the middle of the driveway.

My husband and I exchanged amused glances, realizing that this was just one of the charming surprises that come with the territory of a luxurious ranch retreat.

The Inn at Newport Ranch has stolen my heart twice now, and remains as one favorite hotels in the world. If you’re looking for a luxury getaway on the rugged coasts of California with incredibly kind staff (and cows), delicious cocktails and a rooftop hot tub you won’t want to leave, you need to book a retreat to Fort Bragg. 

The Inn at Newport Ranch Review

Built over 150 years ago, the Inn started as a thriving logging industry site. In fact, when you visit, you can see view a few old remeants of the logging trade down by the coastline. 

Now, it’s a luxury boutique ranch with guest rooms available in the main house, or the option for a larger suites in their ranch houses. My personal favorite place to sleep is the Captain’s Quarters in the main house. The bedroom overlooks the ocean for the softest pink skies at sunrise, and brilliant sunsets each evening right from your room.

It’s also a few steps away from their rooftop hot tub, a place I find myself in most mornings at daybreak to watch the sun crack over the mountains, and also each evening to soak under the stars. 

The Inn at Newport Ranch exudes a sense of approachable luxury, making it a truly special place to unwind and reconnect. Whenever I need a few days to forget about my phone and just be still, I come here. 

Breakfast is included, and each morning I found myself padding down to the dining room in the main house, sipping on coffee while staring at the ocean and plan my day’s adventures. Should I embark on a UTV tour, explore the bluffs with the friendly cattle, indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment, or simply lose myself in a good book on one of the many coastal benches? The Inn at Newport Ranch offered an abundance of possibilities.

All of the above perhaps?

By the time my freshly cooked breakfast arrived, I always had a plan. Here’s the truth: I always come to The Inn at Newport Ranch with ideas of exploring corners of Fort Bragg and Mendocino I haven’t touched yet. 

But then I arrive and simply get sucked into the beauty of the Ranch property. Why venture out when such tranquility was right at my doorstep?

Take a UTV Tour Amongst The Redwoods

It’s hard to be pulled away from that hot tub, or the front porch with a cocktail in hand while watching the susnet, but by favorite day activity at the ranch is booking their UTV tour. This exhilarating adventure through the ranch’s 2,200+ acres took us along the rugged coastline and into the heart of the redwoods.

In partnership with the Save The Redwoods League, each tour includes a chance for guests to plant their own baby Redwood tree. Our guide drove us to a suitable section of the forest, handed up a shovel and tree and told us to find a spot we liked. 

As I planted my sapling, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of connection to the land and a hope that this tiny tree would grow and thrive for centuries to come. What a special travel experience! 

The tour culminated with a breathtaking lunch atop a mountain overlooking Fort Bragg, the ranch, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean along the rugged Northern California coastline. The kitchen’s culinary artistry was on full display in the delectable packed lunch they prepared for us – everything is done with care at the Ranch. 

Book A Dinner At The Ranch

On my first trip to the Inn at Newport Ranch, we decided to have dinner out in town the first night. That’s when we had the cow encounter (in case you were wondering, the second I opened our car door to ask the lady to move, she ran away). 

Then, the second night, we had dinner on the Ranch and felt silly for not just booking dinner there the entire time. Their full kitchen staff takes food seriously, with unique menus each night based on seasonal ingredients and dinner service right in the main inn house.

The second time around, I immediately booked us dinner each night since I knew I would want to have a happy hour cocktail on their porch with a good book and roll right into dinner in their dining room next to the huge fireplace. 

We dinner on culinary delights such as grilled Black cod, smoked corn custard, fresh salads with veggies from their garden, beef tenderloin with seaweed and charred cucumber and more. 

When you stay at the ranch, take it from me: their dinners are not to be missed. 

If you’re looking for a truly unique Northern California hotel along the Mendocino Coast, you need to book a stay at the ranch. It’s about 3 hours from San Francisco and makes for the perfect romantic getaway. 

Book it now.