When you’re driving up to Point Reyes National Seashore, if you blink you may miss the tiny town of Olema. I did the first time I drove up from San Francisco 7 some years ago.
It wasn’t until we drove back down that I caught a glimpse of Olema House‘s beautiful wisteria cascading down the front of their lobby when I realized that there’s a cute hotel just outside Point Reyes Station. Finally last month I got a chance to visit this dreamy property in person.
My mother flew out from Madison, Wisconsin to visit and I wanted to show her all the reasons I love California.
Point Reyes has it all: rolling green hills, a scenic bay, a lighthouse, a charming town, amazing bakeries and like, all the oysters you could possibly want. But of course, you need an equally idyllic place to head back to each evening. Enter: Olema House.
If you time your visit right in the spring as we did, you’ll be greeted by cascading wisteria when walking up to the lobby that makes the air smell *amazing*. And then actually greeted by friendly staff and perhaps a cup of free coffee if you need a pick me up.
We stayed in a d Deluxe King Room on the top floor which overlooked Olema House’s backyard. Dreamy doesn’t even begin to describe this place. Every detail was perfect, from the candles in the fireplace to make the room smell amazing to the little lavender sprigs left on the pillows.
I loved watching the fog roll in from our private patio and my mother enjoyed reading in the sunshine for a couple hours while I went exploring the property.
There’s a garden covered in flowers right below the house, but there’s also a stream that cuts through the property. While dipping my toes in it, I saw a couple of deer doing the same thing not 15 feet away from me.
This back area is equipped with a couple of glamping tents that serve as a chic outdoor lounge area and game place if you have kiddos. But i enjoyed just sitting by the water and soaking in the cool breeze.
For dinner, you simply must make sure to book at table at Due West, the hotel’s restaurant. This tavern oozes this special feeling that I can only describe as a combo between vintage glam, contemporary and a touch of dark academia. It’s a whole vibe.
Of course, the food is utterly fantastic. I highly recommend you try their avocado deviled eggs and paella, paired with the hotel’s famous Heart’s Desire cocktail made with Olema House’s house wine (I’ve never seen anything like this before!!)
There’s also the Due West Market which has a limited but tasty breakfast menu for when you wake up. My mom and I popped over in the morning for a frittata and quiche and enjoyed them alfresco on the market’s picnic tables.
While up in Point Reyes, I took my mom to something that’s been on my bucket list for ages: bioluminescent kayaking!! There’s a local kayak tour company that offers these extraordinary nighttime paddles to see the water glow (and, it’s a quick ~20 minute drive from Olema House, making it a great home base to come back to at night!)
She’s also never had oysters before so I took her to Marshall to dine on oysters (fresh and cooked!) along with other top sights in the area like the Cypress Tree Tunnel and the lighthouse.
If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend away from San Francisco that is still packed with activities, you need to come to Point Reyes. And, of course, book yourself a couple nights at Olema House. It truly is a slice of heaven hidden up along the shores.
