Mendocino Headlands is a perfect place to watch the sunset. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

It could not have been better. OK, it really could have been. It could have been longer.

Six nights in late September at the Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino was a birthday gift to myself. I really should treat myself this well even when the year doesn’t end in a zero.

Seldom does a place meet, let alone exceed, my expectations. The Stanford Inn was everything I hoped it would be.

A vegan restaurant cooking up breakfast that is nothing close to the standard continental fare served at chain hotels intrigued me. As a vegetarian, it’s a luxury to be able to choose anything on the menu.

The Ravens at Stanford Inn in Mendocino has exceptional carrot cake. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Stanford Inn is one of the few vegan resorts in the United States. Most people who stay there—95 percent—are not vegan, according to one employee. Clearly the lack of an animal on the menu is not keeping people away.

The food did not disappoint. In fact breakfast was so filling (sometimes I got a to-go container) the only real dinner I had was on my birthday. I especially liked that most options were savory instead of sweet.

The grounds at the Stanford Inn are lush and inviting. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Let me first tease you a bit with what some of my breakfast choices were:

• Portobello Benedict—English muffin, with spinach, grilled tomato and marinated portobello slices. Ravens hollandaise sauce. Choice of potatoes.
• Stanford Herbed Polenta—Their signature brunch entrée: grilled sun-dried tomato polenta with garden greens sautéed in our braising sauce. Served with our cashew cream sauce.
• Ravens Waffle or Pancakes—House-made buckwheat and oat waffle or pancakes. Served with organic maple syrup and fresh organic seasonal fruit compote.

The Ravens is the name of the restaurant. One does not have to be a guest at the inn to eat breakfast or dinner there. Lunches are provided on a to-go basis for guests if requested.

The hardest decision I had to make the whole time I was there was what time to make my breakfast reservation.

Books catering to the philosophy of Stanford Inn are for sale and able to be read in the adjacent comfortable seating in front of the fireplace. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

The vegan aspect of this inn was the icing on the cake, not the main draw.

Sustainability is a big part of what Jeff and Joan Stanford, the owners, are promoting. This year marks their 45th business anniversary. At check-in I was provided with a 45-page booklet (to keep) that explains their way of thinking and so much more.

“We began by seeking an integrated lifestyle, sensitive to nature, supporting biodiversity on the property, and equity among our staff while creating an opportunity for our guests to experience what we do,” it reads. “Since no one pushed us in this direction we did not want to push guests or staff. Rather we were and are providing an environment for a ‘soft sell’, transforming a redwood motel/lodge into a resort offering healthy experiences, a compassionate and healthful take on dining, and creating beautiful gardens that also produce food.”

A solarium houses the pool, hot tub and sauna at Stanford Inn. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

The inn checked so many boxes I was looking for in a solo get-away. Location—can’t beat it. The Northern California coast is worthy of a visit no matter the time of year. It’s not that far of a drive from almost anywhere else in this half of the state.

State parks and public lands are in abundance for hiking, mountain biking and other recreating. I barely scratched the surface with my two hikes and two rides. The first outing was to Russian Gulch State Park, while the next hike was at Van Damme State Park. Bike rides included Jackson Demonstration State Forest and one out of Big River that became a bit convoluted, but fun and memorable.

Point Cabrillo Light Station in Mendocino. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Point Cabrillo Light Station, one of the historic lighthouses on the coast, is worth a visit especially if you are at Russian Gulch.

The resort provides bikes, though I brought mine. It’s also possible to rent kayak-canoes. I passed, as paddling isn’t that much of a draw for me.

After one of the more vigorous activities (hiking, biking) I usually ventured to the hot tub, which is inside a solarium. The abundance of plant life makes it a bit exotic. This, too, is where the pool and sauna are located.

A friend treated me to a massage—which was the perfect activity on my day where I said no to true physical activity. A part of that day was also spent strolling through the gardens, where many of the ingredients in the kitchen come from.

Another reason I didn’t need dinner was the resort offers snacks in the late afternoon for guests and happy hour. Twice I indulged in tofu wraps that were a nice complement to the food I had waiting for me in the room.

Stanford Inn guests paddle one of the outriggers available for rent at Big River. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

A small part of Mendocino Bay is visible from inside the restaurant and on the patio. That sliver of water was also discernible from my private deck.

Oh, those sunsets. It’s hard to find a better place to watch the sun go down than at the ocean. While Mendocino doesn’t have much in the way of restaurants for such an activity, my sister, Jann, steered me to Ledford House down the road in Albion. Fantastic setting.

The Mendocino Headlands State Park is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset while walking along the bluffs above the water.

Back at the inn I had a fire every night. You know, the kind that requires a match to start, not a flick of a switch. Oh, how I miss a wood burning stove and splitting wood. This really might have been the true selling point—that every room comes with a wood fireplace. It was heavenly.

Wrapped in my cushy robe, with the window cracked just a bit, I sat on the king bed with a glass of wine mesmerized by the fire. It’s what I did for entertainment every night. Oh, and reading.

All rooms at the Stanford Inn come with a wood fireplace. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Between the reception and dining areas is essentially a bookstore that beckons people to browse and sit a spell with the comfy seating and wood fireplace. I had no idea there are so many vegan oriented books. Most books had some social or environmental message. Fine by me.

Still, books are the last thing I need more of. I came home with four new ones, including the inn’s cookbook. I managed to finish the book I brought with me along with three others. Amazing what one can accomplish when work is on hold.

Oh, there’s a TV in the room that I assume works. With all the outdoor exercise possibilities, I never used the small gym.

On my way out of town on the edge of Fort Bragg I stopped at the 47-acre Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. What a beautiful send off as I headed inland.