The Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins — Hotel in Fort Bragg

Truly one of the best vacations I've ever had. Days spent wandering the hidden little beaches, the headlands, & redwood groves of NorCal and evenings curled up next to a wood-burning fireplace in the sweetest little cabin I could imagine. From the first moment you enter the place, you can see how much thought has gone into every detail - from Ella & Louis playing on the retro mp3 player, to the collection of lamps and cozy chairs, to the decorations of real substance. That is to say - I was expecting kitsch, but it wasn't! I stayed in the "Read" cabin, with my dog Lux, and I thought, "sure, there'll be some random books selected for the size color of their covers." Nope. We're talking a bibliophile's dream, with classics of Sherlock Holmes & Shakespeare through Toni Morrison & Khaled Hosseini. N.K. Jemisin's latest, too! ||||Amenities: The bed is huge and comfy and they give you a dog-friendly cover, in case your pup (like mine) is spoiled & sleeps on the bed. The kitchenette is thoughtfully equipped - really everything you need to make a meal, short of an oven. Beans from a local roaster, so you can sip freshly ground coffee while watching the deer through the sliding glass doors to the deck. All the wood you want for the fireplace, and built-in heating & mobile space heater, in case you want more consistent heat. The bathroom is simple, with really lovely stone tiles, including in the shower (no tub). Kate, who works the office during the week, is always ready with suggestions for local hidden gems (Montgomery woods

Truly one of the best vacations I've ever had. Days spent wandering the hidden little beaches, the headlands, & redwood groves of NorCal and evenings curled up next to a wood-burning fireplace in the sweetest little cabin I could imagine. From the first moment you enter the place, you can see how much thought has gone into every detail - from Ella & Louis playing on the retro mp3 player, to the collection of lamps and cozy chairs, to the decorations of real substance. That is to say - I was expecting kitsch, but it wasn't! I stayed in the "Read" cabin, with my dog Lux, and I thought, "sure, there'll be some random books selected for the size color of their covers." Nope. We're talking a bibliophile's dream, with classics of Sherlock Holmes & Shakespeare through Toni Morrison & Khaled Hosseini. N.K. Jemisin's latest, too!

Amenities: The bed is huge and comfy and they give you a dog-friendly cover, in case your pup (like mine) is spoiled & sleeps on the bed. The kitchenette is thoughtfully equipped - really everything you need to make a meal, short of an oven. Beans from a local roaster, so you can sip freshly ground coffee while watching the deer through the sliding glass doors to the deck. All the wood you want for the fireplace, and built-in heating & mobile space heater, in case you want more consistent heat. The bathroom is simple, with really lovely stone tiles, including in the shower (no tub). Kate, who works the office during the week, is always ready with suggestions for local hidden gems (Montgomery woods

Full disclosure: I'm a friend of one of the owners. But now I'm also a fan.

Madeline and her husband Scott have created 11 wonderfully decorated cabins, each with its own distinctive theme and all with an incredible eye for detail. With too many places, "funky" turns out to mean a jumble of random, mismatched kitsch. But here, it means the items in each cabin have been playfully but painstakingly sourced to create the perfect effect – from a cabin for crafters and creators, to another for explorers, birders and stargazers, and still another (the one we stayed in) that romantically celebrates the courtship of Madeline's parents, William and Mildred.

And we didn't have to trade comfort for coolness. Between the jets of the soaker tub in our cabin, the kitchenette, the remote-controlled gas fireplaces in each room (one for us, one for the kids) and the west-facing barbecue-and-briquette-equipped deck perfect for watching the sun set over the Pacific, we were sorely tempted to forego the shops of Mendocino and the tidal pools on Glass Beach, and just hang out for our whole stay.

That was doubly appealing to our kids, who were thrilled by the Andiron's two resident goats (Peanut Butter and Jelly), the extensive collection of vintage board games, the flocks of woodpeckers and other gorgeous birds that sweep through the property, and the morning all-you-can-spread toast bar. For their parents, the five o'clock happy hour on weekends, pairing delicious food (fondue one night, tamales and quesadillas the next) with local beer and wine – not to mention warm, welcoming conversation with Madeleine and Scott and the other guests – will remain one of the highlights of our holiday.

There's no cell phone service along this stretch of Highway 1, but between free WiFi, in-room phones and a pay phone at the inn's office, we were easily able to keep in touch as much as we needed... and as little as we wanted.

Oh, and there's a nice, big hot tub. And an extensive DVD library. And a geocaching kit. And a coffeemaker in our cabin with pre-ground coffee and beans and a...