Costanoa Lodge is nestled just south of San Francisco (just over an hour’s drive) in Pescadero, California – the perfect setting for a weekend getaway off the grid. The drive down from San Fran is beautiful, winding south along the coast on Highway 1.
View of the California Coast in Pescadero
When you arrive at rustic Costanoa Lodge, you have three different options for lodging: you can bring your own camper and park in one of the RV spots on the vast property; you can opt for a more traditional hotel experience and stay in the lodge building itself or one of several cabins; or you can opt for the full glamping experience with one of Costanoa’s “tent bungalows.” I chose the third option, and it was absolutely lovely. The tented cabin was quaint and clean, complete with a queen-sized bed, wood floor, electricity, and 2 Adirondack chairs out front to soak up the woods view or stargaze. The cabin also comes with towels, a robe, and a shower basket (complete with shampoo and soap) to take to one of the many “comfort stations” located around the property. The comfort stations are also clean and well-lit and even have outdoor shower options to add to the rustic camping experience.
When we arrived at Costanoa, our first stop was the spa, which is small, but offers delightful massages. Next, we headed over to the Pine Tent area in the campground for a glass of wine and to enjoy some live music.
View of the California Coast in Pescadero
The Pine Tent also serves up some BBQ options for casual dining. (It also serves coffee, tea and breakfast burritos in the morning). For a more fine dining experience, head over to Cascade Bar & Grill, which serves delicious food (although the service was a little off the night we were there).
Costanoa and the surrounding area offers plenty to do: from hikes along the sand dunes (look out for seals) and up in the hills, to horseback riding, and exploring the downtown strip of Pescadero. But one of my favorite things about my stay at Costanoa was the time to relax and unplug. While Costanoa does offer free Wifi throughout the camp, unless you turn it on, you won’t have any cell phone service. The views are beautiful and the stargazing is tremendous. We spent lots of time, sitting outside, drinking wine and enjoying the camping experience. There is definitely something rejuvenating about spending a few days out in nature to put life in perspective.
