Dream is Real - North Monterey Bay
Dramatic settings for the world’s best in lodgings

Roller coasters, surfboards and children’s laughter are the attractions in the north part of the Bay. Resort lodging is less formal and more geared to serving the active lifestyles of visitors there.

The Coast Santa Cruz Hotel is a perfect example. A few steps away from the Santa Cruz Wharf, Beach Boardwalk and scenic West Cliff Drive, the hotel is right in the middle of plenty to see and do. The multistory hotel offers beachfront rooms and pool, and children are welcome. And while not as luxurious as other hotels, it has location, location, location.

Chaminade Conference Center offers a few more amenities. The resort was originally built in 1929 as a boys’ high school by the Marianus Order, who named it after their founder Father William Joseph Chaminade, a French priest and educator from the 1700s. It later became a novitiate for the Order and then a religious retreat in the 1970s. Today, the 80 acres houses a conference center high on the wooded hills overlooking the Monterey Bay in the distance.

Two pools, tennis courts, volleyball, badminton, croquet, fitness center, indoor basketball court and miles of hiking trails accommodate visitors’ active lifestyles. Game rooms keep the kids busy, while adults can take advantage of a nice massage. Those attending for business or conference reasons may take part in culinary, fitness and challenge onsite team-building activities. There’s also plenty of relaxation in the panoramic view of the Bay from the Sunset Dining Room, which serves a buffet with a variety of themes.

The jewel in the crown of luxury in North Monterey Bay is the Inn at Depot Hill. Rated four diamonds by AAA and four stars by Mobile Travel, this inn overlooking the Monterey Bay in Capitola was built in 1901 and was once a train depot for Southern Pacific. Owners Susie Lankes and Dan Floyd transformed and enlarged the inn to reflect their elegant taste and tradition.

The spacious rooms or suites are decorated with flair and named for exotic rail destinations like Paris, Kyoto, Cote d’Azur and Valencia. Each room reflects its destination in color, furnishings and small details. The Paris room is upholstered in striking French toile with a fireplace in the middle of the room. The Railroad Baron’s Room is upholstered in vivid red with gold accents, the Delft Room gleams in blue, Valencia peeks at the ocean, while the Kyoto Room is rich in dark earth tones. Most rooms feature fireplaces, indoor or outdoor hot tubs, or private patios. Full breakfast, afternoon tea or wine and after-dinner desserts are part of the pampering. The small inn is right in the village of Capitola, close to restaurants, beach and shopping.