On the coast just west of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Calif., can entertain you for weeks. 
Start three perfect days at the Channel Road Inn, just a block from the beach. Grab a picnic, borrow the inn’s bicycles, and head down the waterfront path past the Santa Monica Pier. Spend a day exploring Bergamot Station and its many art exhibits, then shop on Montana Avenue and the Third Street Promenade.
We love the Getty Villa, just a 10-minute drive away, featuring Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. Got kids? Hit the beach, enjoy rides on the Santa Monica Pier, and venture to the Skirball Cultural Center. The La Brea Tar Pits and Universal Studios are just a short drive away.
Upon your return to the inn, soak in our hillside hot tub, and enjoy homemade cookies, cold drinks, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
by Shelley Post, January 6, 2012
 “Location, location, location” is as important when choosing a hotel as it is when buying real estate. When you’re in Seattle for either work or pleasure, the Inn at Harbor Steps is the perfect place to stay. The inn’s prime location means you’ll be able to walk almost anywhere downtown, including famous Pike Place Market, just two blocks away.
When you aren’t out on the town, the Inn at Harbor Steps will see to your every comfort. The property boasts 28 spacious guestrooms, a fully-equipped fitness center, sports court, Jacuzzi, lap pool and full-length pool. Of course, you’ll also enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast, and afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Extend your stay, and take advantage of all the city has to offer. Make it a romantic getaway, and enjoy the Seattle Art Museum, with both permanent and rotating exhibits, located literally across the street from the inn. Benaroya Symphony Hall is a block away and has a fabulous variety of musical offerings this fall. You can take the waterfront train and venture down to Pioneer Square, with its wealth of art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, cool restaurants, and buzzing nightclubs.
Shopping probably couldn’t get much better than this, with everything from small, trendy boutiques to the flagship Nordstrom’s store. An afternoon spent roaming the stalls at Pike Place Market, filled with local organic produce, beautiful flowers and gourmet products, is time well spent. Watch fish fly at the Pike Place Fish Market, stop in at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, and finish with a drink overlooking the water at Matt’s in the Market.
Some of our favorite restaurants include The Pink Door, Wild Ginger, The Metropolitan Grill and The Brooklyn. For a fabulous evening of fun, try Teatro ZinZanni, which includes a five-course Tom Douglas dinner (he runs a number of acclaimed restaurants throughout Seattle) and a three-hour show.
If you’re traveling with children, the Inn at Harbor Steps offers eight rooms with two queen beds each, perfect for families. The kids will love soaring up the Space Needle, the extraordinary Experience Music Project, the Museum of Flight and the Pacific Science Center. And if a cruise is on your agenda, the inn is only a short cab from the departure location.
by Shelley Post, August 29, 2011
Santa Cruz is one of California’s premier central coast beach towns offering beautiful panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary . Its beauty not only resides in its land and seascapes, it also boasts a diversity of cuisines, activities, and shopping that has something for everyone.
Situated between the ocean and the mountains, Santa Cruz offers everything from romantic getaways to family fun, relaxation to adventure, casual to fine dining. With its temperate climate you can relax on one of the many sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean, bring the entire family for a fun-filled day at the famous Beach Boardwalk, taste incredible wines and tour many of the vineyards nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
It is truly a place for all. Santa Cruz is home to the West Cliff Inn, blending historic elegance with soothing modern luxuries. West Cliff Inn is situated on a bluff overlooking the ocean and steps to the beach, the Wharf, the Beach Boardwalk, and Santa Cruz’s unique downtown shopping area. After you partake in a bountiful breakfast or evening wine and hors d’oeuvres, take a walk along West Cliff Drive to catch the great views of the bay or stroll through downtown, just 10 minutes away.
For dinner, Soif Restaurant, Wine Bar & Merchant is a great California farm to table cuisine where all the ingredients are fresh, local, and organic. Laili Restaurant is also a great option if you want to taste the flavors of the Silk Road and try superb Central Asian cuisine. The Cellar Door Restaurant and Wine Tasting Room is also very popular amongst our guests. Feeling Adventurous? Hop aboard the Chardonnay II –a 70-foot luxury sailing yacht- for a one of kind excursion on the open water!
West Cliff Inn also offers fantastic packages, and you can find details on the website here.
by Shelley Post, July 6, 2011
 Blackbird Inn is right in the heart of downtown Napa The City of Napa is the hub of the Valley. Having undergone a revitalization project over the last few years, it is truly coming into its own. And it’s where Blackbird Inn is located, within walking distance to the waterfront, where you’ll find great shops and restaurants. Try Ubuntu, innovative vegetarian cuisine or Tuscany, Italian with a modern twist. On Friday evenings through September, bands perform (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) at Veterans Park on the Napa River, and locals and visitors alike gather for drinks and music.
There are great tasting rooms right in town as well. Try Ceja, and you might even meet Amelia Ceja and discover the extraordinary wines she produces, all while sharing her passion for great food and wine. The Oxbow Public Market is a great place to wander, enjoy lunch or a glass of wine, and shop in great little boutiques. Live music is performed on most Friday evenings on the outdoor patio, and is a great place to gather.
Another fun thing to include in your travels is a leisurely lunch on the Wine Train, as you travel up Valley through the towns of Yountville and St. Helena. If shopping is on your agenda, the Napa Premium Outlets, featuring Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Cole Hahn and many others are a short drive away. And for the adventurous, sign up for a hot air balloon ride with Balloons Above the Valley, definitely a once in a lifetime experience!
Some of the best olive oil in California is produced right here. Make an advance reservation at Round Pond in Rutherford for their 1 ½ hour olive oil tour and learn about olive cultivation, harvest and production and then sample their delicious oils and vinegars with gourmet bread, cheese and fresh organic produce. Advance reservations are required ($20 pp) for the tour and tasting and I can guarantee you’ll want to take some home!
Blackbird Inn, a meticulously restored eight-room Craftsman style inn, is at the center of everything, as you enjoy all the Valley has to offer.
by Shelley Post, June 24, 2011
Newport Beach is the quintessential southern California beach town. In summer, it is vibrant, edgy, exciting. The Newport Beach Hotel is located just steps from the water and the boardwalk that runs down to Balboa. You can bike (riding our complimentary beach cruisers) or jog along the water’s edge, stop in at the Balboa Fun Zone, and then head back for an afternoon of lounging on the beautiful white sand for which this area is so famous. If you’re here for the nightlife, try the Blue Beat and enjoy fabulous music by local bands, or the Regatta Restaurant on Lido Island with singing waiters. Fashion Island has about the best shopping in all of southern California, featuring unique designer boutiques as well as Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie and many others. If you’re here in July and August, you might want to get tickets for Pageant of the Masters, a truly unique experience.
Some of the guestrooms accommodate families, featuring a queen or king bed, jetted spa tub, flat screen television, fireplace and a twin bed with a trundle. Our Oceanfront Rooms, with recently remodeled bathrooms featuring jetted spa tubs, look directly out to the water, and are the perfect spot from which to view the sunset. The Newport Beach H otel, with its proximity to Hoag Hospital and the many businesses in Irvine, is perfect for the business traveler as well, offering a more intimate atmosphere than the large corporate hotel. Complimentary wireless, a business center and gated parking are all available.
Our lobby bar offers a selection of wine and beer which you can enjoy in our lobby or our second floor Seabreeze Lounge. Book early, as Newport Beach is the perfect summer vacation spot!
by Shelley Post, June 6, 2011
 When you’re in Claremont, Ontario or one of the other cities in the Inland Empire for work, or visiting one of the Claremont Colleges, Hotel Casa 425 is the perfect place to stay. Part of the Village Expansion, Casa 425 is surrounded by great shops and restaurants, including Le Pain Quotidien, Casa Moreno, the fabulous Cielo Mio Spa and a plaza where live music and events take place. The hotel boasts spacious rooms, some which can accommodate families, and is within walking distance to everything. The hip onsite Lounge is a great place to relax at the end of the day, serving innovative small plates and a fabulous selection of wine and mixed drinks. If you’re looking for a place to host an elegant yet affordable wedding, bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah, our courtyard can accommodate up to 250 people. Our meeting room seats up to 30, and offers a break-out terrace where lunch can be served.
Claremont boasts a number of great restaurants as well. Try Yiannis for lunch, sit out on their patio, and enjoy one of the best Greek salads you’ve ever had. La Parolaccia is a great little Osteria Italiana, reminiscent of one you’d find in a Tuscan village, and much easier to get to! And the farmer’s market, held every Saturday morning, features local produce and craft items, and is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, and are looking for a close and affordable spot for a quick getaway, hop on the Metrolink after work, and head to Casa 425. We look forward to hosting you!
by Shelley Post, June 6, 2011
 Relax poolside at Maison Fleurie Yountville has to be one of the greatest towns in California. It truly has it all—fabulous restaurants, fun tasting rooms, quaint shops, biking and jogging trails, beautiful weather. And it is home to two of our inns, Maison Fleurie and Lavender. Last week, we redecorated the lobby, dining area and roof top deck and gave Maison Fleurie a whole new, updated look. If your travels are taking you to the Napa Valley this summer, I have some suggestions. After enjoying our signature breakfast, take a morning ride through the vineyards on our complimentary bicycles, savor a fabulous lunch on the patio at Hurley’s, experience a tasting at Frog’s Leap Winery and Charles Krug, both recommended by Gina, our Regional Manger, and plunge into our pool at the end of the afternoon. Try the Rutherford Grill for a fun and casual dinner, or walk to Bouchon, Bistro Jeanty or Bottega, all located right in town. There are fun activities going on almost every weekend throughout the Valley—check out our website or become a Facebook fan of Four Sisters Inns and stay up to date!
by Shelley Post, May 26, 2011
 Miles of beautiful vineyards provide a scenic and relaxing drive through Russian River Valley..This is the ideal wine country town, designed around an historic, postcard-perfect downtown plaza, with huge, ancient trees, flower gardens, a fountain and an old-fashioned bandstand. A perfect day here might start with a guided walking tour of the town’s historic architecture, with Healdsburg Walking Tours, Inc. (Or, sample off-the-beaten-path taquerias and cafes with their Burrito Walk.) Guests who enjoy premium wine will enjoy visiting the tasting rooms of wineries in the Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley appellations, both a short drive from town. Check in to the Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza, where many of the spacious guest rooms overlook the plaza itself. You can watch the Tuesday evening farmer’s market and other seasonal events from your room!
Book the inn’s popular dining package offering a four-course dinner at Cyrus, currently the hottest table in town and the darling of seemingly every food magazine in the country. Work up an appetite browsing the art galleries, antiques shops and stylish boutiques in the blocks surrounding the plaza.
One favorite: Arches Gallery, presenting the work of both regional and national fine art painters and craft artists. Meet featured artists at free receptions scheduled throughout the year. Or catch a show at The Raven, Healdsburg’s performing arts theater, presenting live theater, concerts and other performances.
by Shelley Post, April 1, 2011
 Borrow our bicycles and take a relaxing ride along the Monterey Bay on the Monterey Recreational Trail, just steps from Green Gables Inn This region is special to us because it’s where Four Sisters Inns began; the Green Gables Inn (Pacific Grove) was the first inn in our collection.
If you’re coming to the Monterey Peninsula, be sure to reserve the Second Night Free package at Gosby House Inn in Pacific Grove. Or, if you choose Green Gables Inn, definitely opt for the dining package, which lets you select from some of the best tables in town.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-famous for good reason, and it’s certainly worth a visit. The art galleries of Carmel are also always a pleasure. But there are many, many more diversions here. Monterey State Historic Park offers two different guided tours which include some of Monterey’s oldest and most important buildings. A self-guided Path of History tour begins at the Maritime Museum Visitor Center with a 20-minute film shown upon request. Round yellow tiles designate the path that meanders through gardens and by buildings from Monterey’s colorful past.
If you book ahead of time, you can take a hands-on, one-day class at the Culinary Center of Monterey – a huge variety is offered year-round. Our favorite: the Chocolate Decadence class.
by Shelley Post, April 1, 2011
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