A few years ago, my husband and I stopped by and had a glass of wine at Post Ranch Inn. We were so mesmerized by the view that we stayed and ate dinner. We were then so intoxicated by the view, the food, the architecture, the decor and the service that we came back a year or so later and stayed for three nights in an Ocean House.

Forever changed by our experience, we have joyfully accepted the fact that a yearly pilgrimage to Post Ranch Inn is a requirement for the sake of our souls. We’ve just returned from another magical stay, this time in the Upper Pacific Suite. We are now thoroughly spoiled. The room is exquisite and spotless, the amenities perfect and the view is other-worldly. The Upper Pacific Suite is more expensive but definitely worth the splurge.

When we stay at Post Ranch, we wake up each morning thinking we're in Heaven as we look out at the spectacular 180 degree view of sky and sea melding together far off into the Horizon. We revel in the sounds of birds singing and the fire crackling in the fireplace. We're transfixed by the sight of the ocean and sky and calmed by the natural aromatherapy generated by the scent of pine and redwood all around us.

The vibe during the day is casual and we live in our hiking and yoga clothes as we stroll outside in the gloriously fresh air. The vibe at night is upscale/nice casual, though we were a bit surprised to see one diner wearing shorts at dinner... hmmm... The staff at Post Ranch is certainly gracious enough to tolerate that but shorts at dinner seemed disrespectful to the chef and the staff, given how wonderfully thoughtful they are in preparing and serving the food.

We loved the outdoor soaking tub on the balcony of our suite both for the relaxation it provided and for the lovely waterfall sound it added to the already beautiful symphony of birds singing outside and the fire crackling in the fireplace inside. As always, we ate way too much but then who can resist such over the top delicious food? We devoured the daily chocolate chip cookies that are discreetly refilled in the in-room cookie jar. We loved the strawberry muffins and eggs benedict at breakfast, and we were continually delighted by the flavorful creations at dinner. Never before Post Ranch had we ever had such delectable risotto with chanterelles!

The overall vibe of Post Ranch Inn is Zen, spiritual, sacred, restful, and retreat-like. We typically spend three nights there and, upon leaving, feel so profoundly rested on every level that it’s as if we’ve been there for a full week. The service is exceptional and the food is delicious. Thank you to the many wonderful people on the staff who made our stay so perfect: Soaring, Jorge, Fred, Mike, Paige, Christian, Talmon, Trevor, Nicole, Aga, Candace, Rebecca, Martin... I hope I haven't left anyone out by accident! We are forever thankful and we can’t wait to return to the beautiful sanctuary that is Post Ranch Inn.