After seeing the Howard Creek Ranch website we decided that would be a perfect place for us to stay for our honeymoon. When we arrived we were a bit disappointed but thought'd it get better. No one was around. A note was scribbled on a piece of paper to call a number. We walked in and found a phone in which all the numbers were faded. The place and furniture were very worn and there were dolls everywhere. Also, there was bird poop all over the back of a couch. Sorta creepy. The table where breakfast was to be served was so small. I guess you'd really get to know other guest at breakfast?? We called a nice lady came and greeted us. We were taken to the Beach House. We had picked it cuz it said it had views of the ocean. Well, the view was very small and Hwy 1 was right there!! Not very quiet. There was a building that was under construction next to the Beach House that looked like it was started and stopped. Very ugly and that was one of our "views". The room was dark and musty. Again, the furniture was very worn. There was a small t.v. which had no reception. The room had a kitchenette which had no hot water at the sink (the knob was missing) The website talked about a private jacuzzi. Well, you have to share it with another room and the "jacuzzi" was big enough for just ONE person and was a bathtub type that is used inside a house. The BBQ was so small and when we opened it it almost fell over. We were extremely disappointed and trying to decide what to do. This was our honeymoon! We explored the room a little more and found the carpet extremely dirty. Infact, next to the bed was a huge stain spot on the carpet as if someone had gotten sick. That was the last straw. We left the room and went and found the lady. We told her that this place just wasn't for us and said we were leaving. She said the owners were not there and they would call us. We left. They ended up keeping our deposit of $500. I hope they use it for improvements! Another thing is that is says there is so much to do around there. Well, it's a 30 minute drive to any town (fort bragg) and the road is very winding and not a good drive especially at night. Dangerous. I would not recommend this place to anyone. As for our honeymoon.....there's no place like home!

We read about Howard Creek Ranch online - we'd never been to that part of California and wanted somewhere where we could unwind - it had been a rough year, healthwise, for both me and my daughter. We checked the reviews carefully, looked the place over online, spoke directly with someone (sorry, it wasn't Sally but was her assistant and I'm awful with names) about the place, and decided to give it a go. It had the distinct air of "old hippies live here" surrounding it. What you see is what is there. The buildings are well cared for and well loved.

We drove for four hours after landing in San Jose to get to the Inn. The roads were good all the way. The directions given to us were perfect, we found the Inn with no problem. We'd both barely gotten our legs uncrinked from the drive when the lovely woman who was handling reception duties came out to our car to welcome us. She signed us in, showed us the ropes (literally, crossing the rope bridge has a special technique to it), pointed me to a more sturdy bridge when I told her I was terrified of bridges and heights, and gave us a tour of the place. She then told us to make ourselves at home, showed us the intercom and the phone we could use if we needed to make calls, and left us to settle in on our own. It felt like we were relatives coming home after a long time away.

We stayed in the Blue Balcony Room. This room opens, through the bathroom, onto the communal library and great room (with solarium and hot tub). The room was absolutely lovely, just like in the photos. There were stacks of old National Geographics to read while sprawled out on the couch, and the birds (swallows?) nesting under the eaves and trying to keep their offspring fed kept us amused. We knew we were going "rustic" - having been well warned by the website and the staff, so having no screen on the window, etc., was no problem for us. The few bees that wandered in wandered back out again. The skylights were great - I saw more stars during our stay than I have in the last 30 years. My daughter consistently fell asleep long before it was totally dark, so she (sadly) never saw them. I note that in another review there was a concern that someone else's room could see into this one through the skylights. That's been taken care of, as we did check and we could see no other windows directly.

My daughter has health issues that require she avoid egg yolks and a lot of sugar and starch. We mentioned this to one of the staffers, and she arranged to have a lovely egg-white and veggie omlette made special for my daughter at breakfast. Breakfast is truly a joy to behold - just link grandma used to make. Bisquits and jam, baked pears, bacon, eggs scrambled with veggies and cheese, fried potatoes, french toast - great, huge bowls full with the staff coming through the dining rooms often to make sure your plate and your coffee cup weren't empty. I haven't eaten that well in years. Guests are welcome to congregate in the kitchen or on the porch before breakfast, and we started our days there with steaming mugs of mint tea and friendly conversation with Sally and her staff.

We waded the creek (take their advice, use the boots they provide for you - we were silly!) and went tidepooling at low tide. We saw many starfish, anemones, muscles, some abalone, and a few crustaceans we are still trying to identify. In the afternoon we went to meet Diablo, the llama, and the resident sheep - we were alarmed that the sheep ignored their fences and were wandering close down the road to the highway, but the staff assured us that they stayed on the property and were never roadkill. There's a big orange tabby cat that lives on the porch near the kitchen - he's a lover and will be in your lap with half and invitation. For those staying in the Blue Balcony Room, be aware that there is a roof cat, who lives on the roof and will scurry up and down over your skylights from time to time. It was great fun trying to figure out how to lure him down for some petting time - which we never managed to do.

The library has many old books and a cabinet full of board games, checkers, and chess. Some of the other rooms have TVs in them, and there are numerous videotapes available in the game cabinet. Each room has a table area in the great room, and we also had a small fridge and sink to use there. There's a microwave that's perfect for popcorn and small snacks. We found fresh flower arrangements on the tables. The great room/solarium also houses the hot tub, which is surrounded by soji screens so there is some privacy for anyone in the tub even if there are also people in the great room. Having the hot tub indoors like that is a very convenient arrangement, as you can go from your room to the tub, to the kitchen or solarium or library without having to go outside.

We were there this last week and Sally's garden looked absolutely lovely - kind of like an English Country Garden on steroids. We saw many birds, some of which we could identify, and took a number of pictures of the flowers. The staff was absolutely wonderful, the food was excellent, our bed was comfortable with some really pretty sheets (embroidered lace trim), and we wish we could have stayed much longer. We will definitely go back.

The one thing we might suggest is that if you do not like heat, you may not want to stay in the Blue Balcony Room during the hotter months, as the skylights did warm the room up quite a bit. We opened the door (onto our private porch/balcony) and it cooled it down, but later in the year if it gets hotter there that might be a problem. (Not having been there later in the year we don't know how hot it gets.)

You've really got to check out that beach at sunset, it's just a short walk and a trek across the creek to the sand. There's a public camping site just up the beach, but we saw very few people there at any of the times we went walking.

Thanks soooo much, Sally & Co., for a lovely home away from home. - Nan and Sarah

My husband and I are very familiar to the Ft Bragg, Ca. area and have stayed in several of the local hotels. This time we decided to stay in this Bed & Breakfast with some friends. It was a bit of a drive North of Ft Bragg but a very pretty one. When we arrived at the HCR we saw sheep and Llama and a beautiful garden at the entrance of the Inn. The exterior of the Inn is kind of rough looking. Could probably use some cleaning up but not too bad. We received a very nice greeting from Stephanie. She was very informative and gave us a tour of the Inn. She even showed us some of the other rooms that were still vacant. Each room was very nice. It isn't fancy by any means but very comfortable and clean.

The room we had was the Blue Balcony. There are skylights above the head of the bed so you can look at the stars once the lights go out. My husband and I really enjoyed that. Howeve, we noticed that the people in the Carriage Room could see us in our bed from their bathroom window. With this and the sheer curtains we never felt private. The kitchen/dining area is actually located outside the room in a larger open area. We weren't too crazy about this since there was no privacy. My friends stayed in Lucy's room. It is very small. Hardly enough room for luggage but nice. They said the bed was hard and uncomfortable.

We really liked the breakfast and great coffee. We always felt welcome at any part of the Inn. Unlike some B&B's, we didn't feel as though we had to tip toe around. In the morning we would go right into the kitchen and visit with the staff & sip on hot coffee while they cooked breakfast. A very comfortable and nice feeling about the place. The beach is nearby with nice trails so there's plenty to do right in the area.

On the down side - the Inn could use some airing out. In some parts it smells musty and old. The decor is kind of a cross between a antique shop and an estate sale. Some of the antiques were quite nice. But it seemed like there was just too much of everything.

If we have the opportunity we will return. It's not your usual B&B but I think that's what we liked about it. Our favorite rooms were The Carriage Room, Solar Room and the Captains Quarters. They're worth paying a little more for.

If you decide to stay here, bring food for lunch and dinner. But not too much because the refrigerator is very small. No stoves available, only microwaves. You may not need lunch because the breakfast is great and you'll want to eat a lot.

We've stayed at Howard Creek Ranch twice now. We love it for the seclusion, the beautiful beach, the lovely hosts, the fabulous breakfasts, and the feeling of 'getting away from it all'.

The first time we stayed in the Boat House, which is literally a tiny cottage built around the hull of a boat. One warning about this cottage: there is no door on the bathroom, which can be weird if you aren't used to it. Still, it is cosy and secluded feeling, overlooking the stream.

The second time, in December 2007 we stayed in the beach house, which was fantastic. It's a 2 story cottage out in the meadow, seperated from the other buildings with its own private deck and a "hot tub" (more like an outdoor bathtub, really, but still great to soak in at night). The second story is a loft with a bed. The first story contains the bedroom area, a small sitting area, and a kitchenette with a small fridge, microwave oven, and sink. You can stop off on the way up at Safeway in Ft. Bragg and stock up on all you need to just lock yourself away from the world for a few days.

We have both times visited in winter so we've taken full advantage of the franklin stove, and greatly appreciate the vast amount of firewood available. A tide chart is provided in the room so you know when you can head out to the beach (literally yards away) with a pair of galoshes on loan from the ranch and go check out the tide pools -- the amounts and varieties of starfish is astounding!

Onsite they've got a llama, some sheep, a few cats, and hiking trails up in the woods to go exploring. Warning: going all the way to the end of the trail, be sure to make some noise as you get up there lest you surprise another couple who may have gotten there first.

I can see how the place is not for everyone. Some people expect all B&Bs to be antique filled and precious, meticulous, and dust-free. That's not what the Howard Creek Ranch is about; it seems more about inspirational creativity, about being rustic, down-home. If you're all Laura Ashley-like, this isn't your cup of tea. You've got to have an appreciation for down-home earthiness to really appreciate HCR.

We love the place, it's rustic, the hosts make everyone feel welcome, the home-cooked breakfasts are great and hearty. It's an annual pilgrimage for us to get away and enjoy the rugged California coast. Looking forward to our next visit, already scheduled for Thanksgiving 08.