BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. You can take a wo derful tour. You'll recognize this lighthouse from the movies. Last movie scene shot on site was the scene at the end of NEED FOR SPEED. Also this is the closest point from the mainland to Hawaii.

Aloha everyone,
As part of a 10 day summer vacation road trip, my significant other and I stayed at one of the Point Arena Lighthouse "keepers" cottages. More specifically, we stayed in the Head Light Keeper's Cottage (#1). First off, Point Arena is a beautiful spot, roughly 150 miles up Hwy 1 on the Pacific coast north of San Francisco. You shouldn't miss it. There aren't a host of lodging choices in the area, so I chose this because it sounded romantic and secluded and quiet. It is all three. The upside is that you have continuous access to the small, but interesting, museum and the lighthouse tours; you're able to roam the secluded property after hours (most of it); the surrounding views are awesome; the weather and ocean interaction is fascinating whether it's rain, fog, or sun; there is plenty of sealife/wildlife to observe; and the staff is super friendly. As for the accommodations, the cottages are former Coast Guard/Navy quarters. If there's a downside, it's price (about $250 a night). That said, the rentals help sustain the lighthouse, so it's going to a good purpose. You might consider "condition" a downside too, but if you know what you're getting into, it shouldn't be an issue. The cottages are fairly old (think shag carpet) but ours seemed to be pretty well maintained. It's not fancy by any stretch, but it was clean and comfortable. Anyway, if you think beach rental, you're closer to the mark than lighthouse cottage. In short, there is no "quaint" here and "cottage" is a bit of a misnomer. The bedroom is small, but the queen bed is surprisingly nice. The living room and the full kitchen are set up for extended stays--dishes, pots, pans, cutlery, etc.-- everything you probably need. There's bottled water, coffee & coffee maker with filters (!) and a small complementary bottle of wine. You'll need to bring your own food/drink or eat out in one of the few options in Point Arena. There's a fireplace all ready-to-go (worked great!), dish TV, and Internet. We stayed one night and it does get kinda chilly even in summer, but there were plenty of heaters in the cottage that worked like champs. Plus the fireplace. All in all, we really enjoyed it. We were looking for quiet and relaxing. The Point Arena Lighthouse cottages deliver both in abundance. Again, not posh, but very simple and nice. Recommended!