My Partner and I have stayed at this motel many times throughout the years as we enjoy traveling from Sacramento to Reno on weekend getaways. Stopping in the small town of Colfax is one of our highlights and something we look forward to once or twice a year.

Over the years we have noticed a tremendous change in the motel that, from what I understand, can be attributed to new ownership. The changes include a complete remodel of all the rooms, beautiful new furniture and beautiful landscaping. They've even added refrigerators and coffee makers, which really pleased us!

The best part about our trips is being able to see the motel's manager, Juice, whom we've come to know on a first name basis. Since our first trip we have stayed in room 18, which is all the way at the end of the "L," furthest from the freeway. From what I understand though, not many people have ever complained about freeway noise. The evenings are the nicest because you can sit out on the wrap around deck and enjoy the sights and sounds of the area. The new landscaping and fresh potted flowers are a wonderful addition.

For dinner you can either walk to some fast food restaurants in the area, drive into the quaint downtown district, or take a short drive to a great Italian restaurant, Giovannis. This restaurant is located on Hwy 174 and Juice can point you in the right direction.

On our way to Reno, NV we decided to pull over halfway in Colfax and found the Colfax Motor Lodge to be a comfortable and affordable place to stay. It ran us $65.00 for a Friday night stay.

From the outside, you'd have to wonder what you were getting yourself into, but once we checked in we were pleasantly surprised. There were plants hanging outside the rooms like something you'd see in Western Canada or in the Southern United States, benches and seating areas spread around the grounds and the rooms were of adequate size and appointed with dark cherry wood-like furniture, armoire, a refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer and beveled mirrors and tasteful paintings adorned the walls.

Although located close to the freeway, the dual payne windows did a great job in keeping out the noise and the air conditioning unit could if left alone, freeze water. This was important as it approached 100 degrees this day. When we realized that we needed larger towels, a call to the office was greeted quickly by a knock, knock, knock on our door and the towels were there in the manager's arms, who by the way, had managed the Lodge for the past 14 years, and who's nickname was "Juice" as she told it; came from running a daycare for years and the children were not able to pronounce her real name Joyce. Very cute.

It is conveniently located near shopping, fast food and gas stations and a short 10-minute drive from a lovely Rollins Lake where we quickly shopped for a picnic lunch and enjoyed the view. We then stopped by a place called the Red Frog restaurant/bar and enjoyed a cocktail and the tremendous view of the Sierra Nevada mountains. From there we drove a couple of miles to a recommended Italian restaurant called Giovanni’s. Wonderful, fresh and creative meal in a home-style type atmosphere where most everyone knew someone at each table. Later that evening the Karaoke started in the full bar and there you take the very good talent along with the very bad talent.