We enjoyed the Sandpiper and Stinson Beach. We arrived late, after a long haul flight, and our keys were left out. It was great to open the door into a clean, comfortable, spacious room tastefully decorated, with a very comfortable bed. The town is charming, with a buzzing bar with delicious food and a diner that does a good breakfast. We didn't meet the owners of the hotel but it was a nice place to stay and a friendly town, ideal for the first couple of nights.

My husband and kids stayed at Sandpiper Inn last year and had a great experience - didn't want to leave. So, this year, just my husband and I returned for a holiday and wanted to enjoy the beautiful and fragrant gardens and beaches and quiet, sleepy little surfing town of Stinson Beach. However, we didn't get a decent night's sleep until our 3rd night and by then, it was out of pure exhaustion from not having sleep the 1st and 2nd night!

First night, woke up to the sound of footsteps right outside our windows (stayed in Cabin 7 which is right next to the street and footpath), people and cars coming and going and somebody knocking on the door next door. Just got back to sleep when four (4), yes, 4 garbage trucks backed down the street - with the 'beep, beep, beep" noise - a Wednesday morning I would say early as it was still dark outside - sun was rising at 0630 at this point in the season. Then, the crashing and banging sounds of the garbage being dumped into the truck and then the trucks loud motors back up the street.

Second night = The couple in the cabin next to us were VERY loud, talking, making strange, 'slapping' sounds and then running the shower and bathroom fan at various times and just partying until 0300! The walls between cabins are VERY thin and you can hear everything the neighbor is doing!

All that said, the options of lodging at Stinson Beach are very limited and this is really the best place to stay, but I would recommend either the cabin in the back by the garden or the main lodging which seem more quiet. Cabins are over-priced considering the beds are not very comfortable, bedding is substandard and water pressure in the shower sucks and noisy.

Easy access to hiking trails, shops, restaurants. Great town for walking to everything.

Stinson Beach is about an hour north of San Fran on Hwy 1 but it might as well be a thousand miles away. It is a sleepy little beachfront town with mega character and is perfect for anyone trying to get away from the big city (any big city) for a few days. If you look on-line for places to stay in this area, you'll mostly find family owned B&B's and Inns like the Sandpiper and most of them are either full or very expensive at this time of year. We chose the Sandpiper for its location and the fact that each of their rooms/cabins have kitchenettes and...the price was very reasonable.

The owner was very welcoming and accommodating. Our room had a very comfortable queen bed and a futon that pulled out into another bed (for our 16 year old). The room was very clean and kitchen well stocked with dishes and pots and pans. The welcome basket had an assortment of teas as well as coffee (reg and decaf). There was also a gas fireplace that we didn't get a chance to use because it wasn't cold enough but I'm sure it would be very cozy when you needed to use it.

We also loved the fact that they had a selection of movies in the front office that guests could just come down and borrow. The TV in the room was a fancy-shamncy flat screen...nice touch! Although there is no place to eat right at the Inn, there is the Parkside Cafe just down the road that serves a great breakfast. The grocery store just in town was also great. It was well stocked with all kinds of local organic produce, cheeses and meats as well as the usual grocery store fare. We picked up all the ingredients we needed for a lovely meal our daughter cooked for us the night we stayed there. I wish now that we'd stayed for a few days rather than just overnight. It was a real treat!

As for Stinson Beach itself...it's just a very short walk from the Sandpiper. The beach is open during the day but not sure if there's a lifeguard on duty. It's great for walking and kids will enjoy the clean white sand while the adults will love the absolutely beautiful scenery. Also check out the Surfer's Cafe for lunch too. We had great fish and chips there while enjoying a spectacular view!

Stinson Beach is also very close to other charming towns like Inverness, Point Reyes Station and the Point Reyes lighthouse which are well worth visiting. It's a very remote part of the CA coast and a perfect stopping point for those travelling along Hwy 1. So get out of your car, stretch your legs and enjoy a step back into another time.

We spent one night here and were very pleased with the hotel. Stinson Beach is a small, relaxing place and we enjoyed a great, clean and well run hotel as our stopping point. The town has a couple of restaurants- Parkside Cafe for a great breakfast- they even have a fireplace. And another further into town for dinner.