For his birthday, Billiam and I reset deep down along the California coast. It was a really awesome weekend, in my opinion, and more importantly, Bill said he really enjoyed it, too. We took the weekend off (Not even bringing our laptops!) because a birthday is a great excuse to do such, and also because the sweet, progressive souls at the Cambria Palms Motel offered us a free night in their largest room! In exchange, they asked that I give them feedback for what is working for the hotel and what could be improved.

It would be fair to think that since we got to stay for free, I would give our stay an automatic A++, but if you’ve been around this blog for a while, you know that freebies don’t always earn perfect score cards from me. See: The Shibue Experiment (More on this very soon!) and multiple Bikram yoga sessions at my Most Embarrassing Job Ever. So you can believe me when I say I genuinely enjoyed the hotel. Check out the pics for the necessary visuals.

The Cambria Palms Motel is fun, and I’m not just saying that. The owners and management are in the process of revamping the place to bring it up to more boutique hotel standards, similar to the Presidio in Santa Barbara. Its current state is one that makes me think of rustic Jetsons (in progress) – with wood paneling instead of circular windows and seahorse drawer pulls instead of robot maids. It’s funky, retro, and cute. Our room came with a queen-sized bed and a full kitchen. It stepped right out into the patio with cow pastures beyond flowers beyond the hotel’s fire pit.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with the bathroom, and that may simply be due to the fact that beachside lodgings (that aren’t resorts) seem to me to consistently underperform with their fixtures. I was immediately disappointed that ours, the largest room with its big bed, suede chaise lounge, and large TV did not have a bathtub. Sure, a standing shower gets the job done, but since the rest of the space seemed to be built for relaxation to the point of equipping for home-cooked meals, the lack of a tub seemed remiss. Also, don’t be surprised to find a couple bugs crawling along the newly refinished wood floor. In the face of being just a step away from an evening fire and overly inviting adirondack chairs, though, all of this stuff is rather inconsequential.

Bill and I are generally not the types to stay cooped up in a hotel room all day long, so we really didn’t mind the supposed unfinished bits of the Cambria Palms’ facilities. They’ve essentially redone all the surfaces of the rooms, installed new mattresses, updated aesthetics with new art, but just haven’t replaced all of the furniture.

The place is already cozy and has a lot of potential to bring younger vacationers down Cambria’s way. The weekend we arrived, the town was celebrating a car show and a chili cook-off, so the entire facility was booked up. From what I saw of the Palms’ clientele and that of the hotels down the street, the Palms also attracts a more diverse crowd than anywhere else in Cambria. I think it’s perfect for the creative mind, for someone who needs to take a weekend sabbatical or just wants to be removed from a world of bustle. The hotel is pet friendly (Check out the innkeeper’s awesome bull hound! And they have zebra finches in the lobby.), and actually has the grounds surrounding it so that it would make sense to bring a dog.

Location-wise, the Palms Motel is set on the side of town that has more eating than shopping, which is fine with me. It’s just a walk away from Linn’s Fruit Bin and the Brambles Dinner House (where we ate Bill’s birthday dinner – Oh yes, there will be a Cambria food post.). Fortunately for us, the effects of global warming and its spastic weather patterns were at bay, meaning there wasn’t the hail that hit Cambria the week before. In fact, the weather was beach-y perfect, and we managed to get everywhere by foot. We regret that we didn’t get a chance to borrow the hotel’s free bicycles, but I have a strong feeling we’ll take them up on the offer on a return trip.

Cambria: The other Mendocino, and the less annoying San Simeon
The innkeeper mentioned that they’re looking to basically give the hotel’s personality a makeover, and not only freshen up the interior, but also make it a destination spot for art and photography workshops. Do I think this is possible? Yes, though I write from the perspective of a +1 at art workshops in quiet towns. From what I’ve observed, however, the Palms needs a classroom if it is going to fully address the needs of working artists. (He’s looking for groups who’d be interested in helping him develop this program, so please email me if you think you’d be interested! I’d be more than happy to get you in contact with the Cambria Palms. Hopefully you like group discounts.)

Since, in the end, I am not an artist but an eager traveler who will go anywhere at any hint of a possible excuse, I would still vouch for Cambria as a lodging destination. Aside from elephant seals and Hearst Castle, there isn’t much down along Highway 1. For that reason, elephant seals and Hearst Castle seem to completely overshadow any of the original charm of the 1′s bordering towns. I could just hear the Hearst Castle tchotchke keychains jingling on their hooks as we drove past San Simeon. Something about the San Simeon area, saturated with landmark tourists, told me I would not have enjoyed staying there. I like seeing fascinating things. I don’t always like being constantly reminded of them, though. Cambria seems like a much cozier, less souvenirs-down-your-throat kind of place, and it’s really just a nice cozy town.

Also, Nit Wit Ridge, a Cambria landmark described as the “poor man’s Hearst Castle,” was just as amazing as its uberrich counterpart up the road. It deserves its own post, so get ready for the most impressive use of abalone shells you’ve ever seen.

Take me back to the comfy bed!!