Located one hour south of San Francisco and 45 minutes from San Jose Airport, Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Camp is a self-penned “eco adventure resort” located in Pescadero, Calif. The relaxing vacation spot uses sustainable methods to run their operation, from recycling to choosing local produce for the California coastal cuisine they serve in the restaurant. There’s free wi-fi but cell phone service was (fortunately) sparse. To get there, you have to take Highway 1 at some point. For those who’ve never done the drive, a deep look at the beautiful coastline is enough to melt any travel stress away. Since I didn't have time to drive the whole way, my boyfriend and I opted to take a flight after work Friday from Burbank to San Jose and flew back Sunday evening. Our friends from San Francisco picked us up at the airport in San Jose and we were on our way.

It’s an easy, worthwhile weekend getaway to unwind and be outdoors without sacrificing any comfort. The rates aren’t cheap, but not outrageously expensive to splurge for a special occasion. What’s great about the place is there are a few levels of luxury you can choose from. You can camp and bring a tent, rent a furnished canvas tent, stay in a Douglas Fir Cabin, or board in the lodge. I chose to stay in a cabin, which went for $195 a night.

Each cabin is built duplex-style, with two units per cabin and a shared porch. The cabins don’t come with a private bathroom, so guests must use a centrally located “comfort station” that houses indoor hot showers, heated concrete floors, restrooms, sauna and outdoor fireplace. The bathrooms were very clean and even nice, but after a few glasses of wine I really didn’t want to go out into the middle of the night to find the comfort station. The guys had more convenient options, but for us girls, holding it was the alternative.

The beach is a 10-minute walk from the grounds. You have to cross PCH to get to the trail, but the highway isn’t that treacherous. It’s a secluded beach that you can walk up and down for miles and miles. It’s a perfect place to bring a bottle of wine (or two or four) and have a picnic. The shore nearby has tide pools to explore (note to unknowing nature lovers - go when the tide is low) and what Costanoa boasted on their activity flyer as “multing seals”. From a natural bridge, we saw groups of seals swimming not far off shore.

My friends and I went on a three-mile hike around Costanoa that our friendly concierge recommended. The trail is nicely maintained and it took us through the woods surrounding the property over a bridge to beautiful, rolling hills with views of the ocean cliffs. Just when we got tired and wanted to take a break - voila! We came upon a set of wooden chairs placed perfectly to rest our feet and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Day trips are convenient to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, half an hour or 20 minutes, respectively. Just a five-minute drive up the road, is the Pigeon Point lighthouse, the second tallest lighthouse in America. It’s another scenic place to take pictures or watch the sun set.

Costanoa offers plenty of activities for its guests. Besides taking in the free natural surroundings, you can take a yoga lesson, go to the spa, rent a bicycle, ride a horse or go kayaking.

There’s a restaurant and general store for all your needs. You can buy locally farmed goat cheese, wines and much more. The food at the Cascade Bar & Grille is unpretentious and good. The menu is comprised of local organic produce like grilled meats, fish and vegetables. If you’d rather cook your own dinner, there are BBQ grills on the property for your use.

In the evenings, we stargazed and sat by the outdoor fireplaces. We made S’mores and sat in the hot tub with bellies full of marshmallows. I love the outdoors and camping, but sometimes camping is work. At Costanoa, you can enjoy nature and leave the work to the resort. Staying in a cabin with a mini-fridge isn’t camping by any means, but it’s nice to come back to after a day packed full with adventure along the coast.

Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Camp
2001 Rossi Road at Hwy 1
Pescadero, CA 94060
(650) 879-1100

Photos by An Tran for LAist