I wanted a special way to celebrate my 50th birthday, and I wanted to go some place where my dogs could come, too. The bed and breakfast Whitegate Inn in Mendeceno not only provided a wonderful escape, but charged only one fee per STAY per animal, vice a charge per night. The accomodations are not 'doggy' by any stretch of the imagination! Great rooms, comfortable beds with lots of terrific pillows, towels for the dogs, spectatular views, and breakfast to live for! They provided a special treat for me on my birthday, knowing that I would be heavily involved in reading and writing during my stay, and brought the wine social ammenities to my location. They even opted to provide me breakfast an hour earlier on my last day to accomodate an unexpected change in my plans.

In short, the folks at the Inn were kind, thoughtful, and friendly. Not bad for a place that already exibits cleanliness and comfort all together in the same space.

We were delighted to find room at the Inn as our final 2007 gift to ourselves. We booked the Garden Meadow room, which is on the second floor. We were immediately taken with the gleaming white facade of the house, built around 1894, if memory serves. All was spotless and charming. The stained glass window, which serves as a skylight, is stunning!

Inside, is a Victorian delight. A large whispy looking tree, decorated with shiny Christmas ornaments filled the bow window. On a sideboard, stood a pedestal dish filled with the Inn's famous (or should be famous) chocolate chip cookies.

When we arrived, many of the rooms were not yet occupied, so we made a tour of the house. Each room is unique, and beautifully decorated. I thought our room was going to be small, as it is tucked under the eaves. Not so. It was a very nice size and easy for two to manouever. The only downside was there was not much room to put clothing, but we found ways to tuck sweaters and scarfs around the room, and were fine for our two night stay.

My favorite thing about our room was the wallpaper- a flower and ribbon affair, very cheerful and welcoming. Our view is of the trees and the white clapboard house, across the street, which is also in pristine condition. I liked the gas stove that burst into action when the thermometer was set, so we had instant heat.

The wine and cheese hour was very nice, and we made sure to be home for it. We just wished it was warmer outside, so we could take our snacks out to the gorgeous gazebo with its views over the ocean. We solved that problem by booking ahead for the fall, so we can make sure to enjoy it.

The breakfasts were also very nice. I very much liked the coffee, which I brought up to the room every morning for an early cuppa sitting in my comfy feather bed.

I spoke at length with Richard, Gretchen and our French hostess, whose name unfortunately escapes me. They were all so charming, fun and helpful. Richard went out of his way on New Year's eve to make sure everyone had reservations for dinner, which we had not booked ahead.

The other Inn guests were a delight, and we have happy memories of our conversations with them.

We stayed here the weekend before Thanksgiving and it was a wonderful experience. The bed was super comfy, the gas fireplace was thermostat controlled so we woke up every morning to a roaring fire, and soft robes to wrap up in. Breakfast was a gourmet experience every morning and the innkeepers and staff couldn't be nicer. They even allowed our little dog to be in the dining room with us (we kept him under one of our chairs to be out of the way) since our dog panics when left alone. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great place to stay in the Mendocino area.

I have such fond memories of my week in Mendocino and am soooooooo glad I found the Whitegate Inn to rest my tired head at the end of the day. My stay there was such a piece of magic, an integral part of my wonderful week in Mendocino.Susan and Richard Strom really know how to set a warm and comfortable ambiance of informal gathering, and people connect in a way I’ve rarely seen. I know that when I return to Mendocino, it will be here!