Just called and not currently a B & B... I appreciate that a woman picked up the phone to say so. Wish we could've tried it when it was because it sounds lovely! read more

Perfect B&B for an oyster getaway! Very good price and a gracious host. Close to Point Reyes for hiking and just across the bay from oysters, cheese and wine, what's not to like! read more

Abalone Inn - Bed & Breakfast - Fresh Oysters - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

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Called and they are no longer a B&B, just open for month-long stays :(

My boyfriend and I stayed one night without a reservation, arriving after dark. We were happily welcomed by the owner, Donna, and although it was after 9pm, she was elated to have our business. She showed us two available rooms to choose from, one being $150/night and the second being $180/night. We chose the second room for its much larger size on the top floor, for an expansive view of the coming sunrise and Tomales Bay. We learned from Donna that the property was one of the oldest in the area. Along with both the owner and the home come many quirks you don't often find when you book a stay in a b & b or hotel. I find old Victorians quite charming and this one is no exception, though we did see/experience some things that we would change if it were up to us (you should probably book a stay here, so you can see for yourself!). There is a hot tub on sight in a beautiful outdoor setting! That was a highlight for us. The owner made a deal with us to use the hot tub even though it was usually locked at that hour, so long as we were quiet and respectful. It was truly delightful to take in the warm water against the coastal air. We have a well-behaved dog who was welcome as long as she didn't go on the furniture. We didn't have our dog's crate with us, so we let her sleep in our car for the night, but she was lovingly welcomed to the fenced in dog area the following morning and allowing her to roam about was easy and stress-free. We really appreciated the owner's laidback attitude towards us and our dog. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and felt the price was reasonable. read more

Dona is a wealth of information for your stay in Pt. Reyes, as she should, having operated this B&B for quite some time. It's an old Victorian with character - the attic room which we stayed in was quite spacious. It doesn't have the most modern of amenities, and yes, there are a lot of rules, but just see if breakfast in the sunny nook in the morning doesn't put you in a good mood for the day! Extra plus - convenient location + the hot tub out back! read more

Abalone Inn - Bed & Breakfast - common area - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

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Donna at Abalone Inn is not kidding when she says it's a Bed and Breakfast. The Bed part covers everything you'd expect at a hotel. But the BREAKFAST! wow, that is some good stuff. Morning 1: toasted english muffins, organic locally grown and made blueberry jam, cottage cheese, fresh, RIPE strawberries, cantaloupe, and blueberries, and some yummy type of fruit juice. Morning 2: same thing only substitute a toasted bagel for the muffin and cream cheese for the cottage cheese. and, this is all made ONLY after you've gotten up and let Donna know you're ready for breakfast (just be sure to get up before 11am, because that's when the breakfast offer ends). The place actually has 4 rooms/suites. We got the Garden Room which, in my humble opinion, is the BEST room to get if it's just you and your honey. You walk in and there's the bedroom, white wicker furniture, very rustic. You head to the left and out the door there's a sort of sun room that leads to the shower and the bathroom. There's also a door to the outside garden (hence the name), which has a gate you can shut for privacy. This place isn't the most luxurious, the towels aren't the fluffiest, there's no bathtub, the walls aren't the most sound proof. But what it lacks in luxury it more makes up for in the rustic and homey, and romantic, atmosphere. We had a great time. Thanks Donna! read more

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Though it was several years ago that I stayed at the Abalone Inn, the experience is fresh in my mind. This place scared me and my husband off B and B's for years. This year was our first attempt at returning to B and B's; and it was the loveliness of our most recent stay that jogged my memory of this place. Judging from the positive reviews here and on trip advisor, this place clearly has a niche ( or the hostess has a lot of friends), and we were clearly not a part of the target demographic. Maybe it's just too "establishment" of me, but the rules of this place were just too much for me. When staying at a hotel the proprietor should accommodate you, not the other way around. The first ten minutes of our visit were a litany of restrictions; the most bizarre of them being the no toilet paper in the toilet rule. I see that a lot of people have labeled this place " Eco-friendly" but I don't see what is Eco-friendly about sending your feces to the local landfill rather than the local waste treatment plant. "Surely," I thought as I looked the Abalone "this woman has updated her plumbing" but I see from the most recent reviews that she has not. In addition, I was not impressed with the additions that had been made to the bathroom in our gran room. I'm not well aquatinted with bathroom construction, but I am fairly sure that shower floors should not bounce. I will say that the hostess is a very talented photographer, as they pictures of the inn are truly impressive. I was a little disappointed that the sunny pictures I thought were a sitting room were actually pictures of the bathroom. I don't know about you, but I do not like to spend my leisure time sitting in the bathroom, especially a bathroom with a "sanitary can" in it. In fairness, the dog was very sweet, and the breakfast was healthy, but I could have accomplished the same thing with five bucks and a trip to a farmers market. Like I said, this place does have a clientele it caters to, but I wanted to warn off people like us who don't fit into that group. If your idea of ecology sounds like the description above, knock yourself out. If you don't like the idea of having someone hover over you while you are trying to eat, look somewhere else. read more

Don't stay in the "garden room". I never entered the inn, so I know nothing about the other rooms. What they call a garden room is nothing but a converted sun porch that smells like mildew. The room was not clean. I even found a used soda can and a glass under the little table. The hot tub was not hot. The jets were not strong. The breakfast was 2 stale Costco muffins and fruit. The coffee machine didn't work well. The coffee tasted like Folgers. The "queen" bed was really really short. I am only 5'5" and my feel hung out. The pillows were flat and not supportive. The heating blanket did not heat, even though it was turned on. The "porch" was not a room. It was too small to be a room. Other than the location, the whole experience was truly a disappointment for $150 a night. read more

After reading the reviews on Yelp about the Abalone Inn, I was a bit hesitant to book a romantic nights stay with my boyfriend. To put it frankly, I was kind of expecting a dump. I called around to see if there was anything else in the area but it was the least expensive option and we're used to roughing it. I was surprised when we arrived at the inn and saw that it wasn't a dump at all -- it's really quite beautiful. There were cookies and tea sitting out in a kitchen-like alcove, sherry in the sitting room, plus books and chachkas specific to Point Reyes. The room we stayed in was right off the main room; it was quiet, cozy and served us well. There was also an amazing hot tub that I would highly recommend. The other great part about our stay was the owner, Donna, who is fabulous. She is clearly invested in her community and the politics of Point Reyes and I liked that when we mentioned where we were going for dinner (recommendation via Yelp), she suggested an alternative. The restaurant was not only closer to the inn but supported the Point Reyes community in a way that the first choice did not. It's locally owned and didn't feel commercial. The next morning we ate breakfast and she pulled out a map and circled point of interest. We followed her advice and went to almost every spot and had a great day eating oysters, hiking Pt. Reyes hills and visiting the lighthouse. I would definitely stay at this inn again. The fact that you have to throw used tp in the trash and take off your shoes at the door were very minor inconveniences and did not detract from my relaxed and satisfying stay at this inn. read more

Abalone Inn is a hidden gem in the Point Reyes area. It is a small, locally run, woman owned business. Donna is doing an amazing job! Our lovely host, Donna, gave us a warm welcome into her inn. She included lots of thoughtful details like a glass of sherry upon arrival, fresh roses and cookies in our room, & a breakfast basket with new items daily. She also took the time to let us know that the Inn has been her home for over twenty years and that she has turned it into a BnB - and it's perfect this way. How we can help to take great care of the space was explained to us. We loved the eco-friendliness of the business. We had several questions about the region and she gave us an introduction to the history of Point Reyes. She was happy to answer our questions & share her insider's knowledge. She even had advice on surf spots & kayaking. We stayed 3 nights in the attic suite. It really felt like we had our own home because it's separate entrance involved a walk through her garden, lined with abalone shells and gorgeous flowers leading up to a spacious deck. We hope to come back to watch the sunrise from the deck & soak in the hot tub under the full moon. If you are looking for a wonderful, quiet get-away, in a beautiful area tucked away just north of San Francisco, this is the place! Two thumbs up! read more

We went up for one night and a day trip. Arrived late at night. The owner, Donna had made us dinner reservations at the local (and very fine) restaurant. We came back after a delicious dinner to a starlit sky and a hot tub. Donna noticed our bottle of wine and gave us plastic glasses to carry out to the hot tub. The place is just so charmingly decorated (lots of abalone shells as expected), quaint, hippy-ish but convenient. Donna's really thought of everything. A roaring fireplace with port in the living room was available if we had wanted it to be. Breakfast was a delicious healthy toast with jam and fruit with yogurt as well as rich coffee and juice. She had planned on bringing it up for us, but we preempted her and came down to the living room to get it. We had the entire B&B to ourselves (only three rooms), and loved it. The attic room we stayed in was massive, with enough room to accomodate 5 ppl (two large beds) and a pull out, which is something we're keeping in mind for later. There was also a coffee table, a dining table, board games, books, and plenty of stuff to occupy us had we been bored. Also a small kitchenette one the landing of the attic room. We had our own shower bathroom, and when we woke up in the morning, a gorgeous view onto some pastures and rolling hills in the distance. The location of this inn is also extremely convenient. We finished up the day with a drive up to Marshall to shuck oysters over a bottle of riesling right on the inlet, drove down to point reyes vineyard and then a small stop at cowgirl creamery. we also want to bring our biking enthusiast friends up here as it's the perfect place for bikers and outdoor ppl. For a romantic vacation or for an outdoorsy trip, Abalone Inn is the bomb. seriously, go here. Oh yeah, and prices are the best in the area (we did some research). Off season prices rock. if you're scared of lady bugs, don't go here though, because there seemed to be a lot of them in some of the window frames. that is the only possible con. Bottom line, really cute, convenient, very reasonably priced B&B in Tomales Bay area, near Inverness, Marshall, in Point Reyes. read more

Booking this bed and breakfast started on a Thursday when Billy and I decided we could afford our first semi-spontaneous out of town weekend getaway after the wedding. We called Donna and were just immediately thrilled with her kind customer service. Chatting with her about the room we wanted was like a little window into what our mini-vacation was going to be like... absolutely DIVINE, RELAXING, ZEN. The Abalone Inn is easy to find and it's in an ideal central location (triangulated by 1. Point Reyes Lighthouse, National Parks and beaches, 2. the sweetest downtown area you've ever seen - equipped with Cowgirl Creamery, and 3. the Marshall/Hog Island area... don't get me started). I could go on and on about our amazing day, but what topped it all off was our hour long dip in the PRIVATE jacuzzi back at the Inn where we polished off a bottle of champagne. Could we ask for more? Actually, Donna doesn't care if you ask or not... When you wake up in the morning, prepare to be greeted by the most amazing seasonal organic breakfast you've ever seen. She keeps the coffee and conversation coming. Everything was PERFECT. This will be our go-to spot in Point Reyes every time. We can't wait to go back. We will recommend it to anyone who says they're heading this way for a blissful weekend away. I don't know if it gets any better than this, but if it does, it's really hard to imagine. Love this place. read more

As a business owner, I stay at the Abalone Inn 3-4 times a year for a night or two having marathon business review and planning sessions. The location and amenities are very conducive to thinking and the garden is charming and great for reading. When available, I choose the attic room where I can work hard at the large table, do morning yoga on the deck or in the living area, and sleep like a baby. The Abalone Inn is not your run-of-the-mill B&B, but a charming old home, quiet and peaceful, with a warm and caring host. I look forward to my next stay there in September. read more

I have been a self-employed business owner for some 35 years and I can appreciate the challenges of a guesthouse such as this. Not sure I would call it "breakfast" exactly but, the morning offering of fruit, muffin, hardboiled eggs and coffee was adequate as was the tiny kitchenette. Further, I found Donna (the proprietor) to be as kind, quirky and accommodating as any hostess could possibly be considering she likely engages a wide variety of multiple personality disorders trying in vain to navigate a few slightly unconventional rules as evidenced by some of the 1-2 star reviews. lol - We stayed for 2 nights and had fun with all of the above without any negativities to report. Enter the Abalone Inn with a sense of joy and you won't be disappointed. Enter with ego and entitlement and you shall always be disappointed. We'll be back! ;) read more

Overall, staying at the Inn was a great experience. My girlfriend and I stayed there for two nights (gay friendly!). The house had a tremendous charm. It was very comfortable and relaxing, and decorated nicely. It didn't feel pretentious (which we appreciated it), but it also wasn't dumpy by any stretch of the imagination. There were plenty of books on hand to read, including many art and photo books as well as novels and books about history and politics. There was also a large binder available, with information about local events, hikes, and menus from local restaurants. Since we were traveling on a budget, we stayed in the Mountain room. It was small but cozy. We had a private bathroom just outside the room. As it was on the bottom floor, we had access to the living room and a small kitchenette with a fridge and a microwave. The living room had a comfortable couch and nice lighting during the day. The breakfasts were fair to good: muffin, hard-boiled egg, and an orange the first day; muffin, yogurt smoothie, and an apple the second day. We were very impressed with being treated to mulled wine our second night, which was extremely delicious. There are a number of rules to follow, like taking your shoes off at the front door, but nothing really to complain about. The hot tub, which stays open until 9:30 pm, was lovely as well (though we wish the hot tub could stay open a bit later). I highly recommend this place and would love to go back some day. read more

I'm utterly puzzled by some of the bad reviews here. The Abalone is, admittedly, not for those who want a sterile, impersonal hotel experience. But the inn is lovely, and the owner is lovely, and our stay there was wonderful. Keep in mind that I actually don't generally like B&Bs, because I find them a bit cheesy. But I like this one. Quirky but cozy room (my notoriously picky boyfriend even approved of the mattress), great views over Tomales Bay, bitchin' hot tub, delicious breakfast (fresh eggs from the owner's hens). Our room (The Starlight Room) also had a clawfoot tub, which was awesome. Definitely planning to stay here again! read more

I'm definitely a fan. We stayed at the Abalone Inn two weekends ago and it was as good as it gets! We stayed in the back room which has it's own mini fridge and bathroom. After brunch in Petaluma we took the Petaluma-Point Reyes road in, stopped at Marin French Cheese along the way and at Cowgirl Cremery and the grocery store for some crackers when we arrived at Point Reyes. Donna is great, we've always had great conversations about gardening, things going on in the community around Inverness. We've also has wonderful experience chatting with the folks staying there during breakfast (which rocks). Although it was very windy and cold that weekend, we loved being able to drive an hour, slowing down and unwinding from the day to day. I love Point Reyes. read more

I had driven up from Monterey and out to the point when I realized I needed more time in the area. They were recommended as "maybe" dog friendly and after quizzing me about my sweet ten year old dog had me come over to see the room, which was a converted back sun room. Donna invited me in for a little shared dinner as I was the only guest and we had a nice chat about the property. She showed me through the entire house and if I hadn't had a dog, I would have chosen the front room (northeast corner) which looks over the march (and the road). The back room on the main floor is on the southeast corner where there is an organic garden. Access to the hot tub was a nice treat on such a cold night in the winter - it happened to be the solstice! It is an old house, which lends it that kind of charm. Wifi, kitchenette, tub, comfortable bed, view of the stars through the back window panes and a comfy chair from which to work online! In the morning I took a nice walk on a recommended trail (it was frosty!). read more

Had a quick, overnight stay here; it was perfect. Donna was a wonderful host and the Inn is simple and understated. I will stay in a different room next time. read more

My partner and I LOVE the Abalone Inn. It's beautiful, friendly, unpretentious, comfortable, and eco-conscious. We've been twice. First time, we stayed upstairs in the very large suite with a great view of the mountain and marsh land. Second time, we stayed in the lovely Garden Room, with a sweet little patio next to the garden. The main common room is very warm, welcoming, and cozy, and there is always coffee and tea. In the cooler months, there's often a fire in the fire place. It is also a mini art gallery, with pieces by local artists. And lots of bookshelves full of interesting books. The grounds are lovely to stroll around in, with extensive vegetable and flower gardens (and a great hot tub in the middle of it). Dona always greets us warmly, often accompanied by her big friendly dog. She gives us lots of information about local places, hiking spots, dinner spots, and she even has binders full of this information for guests to browse. We eat breakfast either at a nice window table looking out at the mountain or on the front porch, both wonderful spots that make you just want to sit and drink tea all day. A couple times, Dona gave us hard boiled eggs, fresh from her backyard chickens. In sum, it's a great place to rest and nest while exploring the wonderful surrounding Point Reyes. read more

This is a beautiful old Victorian House with cozy rooms and beautiful views. Great proximity to everything in the Point Reyes area! Donna is a gracious host and is very knowledgeable of the areas history. I especially love that she served us a delicious organic breakfast including organic eggs from her lovely ladies who live on site. She is also a Marin Organic supporting member! Loved it and will return again for another romantic stay in a beautiful Place!! read more

Relax those aching bike muscles in the sweet hot tub and get cozy in this wonderful Bed and Breakfast. The fantastic location and welcoming hosts made for an amazing Bay Area getaway weekend. Park your car, store your bikes and slip into a kimono for a night at The Abalone Inn. We stayed in the attic suite complete with kitchenette and stunning views of Tomales Bay. It was a brisk clear night under a full moon and one made for snuggling under a warm quilt (think of bringing one if it gets chilly) in the spacious lounge area. Room to read your favorite book and snack on goodies bought at the nearby deli and bakery. Give yourself over to fresh breakfasts and warm hospitality staying at The Abalone Inn. Don't forget to pet Mr Zoo and cluck with some gregarious hens on your way to a great bike ride or an evening out in Point Reyes Station. We will be back and fully recommend that you check it out too. read more

I'm sorry to say I cannot recommend this lodging. My sister and I spent two nights here over memorial day weekend to celebrate her 60th birthday. We are low maintenance guests, but we were called at 10:45 pm by the owner to reprimand us for being too loud....my sister was on the phone having a conversation in a normal tone of voice. The attic room, for which we paid $240 a night, was musty and worn, the plumbing is so temperamental that you cannot put ANY paper in the toilet. There is a disgusting metal container to collect guests used toilet paper. The beds and bedding are old, uncomfortable, and sort of gross. Breakfast in a basket was a frozen Costco muffin and an apple. When asked if the muffins were from Costco, the owner snipped, "Yes, and you would serve it too if you worked as hard as I do." My sister replied, "Yes, you do work hard." We felt like were an imposition to Donna, the owner/caretaker, who spent 25 minutes going over all the quirky rules such as how to work the over-heated hot tub with broken jets (110 degrees because it's good for her arthritis), no shoes inside, walking on the balls of your feet, talking in whisper voices because this old house is really not meant to be an Inn, and Donna is not concerned with her guests' experience. In case you might think I'm exaggerating, please be assured this weekend will always bring a smile to my face, remembering how ridiculous this stay at Abalone Inn was. read more

I stayed in the Abalone Inn recently, in the Starlight Garden room. Dona was very welcoming and had lots of recommendations about local sites and restaurants. She pretty much greeted me every morning and came out to say "Hi," at the end or the day and see how my excursions had gone. The Inn itself was adorable! The gardens were huge and lush, like some kind of fairy garden, and the room itself had all sorts of kooky and interesting art. Very unique, very charming. I hope I can stay here again next time I'm in the area. read more

One of my worst experiences. When we arrived at this place, my gf and I, we were thrilled: the place looks good (old house), is extremely well located, there is a hot tub outside, plus it was not very expensive. The problem is: this place is literally a nuthouse. Feels like being a minor character in Psycho. The owner is a suspicious control-freak whose main activity consists in writing down passive agressive notes all over the place (basically anything you might look at and/or use). Our enthusiasm vanished when we discovered we were not authorized to use toilet paper in a civilized way (I lived in the countryside for years, and in houses way much older than this inn, and I never had to store used toilet paper in a trash ; BTW the reviewer who said this feels like Mexico is a brainless moron, he should be sentenced to life in the Abalone Inn). Neither were we allowed to heat the bathroom and the restroom. As we were in the middle of winter, we were freezing any time we would enter this space. Both of us got a cold the very next day. I could also mention the "dog-friendly" atmosphere, which means that it smells like wet dog everywhere, the ridiculous "vintage" pillows, the plastic mattress protection that squeaked any time you would move, etc., etc. The breakfast was ok, the house is beautiful. But we escaped as soon as we could. Don't go there, except if you want to smell like a labrador and feel like shit for the next 3 days. Might be the perfect place to break up, though. read more

I should have listened to all the previous reviews that pretty much summed it up with "control freak". Unless you're the type of person that enjoys feeling like you're fifteen years old living in your parents' house, do not bother staying here. Sure, the pictures and description sound enticing. But everything loses its charm when you show up and are berated with rules after rule. The place is designed to be "zen", with cliché meditative music playing in the background, but really it's a joke because all possibility of relaxation is trumped by the constant overbearing presence of the owner, literally throughout the entire stay. What rules are you bombarded with throughout your entire stay? Well, of course no toilet paper in the toilet, as everyone else has mentioned. That actually didn't really bother me because I have sympathy towards old houses and their "fragile" plumbing. Some of the more annoying reminders: at least four times being told to lock the front door AS SOON as I stepped in, because you never know who might wander in..(again, not exactly zen); you can only open the hot tub cover HALF WAY (so that a relatively nice outdoor hot tub area becomes uncomfortable and unpleasant) and you must be out of the hot tub by 9pm! (so when you don't get home from dinner until then you actually can't use it); no glasses out by the hot tub area, so you must enjoy your wine in plastic cups; eat your oysters outside in the corner over there so the smell doesn't disturb the other guests; don't use this one pathway (that's the private one), instead use this very long roundabout pathway to get to the hot tub; etc etc etc. And the epitome of the experience: enjoying a relaxing morning, drinking the prepared coffee, when the owner barges through the door, and we kindly ask if we could make more coffee, and the harried response: "Well, check out is really at 10 am (we were NEVER informed of this or given any warning) and it's 10 now." And off she rushes from room to room to change the sheets before we had even had a chance to gather our stuff. (One might expect from a small, supposedly zen, B&B, for the hostess to respond- Oh well check-out is at 10 am but sure, why don't you stay for an extra fifteen minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee before heading out...) Moral of the story: the "serenity" of the inn is extremely deceptive. This was, most plainly, an unpleasant experience. read more

Pro's: Friendly dog, Nice location and views, Beautiful landscape and garden, knowledgeable owner Donna, outdoor hot tub, infrastructure of a charming farmhouse Con's: Lacks special touches usually found at B&B's, dusty attic suite (cobwebs on the fake flower centerpiece), old pipes meant disposing all toilet paper in waste can (felt like Mexico), disappointing breakfast - nothing hot or homemade, just store-bought bread products, yogurt and juice (not even fresh squeezed OJ!) fruit, and one morning, hard-boiled eggs from her chickens, no afternoon snack or fresh fruit, and old and broken patio lounge chairs I should have read the other reviews more carefully to see that most of the raves were about the general area and paid more attention to the comments about "rules" and "not modern amenities". Chipped coffee cups and a dirty coffee pot for tea water need to go. Keep the books, lose the piles of dusty magazines. De-clutter, dust and put an i-Dock in the guest rooms. Upgrade the pipes. Bottom line is this, the place is in an amazing location with a beautiful setting and has potential! Perhaps this review will help perk the place up - fresh flowers in the guest rooms, nice toiletries not bulk Trader Joe shampoo and conditioner), homemade snacks, and a hot breakfast could really help. Put the second B back into Bed and Breakfast read more

Great location at a reasonable price. Friendly owners who are very helpful. Spartan amenities that come with a few rules. I'll start with the good since all-in-all, I was satisfied. It's hard to beat the location - about equal distance to either end of the park (45 min to the lighthouse) and the town of Inverness Park is just down the road. The price is reasonable, even given the lack of modern "necessities," which I'll talk about later. I couldn't find another place in the park even available, let alone in this price range. Donna is very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the area. They have owned this house for 26 years. The view from the attic was nice - the edge of Tomales Bay and the surrounding hills are all visible from the window. The breakfast is a matter of taste, but they are proud to offer all organic food. Ours was strawberries, yogurt, and a toasted English muffin with grape juice. Modest, yet satisfying. Now for my complaints, and bear in mind these gripes are likely acceptable to most people, but they are certainly not what you commonly encounter. The first thing that might put you off is the fact that they only accept cash (or check if needed). Upon arrival, you might also be a little put off by the "tour," which is mostly a personal explanation of the house rules. And there are many. No shoes in the house (for noise reasons). Certain windows had to stay closed and some doors had to be left open for ventilation, but still locked with a sliding door block. No paper in the toilets (because of old pipes) That means you wipe, then put it in the trash - that was a first for me. The hot tub, while certainly a nice amenity, had to remain covered - you had to fold it back and leave it half-covered while you were in it. There were a few more, but suffice to say you will feel like there might be a test at the end. :) My last complaint is specific to the room we occupied. While the attic is very spacious, it has steeply sloped ceilings that are at odd angles in places. It still felt wide open and actually had an artistic appeal, but I bumped my head half a dozen times while leaning over to plug things in or while getting out of bed. Oh, and a couple more things you might want to know: no air condition (we didn't need it) and no TV (but there is WiFi, so we watched Hulu and NetFlix). That about sums it up. If I could go with 3-1/2 stars, I would. It's better than OK, but I can't say I would stay here given a choice, either. If you do stay here, I highly recommend the attic room as it has plenty of space and you don't have to hear people walking on the floor above you. Also, go into it realizing that the majority of your vacation here will likely be spent OUTSIDE, so at worst the issues I pointed out will only be a minor inconvenience. We were still very satisfied and had a great time. read more

These are very overpriced accommodations. The pictures on the website are old. And so is the facility, which is ok if it was being kept up. The high prices are not being reinvested in the inn. The picture and description of the breakfast on the the website is simply untrue--a muffin and a piece of fruit is the fare. Location is good but right on the highway. read more

This is a very nice cozy place to stay in. It is a 100 year old house and host Donna is very nice and helpful. We payed $154 for the room per night. The room had everything organic and nature friendly, even the decorations. It is an old style house so the setting is bit odd but it was a different kind of experience, the room was small but had everything like microwave and refrigerator. We slept peacefully there. For breakfast she served two packed muffins, apples and two yogurt shakes, this is the only area where she can improve. Apart from that we were happy to stay here as other places in point place were charging a lot more. read more

If you like the vibe of an old house, warm and cozy, this affordable place is perfect for you. Know you will have to go through all the important guidelines with Laura, the owner, and after that you'll be fine. We stayed here twice and by far the upper room which is a very spacious and clean attic is by far the best choice. The electricity system has been updated and the beds are clean and very comfortable. read more

We stayed at the Abalone Inn for two nights this week. We made no reservations while we were in the Tomales Bay area and were pleased to see a vacancy at this nice-looking B & B. Overall, it was a great stay. The room was good - for $120 per night, we didn't expect and didn't get anything fancy. But having freshly baked muffins for breakfast each morning was great -- they're actually prepared the night before and ready with fruit and sometimes eggs, which is convenient if you're hungry and the stores around are closed -- and the hot tub is a surprising and excellent addition to the otherwise pretty typical B & B experience. As other reviewers have mentioned, Donna was a bit harried and asked a lot of questions, but if you are planning on enjoying the area rather than holing up in the inn, it won't ruin your experience. read more

My family of four deeply enjoyed our relaxing stay at the Abalone Inn. We watched the Harvest Moon set over the beautiful view of Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve from the spacious Victorian Wetlands Suite, then soaked in the cozy hot tub. Dona is the hostess and caretaker of this B&B, who introduced us to the setting, and let us be to enjoy ourselves. Although everyone was under one roof, our stay still was very private and quiet. Dona was extremely helpful; I left my engagement ring under the bed and she shipped it to me (all the way out to Boulder, Colorado)!! We will definitely be staying here on our next trip to the beautiful national seashore. Thank you Dona! read more

BEST PLACE I HAVE EVER STAYED. We biked out to Inverness for a dad daughter bike trip and having been to the area often in the past, I had always dreamed of staying at the inn. And it held no disappointments. Beautiful exterior as well as interoir. Donna was extremely personable- her rules did not bother us, they seemed reasonable and she was not demanding about following them. THe hot tub was beautiful under the plum tree. The attic room we stayed in was the best room I have ever stayed at traveling- so beautiful, unique, funky! And the bed! Best bed that I have ever slept on, for once in my life I woke up without my back hurting. The breakfast was delicious! And how cool to have chickens roaming the back yard. Overall, such an incredible experience, I cannot speak highly enough about it! Many people complained about the rules, but they really were not overbearing. read more

We come back to the area from time to time and find the Abalone Inn delightful. The Abalone Inn is one of the original houses in the area and has tons of charm! Donna has artfully created a place that is comfortable, thoughtful, and the location is great for accessing the Pt Reyes Seashore. This place feels like someone really cares about the ambiance and customer experience. Donna goes out of her way to make sure you're having a good stay. If you want to experience a taste of 'Original Pt Reyes', go the the Abalone Inn.. read more

First, I have to say that Donna was really attentive, helpful and a very sweet lady. I was surprised to learn they actually stay in a tiny camper when the inn is full, so they are pretty dedicated. I stayed in the Chicken room, or the side room with windows for viewing the chickens. This was pretty charming in the morning. Upon arrival (we were late) we got the tour as other's described. I didn't see it as rules really, just a few quirky things to mind, but not really an issue for me. Removing shoes was hard to remember because I don't do it at home, but I managed. The toilet paper thing was a little odd, but I knew about it ahead of time and expected it. Donna emphasized she would clean that daily, and she did. It wasn't really something we thought about. She did have an ipod charger in the room (I saw that suggestion in another review- so she has updated!) and we were offered heat, which we did turn on the first night. The bed.. well let's just say it's not very comfortable. That was really my only complaint. Another pillow or two would have been nice too. The tub was really nice, and relaxing. Donna was great about giving us suggestions as to where to eat, and where to visit. We did have breakfast both mornings, but not a 'hot' breakfast. I figured on Sunday morning it would be hot, but we got hard boiled eggs (from her chickens which was kinda neat) but I don't eat hard boiled eggs so it was pretty much just yogurt and a muffin for me. For the price, I felt it was reasonable. Overall, 4 stars, I will most likely go back in a few years. It was very relaxing. . and if that is what you want, you will find it there. I think next time we may stay upstairs so we don't hear the noise above. One cool thing about the chicken room though is it's very private and it had a private entrance to the hot tub. I guess it just depends on what you want. I loved the house and the decor- you could tell it was a labor of love. I might go back in the winter next time just to compare. . Finally, we didn't know about the checks or cash only. Something to note. Also, make sure you visit the oyster farm. that was really fun and a unique experience! read more

Excellent stay at the Abalone Inn! If you go into your experience knowing that there are some quirks that come with staying in a 100+ year old house including removing shoes upon entry, an old septic system, and no TV's, it's a truly wonderful place to stay while exploring beautiful Point Reyes. Donna, the owner, is very friendly and super helpful. She recommended some great restaurants, hiking trails, and oyster farms to visit. We also enjoyed some wine we brought with us while we soaked in the outdoor hot tub! Everything in our room (the Garden Room) was clean, orderly, and well-kept. It was a truly quaint and lovely B&B experience. read more

Our group of five stayed at this beautiful old home for only one night. Donna, the owner, is a beautiful person who showed us the attic space where we would stay and went over the house rules. I loved the calm energy of the grounds and home. When we got ready to leave Donna recommended a local cafe for breakfast, took our photos and sent us on our way. As we were eating in walks Donna. One of us left a small bag and she brought it to us! Above and beyond! Thank you Donna! read more

The Abalone Inn is fantastic, and the owner is quite friendly. The room was decorated beautifully, and it was hard to get myself to leave every day. They have a hot tub, as well. Probably the best BnB in Marin county or the whole bay area for that matter. Cannot rate highly enough. read more

My partner and I really enjoyed staying at the Abalone Inn. Dona, the proprietor, is a very warm and welcoming person. She gave us excellent tips on things to do and see in the area, including special events going on just during the weekend we were there. The house is very sweet, comfortable, and relaxed. We can definitely recommend this place to anyone interested in an easy kick back, no frills kind of vacation. Very easy to get into Point Reyes Station, Inverness, and, of course, the coastline. Cannot recommend the Elk Hike enough! Pack water and plenty to eat! read more