My dream since I was a little girl to stay at a lighthouse came true at Point Arena Lighthouse - https://aroundthebayandaway.blogspot.com/2025/08/dream-come-true-at-point-arena.html. With a choice of 7 options to choose from, this 1 bedroom 1 bath, keeper's apartment, comes complete with a chef's kitchen to cook or heat up your meals, living and dining room to curl up in front of that gas fireplace and enjoy the provided DVDs of movies filmed on location and private flagstone patio in the back to sit out and enjoy the beautiful ocean views. With complimentary lighthouse tower tours for lodging guests, worth climbing that 145 steps of the tallest lighthouse on the Pacific Coast again once the fog burned off. read more

See all

#Beauty&TheBeastAdventures Beauty's birthday getaway. I got the idea from social media and couldn't be happier. It was a nice scenic drive. Lighthouse property is absolutely beautiful. It could be a day trip, a romantic getaway or a family adventure. There are a few different rooms to choose from; from a studio to 1 & 3 bedrooms. The kitchenette has everything you need w/the exception of herbs/seasonings & cast iron. Be careful w/the fireplace & heater settings. I accidentally created a sweatshop. Large walk-in shower & the bed was pretty comfortable. The pillows could use an upgrade but were still comfy. The lighthouse was something to behold. Being a Navy vet I sincerely appreciated the history & related to a lot of what we saw & heard. 360 degree breathtaking views! #GoSee read more

See all

THIS is the place to stay in Point Arena! Wow! Epic location. Behind a locked gate so you feel super safe. We stayed in the Bookkeeper's Room which had its own parking spot, incredible views of the lighthouse & ocean, and super comfy bed! Plus, your first glass of wine, from the best Mendocino vineyard, it included! Sunset walks on the bluffs while admiring our California Coastal National Monument made our stay complete. Will DEFINITELY be back! read more

Lodging at Point Arena Lighthouse - We had a bottle of wine waiting for us when. We arrived! - Hotels Near Me - Point Arena, California

A tranquil and beautiful choice on Hwy 1. On our getaway we wanted to drive Hwy 1 because Hwy 1 is just non stop gorgeous. I was just kind of looking at places to stop on our journey when I found the lighthouse. Upon further investigation I found you could stay at the lighthouse!!! I booked the only pet friendly rental available during our dates. Our unit didn't have a kitchenette but did have a fridge and microwave. We brought our camp stove and it worked out well. Those gates close to the public and the whole place is yours!! They provide lamps and we brought our own head lamps and you are encouraged to roam the outdoor museum and the reserve next door. I spent a lot of time at the labyrinth. My husband spent a ton of time next to the cliffs. 23 acres to roam and make friends with the wildlife. It is so quiet except for the roaring ocean on 3 sides of you which makes for fantastic sleep. Amazing experience. Already planning to rent the 3 bedroom and bring the fam. I have so many amazing photos. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Such a cozy and welcoming spot! The coffee is excellent, rich and smooth, and all the pastries are homemade -- you can really taste the freshness. It's the kind of place where you just want to sit, relax, and enjoy every sip. Definitely one of my favorite local coffee stops! read more

See all

We loved our stay in the Keeper's Apartment. It was perfect for a married couple. The couch is very thin so I don't think it would be a good second bed but we didn't use it that way so for us, this place was perfect. Great service too! We couldn't figure out the coffee maker but that was our fault for not reading the directions properly. However, I emailed them and they came out to help me out. How nice is that? I honestly didn't expect a reply so we were thrilled someone came out immediately to help us. All was right with the world after that haha. read more

See all

We stayed two nights in Assistant Keepers House #2. The house was very spacious! We only had four people but that cottage could easily fit 6-8 people. There were 3 bedrooms (two with queen beds, 1 with two double beds) and we discovered that the sofa in the living room also converted to a bed! There was a large living room, dining area, kitchen which was equipped with most everything you'd need to cook meals, and two bathrooms. We had a backyard area that was large enough that the kids could play catch and the adults could sit and relax. When you stay in the cottages you get free lighthouse tours so make sure you take advantage and head up for a beautiful view! There is also a gift shop with tons of cute items and souvenirs. Point Arena is usually always windy so keep in mind while you're walking around the lighthouse grounds to bundle up! And don't forget to pet the resident lighthouse cat, Arena Mina, if you see her! read more

See all

Light Noise For the pièce de résistance of our little road trip we booked two nights at the Point Arena Lighthouse in the "Head Keeper's Quarters"--and yes it's as amazing as it sounds! The Good: *You get to stay just a stone's throw from the lighthouse! Def a dream come true. The views alone are worth the price. *Pet-friendly* w/ a minimal $25/ea per stay--not per day. *All the employees were friendly and accommodating. *Access to the rooms is a door code which is great. I hate dealing with hotel keys and keycards. *The inside is totally refurbished and immaculate! I wish our place was this nice. *The kitchen is fully-equipped w/ just about anything and everything a cook could want from tons of utensils to lots of pots and pans--they even have a Crockpot® and a dishwasher! *WiFi is fast and fantastic! Almost as good as home. *49" LG® 4k TV w/ HD Dish® content. There's also built-in Netflix® & Amazon® apps that you can use to login w/ your account--don't forget to logout before you leave! *Water pressure is really great. *Bed is comfortable w/ tons of pillows! :D *Arena Mina the lighthouse cat is a doll! The Meh: *Hot water is OK but a little suspect at times. *Dealing with the gate when coming-and-going during when the lighthouse is closed (3:30 p.m. - 10 a.m.) is kind of a PiTa. *Wasn't a fan of the coffee machine. It worked ok but just a little too fussy for my liking. Pro tip: set it up before going to bed w/ either a timer or so all you have to do it push start. Too complicated for first thing in the morning. *Maybe it was just my fat ass, but the toilet was a little wobbly... 0_o The Ugly: *Because of the amazing views you'll be tempted to leave your windows opened but be aware that people can see inside at certain times of the day--depending on the lighting. I may, or may not, have caught a glimpse of one of our (male) neighbors in a compromising wardrobe malfunction... 0_o TLDR: If you're a fan of lighthouses then this is the place for you! *Not all the rooms are pet-friendly read more

See all

Beware that if you face an emergency like hurricane Hillary...they don't answer their phones as they state on their website from 10- 4:30. We called 12 times from 10:13 a.m. until 3:25 p.m. and Sheila was out to lunch the entire time and that is just fine with the Executive Director who is not on the job either. The view is incredible but a day trip is best. This is a Mom and Pop organization with no professional skills as a motel or hotel. Once we got there we learned the room was so cramped (the Bookeepers Room) that we could hardly move for lack of space. Although other rooms have a little bench to sit outside this room has nothing to enjoy the view. Take your own chairs. Beware they charge extra charges for the maid and dogs each night . Room is not $209.00 per night. It is $286.00 per night. They charge before you even use the room and they do not honor their policy. Go to Sea Foam Inn in Little River. The view is incredible and they accept pets. Great hospitality there. read more

Well crap. Here we are in this absolutely beautiful place, came up all these steps on this glorious day, the waves are crashing way down below, the birds are flying, and after four pictures my digital SLR shuts down. Dead battery, no charger. Dude, spend the 5 bucks. Take the tour. It's not about getting "your money's worth". It's about seeing a part of California history that is slowly disappearing. and the $5 goes to helping preserve it. And if you can't afford the $5, then your shouldn't have spent the $40 in gas it took you to get here. The light house is interesting. And when I did the tour the guy at the top of the stairs told us more history of the place and the surrounding area while our little group of 8 took turns looking at the view. The glass work of the lens is pretty cool, so admire it while you are standing there (see my picture). The little shop there has a history room / museum in the back. Some fun little displays and interesting stories of the area - and the requisite local fish, bird, and wildlife displays. There are also a couple of short trails around the area. When we were there, the people staying at the "Lighthouse Keepers Quarters" were flying kites. And I'm not talking about your little diamond shape jobbies. These were humongous, colorful, fun flying structures. There was a gecko, a snake, a ship, a bear, a ten ribbon kite, and 5 or 6 others all tethered up and flying around. I was going to take pictures from the top of the lighthouse and when we came down, but .... see 1st paragraph. Planning on going back and staying there with the family some weekend. I'd love to do it during the stormy winter months, but not sure how the rest of the family would feel about that. read more

See all

Go. Go now! We've recently returned from our second stay at the Point Arena Lighthouse lodging and highly recommend it. Choose from a variety of accommodations to suit your needs. Gorgeous views await you on three sides of this very thin peninsula, complete with pelicans, seals, gulls, and...this time of year....whale spouts! Walk out to the gazebo (basically in your back yard) and the seals will greet you. The ocean is exciting whether the skies are blue, cloudy, or foggy. Make sure you have room on your camera disk, because it's hard to stop clicking! There is a lovely, easy trail outside of the gate to the property. I highly recommend it. You can also take day drives up or down the coast -- so many beaches to choose from; Glass Beach really cool, and Walk-On Beach in Sea Ranch is also really nice (beaches in Sea Ranch are open to the public, but parking is limited in the lots -- and if you park on the street outside of the lots you can be ticketed). The kitchens are pretty well equipped, depending on what you want to cook. Staff is very responsive to emails, so if you have questions about what they do and don't have just contact them and they'll let you know; double check the size of pans/casserole dishes if you will need them. I'd recommend bringing foil, plastic wrap, and/or storage containers for leftovers. I cooked breakfast and lunch and one dinner during our three-night stay, and did a lot of the prep for the dinner at home before our arrival to minimize space/time upon arrival. I highly recommend a dinner from Bird Cafe & Supper Club. They are currently offering take-out meals, but you need to book your dinner request and pick-up time ahead of time. Menus change on Wednesday afternoons for Th., Fri., and Sat. meals; look for the update and call asap. You won't be sorry. This is delicious gourmet food at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the Pier Chowder House is currently closed due to Covid (no take-out food, either). They hope to reopen Spring 2021. If they're open, check them out. Yum-O. Also be sure to visit the gift shop. They offer a nice variety of gifts and souvenirs and because they've taken a financial hit due to Covid it's a nice additional way to help them out. Just go. Go now. It's the perfect place to vacation during Covid -- isolated enough and so, so beautiful. read more

See all

I'm surprised that this great coast side lodging opportunity has not been Yelped about. The Point Arena Lighthouse is destination on the coast between Gualala and Mendocino. It has lots of history, beautiful shoreline, and is the tallest lighthouse you can climb on the west coast. Aside from that, you can stay near the lighthouse, enjoy peace and quiet, and all the coastal views your eyes can absorb by renting one of the lodging choices at the lighthouse. What you say? Lodging at the lighthouse? Yes. The Point Arena Lighthouse has 5 lodging choices to choose from including three Assistant Keeper's Quarters (3 bd/2bath), one Keeper's Quarters, one Keeper's Apartment, and one Keeper's Room. We rented one of the Assistant Keeper's Quarters at $225 a night (2-night min on weekends), it's a great deal. The house had a full kitchen with oven/range, microwave, toaster, dishes, pots/pans, refrigerator, bottled water, wood burning stove, gas fireplace, TV, etc. The house was comfortable with unobstructed views of the coast. It's a great deal for such exclusive access to the coast. If you don't feel like cooking, Rollerville Café is only 2 miles away with great food. We'd highly recommend shopping for necessities at the market/hardware at Manchester. That place has everything you might need. Stay here, enjoy yourselves, and support the lighthouse. read more

Must see Lighthouse here in California! You actually get to walk up to the top of this lighthouse... This is not run by the State of California Park System nor the Coast Guard , it is run by a Non-Profit Organization which is pretty amazing that they are able to keep this place open. I'm glad they are because it's absolutely beautiful! Once you turn off of Highway 1 and take the very long road to the lighthouse, you are in owe that the presence of this lighthouse has sitting out there on this bluff right next to the ocean. It's as if you are driving away from civilization and entering into another world, it was peaceful. When we finally made it to the lighthouse, parked, and got out, the lighthouse, is huge. It makes you feel very small standing next to it. The grounds are very well kept, it's not taken care of by the state, which says a lot, and the people who work/volunteer there are very pleasant and helpful, again says a lot, you can tell they truly love being there. We paid our monies and waited for the next tour to go up into the lighthouse. We walked around the museum section where they actually had the lens from the original lighthouse, which is just magnificent to see up close and read about the history of the lighthouse. About 20 minutes later we got to go up into the lighthouse, it was worth the wait! We walked up the spiral staircase with the rest of the folks waiting, all cheering each other on as we came to each landing. (Man that was a ways up) We all made it to the top to be greeted by a very nice gentlemen who knew everything there was to know about the lighthouse AND all the whales that where migrating south! We got lucky as it just so happen to be whale migrating season. Let me tell you ahead of time, we were in the best spot possible to watch the whales migrate. It was spectacular to watch them from atop of the lighthouse! The views from the top of the lighthouse are amazing. It's peaceful, beautiful, and just priceless. Something that everyone should experience just once. I recommend going during whale migration season too, you'll get a 2 for one experience! While we where there we also notice there are places to rent on the grounds of the Lighthouse. You can stay overnight right at the Lighthouse, again, how amazing would that be! It helps pay for the upkeep of the grounds and helps keep this place open! I think I'll be adding that to my bucket list! read more

See all

Had a lovely time staying at the lighthouse. I think it largely depends on what you are looking for. It is quiet, secluded, peaceful and beautiful. They do have cable/HBO but we also brought our Apple TV, great call! We watched House of Cards in the late evenings but first, got to enjoy the fantastic sunsets out front our apartment. The Lightkeeper's Apartment was perfect for a couple. The water-pressure in the shower was great, but the dark mold(?) in the bottom was quite off-putting. There are pots, pans, knives, small cutting board, dishes, a fireplace and flat screen tv. We had everything we needed, though we did bring our own casserole dish and bought olive oil. The apartment comes with salt, pepper, bottled water, This would be a great getaway for a writer, artist, or just anyone looking for beautiful solitude. Loved our stay and watching the lighthouse documentaries provided. read more

Lodging at Point Arena Lighthouse - You must stay here to experience the sunset, absolutely breathtaking! The apartments at Point Arena. - Hotels Near Me - Point Arena, California

See all

Awesome time visiting and spending the night in Light keepers Apartment. The staff went above and beyond to assist me. I will never forget the awesome time, seeing the lighthouse, the sealions, the whales and the beautiful views. Thanks for the wonderful time and memories you all gave me. Dorothy H. from Louisiana on Sept. 13, 2018 read more

Lodging at Point Arena Lighthouse - Hotels Near Me - Point Arena, California

Super-beautiful day at the tallest lighthouse in CA The Point Arena tower is the only Pacific West coast lighthouse of significant height (115 feet) that you can climb to the top! This lighthouse is hellandgone from any major highway so get mentally prepared to LOVE the PCH. Choosing this little detour was very costly.... took us 7 hrs to get back to SF from Mendocino as Point Arena is smackdab in the middle of any "real" highway access. Lots of twisty-turny Hwy 1 action going on Better yet, just stay at their lightkeepers' quarters - we would definitely do this if we were back in the area! Peaceful surroundings, affordable rates & getting a break from PCH - it's a win-win! read more

I loved it here. I spent 3 nights here recently with my two dogs over Christmas. It was heavenly. We were the only ones out there for the first two nights and finally Monday night the place was full. 10 feet outside the front door is the beautiful ocean, and right out the back door, and all around the property. It was so remote and peaceful. The sky at night was so pretty and you could see every star in the sky for the only light came from the lighthouse. This place has a cool history, and staying here supports the lighthouse, so stay here. There is a lot of land to walk your dogs, and they are very pet friendly. I stayed in the lighthouse keepers apt, which is a one bedroom. I had a fireplace, kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. Tempurpedic mattress! It is not too far from other towns up and down the coast, and Bowling Ball Beach is close, Gualala, etc. We bought groceries and cooked. They have wifi access just in case you cannot live without your computer, cell phone signal was spotty, but ok. They also provide a VCR and dvd player, and satellite tv. I would definitely go back. I have only been back for 2 days now and I miss it. It is a very peaceful place to go and relax. It was super fun, and we saw whales! read more

If you've ever wondered what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper, you can get a taste by staying at the Point Arena Lighthouse. Or if you're looking for a place to really relax and get away from it all, you'll find it here. read more

Lodging at Point Arena Lighthouse - Rental units at Point Arena Lighthouse - Hotels Near Me - Point Arena, California

See all

View was beautiful, room was fine. Honestly the experience, tour and view made up for any imperfection of the room Watched sunset on a bench by the gazebo. Drank champagne while watching it. Quiet, remote and just plain awesome Do it! Experience the hwy 1 experience and make sure this overnight is on your trip read more

This place is simply amazing !!!! The people here are so nice !!! I'm coming back to stay for a weekend and explore the area !!!! Love it!!! I almost didn't want to review it because I don't want to many people to book it up so I can't have it in future :-((. Love it!!! Love the people I met along the way !!! read more

It's $5 for adult admission to the lighthouse area. There's a small museum in the back of the store and short "tour" every 15-20 minutes. You have to climb a large spiral staircase to reach the top (about 5 stories?) and you listen to a short presentation about the history of the lighthouse. The light is beautiful with all the different pieces of glass. You'll be disappointed by the replacement light sitting outside on the ledge. I'd advise bringing a warm sweater or jacket because it's cold up there. You'll get a bit of exercise walking up the stairs and take a moment to look down the middle once you reach the top, just don't drop your camera! read more

My only regret about booking this accommodation is I only stayed for one night. When we arrived we were greeted by a lovely bottle from a local vineyard and a view unlike any other I've seen in Northern CA. This place is magical and well maintained. We stayed in one of the cabins. Three bedrooms, two baths, and all the stuff you need to prepare a 3 course dinner are waiting for you in the kitchen. My family and I entertained ourselves watching Star Trek on VHS by firelight. They have a dvd player and a flat screen television and a small selection of dvds but the VHS was too nostalgic to pass up. The staff is a little particular about how things are run for check in and check out but otherwise they were nice. The museum and lighthouse are something that everyone who lives in CA should visit at least once because it played a part is the unique gold rush history of the state. read more

We enjoyed our stay here. Nice cabins with gorgeous fireplaces that work great. Nice staff.

Beautiful place. Nature at its best. Stayed here for 3 days with Dog. Lovely experience. Its surrounded by ocean from 3 sides, all windows in the lodge facing the water. You can sit all day looking at the waves :D Lighthouse staff is very helpful. read more

OK - Loved the place - I stayed in the Keeper's Room which is definitely on the small side and good for one person. But it does have the best views and having access to the grounds after the place is closed is a photographer's delight. But here's my gripe and part of it is my fault - the website says they charge $150 and there's this little asterisk next to it - check that puppy out, which I didn't and my bad. They add a mandatory cleaning charge that pounds the price up to $200 with taxes. So what a novel way to price a room because when I rent rooms at other inns the price includes the cleaning fee so just show that. Do I feel the room is worth $200? No. read more

We stayed overnight and had both the lightkeeper's apartment and the larger family apartment (there were 7 of us all together). Very comfortable - clearly they have thought of everything in terms of necessities in the kitchen, etc. It also appears as though the units are getting an overhaul - the lightkeepers apartment has nice new appliance, countertops, etc. Hopefully the family apartment is next, although it's very comfortable as is. As others have said, the views are amazing here. It's so beautiful and peaceful. We saw seals and tons of different birds. As part of your hotel fee, you get to go on the lighthouse tour if you'd like and it was well worth it. The innkeepers/museum are super friendly and knowledgeable. The closest grocery store is a few miles away - we went to Point Arena for groceries but had we had more room in our car we would have brought them with us from home. Highly recommend. read more

If you are looking for ocean views out of every window in the house, this is the perfect place. Stunning views, clean house, large, sunny kitchen, beautiful decor, fireplace, this has it all. Quiet location, free lighthouse and museum tours, great hikes nearby, including Bowling Ball Beach (go at low tide). We loved it! read more

See all

These are adorable little houses right in the Point at the lighthouse. They have kitchens and all the amenities. We actually like to wait until there's a horrible storm and go there. The winds are so high and the waves crash so loud it's an amazing experience! On nice days, there is no better place to be. Stunning views of the Point Arena Stir Etta Public Lands on one side, and the expansive amazing Manchester State Beach on the other. Breathtaking sunsets and whale watching...oh, and close up views of the sea lions and harbor seals. Only 147 steps to the top of the lighthouse and it's totally worth it! read more

I wanted to surprise my wife with a special 'getaway weekend'. I had heard about this lighthouse and the ability to rent rooms on a cable travel channel and after reading many online reviews thought it sounded like something we would enjoy as a couple. I booked the 'Keeper's Room' directly through the lighthouse website which was really fast and easy. I chose the Keeper's Room for two reasons. The first is that its the only room you can rent there for just one night. The other available rentals are actual houses and they require a minimum 2 night stay. The second reason was financial. The Keepers room is obviously the smallest so it's also the most affordable. At $129 for one night it was perfect. The other house rentals were around $250 and required a 2 night stay. Check in is a bit confusing. Just go to the end of the road and check in with the cashier at the museum. It was quite simple and fast but no where on their website or in the information sent via email to confirm your reservation did it say this. So we spun our wheels a bit trying to figure out where to go to get the key. The room was small but no different from a 1 room hotel rental. It had a queen size bed with a Tempurpedic mattress (yes you read that right) that was very comfortable, private full bathroom, gas fireplace, microwave, mini fridge, DVD player, cable TV, and free wireless wifi that worked flawlesslyi!! The houses that are rented are the houses that the lighthouse staff and their families lived in when the lighthouse was functioning so they are well over 80 years old but to their credit, they don't feel or look that old. The house rentals have full kitchens and wood burning fireplaces. Cell phone reception was horrible if not non-existent. As paying guests, you have full access to the museum and the lighthouse during business hours at no additional cost. The lighthouse climb is about 90 steps, equivalent of 5 flights of stairs. It wasn't a hard climb at all but it did make us short of breath. The staircase is NARROW but there are landings about every 20 steps for you to rest at or allow the people going the opposite way to pass you. The view from the top was amazing!! We were lucky enough to have clear blue skies and were not disappointed. There was a very nice museum docent (employee) staged at the top of the lighthouse who was there to answer all of the questions of the history of the lighthouse and surrounding area. He had no problem taking a picture of my wife and I while we were up there. The museum located 20 yards form the lighthouse is small but VERY informative and included the history of the roughly 130 year existence of the lighthouse and how it operated back in the day. The original fresnel lense has been moved out of the top of the lighthouse and into the museum. I have never seen a lighthouse lense up close before so this was really cool to be able to see. It is extremely large and actually quite pretty. It was handmade and the craftsmanship is impressive. Finally, the rental houses are located on quite a large bit of acreage which is closed to the public after business hours but remains open and available to explore around the clock for house guests. A short 100 yard walk takes you to the edge of the cliffs where you can sit on any number of benches and watch the waves crash and the birds fly around. We also saw about 10 harbor seals down below just swimming around. You wanna hear my one complaint? The keeper's room only had one single window and it DID NOT HAVE A SCREEN ON IT.... Are you kidding me? We wanted to open the window at night and listen to the waves, but bugs kept flying in. VERY DISAPPOINTING! How difficult or costly can it be to install a screen on the only window in the place? The next morning we walked around the other rental houses and 90% of their windows were also missing screens. I think I counted only 3 or 4 windows on all of the houses combined that had a screen on it. Whatever, it wasn't a deal breaker but seems so easy to fix so that people could enjoy the fresh air and the sounds of the ocean. Overall, it was a very enjoyable stay at an affordable rate and we couldn't have been happier. If you are looking for a quiet relaxing time away or a romantic getaway then you got to give this a try. I know we will be back! And I'm bringing my screen building kit with me.... LOL read more

What an interesting experience! We stayed in the Keeper's Room (the smallest room, without a full kitchen). I highly recommend that room--it is on the edge of the buildings toward the lighthouse, and has a great view of the lighthouse and the coast. The room was not particularly fancy, but very cozy, and the bed was very comfortable. The overall experience was a bit odd, but overall great. We arrived after the office closed (it closes at 3:30 pm), and luckily, we had pulled up the email with arrival instructions while we still had phone coverage. When we arrived at dusk, with blowing fog and no one around, we felt a little bit like we were in a Stephen King novel. You let yourself in the gate, find your room key, and let yourself in. There was literally no one on the premises other than us--maybe a tiny bit creepy. But after turning on the gas fireplace and opening the complimentary bottle of wine, everything was great, and looking out at the tundra-like landscape and the ocean, we felt like we were alone on an Aleutian island (in a good way). This place is a little funky (the buildings are basically government housing from the 1960's, but nicely updated), and probably not for those used to staying at resorts. But highly recommended for anyone up for a bit of adventure! Truly unique. read more

Have always loved this place. Went back recently and love it more! Amazing, peaceful views. Tallest lighthouse you can walk to the top of. Whale sightings. Cozy quarters to stay in. The keepers' quarters have everything you need inside - even coffee. A little slice of heaven. read more

The four star rating comes from the view and the congeniality of the staff. We spent two days in one of the 3BR houses. First of all, the view can't be beat! If you're looking for a place to unwind and forget your cares, this is it. The house was homey with a wood-burning fireplace in the livingroom that really gets toasty. There is also a gas fireplace in the master bedroom. The house itself was seemingly built in the 40s or 50s with very few upgrades. I understand they use the money from the rentals to try to renovate the houses and the lighthouse, so I imagine they will get there eventually. When that happens, I will definitely give them 5 stars. The price was right at $225/night for a 3/2 house and that also gave us free admission to the lighthouse tour which was great. The ad said there was free wi-fi, but when I asked why we couldn't get signal, they said their internet provider went bankrupt! So if you really need it, be sure to verify it is available, since they didn't know when they would be able to replace it. There are a lot of quaint little places to visit, and a range of restaurants, but we were disappointed to find that EVERY RESTAURANT closed at 9pm. This was from Gualala to Elk - all of them, even pubs. And the stores all closed at 7pm! So you need to plan ahead. Fortunately, the house had a full kitchen, so it wasn't much of a problem. The area offers opportunities for beachcombing, kite flying, awesome photography, and lots of relaxing. Definitely worth going to at least once. read more

We have a membership at this light house, so we receive a 10% discount on the total bill of our stay. We love staying here to catch the sunsets and sunrises. The interior isn't anything fancy, but it does the job. They provide movies and books for your stay. Bring your own food and do not forget the red wine!! Dogs are welcome here, beware there are territorial spots marked in many of the houses so make sure you bring the cage. When you stay at the light house, you also get free admission to tour the light house. Only complaint is that when you call to make reservations, the phone seems to keep ringing and you have to leave a message, the women who answer aren't always the most friendly, but it doesn't keep me from staying here. The stay is about $259/night slightly pricey since the houses are not updated, and every time we see something "new" in the houses, they seem to be hand-me-downs or from the good will. Still our favorite place to get away from the bay area. don't forget to take the Skunk train through the woods, about an our drive to Fort Bragg. read more

My 7 year old son Jacob has not previously shown interest in lighthouses, but frankly, who doesn't like lighthouses? The Point Arena lighthouse has a number of advantages, but the biggest attraction was climbing 125 stairs to the top of the 115 foot concrete cylinder. Jacob scrambled up the stairs like a mountain goat, reaching the top before all of the adults (many of whom huffed and puffed their way up). Note that the staircase is pretty narrow, so we had to stop a number of times to let opposite-direction traffic pass. The old Fresnel lens is now on display in the small museum, so it's possible to get a good look at it too. Now, all of the work is done by a tiny light on the lighthouse top's exterior. At the top, a docent provided some good color commentary; we then got to walk along the catwalk (I think he called it the "gallery") right below the lighthouse room for some excellent unobstructed views of the coastline. (The lighthouse room has the same views, but the windows were dirty). From the top, we watched a sea lion rookery just offshore and birds of prey (mostly turkey vultures) riding the wind currents over a nearby punchbowl. Overall, the tour within the lighthouse column took about 20-30 minutes, perfect for curious boys with typical attention spans of 7 year olds. We also poked around the museum a bit and the grounds as well. As a bonus, from the cliffs I easily spotted a whale within a few hundred yards of shore! Admission was a little high for adults ($7.50 per) and a bargain for kids ($1 per). For the two of us, the $8.50 admission was an excellent value. For a larger group with multiple adults, the economics may be less favorable. Their hours aren't entirely predictable. Their website said they close at 3:30, but they were open to 4:30 on a weekday in July. Overall, the lighthouse was a big hit. Jacob ranked this as one of his "highlights" of the trip. read more

Great location, comfortable cabins, almost clean rooms and dishes. It's for a good cause to support lighthouse maintenance. However 2 of 4 smoke alarms not working, one stove burner not working, heater in bedroom not working. FYI, Bring: Squeege to wash salt spray off windows - otherwise the view looks like impressionist painting. Bring serving bowl, pizza or baking sheet, collander if you anticipate needing them. (No problem with soup ladels, there were 4 of them, also 4 pasta grabbers. ) They ask to save water but the showers are full force Niagara Falls. VCRs in room but no VCR player, only a DVD player but no DVDs. Conclusion: A bit more attention to details would make this a better place to stay. No operable wi-fi. read more

Not quite as prominent as other lighthouses that I've seen but it's a beautiful structure and the coastal view from Point Arena is amazing. The walk in to the lighthouse from the parking lot is about half a mile straight elevation walk and you'll be bypassing the Lighthouse Keeper's and his assistants' houses which were newly remodeled and will be turning into Point Arena Inn facility soon. The lighthouse was newly remodeled too with the aid of the community. read more

Came here for a girls only weekend with 4 other lovely ladies. The views are fantastic. The houses do need an upgrade but still very comfortable. The beds are comfortable, loved the fireplace and the stocked kitchen utensils & cooking pans. They now Wifi. read more

Tiny cabins / trailers but very clean and cozy. Had fun touring the quaint coastline cities and both eating out and cooking indoors in our own kitchen. Fun staycation that was just far enough from home without feeling homesick. read more

we stayed in one of the houses formerly used by the lighthouse keepers. lots of room (3 bedrooms, 2 baths, huge kitchen, living room with wood-burning fireplace and lots of pre-chopped wood provided), TV wih Dish satellite and DVD - this was all for $225/night plus tax. and as residents you get the tour of the lighthouse for free! note - the guides vary WIDELY - our 1st guide was a fanatic and gave us more info than we needed to know about the lenses etc, but we realized how lucky we'd been with him when we did the climb again the next day and had a monosyllabic guide who gave virtually no information aside from the fact that the original lighthouse had been built in 1870 and cracked in 1906 (due to the earthquake) - the current one was opened in 1908 read more

I have been to many Californian lighthouses, with each and every one of them being unique and beautiful in their own ways, but I think my favorite lighthouse to visit may be Point Arena. Because the Fresnel lens was removed from the lens room, they allow patrons to climb the gorgeous 19th Century cast iron stairs up to the very top, which offers a stunning view of the coastline. You are also allowed out onto the balcony (weather permitting, I'd assume) to catch that view while feeling the wind against your face. When I reached the top, I didn't want to leave. I just wanted to sit in that lens room for hours, learning more about the history of the lighthouse and experiencing the stunning view that keepers and assistant keepers got to see every day while they tended the light. Seeing the lens in the fog signal building/museum is a wonderful experience as well. It is massive and gorgeous. The fee for visiting the grounds is not a problem for me. I even donate extra into their donation boxes, because our Californian lighthouses should be preserved so the people of future generations may have a chance to climb those gorgeous stairs up to that gorgeous lens room. read more