A Quiet Hideaway in Monte Rio

Just a few miles down the road from Sonoma’s most GLBT-popular resort community, Guerneville, the village of Monte Rio is bisected by a particularly beautiful stretch of the Russian River. Just over

The Village Inn in the "Vacation Wonderland" of Monte Rio. Photo by Andrew Collins.

1,000 people live in this low-keyed, picturesque town that makes a quieter, off-the-beaten-path overnight alternative to Guerneville (which is already pretty quiet and off-the-beaten-path). Monte Rio has a few excellent lodging options that enthusiastically welcome gay and lesbian guests – here’s one that I’m especially fond of (I’ll profile some others in future blogs):

For more than a century, the Village Inn has been welcoming travelers to Monte Rio – it’s set on the south bank of the Russian River, down a quiet, peaceful lane, under a canopy of redwood trees. The current owners have done a great job updating the property yet keeping it every bit as charming and offbeat as when the property was used to film several scenes of the classic Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire movie, Holiday Inn, in 1942. This gay-owned hotel has 10 rooms, with rates starting at $145 during high season (May through October). The most elegant rooms have private balconies overlooking the river.

Even if you’re not spending the night here, it’s worth stopping by for a drink or dinner in the cozy restaurant, which also has an airy deck overlooking the river. The bar stocks about 140 local wines, plus a nice selection of beer, and the kitchen serves classic American fare – Dungeness crab cakes with chili-lime aioli, fresh local Petrale sole with house-made tartar sauce, and a superb cioppino. You won’t find a lot of surprises on the menu, but the cooking is reliably tasty.