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Best Western Lighthouse Hotel
105
Rockaway Beach Avenue
Pacifica, CA 94044
After
receiving an email several years ago
from a viewer to the website who asked,
"Why don't you have anything in San
Mateo County?", I plunged into web
research through BeachCalifornia.com's
hotel booking service, looking for
pictures of beaches and hotels where I
could go and experience what the region
had to offer. Truthfully, San Mateo
County wasn't on my radar. I lived in
Southern California and the drive north
to this location was time consuming,
taking approximately 7 hours. Like other
places I later explored, Eureka, Redding
and Roseville, Pacifica wasn't a place
I'd heard of. Plus they had a Fog Fest
celebration which meant I could
encounter fog, something I didn't want
when traveling a couple days round trip
to take photos.
Nevertheless, I was driven to
distraction to see all of California
(never have accomplished that goal yet)
and since someone put me to the
challenge, I made the trip a higher
priority. When I saw the web
listing for a hotel with the ocean in
the background in Pacifica, I was
hopeful that it would be a good trip. I
like beach hotels with ocean views but
don't always have the resources to stay
at the finest places. Take for instance,
the hotel down the road a short distance
in Half Moon Bay, a beautiful Ritz
Carlton with beaches and golfing on
site. Several years ago when it opened,
there was a special offer in which you
could stay there for a great price.
Those days are gone. So when I saw what
the Ritz Carlton was charging for a
room, I remembered my fascination with
that fabulous name "Half Moon Bay" which
has such an appeal and decided that I
was going to stay in affordable Pacifica
but hopefully could at least stop and
check out the place with a great name.
A
tantalizing photo of a hotel in Pacifica
called Best Western Lighthouse Hotel
seemed great. The question was,
"Is the photo trickery? Is there really
a beach near the hotel?" I hate that
when you get fooled and arrive to
something that's on a busy street. I
even called and asked and was assured it
had a beach. Boy did I get lucky! The
hotel was not luxurious but the setting
was out of this world. From my room I
could see the ocean and hear the waves
crashing near the hotel at night. This
is what you live for when the big city
constantly numbs you with jet noise,
sirens and sound pollution. The Best
Western Lighthouse Inn is affordable,
comfortable and best of all, it's right
on the beach practically. I don't
think I've stayed at a place any closer
to the ocean! If you can sacrifice
Ritz 5 Diamond quality in lieu of the
ocean at your door, go for it. Beach
lovers will delight in the ocean roar at
night, the perfect noise to drowned out
the other sounds and rock you to sleep.
Note:
The hotel restaurant has been chosen as
most romantic dining spot. It's
definitely a view setting!
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