This is my favorite hotel to stay in when we visit our kids. It’s the Claremont in Berkeley. I was walking to the most amazing bakery across the street when I stopped to take this picture of the tower and flag.
They don’t make hotels like this anymore! This is the backside of the hotel.
The Claremont Resort & Club opened in 1915 as a grand 22-acre Tudor Revival landmark overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Known as the “White Castle on the Hill”, its origins trace back to a late-19th-century private estate that burned down in 1901 before being developed into the iconic hotel. — The San Francisco Standard
Isn’t it gorgeous? I took this photo from inside the health club with a gym, pool, tennis courts and spa. I was on an elliptical machine and you can see the window reflection across the photo.
I zoomed in on the city view from the strategically placed outdoor sofas and chairs where I enjoy peaceful quiet time outside.
The Golden Gate Bridge is part of the view. The main restaurant has a deck where you can sit outside and enjoy these same views. Inside there is a wall of windows facing the bay.
The hotel’s prices vary from reasonable to too expensive. It all depends on what is going on at nearby UC Berkeley. If it’s parents weekend or a football game — forget about it. This past week, there was nothing going on, so the hotel was no more expensive than any other hotel like a Marriott Courtyard.
This is one of many hallways on the main level. It’s easy to get lost trying to find your room because there are hallways taking off in many directions. By the time we are ready to return home (like today) I have it all figurerd out.
An early morning view. I’ll share more highlights of our trip later this week including a visit to Sonoma and the Marin Country Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Have a wonderful week! What are your plans for the rest of July?
Very beautiful, I see why you love it, Elizabeth!! Have fun!! 😎🌴
Thanks! We had a wonderful time. It’s time to fly home now.
Beautiful! You’re so right that they don’t make buildings like that anymore.
It’s such a treat to stay in a historic building.
Beautiful hotel, and what a bargain for you. Seems like saving money on lodging depends quite a bit on timing.
It’s gorgeous and the hallways are filled with old photos and history. When I visit our kids, I always check the prices at the Claremont first. If it’s too much, I find something else. There’s a small Airbnb I’ll stay at.
I’m getting caught up on your Custer posts. I’m really enjoying reading them.
If I ever visit Berkeley, I’ll be sure to check out the prices at the Claremont. But I’ll keep my heart pills close by.
Ha! Maybe you’ll get lucky!
I love grand old hotels like that one. It looks marvelous!
Thanks! It’s so much fun to stay there. The food is good too. 😊
So wonderful you can enjoy it each time you visit your kids. Perfect!!!
It’s a joy I’m so grateful for. Especially this last weekend.
Very elegant and stately. Easy to lose some time in! Doc appt and dentist coming up which is a good thing as they are seeing me quickly and getting things done!
I didn’t stay there for years because I was sure it would be too expensive. I finally looked at prices and it’s not — unless like I said it’s busy on campus. I look forward to staying there whenever I can.
What a beautiful hotel! With July almost over, we’re already getting ready for the new school year.
The hotel is a wonderful place to stay. Do you have year round school? That wouldn’t have worked for us when our kids were growing up. They swam with a club team and the big meets of the year were over the first week of August. After that, we went on family vacation because they trained all summer. I’m relieved they graduated high school without school starting in August.
Our son had a great two-and-a-half-month summer break. His classes start in mid-August.
That’s good. I was talking to parents in our town and they get a couple 10-day breaks. That’s not enough!
Wow, that’s definitely not enough.
I was shocked. I think that doesn’t include Christmas, but still. I think kids need a two and half to three month break to be kids!
I completely agree with. They need time to rest, play, travel, and see family.
Exactly. I was shocked that 10-day breaks were now vacations!
Love, love, love these pics! Giving me fond memories of the Bay Area when my parents and Lisa lived there! Enjoy, enjoy! 😊💝😊
That’s right, your parents and Lisa were there. We had a a great trip. I took home many memories that I’ll cherish.
Love it! 😉❤️😉
Thanks! I had such a wonderful time with our son and daughter-in-law. I loved touring with them where she grew up in Sonoma. I learned so much about the area on my first visit there. Our daughter was in a conference in Los Angeles for her work so we missed her.
Sounds like a great trip! 😉❤️😉
It was. Unless you can have too many amazing gourmet restaurant meals in five days and realize too much is too much! We almost felt that, but not quite 😅
San Francisco and the East Bay have amazing restaurants.
And bakeries! 🤪❤️🤪
Oh my goodness! I could do an entire blog post on the Fournee Bakery. I went every morning for savory pastries like ham and Manchego croissant for breakfast. Then a few others to toss in the bag including morning buns and almond croissants. I was there before it opened and the line was down the sidewalk around the block!
Yum!!!!!!!!😜😜😜
Oh my goodness! I have to detox on yogurt and cottage cheese for a few days!~
Haha! But worth it! ❤️😜❤️
It was! The food in the Bay Area puts Arizona to shame! No wonder we cook at home.
You’ve made me hungry! ❤️😉❤️
I will have to do a post on my foodie experience in the Bay Area!
Yes, please! 😘
It’s almost too decadent to post! 🤦♀️
Nah! You were in vacation mode! 😜
If you say so! 😅
😜❤️😜
Wow – that looks like a wonderful place to stay! Thanks for sharing your getaway, Elizabeth!
It’s a fabulous place to stay. I love the service, the views, the food. The hotel feels more like a part of our trip as a character than a place to sleep.
Have a wonderful stay dear friend. The hotel looks marvelous
It is a joy to stay there!
Enjoy dear friend
Superb
Thanks!
What a lovely place. Those grand old hotels are the best!
They really are. There was a beautiful grand hotel we used to stay at in Victoria B.C. when I was a child. I have such good memories of it.
Beautiful!
Frank Lloyd Wright was an amazing architect. Many years ago we toured one of his houses built over a waterfall.
We’re lucky to have Taliesen West close by. That was his Arizona compound. I was so impressed with the Marin County Civic Center he designed but died before it was built. There was controversy around it. It will be blog post by itself.
Looming forward to reading it!
👍🏼
I’d love to stay there next time I’m in that area!
With your love and interest in history, you should. The hallways on the ground floor are filled with historic framed photos. Plus the staff and food are outstanding.
The hotel looks lovely and kind of indulgent too, which is the perfect getaway. Love the photos that capture our flag to beautifully.
I don’t think they create many places like that any longer; I’m reminiscing about the Holiday Inn Express we stayed at a few weeks ago. I’m giggling; we were there for all of eight hours. Certain hotels require you to stay and enjoy; others are utilitarian for sleeping, and this one looks like a great place to linger.
Exactly. I got a thrill when I walked down the hill to a delicious bakery and saw the flag. It’s such an experience to stay in hotel like that. I look forward to visiting my kids first and then staying at the hotel second.
That’s really a pretty hotel!