Gerstle Park Inn

The Gerstle Park Inn, a large, wood-shingled home on 2½ lovely acres that back onto a preserved woodland in a residential neighborhood of San Rafael. The inn carries an air of European sophistication complemented by a homey and welcoming ambiance. Just off the entry are the formal living room with its Asian-inspired decor and the enclosed wraparound porch, which serves as an intimate and elegant breakfast room where a full, cooked-to-order breakfast is served each morning. Upstairs, rooms range from the Redwood Suite, cozy and romantic with a pine-planked, low-angled ceiling and wooded views afforded by a row of windows at ceiling height; to the San Rafael Suite, spanning the length of one end of the building, with king bed and large deck facing the surrounding hills. The separate carriage house has two suites complete with well-stocked kitchens, breakfast nooks, living rooms, and private patios. Two stand-alone cottages have kitchens and provide complete privacy. All the rooms enjoy amenities and conveniences such as two-line telephones with voice mail, WiFi, televisions, VCR/DVDs, CD players, hairdryers, and robes. Owners Judy and Jim Dowling outline several daytrips from the inn to San Francisco, the Marin coast and the Napa and Sonoma wine valleys.