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Situated between Rancho Murieta and the Sierra Nevada foothills, The Murieta Inn and Spa is one of Northern California’s newest luxury hotels. It will put a jingle in your boot step if you are a horse-lover or equestrian because it is located near Murieta Equestrian Center.
You don’t have to be a cowboy or dressage rider to appreciate the equestrian-themed art decorating the 83 room boutique hotel. You’ll be drawn into the Hacienda-inspired 4-story building with its Spanish styled architecture and gold-hued colors. I’m not an interior designer, but I appreciated the museum quality art collection on display throughout the property. Horse-centric art, from brightly colored oil paintings to bronze statues and metal works of art, captured my eye. Limited edition metal sculpting from KA Doherty hung on display in the common areas and wooden barn doors, imported from Spain, hung on each of the four floors of the hotel.
We were in Amador County for a girlfriend getaway, so we requested a room with two beds. Room 427, a premium room with two queen beds and a balcony, looked out to the swimming pool and fire pit below. We surveyed our surroundings and noticed a sink with a large mirror over it separating the bedroom from the bathroom. This additional countertop, with overhead lighting, multiple outlets and a microwave and coffee maker to the right of the sink, allowed each of us to have our own makeup counter. Score! We also liked the Keurig coffee and tea, complimentary Voss bottled waters and Aveda bath amenities included in the room.
After changing into our swimsuits, we headed to the swimming pool to cool down before dinner. We could have put on our hotel robe and slippers, but we saved them for our spa day and used the beach towels available at the pool. There were menus on the tables, but you need to head inside to order any food from The Gate Restaurant. There was also a hot tub outside and a fireside terrace for nighttime fun.
Speaking of spa day, Cupola Spa is something to look forward to. I had the 60 minute Swedish massage that included complimentary Ayurvedic oils from Aveda. My therapist listened to my requests and focused on my problem areas. I had scheduled my massage for first thing in the morning to ease me into my two hour drive back to the San Francisco Bay Area. If you want to create a mini spa day for yourself, order a healthy breakfast from The Gate restaurant and bring it up to Cupola Spa to enjoy on the patio.
Gate Restaurant
The Gate restaurant is located inside Murieta Inn and Spa. Taking inspiration from nearby Amador and El Dorado wine country, as well as the restaurant’s Angel Wing Farm, the restaurant embraces the farm-to-fork concept. Our dinners featured fresh lettuce, tomatoes and multi-colored carrots from the garden. I ordered a fork-tender filet mignon, while my friend had an organic chicken dish that could have fed both of us. We didn’t take advantage of the locally-focused wine list or the bourbon menu, but we did save room for dessert; homemade chocolate truffles.
Rates start at $129 and move up to $229 per night accordingly. Compare rates at Travelocity or Expedia. Check the website for special discounts and AAA hotel rates. Parking and WiFi are complimentary at the hotel, as is the bottled water.
Article by Equestrian Travel Expert Nancy D. Brown. I was a guest of Murieta Inn and Spa for review purposes. All photos courtesy of Nancy D. Brown.
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