by Marian Jane Sanders

y boyfriend and I like camping in the abstract; it’s just the specifics we find so unappealing. Lying in a sleeping bag on hard lumpy ground is not our idea of a relaxing vacation. Sleeping, while sharing a tent with crawling creatures, is out of the question.

But at Costanoa, an hour.’s drive south of San Francisco on Highway 1, we could be close to nature without sacrificing the comforts of home. We could choose among a variety of accommodations — open tent sites, where campers bring their own sleeping bags, but share outdoor fireplaces and bathrooms complete with heated floors and saunas; canvas tent bungalows and Douglas fir cabins, the most luxurious of which feature king-sized beds with down bedding, fireplaces, skylights, bathrobes, Bose radios, minirefrigerators, and even thermostat-controlled heat; or the cozy lodge, where all rooms have either balconies (with sweeping vistas) or decks, in addition to numerous amenities.

At Costanoa … we could be close to nature without sacrificing the comfort of home.

Situated a quarter mile inland from the coast, halfway between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, Costanoa is surrounded by acres of undisturbed wilderness, rolling coastal hills, rugged bluffs, and panoramic secluded beaches. The recreational possibilities seem endless. Some of the more popular ones are hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, tide pooling, surfing, whalewatching, berry-picking, and farm touring.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve, the largest and most important elephant seal rookery in North America, is just moments to the south of Costanoa. During the seals’ mating season, from December to March, docents guide visitors on a three-mile tour that takes about two hours.

Of course it.’s possible to enjoy Costanoa without doing much of anything, or at least anything strenuous. During the day, you can simply read a book, drop in at the general store for a snack, lunch at one of the designated picnic areas (with standing barbecues), soak in the lodge hot tub, or treat yourself to a massage — Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aromatherapy, Arnica, or Dry Brush — at the spa.

You might also take a short drive to Pescadero, a prosperous town in the 1860s and a popular weekend tourist destination today. Don.’t miss the famous artichoke soup, crab cioppino, and fresh pies served at Duarte’s Tavern. This fourth-generation landmark dates back to 1894; a few years ago, the James Beard Foundation voted it “an American Classic.”

For dinner, Costanoa’s Cascade Bar & Grille features white tablecloth elegance in a rustic building. Specialties include local fish and grilled meats, with an emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients from Costanoa - Continued from page 1 small family farms. Breakfast and lunch are served at the Cascade also.

We stayed at Costanoa just one night, in the lodge, but returned to the Bay Area relaxed and refreshed. A tent or cabin would have been a more adventurous choice, but we had no regrets. The view of the hills from our balcony was sublime. A bit of stargazing, a calming bath with Aveda products, and off to our king-sized bed we went.

Yes, our Costanoa experience was far removed from real camping. But for us, the great outdoors seemed just a bit greater after a good night’s sleep.

Costanoa: Tel. 877/262-7848; www.costanoa.com

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