Stay & Play: Authentic Spanish Mission-style luxury

By Marcy Joyce
Wine Country Lifestyle / Fall 2017

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa’s unobtrusive placement, tucked away off a main road into town, belies the interior opulence and exterior expansiveness of the 226-room melon-colored stucco hotel. After passing a ramble of brightly painted taco shops, clothing boutiques and humble antique marts, the sudden turn on Boyes Road coming from the north appears to wordlessly invite arriving guests to prepare to feel like royalty.

The lush greenbelt walkways dotted with magenta crepe myrtle trees provide a tranquil atmosphere as they wend their way from the recently remodeled guest rooms and suites to lead to the pools, spa, the Michelin-rated Santé restaurant, meeting spaces for social galas and business retreats, or one of many activities in which one can participate like yoga or other fitness and mind/body classes. The pathway also serves as a leisurely stroll with the occasional bench within the surrounding landscape.

Though no small complex, the grounds offer plenty of various sized spaces to seek solitude or conversational intimacy while also accommodating large groups for special occasions. The atmosphere is one of relaxed conviviality with special touches at every turn to ensure an experience of comfortable elegance wherever you go with refreshments on offer both indoors and out. A front fire pit is lit every evening, where kits with s’mores can be purchased to enjoy by the fire.

As sales coordinator Michelle Sevilla gives a tour, she points out a bee hotel that is part of Fairmont’s earth-friendly green initiative. Honey is harvested onsite for restaurant use.

All guest suites have a fireplace with wood burning logs in a burlap sack ready to set aflame and a complimentary bottle of wine.

“It takes a minute to light it but once it gets going, you have a nice, natural fireplace,” says Michelle.

The romantic rooms also all have a patio or balcony with aesthetically pleasing views. Not to mention jacuzzi tubs, which are in the center of some rooms. In the closets are white terry cloth robes and slippers to change into for the pool and spa.

“We see guests walking around in their robes a lot,” Michelle says.

And so the vibe is upscale yet down-to-earth…and pet friendly with dogs of all sizes allowed (and no-dog rooms can be requested for those with allergies).

Originally built in 1926—but burned down, and later rebuilt with a landmark water tower with separate buildings added over time—Sonoma Mission Inn has been managed by Fairmont for the past 15 years and is renowned for being one of the few luxury spa resorts with its own source of thermal mineral water, steeped in ancient tradition of Roman, Greek and Egyptian civilizations and used here by Native Americans in the 1800s for healing purposes.

“People often ask, ‘Why is it such a random spot, away from the actual town of Sonoma?’” says sales coordinator Michelle Sevilla. “But really it was built for those mineral waters which are still used in all of our pools. Back when the original building was a vacation spot for people from San Francisco to come up to go to the hot springs for the weekend and the creek was really popular. So a lot of the houses around here are little cabins built around the creek and the waters. A creek a couple streets away was a vacation spot. We do get a lot of people from the Bay Area on a staycation, coming up for the weekend. But then we get lots of international travelers and people coming from farther away. And lots of corporate groups. We get people from all over.”

The Bathing Ritual borrowed from ancient times is the signature of the award-winning Willow Stream Spa with its outdoor thermal mineral swimming pool, outdoor thermal mineral Jacuzzis, dedicated Watsu pool, herbal steam room, sauna, indoor lounge with fireplace, outdoor resting loggia and the Spa Café. Private spa cabanas can be rented.

Non-hotel guests can purchase a day pass to Willow Stream Spa and if they book a massage or other treatment the day pass fee is waived. The inn also has pools for guests only, one of which is by the water tower with a seasonal bar open from April to October that serves signature cocktails and beer on tap.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn experience can be a perfect balance of relaxed, pampered bliss and invigorating physical activity. It has a partnership with the Sonoma Golf Club, an 18-hole course set on 177 acres of rolling terrain and former home of the PGA Championship Senior Tour Charles Schwab Cup.

Complimentary guided hikes are available for hotel guests every day of the week with varying degrees of difficulty. Hike leaders who work on premises take the groups to Jack London Park, the Overlook Trail in Sonoma or Quarry Head Botanical Garden for a 2-hour hike. Cycling enthusiasts can take advantage of the complimentary bikes and helmets for people of all genders and sizes.

If you are planning stay at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Michelle advises booking ahead of time to get the best rate though last-minute specials are also available.

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/sonoma.