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Hello friends,

Winter storms over the Christmas holiday time were quite dramatic around here, but we've had some welcome clear, calm days (today, which is drippy enough for newsletter writing, notwithstanding...). Read on for a report from Eric's vegetable garden, some upcoming events, and a Valentine's Day treat.

Here's a photo I took from the deck of the Sea Breeze room while taking a quick break from taking down some Christmas decorations earlier this month.

From my dad, Eric, regarding the veggie garden:

"The vegetable garden is winding down for the winter, but there are still beets, kale and chard to harvest. Also a few late ripening pumpkins that are the last of a giant crop."

I took some of that pumpkin crop, roasted them, and pureed and froze for use in Pumpkin Ginger Pancakes, among other Alegria favorite recipes.

Are you looking for an excuse to come to the Mendocino Coast?

We would love to entice you to come visit with our annual February promotion: any 3 night stay in the month of February will receive, upon request, a Valentine's day treat (festive homemade cookies!) and a chilled split of Roederer sparkling wine placed in their room for their arrival. We're pretty much full for the 3 day weekend of Valentine's Day / President's Day, but as far as we're concerned, you can celebrate love any time in February! Please mention this special when you make your reservation, either online or by calling 707-937-5150.

Or, in March, enjoy the Whale festival: Chilly early spring in Mendocino brings fewer human visitors, but gray whales with newborn calves pass through our area on their way from Mexico to Alaska! Come stand on the headlands or book a whale watching tour and behold the wonder of the vast Pacific. The Whale Festival spans the first 3 weekends in March, sequentially hosted in 3 coastal enclaves - Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena. It features exhibits and events highlighting the ocean ecology of the Mendocino Coast, and also a 'wine walk' in each town. Wineries pair up with some galleries, shops, and inns (not us this year, but some of our friends!) to share their wines with folks who wander between the participating businesses. This is a perennial favorite of many return guests, but we're not quite full yet, so come make Alegria your home base for your whale weekend. And buy your ticket for the wine walk through the local Chamber of Commerce.

In the dining room last week, conversation turned to favorite Mendocino activities - or non-activities! Many of our return guests, when asked what they do in Mendocino, joyfully say, 'nothing!'. Whether you’re planning hiking, cycling, or ocean adventures, relaxation, bookstore browsing, or a little of all of the above, everyone here at Alegria is looking forward to welcoming you to the inn in 2026.

Love, Tavi (and Eric, and all the staff)

ps: If you’ve enjoyed staying with us, please take the time to write a review on Yelp, Google, or TripAdvisor, and share some photos if you got ‘em!