Wylder Hotel, Hope Valley

Special occasions deserve special locations, and in that spirit, I present to you Brio’s 2nd birthday trip! Feels like just yesterday that our angel puppy boy came home with us, small enough to fit snugly in dad’s palm and sweet enough to forever capture his previously dog-fearing mom’s heart. In researching local pet-friendly vacations that would pamper him as much as it would us, Wylder Hotel Hope Valley stood out by measures. Imagine my delight when they invited us over, on Brio’s birthday weekend to boot! It ended up being the best slow weekend of making new memories, made even more special by our Brioche Bun’s first experience of snow. ❄️

To fellow Californian paw-rents, I want to say- go here! The rustic, charming all-weather adventure resort sits on 16 acres of nature in beautiful Hope Valley, a short drive from both the clear waters of South Lake Tahoe and the pristine slopes of Kirkwood. Add to that the fact that Hope Valley is one of California’s prime leaf-peeping locations in the fall season, and you just can’t go wrong with the timing of your trip! Location- ✅.

Next up, amenities- ✅. Here’s where I’m about to get verbose because there’s SO much to talk about! Year round, the resort is home to 24 thoughtfully set up cabins, a general store, a sauna and a faultless food & drink joint in Sorenson’s Cafe, but during clement weather, it includes a sprawling campsite for tents & RVs, glamper-friendly yurts and a fully decked out vintage trailer. I can personally attest to the cabins being cozy, chic and filled with character; pro tip- book one of the Nostalgic Cabins if they’re available, they’re each rebuilt from Santa’s Village and oh-so-charming. In March, we enjoyed walking the grounds covered in fresh powder but it’s only about to get better with June’s golden hour hikes and September’s Aspen-gold vistas!

Our Cabin- The Chapel

The second cabin from Santa’s Village called ‘St. Nicks’s’

The gorgeous ‘NORway house’, which is a replica of a 13th century homestead and can sleep up to 6 people

I also MUST wax poetic about Sorenson’s Cafe, ahhh! The indoor dining room was woodsy cabin vibes perfected but really, our preferred second home after the cabin itself was the ‘outdoor’ restaurant in the heated tent. Brio was welcomed in with a water bowl and affectionate greetings every time, each meal served to us was incredible, the live music made for a definite vibe and the staff went above and beyond. If you ask me, a pitstop at Sorenson’s is a must even if you’re just passing through the area!

The famous Sorenson’s Berry Cobbler!

And finally, the wood-fired sauna.🔥 It had been years since I had set foot inside one and to say that my muscles welcomed it would be an understatement. Walking out loose-limbed and jelly-legged like a slightly bigger Bambi, I felt relaxed like I hadn’t in a while.☺️

Last but not the least, I cannot say enough about the service- ✅. The restaurant staff were the loveliest as I said before, but really everyone on the property impressed us. The resort offers seasonal activities throughout the year and it would have been so convenient to book anything on the March roster if we had chosen to, be it skiing, snowshoeing or any of the other winter specials. When we enquired about options for Brio’s care during tentatively planned ski lessons, the staff offered to have someone on hand on-site to watch and play with him. I mean, consider my mind blown.🤯

I hope this recap and review of Wylder Hotel Hope Valley inspires you to visit! Travel and Leisure included the resort on their 2021 It List of hotels and to that I say- so well deserved! 👏

Since sharing Instagram Stories from the resort in real time, I’ve heard glowing reviews in agreement with my own from atleast two readers. And that makes me more happy than I can say. ☺️

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week ahead!
XO Sushmitha :)