From the moment you approach the entrance to the Rancho Murieta Inn and Spa you’ll notice one thing: this place is made for horse lovers. From the Spanish Hacienda-styled architecture to the horse-themed art, you’ll feel right at home. The boutique hotel is situated next to Murieta Equestrian Center, the largest equestrian facility in California. It’s design is replete with equestrian touches throughout the property.
Before you even enter the front door you’ll see hitching posts designed to make you and your horse welcome. They even have a boot cleaning machine strategically placed next to the hotel entrance to scrape the mud from your riding boots.
But if you’re not a horse enthusiast, you’ll still find plenty of treats at the Inn.
As you enter the lobby you’ll see just the beginning of a huge art collection from throughout the world. This place is clearly made with love. All of the Alder wood in this hotel is brought in from Georgia because of it’s perfect match with the equestrian theme. The enormous ceiling medallion combines metal sculpture with nature’s sculpture for a design you won’t see anyplace else. I liked the abstract painting in the lobby featuring a horse. I imagine everyone will find their favorite piece of art to enjoy in a hotel with this much art. Art tours at the hotel are available to guests upon request.
Personally, my favorite part of my stay was splashing about in the pool and hot tub. The pool is a decent size and the water is a beautiful, clean sparkling blue. My friend and I were the only people swimming when we were there on Sunday and Monday. We were delighted to have the pool to ourselves for that hour or two. We also enjoyed the hot tub.
The fire pit wasn’t running because it’s summer, but we’re told they run it on cool winter evenings. The S’more kits will be ready to delight adults and children alike. Movie nights start in September, too. Sounds like a delicious combination!
Angel Wing Farm and The Gate Restaurant
Speaking of delicious, I support the farm-to-fork movement and loved the food at The Gate, the hotel’s restaurant. The Inn has their own garden called Angel Wing Farm where they grow more than 60% of their produce on the 5 acre farm. I particularly enjoyed the freshness of the salads and made a point to order one with each meal. So yummy! I may never have a salad that fresh again anywhere else, or at least it tasted like that. Insider tip: tours of Angel Wing Farm may be scheduled in advance.
Cupola Spa
After a day horseback riding or wine tasting in Amador County you may want to relax at The Cupola Spa. In partnership with Aveda Spa, the massage therapists here are very well trained. My friend, Nancy Brown, enjoyed the aromatherapy experience that was included with her Swedish massage. One of the perks of enjoying a spa day at Murieta Inn and Spa is that everyone in your party may enjoy the pool and facilities during your stay. Nancy had her fruit plate and yogurt brought up from the restaurant and enjoyed her healthy breakfast on the patio.
As for the rooms, they are fairly nice with big, plush beds and comfortable linens. Our room #427 came with a balcony. The television features a variety of stations for leisure viewing and some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the pool and fire pit. I liked the bathrooms with their large showers and removable shower heads that make it extra easy to clean up after sunning poolside.
During our stay there was a bit of construction going on in the front and rear of the hotel, resulting in some ambient noise – most notable in the night. But we’re told the builders will complete the construction in the next few months. In the meantime, earplugs are highly recommended to help you sleep. If you forget yours, ask at the front desk.
The Inn is located in Amador Wine Country so we decided to take a wonderful tour of nearby wineries. It was a perfect way to round out our visit. This is an area that has yet to be exploited as other wine regions have been, so visit soon and enjoy the old fashioned charm before it goes the way of our other Northern California treasures!
Need to know:
The Murieta Inn and Spa has a total of 83 rooms; 35 classic rooms, 37 premium rooms and several suites. Rates range from $129 to $229 depending upon occupancy, horse shows and seasons. AAA member discounts are available. The property offers select pet-friendly rooms with a maximum of 2 dogs per room at a maximum 40 lbs each. There is a non-refundable $100 cleaning fee. WiFi is complimentary and there is plenty of free parking.
Check in: 4:00 p.m.
Check out: 12:00 p.m.
Insider Tips: As I mentioned before, Murieta Equestrian Center is a state-of-the-art equestrian center in Rancho Murieta. If you like Western Ranch decor, you’ll want to visit Cares & Whoas equestrian gift shop on the equestrian center grounds. For bourbon aficionados, Murieta Inn and Spa offers a private bourbon bar and flights boasting 25 bourbons, including 3 limited bottles. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and The Murieta Inn and Spa on Instagram.
If You Go:
The Murieta Inn and Spa (916) 354-3900
7337 Murieta Drive
Rancho Murieta, California 95683
Murieta Inn and Spa Hotel Review written by Leslie Drate. YouTube video and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown. As is typical in the industry, Nancy received a complimentary media stay, however, all opinions are my own.