Steve and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary last month with a California Coast road trip. Two and a half decades ago, we eloped after knowing each other for just three months. We got married on a whim (very unlike us), and every year we marvel at how well it’s worked out. We struggled to figure out a fitting way to celebrate the 25 years of good fortune that has emerged out of our haphazard beginning. Then someone mentioned the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. It sounded completely over the top. Perfect!

Anniversary Celebration at Madonna Inn – San Luis Obispo

The Madonna Inn – ‘60s kitsch and oh so pink!

The Madonna Inn is not named after the mother of Jesus or the Queen of Pop. Its namesake is Alex Madonna, an entrepreneur and construction magnate. He created the inn in 1958 with his wife, Phyllis. It started out with 12 rooms, but quickly expanded to 40. All of the rooms burned to the ground in 1966 and were rebuilt.

Today there are 110 rooms. Each one is different. The vision Alex and Phyllis had for the place was that it would make people happy by being a fun place to stay. There are rooms with waterfall themes, one with a horse-drawn carriage bed, and another called the Tall & Short room, which was originally designed for couples with different heights.

The place has a Swiss-ranch feel to it, and the design is grand with intricate woodwork and stained-glass windows. Most everything is drenched in pink accents, and the whole place appears to glitter, from the small lights that adorn trees and floral arrangements inside and out, to the basketball and tennis courts, toiletries, and upholstery. There’s a fun, swanky retro vibe to everything.

Located just off Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, the resort is a destination in itself. With room rates beginning in the 260USD per night range, we planned to max out our time once there.

Pool Upon Arrival

We arrived around 2 p.m. the desk clerk told us that our room would be ready promptly at the 4 p.m. check-in time. The host’s delivery of this message sounded so routine that I am guessing no one gets their room before check-in. We did get access to the pool and spa area and were told that our room key would be delivered to the bar. A quick change into bathing suits and we were in relaxation mode.

The resort grounds pop with colourful flowers and meticulous landscaping. The pool area features ample shade and lots of places to lounge. I was surprised to see Steve in the water before me as he is part lizard and only swims when it is above 36C. Once I plunged in, I understood why. I estimated the water temp at around 40C.

As promised, at 4 p.m. our room key was ready for us at the poolside bar. Having asked if we were celebrating something when we checked in, the staff had placed a lovely bottle of sparkling wine in our room to greet us. It required chilling, but that didn’t take long after putting it in a bucket of ice. Nice touch!

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Swiss Rock Room

We had a difficult time choosing our room. In the end, we picked Swiss Rock because it looked kind of cave-like and cozy in the online photos. Everything from the floors to the walls to the shower is rocky. It is a bit like navigating an uneven hiking trail from the bed to the toilet in the middle of the night. Perhaps it’s not that bad, but after the complimentary wine and subsequent glasses at dinner, well, you get the picture.

The only natural light in Swiss Rock is from a small window by the door and in the restroom. It is, indeed, cave-like. For a night it was fine. I’m not sure I’d choose this room if we were here for a few days. There are other, much brighter rooms available and the ones with access to a common balcony area looked nicer for a longer stay. Still, the Swiss Room was a fun novelty, for sure.

Dinner at Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steakhouse

Many people make the drive to Madonna Inn to dine at either the formal restaurant or the more casual café on site. We wanted the full Madonna Inn experience and made a reservation at the Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steakhouse when we checked in.

The dining room features a dizzying array of lights and flowers combined with a ‘60s era vibe. Eating a meal here definitely feels like a special occasion. The fairytale ambience is magical.

We did not take photos of the restrooms, but the men’s room is notable for its waterfall-over-rock-wall urinal. Seriously.

Although there were other things on the menu at the restaurant, why mess with tradition? We both ordered steak and for dessert, the much-raved-about Champagne cake. We both thought the meal was excellent.

To our delight, we discovered that at the far end of the dining room is a lounge with a large dance floor. Most nights, there is live music. Alas, on our Monday night visit, there wasn’t a band. However, it was swing dancing night! The music was spectacularly old school, and a large group of talented dancers kept the floor full all night. We found out they were a part of two different swing dance groups that congregate here regularly.

A few twirls around the dance floor was just the thing to make our bellies feel a little lighter after that steak. We took swing dance lessons a few years after getting married and hadn’t cut a rug in a very long time. It mostly came back to us. Steve still thinks I try to lead all the time – part of my bossy nature, I suppose.

The Madonna Inn – A Total Experience

I’m not sure what could have topped staying at the Madonna Inn for our anniversary celebration. We had a perfectly romantic afternoon and evening enjoying this unique spot. I could see doing a two-night stay and enjoying more of the pool, a spa treatment, or some time playing bocce in the Secret Garden. There is a 3-mile hiking trail and bike rental service too. This place is a real treat!

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