Getting Covey

A getaway at Timber Cove on the Sonoma Coast

Written & Photographed by Amy Dong

CIt’s a stormy night and we’ve been contouring the Sonoma coastline for the last hour. While I can’t see it, the fresh, salty scent in the air and the faint crashing of waves is a welcome reminder that our destination will be well worth the journey. Twenty minutes of white-knuckling the steering wheel later, my friend Otto spots a dimly lit structure in the distance; it almost looks like a treehouse perched above the water. Tucked away up the rugged coastline, we have made it to Timber Cove.

As we enter the lobby, I’m momentarily mesmerized. It feels like stepping back into the vintage aesthetic of the ’70s with the perfect modern touches. The lodge, built in 1963 and reimagined in 2016,

has kept its integrity and redefines rustic. High vaulted ceilings, rich redwood finishes, and the coolest retro furniture I’ve ever seen come together to create the dreamiest living room. A fire crackles at the other end of the lodge and I resist the urge to make a beeline for it, wanting to exchange pleasantries with Paula, the General Manager. We talk eagerly about our journey and become fast friends. She’s just moved from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. As a bit of a wanderer, she was looking for an unconventional adventure and I can already see exactly why she chose Timber Cove.

Once we settle in, we open a bottle of 2016 Walt Pinot Noir La Brisa for a nightcap, throw on a Matt Nathan record, and turn up our nest-controlled fireplace. The tension in my shoulders from gripping the wheel completely melts away as the record plays and the wine warms my belly.

I wake up to the crashing of waves and sunlight gently gleaming through our skylight. Remembering where I am, an involuntary grin spreads across my face and I melt into the mattress, which is immeasurably better than my one back home. Our setting has a brand new meaning in the daylight; I could not have imagined what beauty I would be waking up to. Our room is nestled into the coast, looking out onto the cove and surrounded by trees & trails.

I wrap myself up in a red cashmere throw and pad towards the sliding glass door. The balcony wood is still damp from the storm and the smell of rain and salt make me feel simultaneously reminiscent and present. I’m enamored by the cove. The stark and breathtaking contrast between evergreen trees and the misty aquamarine ocean hits home for me as the quintessential symbol of the Northern California Coastline. The newly redesigned 46-room property offers ocean view rooms, but I’m already quite loyal to our cove view.

Otto manages to peel me away from our balcony to venture out. We’re determined to uncover the nooks and crannies of Timber Cove. As we circle the property, I’m becoming more obsessed with this piece of the coast by the minute. We all know that Southern California is the state’s golden child, but I’m starting to think that Northern California might be the overlooked, quirky, and brilliant older sibling. We walk through a warm, light-filled space facing the water (reserved for Saturday morning yoga and the occasional intimate wedding), climb the small hill leading to the Peace Obelisk, a unique 93-foot mosaic sculpture, walk to the edge of the property to survey the fire pits and bocce ball courts perched on the cliff, and end up settled in the lodge and, no surprise here, sitting by the fireplace.

We spend the afternoon sipping wine from the surrounding Sonoma vineyards and chatting with guests, locals, and property staff alike. By the end of the day, I’m starting to get a sense of the innate authenticity of Timber Cove. Every traveler is humble and friendly. Many of them are heading out on a leisurely hike or playing scrabble by the fireplace, often with a dog trotting not far behind. This rugged stretch of coast has no cell phone service. While not intentional, the “digital detox” certainly adds to the getaway experience. You won’t find guests scrolling through Instagram or staring down at their phones during dinner at Timber Cove. It’s a welcomed invitation to reconnect with our surrounding, each other, and ourselves.

As day turns to night, guests appear in the lodge to relax and reconvene after a long day’s hike, or in our case, wine-tasting. We chat with two women that we met while checking in last night and they treat us like old friends. They wait patiently while I moon over their dog and ask them questions about how they ended up at this dreamy destination. The short answer is that they come every year, a tradition seven years in the making, to spend time together and catch up away from the hectic nature of the day-to-day.

Everyone in the lodge slowly gravitates towards Coast Kitchen, Timber Cove’s resident restaurant. This morning, I had a garden scramble with fresh produce featuring sweet tomatoes and topped with local goat cheese (a perfect way to start the day). I’m already brewing with excitement for what is sure to be a mouthwatering meal. For a little context, Coast Kitchen features fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal dishes with an emphasis on seafood (insert swoon here).

Our friendly server, who has also just relocated to the area, lets us know that locally foraged wild mushrooms will be included on tonight’s menu. Coast Kitchen doesn’t use buzz words like “fresh, local, and sustainable” lightly; the King of the Woods mushrooms coming my way have been foraged in the surrounding 10 miles. In my humble opinion, you can’t truly experience a place, until you have experienced the food.

At Timber Cove, luxury takes on a different look. Lavish dinners are traded for real, whole foods that have been crafted and prepared with care. Strangers you might normally pass by without introduction become friendly faces who want to know who you are, where you come from, and what brought you here. An overwhelming quantity of amenities is reduced to quality pieces that will create meaningful memories. The Crosley LP record player that sits in each room will stand out in my memory for years to come. I can’t say that I’ve ever danced to “Crashing” by Matt Nathan (clearly off tune) with a good friend while listening to a winter storm all around us. I’m grateful for this unconventional getaway that gave me exactly what I needed (and didn’t know that I was looking for). *

timbercoveresort.com