Relax and Recharge at this Wheelchair-Accessible Fort Bragg Inn
Tucked away near a small residential subdivision in Fort Bragg, the Noyo Harbor Inn (www.noyoharborinn.com) overlooks the namesake harbor and offers a relaxing and refreshing retreat from the realities of everyday life. Add in some excellent wheelchair-access, and a restaurant that offers some tasty California coastal cuisine, and you have the perfect Northern California escape for wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
The Wheelchair-Accessible Suite
Accessible parking is located in front of accessible room 6, with level access to the front door. Access features of the room include wide doorways, lever handles, good pathway access and laminate floors for easy rolling. The oversized room features a vaulted ceiling and includes large windows which offer sweeping harbor views.
The room is furnished with a comfortable 24-inch high king-sized bed with wheelchair access on both sides, two night stands, an armoire, and a table with two chairs. It also includes a small refrigerator, a gas fireplace, and a French press with an ample supply of coffee. And if you want to unwind there’s also a large standard soaking tub with a grab bar, located right next to the fireplace.
The bathroom features excellent access and includes a full five-foot turning radius. It’s equipped with a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. It also includes an overhead rainfall shower, and the shower controls are located with easy reach of the shower bench. Other access features include a roll-under sink with an angled mirror, and a toilet with grab bars on the back and right walls (as seated). They really thought of all the access details, including a lowered soap dish and towel hooks. That said, the bathroom is also pleasing to the eye, as it lacks the institutional feel found in many chain hotel accessible bathrooms.
A Relaxing Retreat
One of the great features of this room is located outside – a large wrap around deck that faces the harbor. There’s level access to the deck, with plenty of room for even the largest wheelchair or scooter. It’s furnished with two wicker chairs and two small tables, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset.
Wildlife abounds in this Fort Bragg harbor, where seals dive under the surface and herons, ravens and seagulls busily search for food or roost in the surrounding trees. You can actually feel the stress melt away as you sit there and take it all in.
The room itself provides a pleasant retreat too, and with two skylights over the bed you can even enjoy the evening skies. And when the fog rolls into the harbor in the morning you can savor a cup of coffee and watch the harbor activity from the warmth of your room through the French doors. It’s a relaxing place to stay – inside and out.
The Restaurant – A Fort Bragg Favorite
For a nice sampling of the local flavors, the adjacent Harbor View Bistro & Bar is open for brunch and dinner. There’s good pathway access to the entrance, which features an automatic door, and barrier-free access to the restaurant, gift shop and front office. There’s an accessible family restroom located near the gift shop, and room for wheelchair-seating in both the inside and outside areas of the restaurant. That said, the outside area is highly recommended as it offers a nice harbor view, and it’s even equipped with heaters for those chilly evenings.
Brunch offerings include daily omelet specials, flash fried Brussel sprouts, or a hearty rock cod sandwich. Alternatively you could go the more traditional route with the harbor breakfast that includes eggs done to your liking, bacon, chicken sausage, roasted potatoes and a home-made English muffin.
Tapas and full course dinners are available in the evenings, with an emphasis on fresh locally sourced ingredients. Salmon, shrimp and scallops highlight the menu, but there are also some tasty selections for beef, pork and chicken lovers. Top it off with a slice of goat cheesecake or a glass of port, and you have the perfect end to any Fort Bragg day.
Plan ahead though, as the Harbor View Bistro & Bar is a local favorite, and reservations are required, especially during COVID-19 times when seating is limited. Even if the inn is full, plan to stop by and enjoy a bite on the deck. And don’t miss their creative adult beverage offerings!
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