Briana and The Madonna (Inn)

When it comes to holidays, getting out of LA often feels like a must! And lucky for us, we had won a two-night stay at a resort in Pismo Beach (that stay gets it's own blog post)! So we took the opportunity to visit one of California's crown-jewels of kitsch: The Madonna Inn.

The Madonna features 2 restaurants, a bar/lounge, a spa, and a sparkling swimming pool. But the real reason folks make the voyage is to stay in one of the 110 uniquely themed rooms. Some feature beautiful murals, while others offer up cave-like showers made of rock. Whatever you are looking for, The Madonna Inn has it. As for me? I'm looking for PINK! And it seems I've come to the right place.

If you've lived in California for a certain amount of time, chances are you've heard of the Madonna Inn. Nestled along the 101 in San Luis Obispo, The Madonna Inn has been delighting travelers since 1958.

The grounds are rather large, so make life more convenient and enjoyable (especially for woman in heels), the hotel offers a shuttle down to the lobby and restaurant area. The drive is patient and kind and we were so pleased to see him out and abut the grounds. We also learned that they offer bicycles for guests to borrow. Had we known, we absolutely would have planned to carve out a few hours to sit our pink butts on those pink seats and bicycle down that bike path. oh well, gives us a reason to go back! They also feature a convention center that hosts all sorta of events and concerts!

The hotel itself is chock full of bright color and floral prints. My desire to stay in EVERY room was only matched by my desire to stay in the prettiest room. Of course, the Madonna Suite appears to be booked solid until the end of time, but after very thorough research behind ALL of the rooms, I settled for the next best thing: the Love Nest. This room was stunning! It included a spiral staircase in the center of the room that led to a small cupola of sorts. When I close my eyes, I still see the gorgeous view out of the window. Anyway, we checked into our room and got ready for dinner. Now, I'm not sure what it means when you say you get ready for dinner, but for me, it means: WARDROBE CHANGE to match the location!

A dream from the past and a rose-tinted trip down the rabbit hole, Alex Madonna's Gold Rush Steakhouse features all sorts or incredible food, but mainly - STEAK. This steakhouse is buzzing with history and life. The signature rose carpet covers the floor, while giant faux roses adorn the ceilings.

But it's not just the steak or the decor that entices visitors to lock down that reservation. Every night, a live band serenades diners, and after a few songs (and glasses of Madonna Inn signature wine), the dance floor beckons.

After enjoying the most incredible prime rib salad, an appetizer of cheese and fig crostini, and a glass of Madonna Inn Cabernet Sauvignon (ok, we also had a glass of their Madonna Inn Brut Cuvee), we took to the dance floor. The Frank Gary Band was phenomenal and played everything from classic standard to covers of today's hits. It was evident to us that there were locals who came out just to dance.

After dinner, we headed back to our room to take even more photos, of course (and yes, I did another wardrobe change, whoops).

The bathroom was as gorgeous as it was luxurious (it even had a bidet!) and the bed was so comfortable. I didn't want to leave it! Unfortunately for me, we only had one night at the Madonna, so if we wanted to hit the Copper Cafe for breakfast before the pool, we had better get up and at 'em!

The Copper Pot is a down-home country kitchen... with an entire glass case of the most beautiful and delicious cake as a welcoming committee. But the time was not for champagne cake, but pancakes, so we breezed by the pink confections and took a seat at the bar where we had a front-row view of THE titular copper pot. Behind us were beautiful murals as we sipped coffee and watched the wait staff bustle about on a busy Fourth of July morning.

After a lovely breakfast and a quick tour of all of the bathrooms in the restaurant (listen, you are going to want to explore every inch of this establishment), we set our sights on the pool.

As you enter the pool area, your eyes are drawn to the beautiful blue water and the colorful, coordinated lounge sets congregating around the crystal waters - so much so that if you're walking too fast, you might just miss the bar! Oh no! Turn around! You have to grab a drink that matches your swimsuit! Well, maybe you don't, but I do! So I did.

The spa is located directly adjacent to the pool, and while we didn't have a reservation for a massage or facial during our trip, we spoke with some folks who did and it sounds like we missed out! I guess we have just another reason to head back!

After a couple hours at the pool, soaking up some rays and getting caught up on podcasts, we changed wardrobe and began our search for the ever-famous Pink Cloud cocktail and Pink Champagne Cake. Our mission took us to the Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge, where we grabbed a stool and indulged in some pink!

Satisfied with our blood-pink ratio, it was finally time to depart. Everything about our stay at the Madonna Inn left me wanting more. Not because it was lacking, but because there was so much more to be had! I want to experience this grand roadside tourist spot in every season! I want to meet every family who makes it their tradition to trek to there for birthdays! I want to try every item on the Gold Rush Steakhouse menu! And like every girl with a passion for vintage and a conviction for color, I want to stay in every room!

I just can't wait to go back!