Suite Surrender
By Kevin Wing
Host, Suite Surrender: America’s Best Resorts
(Editor’s Note: This column, showcasing America’s best hotels and resorts, is written exclusively for AARisings by Kevin Wing, a two-time Emmy Award-winning San Francisco Bay Area television journalist. Since early 2005, Kevin has authored another AARisings column, Beach Trip, which showcases America’s best-loved beaches. Kevin has worked for most of the Bay Area’s major network news affiliates, including KTVU, KGO-TV, KRON and KNTV. He is a network news field producer in the Bay Area and northern California for ABC News, and writes a monthly travel column for the Bay Area's ALIVE Magazine. Kevin is also a Bay Area voiceover talent, and is writing a children’s book, which he hopes to have published in late 2009. In this edition of Suite Surrender, Kevin returns to his Bay Area roots for a stay at the East Bay's historic and charming Claremont Resort and Spa.
The San Francisco Bay Area -- San Francisco, in particular -- is known as a world-class destination for vacationers and for those who choose to live in the region, which includes the City itself, the world-class wineries of the famous Napa Valley, picturesque Marin County, the lovely San Mateo County coastline and peninsula, high-tech San Jose and Santa Clara County to the south, and, of course, the East Bay.
The East Bay, for some reason or another, has always gotten a bad rap. Some may say the East Bay has always been in the shadow of glitzy, sophisticated San Francisco across the Bay. The bad rap may have likely begun when the writer Gertrude Stein once wrote that "there's no there, there", in Oakland. For those who don't know, Oakland, Berkeley and the East Bay possess many positive attributes: its home to a world-renowned university in UC Berkeley, it has a burgeoning economic engine rooted mostly in part by the business and port facilities centered in Oakland, it has dynamic, smaller communities from Fremont and San Ramon to Walnut Creek and it has an expansive regional park system that allows the East Bay to share its natural beauty with anyone who visits. It's a part of the Bay Area that's known for its restaurants and its hotels as well.
One of the crown jewels of the Bay Area is not in San Francisco, but in the East Bay hills overlooking Oakland, Berkeley and the bright lights of the City by the Bay. It is the Claremont Resort and Spa in the Berkeley Hills, and it has certainly gotten better with age.
The hotel opened in 1915, and some could say it has an elegance and similarity in history to San Diego's Hotel del Coronado, which opened in 1888. This Victorian landmark is not only a favorite with vacationers and tourists, but consider it a home away from home for Bay Area locals who just want to get away from it all and unwind for awhile, even if it's just for the weekend.
As you approach it by car, the hotel and resort has a majestic presence to it. Only a few hotels in the Bay Area capture that same essence, including San Francisco's Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Fairmont Hotel and the St. Francis Hotel. There is true history at the Claremont. You can feel it the moment you walk through the main entrance. Adorned on the walls of the main foyer are mementos and old black and white photographs of the hotel, the way it used to look in its early years. You can just imagine the era of the time, how people used to dress, to the cars they drove to get to the picturesque locale in the hills straddling Berkeley and Oakland.
This seven-story masterpiece -- still referred to as the "white castle in the hills" -- has 279 rooms, 15 of which are guest suites. Most of the rooms come with a whirlpool, a nice way to relax and enjoy the grandeur of this fine resort. Recreationally, there's plenty to do, including 10 tennis courts (six are lighted for evening play), jogging and recreational and leisure activities. And, of course, there's also the award-winning Spa Claremont.
Born of a golden era, the history of The Claremont dates back to the early days of the Gold Rush, when a Kansas farmer, Bill Thornburg, "struck it rich." He came to California with his daughter and his wife who dreamed of living in an English Castle. Thornburg purchased 13,000 acres (part of the old Peralta and Vicente Spanish grants) to fulfill his wife’s dream and built the castle and several stables, which housed pedigreed hunters and jumpers.
In 1901, while the family was away, a massive wildfire swept across the Berkeley hills, destroying the family home and not leaving behind much else. The property later fell into the hands of two men, who planned to build a resort hotel. Legend has it that a game of checkers between the two men and a "winner takes all" bet laid out the fate of who would solely own the property. The winner of that checkers game eventually built, in 1915, what we see today.
The grounds and natural settings give the resort a picturesque quality reminiscent of the Age of Romanticism. In the 1930’s, the entire second floor was flanked by a large porch where visitors would sit, take walks and admire the surroundings and spectacular sunsets. At one time, famous bands such as Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Tommy Dorsey performed at the Claremont's Garden Room. During this period, lawn sports such as tennis, badminton and croquet were gaining popularity and the resort’s first tennis courts and pool were built. Around 1940, the porch was enclosed and transformed into office and dining space. At that time, the Claremont was painted entirely white, the roof was fire-proofed, and the shingles were turned a whitish-silver color.
The Claremont, through the years, has become a popular site for conventions held in the Bay Area. By 1959, the resort had more convention and exhibit space than any hotel west of Chicago and represented the largest convention resort in the Bay Area.
The rooms are plush, leaving one to feel very pampered, even if it's just for a one night's stay. There are two sparking swimming pools and a newly renovated, 20,000-square-foot fitness center. The Spa Claremont features the ultimate in pampering. How about a nice massage? You have your choice between massage treatments and other body and beauty services. Fitness classes are also available at the Claremont Resort.
A visit to the Paragon Bar and Cafe means you will expect great service, exceptional dining and breathtaking views of Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco and San Francisco Bay. On a very clear day, it looks great. In the evening, expect nothing but a world-class view. Live music is offered several nights a week. Outdoor deck seating is also available.
If you have kids, there's no need to worry. The Claremont is a kid-friendly resort, with its specialized Kid's Club program offering an array of activities and fun for your children.
Any length of stay at the Claremont Resort and Spa is a wonderful way to treat yourself to the ultimate hotel experience, complete with spectacular views of the Bay Area from its perch in the Berkeley Hills. When visiting the Bay Area (or, even if you live here in the Bay Area, like I do), a stay at the Claremont will leave you feeling relaxed and pampered with luxury and the historic, colorful history that is this four-star hotel.
How to get there: From San Francisco and downtown Oakland, drive east on state Highway 24 and exit at Claremont Avenue. Turn left onto Claremont and proceed about one mile. Pass College Avenue, then turn right on Tunnel Road. The hotel is on the left side at 41 Tunnel Road.
Next time from Suite Surrender: A visit to San Diego once again, featuring the ultra-modern, hip yet elegant Ivy Hotel that is causing tongues to wag all around downtown.
To learn more about the new Suite Surrender and Catch a Wave television shows, podcasts and Kevin Wing, go to www.KevinScottWing.com. You can e-mail Kevin and the Suite Surrender crew at Kevin@KevinScottWing.com.
Suite Surrender. Where the Destination is Paradise.
Copyright 2008
All Rights Reserved
Kevin Wing / Toby Dog Productions
Issue 6 / October 2008
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Photo used by permission courtesy of Kevin Wing. Photo copyright by Kevin Wing.