“A bed and breakfast  
is a home  
away from home,   
with better breakfast  
and fewer chores.” 
Unknown

Life is consistently full of surprises. When Kathy and I arrived in Eureka last Monday, we were pleasantly surprised to see our accommodations for the week. The Hydrangea Inn, a bed and breakfast owned and operated by Renée Chappelle, far exceeded our expectations for lodging. For five days and nights, it became our home.

While there are rooms in the main building for visitors, we opted to stay in the Redwood Bungalow, a cozy one-bedroom unit with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom adjacent to the garage in the backyard of the main house. The place was clean and comfortable. It also provided a level of privacy most bed and breakfast venues can’t offer.

Each day, a home-cooked breakfast was prepared by Renée. It included a hot main dish such as a frittata or quiche. There was also a bowl of chopped fresh fruit and a cup of yogurt. A container of orange juice, which we found in the refrigerator upon our arrival, was refilled every day. There were also appliances and supplies to make coffee, tea, or hot chocolate each day.

When we arrived back at our room each evening, we were greeted with warm homemade cookies. We most definitely did not go hungry!

The Hydrangea Inn is centrally located in Eureka, in close proximity to the Old Town District, the Carson Mansion, Sequoia Park Zoo, the Clarke Historical Museum, and the Eureka waterfront trail. For our purposes, it was a convenient eight-minute drive from Kathy’s brother John’s home in the Cutten neighborhood in southeast Eureka. Getting around town was not a problem at all. 

As much as we enjoyed the Hydrangea Inn itself, getting to know Renée was one of the highlights of our trip. She truly is a Renaissance woman, quite accomplished in a variety of careers and totally content to spend her retirement years hosting visitors to Eureka in her beautiful home. Kathy and I honestly feel like we’re returning to San José with a new friend. 

Eleanor Roosevelt once quipped, “True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests.” This is precisely what Renée does each day at the Hydrangea Inn. Kathy and I are incredibly grateful for the experience.

We are heading back home today.