MoreCulture!: The Fanciest Army Barracks We've Ever Seen

When most of us hear the name Fort Baker, we associate it with that falling-down army place next to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. About a decade ago, someone got the bright idea to refurbish the historical site and create a luxe resort, that would take advantage of the incomparable location at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, smack dab in middle of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). After some initial objection, most of it from Sausalito residents, the idea has been realized in the form of Cavallo Point. We visited the site over the weekend, for their grand opening.

Grand, is the right word, all right.

The first thing you notice as you drive down the hill towards Fort Baker, now Cavallo Point, is the wide open Bay and City view on one side, and the beautiful rolling hills of the GGNRA on the other. The location is the thing here; the ever-present reason that anyone would want to stay a night, or two.

In the olden days, the U.S. Government grabbed up some of the most beautiful coastal property on the East and West coasts for optimal defense points; viewing the enemy at sea. Marin was no exception. Fort Baker was built in the early 1900s, and eventually, was turned over to the National Park Service. After the Army left, the buildings fell into disrepair, until the NPS, the Discovery Museum, the Federal Government and private investors teamed up to fund the refurbishing project; Cavallo Point.

We drive up the main entrance, past an immense, horseshoe shaped lawn that lies like a huge green carpet in front of the historical buildings that make up the old Army fort. They are arrayed around the end of the lawn, and we appreciate the free valet parking as we stop in front of the main registration and conference building. The turn-of-the-century buildings are all cream colored, with terracotta red roofs. Most of them have beautiful wrap-around porches with comfy rocking chairs looking out over the vast lawn.

A PR guide invites us to take a look inside one of the rooms. It is decorated in soothing tones of cream, pale yellow, brick and brown. She explains that the lodge is 'green', they reclaim 65% of 'gray' water to water the lawn and the sheets, towels and curtains are organic material. Furthermore, the contemporary lodging units that are up the hillside in back, are all solar.

We sit down on one of the rocking chairs outside, and face the lawn, and view. A gigantic American flag is strung up on the pole; earlier today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised the flag in honor of the historical refurbishment and transformation. The fog is just burning off, and SF comes into view. Very nice.

Next door, is the resort restaurant, Murray Circle, and cocktail lounge, Farley's Bar. They are decorated like the rooms, in shades of cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, cream and celery. There are large, monochromatic photographs on the walls; no paintings. It all contributes to a calm, unified look with no discordant notes. Everywhere is a feeling of well-being, yet in a historical footprint. Farley's has two fireplaces, one at each side of the room. The restaurant is quiet; there are lots of cushiony chairs, and fabric, giving it a plush feel. Both the restaurant and the bar have exquisitely refurbished tin ceilings. We stare at them for several minutes.

There are plenty of activities planned for conference go-ers and hotel guests alike. Cooking classes, fitness and yoga classes and other enrichment activities are going to be a big draw. The 350-acre property is studded with hiking trails, and has a spa and healing center. The spa wasn't open yet, so we can't tell you about that. But we did get a chance to go upstairs and take a look at the cooking facility. Wow. The massive, light filled space has state of the art appliances, and beautiful old wood kitchen tables. Again, decorated in the soothing celery green and vanilla shades.

We peak into the dining room next door. There is a massively long wood burl table that seats 18! Five huge oak wine cabinets surround the table. We imagine they will host wine tastings here, and also enjoy the fruits of their labors from the cooking school classroom next door.

By this time, we need a drink so we traipse downstairs to Farley's Bar. The bar serves drinks outside on the porch, and it's there we sit. And sit. The service is slow, and we have to ask the hurried waitress if she can take our order. At least we have the view to enjoy while we wait. One of us orders a glass of pinot; the other champagne. They are pricey, but not outrageous. When our drinks arrive, we sip slowly and watch a red-tail hawk make slow circles above the lawn.

Hey, it doesn't get much better than this.