East Brother Light Station Inc

Elite '08

79

121

Lisa S.

Mountain View, CA

Once in a GREAT while something blows my mind.  This did.  Okay so I can't give all the credit to East Brother Lighthouse - the fact that Boyfriend TOTALLY surprised me with an overnight here for my birthday this past summer: Blew My Mind.  (He's not a big "surpriser".)  But the amazing place he chose to take me to was so much more exciting and novel than any ole B&B (which I'm sure he could not get excited about either).  

East Brother Light Station is an old lighthouse built into the top of a Victorian house.  The house (and a couple cottages for the innkeepers, and a machine shop which houses the fog-horn) sit on an island about a square mile in size.  The island is in the southern part of San Pablo Bay; a stone's throw from shore.

East Brother Lighthouse B&B is "The Man's Bed & Breakfast" - absolutely no joke.  No, there's no Sunday football or all you can drink beer but to get there involves a (super short) treacherous boat trip and once you arrive there's machinery & lighthouses to learn about, dogs to play with, history to read and fog horns to marvel at!  In fact, the night Boyfriend surprised me - it turned out 2 of the 3 other couples on the boat with us were being surprised by the male half of the couple too!

So here's how it works (tho Eric G. put it in much funnier words than I will here...)  Elan and Katy are the innkeepers.  Katy cooks and cleans and Elan runs the boat and light (and fog horn).  You and 3-4 other couples meet Elan in the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor (though it looks like a junkyard) and climb into a little speed boat.  Now I practically get seasick in the bathtub but this boat ride is so short that even though it can be treacherous and bumpy (or if you're a man: awesome!) it didn't bother me at all.  You're literally in the boat on the Bay for about 2 minutes.  You dock and (perhaps depending on tides) climb up a ladder to be welcomed by Katy!  The ladder could be a bit difficult to maneuver for folks with limited mobility.

After a tour of the house and island you're free to frolic.  We climbed up to the light tower to check out the amazing views of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and prowled around the very small island taking some fantastic photos.  

A small champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception with the other guests welcomes everyone to the B&B for the night followed by a 4-course sit down dinner at the large dining table.  I'd have to say that your enjoyment of dinner will be entirely dependent upon the collection of [interesting] folks staying overnight on your particular visit.  That, and of course, the amount of wine you drink...  We got lucky - both in company and in wine!  The meal is very nice though certainly not gourmet.  Katy is not a chef, but is an excellent cook!

The rest of your night is free to read, play board games or cards in the sitting room, play fetch with the dogs, sleep, etc.  But what absolutely cannot be missed is a trip to the light tower to watch the sunset.  FABULOUS!  Just unbelievable!

*an important note:  there is no guest showering on the island (don't worry, the inn-keepers do!)  Their source of water is rain collection so they need to conserve.  If you pay for a 2-night stay, I believe you are then permitted to a shower.  So ladies - bring your ball caps and hair-ties for your overnight!

Breakfast is served at the large dining table again before everyone disperses to take some last pictures and pack up their bags.  At some point in the morning Elan will fire up the fog horn which is... err... pleasant.  But I guess the men all love it - so whatever keeps them entertained while B&B-ing!

After another brief boat trip back to the dock, your East Brother experience will end.

This was a truly different yet wonderful B&B experience.  The hospitality, the views, the charm of the house and the island... even the dogs are great!  It's a VERY relaxing way to spend an evening.  Since there's no TV or Internet for the guests - you're *gasp* left to relax and read a great book.  Or worse, converse with your sig. other!  I'd HIGHLY recommend it...

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Elite '08

31

259

Eric G.

Berkeley, CA

You begin at Land of the Apocalypse.

Which you reach after driving down a forsaken road in two parts--
Part A. Desolate scene of next Zodiac murder.
Part B. Heavily distressed road that rapidly dismantles your car via a series of huge ruts and lumps that jars pieces loose as you go.

Probably this is the first time you've ever driven UP to get to a boat. What's that word? oh yeah- counterintuitive.

Then you arrive at the graveyard of dead machinery. Huge broken hulks and skeletons of cranes, trucks, boats, trains etc fill the muddy inlet. There is no "welcome hut". If you want to know where to meet the boat, go find George the Big Dog. He will take you to the "cafe".

You take the little boat with Capt. Elan out to a little rock in the bay. What happens next depends on where the tide is. Let's say the tide is low. Upon arriving at the lighthouse rock, you climb straight up out of the boat 20 feet up on to a deck extending perpendicular to the cliff.  From here on out, everything is nice. You don't have to worry about your car, because it is being protected by the rodents, bikers, dogs, ghosts, werewolves, and other weirdoes back at the cemetery.

A brief interesting tour with your fellow guests. (5 rooms, about 10 people) You see where you will sleep. You see where the other couples are sleeping and then make a decision of how loud your sex noises can be. Wander a bit and take in the panoramic views.

Hors d'oeuvres and champagne followed by a very enjoyable 4 course dinner. Soup, salad, entree, dessert and coffee. You're mingling with other guests quite a bit. Pray you don't get jerks. We were lucky.

Post dinner, you can play board games upstairs or sit and chat by the fire. Or, start your hanky panky early.

Next morning- play with the 2 doggies. Then, nice light, but filling breakfast. Another brief tour, and then the best part, the old fog horn. COOOOOOOL!!!!!!!
I want one!!!

I don't know how much this all cost because it was part of a present. So this review is "cost-independent".

TIPS
- In the Winter pack some Port or Scotch, in the summer, gin & tonic, etc.
- Sensitive to strange sounds at night? ie., foghorn, creaking floors, etc. bring earplugs.
- TIP for those who practice wild monkey love- there is one room that is in its own building and has machine noises as camouflage. This room is called the signal room. It's the one where when you open the door it hits the bed. yep, it's small.
- Dress in layers.

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13

45

Jennifer L.

San Francisco, CA

The BF and I went here for a night back in November and it was so romantic and fun.  A bit pricey for the night (about 300+) but we were treated to yummy snacks and champagne upon arrival and then a delicious 4 course meal for dinner--with plenty of wine, then in the morning we were served a most delicious french toast souffle thingy that I could eat every day.
You drive to some janky pier north of the Richmond-SR bridge and the owner picks you up in a little boat.  The owners --a married couple--Katy and Elan were great and had good knowledge of the history of the site.
It would be a blast to go there with friends--there are only 4-5 bedrooms I think and you share your meals with whomever else is staying--we were lucky to get friendly and lively fellow drinkers.
It was only a short night but it totally refreshed us for the holidays and we felt like it was an adventure.
I'd like to go back on a nicer night because it was totally foggy--supposedly on a clear day you can see the city.  Instead we had Scooby Doo mystery machine weather--aww man it's just old man McGreevy not a sea ghost!
I recommend staying in Walter's quarters in the separate fog signal building.  Elan even fired up the old air fog horn which was the loudest thing I've ever heard.
This is a special place and you should go if you can.

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Elite '08

265

981

Ann L.

Fremont, CA

I went here w/ my hubby 9/3/05 for a day use only, you can also stay there since it's an island bed & breakfast!  Day use is $15pp Sat, you need reservations.  

You meet at the Gallery Cafe, about 11:15am (where we had good soup-by the way), then the captain takes you to the island on a boat, then you climb up some stairs.  He gives a short tour then you are free to enjoy the island until 3:30pm.  Bring your OWN picnic since for day use; NO food/water is available.

Can be windy.  Bring a book and a good picnic and enjoy.

http://www.ebls.org/in...

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