Cavallo Point: The Lodge at the Golden Gate

Cavallo Point is one of the best new hotels to open in the San Francisco area in many years.

Although it's close to the city across the Bay, Cavallo Point will give maximum enjoyment if you think of it as a destination that you stay put in for a relaxing getaway.

Cavallo Point will make you glad no one got in a hurry trying to figure out what to do with the former Fort Baker after it closed in 1985. Opened in 2008, the lodge surrounds the old parade grounds, with some rooms and the public areas occupying renovated historic buildings. Surrounding those and so nicely integrated into the environment that you may not even notice them at first are more rooms, designed to take advantage of unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge and with full attention to preserving the environment.

We stayed in one of the newer rooms about a month after the property opened and are still raving about it to anyone who will listen. The first words we say are "the views..." - so gorgeous that we couldn't bear to close the curtains.

Besides storing those views as visual memories to sustain you on a stressful day, you can take a hike in the surrounding hills, go bicycle riding or kayak in the bay, or visit the on-premises spa. They also offer weekend workshops and classes.

Acclaimed chef Joseph Humphrey is creating an innovative menu at Murray's Circle restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, we feel he hasn't hit his stride yet and service was also uneven and at times maddeningly slow and inattentive. Based on our dining experience when Humphrey was at Meadowood, we expect this situation to change as the property matures. Check what recent diners had to say to find out how things are going.

If you're thinking of getting a spa treatment, read our review.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of reviewing Cavallo Point. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.