Mussel Shoals is
one of those small communities (somewhat smaller than a
community, really) that run along Highway 101 west of Los
Angeles. Oxnard -- Ventura -- Mussel Shoals --
Carpinteria -- Montecito -- Santa Barbara.
Mussel Shoals, 80
miles west of Los Angeles, is nothing more than The
Cliff House and a few private homes along the coast side of
Highway 101 (you need to fight your way into traffic to go
anywhere for anything).
Alternative
accommodations (if your area of interest is Santa Barbara),
are all further west and there are many to choose from.
Our preference is the Montecito Inn -- see the Beyond Mudholes
section.
This picturesque area (and
convenient proximity to Burbank) has placed the Cliff House in
several feature films:
- "Valley Girl" (Moon
Zappa)
- "Missing Pieces" (James
Coburn)
- .....and a Wrigley's gum
commercial in 1987
WHEN TO GO AND HOW TO GET
THERE:
- Highway 101 west of Los Angeles
- Ocean breezes can be pretty chilly in
winter
| THE CLIFF HOUSE
|
- 22 UNITS
- SWIMMING
POOL
- EXCELLENT BREAKFAST INCLUDED WITH THE
ROOM RATE (FRESH JUICES, FRUITS, AND PASTRIES 'WAY
BEYOND WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT)
- EXCELLENT
RESTAURANT ON THE LOWER LEVEL (THE SHOALS); BOTH
INSIDE AND POOLSIDE DINING FOR LUNCH AND
DINNER
|
".....I found
your website after googling mussel shoals (I drove through in
2004 and though it was a cool place and always wondered what
it was).....CMH.com is now on my favorites list!" -- Jennifer
B.
| MUDHOLE-RATING |
|
 |
QUIRKINESS |
 |
ACCOMMODATIONS |
 |
GOOD AREA FOOD |
 |
DIVERSIONS |
 |
COST |
This is a two-story
straight line of motel rooms atop the restaurant. The
building was built in 1947, is wooden, and has no lobby
to speak of. In the 1950's it was cut up into pieces and
moved to its present location.
But the pool, compact landscaping
(bananas are grown on-site), and focus on the Pacific (part of
a stretch of coastline called the "Rincon") is wonderfully
refreshing. Most of all, the property abruptly abuts the
rocky coastline in just a few feet --bringing the sound of
crashing waves to every inch of the
property.
| ATTRACTIONS |
- CARPINTERIA IS THE CLOSEST AREA FOR
DIVERSIONS
- SEE
THE MONTECITO
SECTION
|
The best
on-premises activity is to simply take a book and a beer to
the grassy area adjacent to the swimming pool. Wrap up
in a blanket, put on your sunglasses, and read
something. Listen to the waves crashing at your feet and
feed the little beach chipmunks if they have returned to the
area.
| RESTAURANT
RECOMMENDATIONS |
|
|
| RESOURCES |
- SEE THE MONTECITO
SECTION
|
This location was visited
several times, with documentation for 1998. Another
visit occurred for New Year's, either 1999-2000 or
2000-2001. | 
