The thrill of a coastal storm--electric air, crashing waves, and thunderous skies--is best enjoyed with a fleece blanket around your shoulders, a cup of cocoa in your hands, and a flickering fire gently warming slippered feet. It's the best of both worlds--drama and comfort, nature's fury and worldly luxury. As winter begins to unleash its fury, now's the time to enjoy storms in comfort at these four lodges at the Pacific's edge.

EYE OF THE STORM        FORECAST                    STORM WATCH

BIG SUR, CA             The year-old resort has 16  Catch a great sunset
Treebones Resort        yurts with sweeping views   from an Adirondack
71895 State 1; www.     clustered near cliff's      chair on your yurt's
treebonesresort.com or  edge at southern Big Sur's  deck. This month,
877/424-4787. From      Cape San Martin. The        fall's clear skies
$149 for full-ocean-    yurts have electricity,     begin giving way to
view yurts.             queen-size beds, and cozy   occasional storms,
                        quilts.                     and starting next
                                                    month you can spot
                                                    gray whales.
CANNON BEACH, OR        Family-friendly 83-room     Along northern
Surfsand Resort         motel on the beach has      Oregon's coast, wet
148 W. Gower St.;       rooms with casual decor     weather comes
www.surfsand.com or     and views of pyramidal      suddenly and surely
800/547-6100. From      235-foot Haystack Rock.     this month.
$179 for ocean-view
rooms.
ELK, CA                 The craggy coastline here   Winds this season
Harbor House Inn        has plenty of sea stacks    send a froth of
5600 S. State 1; www.   for wave-crashing           whitecaps toward the
theharborhouseinn.com   excitement. The inn's       bluffs at southern
or 800/720-7474.        well-tended gardens         Mendocino, where
From $295, including    perched blufftop provide    crisp nights sparkle
breakfast and dinner.   steep trail access to a     with lights.
                        private beach cove.
TOFINO, B.C.            Storms are high drama at    In fall, the
Wickaninnish Inn        this luxe 9-year-old inn    Aleutian Low draws
Osprey Lane; www.wick   on a remote edge of         potent storms across
inn.com or 800/333-     Vancouver Island. All 75    the island, churning
4604. From $222 U.S.    units have fireplaces,      the ocean into 20-
                        soaker tubs, and floor-to-  foot waves at
                        ceiling windows.            Chesterman Beach, by
                                                    the inn.

EYE OF THE STORM        WARMING TREND

BIG SUR, CA             The main lodge has
Treebones Resort        make-your-own hot
71895 State 1; www.     cocoa and a fireplace,
treebonesresort.com or  plus board games.
877/424-4787. From
$149 for full-ocean-
view yurts.
CANNON BEACH, OR        Check out the Stormy
Surfsand Resort         Weather Arts Festival
148 W. Gower St.;       Nov 4-6; in the Quick
www.surfsand.com or     Draw event, artists have
800/547-6100. From      an hour to create an art
$179 for ocean-view     piece for auction at the
rooms.                  Surfsand's ballroom.
ELK, CA                 Gourmet four-course
Harbor House Inn        dinners and deluxe
5600 S. State 1; www.   break fasts are served
theharborhouseinn.com   in the main 1916 lodge
or 800/720-7474.        dining room, with great
From $295, including    views of the rocky
breakfast and dinner.   coastline.
TOFINO, B.C.            The inn's Ancient Cedars
Wickaninnish Inn        Spa offers hot stone,
Osprey Lane; www.wick   Hawaiian, and
inn.com or 800/333-     hydrotherapy massage
4604. From $222 U.S.    treatments.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group