The Citizen Hotel050

When my son and I walked into The Citizen Hotel, we both said, "Ooooh" at once. I assumed he was as awestruck as I was at the beautiful art deco lobby with high ornate ceilings, cool old fashioned clock, original bonze letterbox and directory, and antique fixtures. But actually he was two steps ahead of me and was already admiring the walls and walls of bound leather books, chess sets, and cozy corners for reading.

Right away we felt welcome as the friendly young desk clerk took an immediate interest in the book my son was reading. She had a great sense of humor and charmed us into feeling right at home, despite the historic elegance of the property. We talked children's lit for a few minutes and then head up the gorgeous elevators to our room. (The political quotes on the elevator walls were a bit over my son's head, but I appreciated them.)

The Citizen Hotel is one of several dozen Joie de Vivre hotels in California, and is located in the Cal Western Life Insurance Building built in 1925. It opened in November, 2008, and offers 198 unique rooms with custom made furniture and original artworks.

We stayed on the 14th floor in the Elk Room (1402), a one-bedroom suite, which was absolutely perfect for the three of us. (It could easily have slept four.)

The living room has a double sized pull-out sofa (pretty comfy, my son says), a desk, two small reading chairs, and plenty of lamps. A sink /bar area offers a great place to stash snacks or there is a mini-bar stocked with the usuals. The flat screen HD cable television offers Nickelodeon for the kids. There is no pay-per-view movie access, however the front desk does have free DVD players available to borrow, along with a choice of movies. Alas, most of the movies are political in nature and none appropriate for children under thirteen. However the hotel does have a few G-rated picks. (You can also bring your own or make a quick trip to nearby Westfield Downtown Plaza mall to purchase one.)

The bedroom boasts a king bed which faces two large windows, with a lovely view of City Hall. One of the historic coffee table photo books in our room had a picture from the 1800s that looked like it was taken from our room window; my son loved that surprise and it helped connect some of the history of the building with our stay. The twinkling lights at night were wonderful. The bedroom has a wall-mounted flat screen HD television, ipod dock, and a small closet with two heavy cotton robes, an umbrella, and a steam iron.

One of the main attractions is the large (and I mean large) soaking tub/Jacuzzi in the bathroom, just off the bedroom. The eucalyptus salts, the Deco-tile floors, marble topped vanity (and those plush cotton robes) are a great added touch to an already-luxurious experience. Parents also appreciate the hight-quality Lather bath products, blowdryer, shaving kit, makeup mirror, and thick towels (and plenty of 'em!). What you may not appreciate is the kids having to cross through your bedroom in order to use the restroom! This problem could be easily solved if you want to invest in the adjoining room, Cathedral Room (1401), with a king-sized bed and its own bathroom. (That would also bring the television count up the three, which may be necessary if the kids are of wildly different ages and to prone to viewing squabbles!)

Overall, the room decor mirrors the deco style of the building - hues of creams, golds and blacks, with some red accents - very stylish yet fun. Tastefully decorated framed political cartoons and black and white photographs are hung throughout the building and rooms, which again we appreciated, but my son didn't seem to notice.

Other amenities include in-room dining from Grange Restaurant, available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Grange children's menu features chicken tenders, buttered noodles, grilled cheese, or burgers. Adults can enjoy the four-star restaurant's steaks, chicken, or seafood, as well as salads, sandwiches, and a large selection of wines. Internet is available for $9.95. Cribs are available by request.

The reservations clerks are happy to discuss room options with families; there are many options available from a deluxe double to deluxe artist's loft to Junior Suite or penthouse suite. Be sure and ask about the views!

On our short walk to Westfield Center Shopping Center we passed a variety of family-friendly restaurants, including Hard Rock Cafe.

We easily walked to Capitol Park, The Governor's Mansion, The Convention Center, City Hall, California Museum, and Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. For folks with younger kids, a light rail is located just two blocks away. Old Sacramento, along with its Railroad Museum and History Museum, are a bit longer walk - or a short train or cab ride away. Amtrak is about a fifteen minute walk.

Follow the hotel on twitter at @thecitizenhotel.