By CARMEL L. MOONEY

The once sleepy little village of Mill Valley has come into its own over the past decade and now provides beer loving road trippers a low-key getaway.

Located in downtown, the quaint Mill Valley Inn with its funky architecture and open breezeways allows guests a relaxing and tranquil view of the redwoods and neighboring properties. Offering a terrific nightly wine and cheese reception and a continental breakfast each morning, it fits the bill as the perfect hub from which to explore the environs. An exceptionally comfortable bed added to our already perfect stay in this lovely little gem. Natural, eco-friendly, toiletries were yet another nicety to appreciate. Guests who want to burn off that beer belly even get a club pass to the Marin Health Club.

Parking is terribly cramped so take the smaller car if you have a choice. Better yet, bring the bikes or borrow the ones the inn offers to guests. You may want to consider the hiking package for a breathtaking trek of nearby Mt. Tampalpais.

There’s plenty within walking distance. Less than a block away, a new brewery, Mill Valley Beerworks offers some wonderful porters, stouts, lagers, Hefeweizen, and other ales both from its own system and from other craft brewers. It’s got a fun and eclectic ambiance for enjoying a brew or two.

They offer more than 40 Belgian beers and nearly 20 fruit-infused wild ales. This cool joint even has Biere de Champagne, Belgian beers brewed with some of the same methods used in Champagne production. A handful of barley wines and barrel aged ales such as Hair of the Dog Fred, round out the selections.

With more than 100 beers and refillable growlers, this place is a beer lovers paradise.

Piazza D’Angelo, a happening bistro two blocks from the inn, is where two brothers have been serving authentic Italian cuisine for nearly three decades. Excellent wines, house made pastas, pork medallions and tiramisu were the perfect ending to our perfect day. The place is packed with locals and for good reason; they know a good thing when they’ve found it.

Local shops, boutiques and theater all add to the well-roundedness of this little getaway situated between San Francisco and California wine country. For a perfect – and romantic – overnight road trip, take a beer-and-eats journey to Mill Valley.

Carmel L. Mooney is the editor of our sister site www.roadtripsforcouples.com.