Eric and Elaine both grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and met while attending the University of California at Berkeley. Eric had a career in Mechanical Engineering, and Elaine worked with various architects in the East Bay. They honeymooned on the Mendocino Coast and returned every year on their anniversary. When their daughter Tavi was born in 1997, Eric and Elaine decided to find a new career that would allow all three of them to be together as they worked. Running an inn met their goals, and could be done in a beautiful place.