What is nice about the inn is that it is in walking distance of Old Town/Historic Folsom (it’s mainly Sutter Street), and many restaurants and shops are nearby. The hotel also sits on the edge of the American River, which connects to Lake Natoma further south, where one can walk/bike/horseback ride alongside. Folsom Lake is about a 5-minute drive away, where summer tourists enjoy water activities.

Overall, my stay was satisfactory. Service at the front desk was excellent; however, the rooms were fair. They were in the middle of replacing all carpets in the rooms, so I know they try to maintain the hotel. It was simple and met my basic needs (e.g., bed, TV, desk, phone jack, bathroom). The furniture and pink-and-green carpets were functional but unimpressive. It was nice to have the small refrigerator, but a microwave would have been a nice addition. I disliked how the rooms feature an open rack with hangers rather than a traditional closed closet, as well as the somewhat dimly lit room. I requested an extra standing light, which was most useful. Further, the walls/floors were kind of thin--the guy staying above me was moving furniture or something at 3 in the morning and woke me up. Also telling of the people who stay here is the fact that my TV remote control was missing batteries when I arrived. Hmph.

It was too cold to try out the well-maintained pool, but I did use the gym a few times. Thankfully, it held several older treadmills and Stairmasters, a few mats, free weights, and some other equipment. Hardly anyone used the gym during my stay, likely since it was off=season and not crowded at the hotel, so I enjoyed the space and relative privacy. You really can’t beat the $89/night price during off-season. Although I don’t know the summer rates, the Lake Natoma Inn would be a nice place for families to stay for its convenient location and because it offers something for everyone.