I stayed at the famous California hotel with over 100 uniquely themed rooms, and it felt like a fairy tale

• I visited the historic Madonna Inn in California where guests can stay in one of 110 themed rooms.
• Guests choose a room when they book their reservation, and I stayed in the Sky Room.
• Everything about my room, the rest of the property, and the surrounding location was magical.

The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California, has enough character to make every guest feel like they've been transported to another world.

Alex Madonna first opened the then 12-room motel in 1958 with his wife, Phyllis. Soon after, 40 more rooms were added and the inn became a landmark of California's Central Coast.

Restaurants, shops, banquet halls, and amenities came in later years, and the Madonna Inn now offers over 100 uniquely themed rooms.

Read on to find out what my stay on the extravagant property was like.

The historic inn is a great pit stop for California road trippers

The property is located on the west side of US Route 101 on the way through San Luis Obispo - which makes it an ideal destination to stop on a road trip up the coast of California.

It is situated on the lower eastern portion of the well-known Cerro San Luis Obispo hill, affectionately nicknamed "Madonna Mountain," which is a popular hiking spot for tourists and locals alike.

What started as a 12-room motel has grown into a huge, beautiful property

After the first 12 rooms of the inn were completed, high demand for more rooms and public spaces led to quick expansion over the 1,000-acre property.

As the property expanded, multiple dining spaces - such as the more casual Copper Cafe, the bakery and coffee shop, and the upscale Gold Rush Steak House - were added.

There's also the Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge, as well as gift shops, a huge pool area, and multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces.

Ultimately, what makes this property so special is its 110 uniquely themed rooms

At the Madonna Inn, there are 110 differently decorated rooms with features like rock walls and fireplaces, waterfall showers, European fixtures, and fine furnishings.

When guests book a reservation at the inn, they can specify their room size and preferred amenities, and they can choose which themed room they'd most like to stay in.

From the Yosemite Rock Suite, which looks like it's taken from a scene in a national park, to the Swiss Rock Room, inspired by Madonna's Swiss heritage and love of rocks, no two rooms are even close to being the same.

Guests could stay in a different room every night for three months and have a unique experience every time.

I was immediately entranced when I pulled into the parking lot

Upon driving into the inn's large parking lot, it felt like I was entering a destination straight out of a fairy tale.

I knew that the Madonna Inn was well-known for its creative decor and lively personality - both on the inside and out - but it was even more colorful than I anticipated.

Even the registration room was decked out in color, and all the lamp posts and trash cans on the property were bright-pink.

The inn's main building was absolutely magical

There were stained-glass windows on the main building, and the exterior of the inn is painted in various shades of pink, creating a distinctive feeling of romance and whimsical fun.

The lively decor is no accident, each detail pays homage to the Madonnas' vibrant personalities and their impressive business pursuits - in addition to their influence on the rich history of the San Luis Obispo area.

For example, there's a hand-carved marble balustrade in the Gold Rush dining room that came from the famous nearby Hearst Castle compound.

The dining room was filled with fun decor, and the bakery had plenty of tempting sweets

The main restaurant was still only doing outdoor dining due to COVID-19 safety protocols during my stay, but the makeshift tented section of the parking lot featured plenty of heat lamps to keep guests comfortable.

If guests aren't looking for a full meal, the on-site bakery's signature pink-champagne cake is a local delicacy and a beloved favorite of past guests.

People apparently drive dozens of miles for it, and those who don't want to purchase an entire cake can buy a generously sized slice to enjoy instead.

I was assigned the Sky Room, one of the inn's standard lodgings

After check-in, as I found my way to my suite, I noticed each room's exterior door was decorated differently. This highlighted the amount of effort that goes into making each room feel truly special from the moment guests arrive at the door.

I spent the night in the Sky Room, a loft-style suite nestled in the back of the inn.

When I entered, it felt as if I were stepping on top of a cloud.

There was a loft area in my room that was accessible by climbing up a steep set of stairs and featured two additional beds.

I also had a balcony attached to my room, which overlooked the green hills of San Luis Obispo.

Each individual feature in my room was as curated as the lobby and common areas.

The bathroom was modern but clean and matched the color scheme of the room with blue-and-silver tiling.

The authentic crystal chandelier hanging above my bed made me feel like royalty.

When I retired for the night, I had a restful sleep. The inn is decades old, but the rooms have been furnished with the comforts of a modern hotel, like quality mattresses and top bathroom fixtures - though I wasn't lucky enough to end up in a room with an actual waterfall shower.

I had plenty of time to explore the rest of the property after a good night's sleep

As I spent more time exploring the property, I came across the pool area, which featured a full bar, two hot tubs, and exceptional views of the San Luis Obispo hillsides.

Another one of my favorite areas on the property was the "secret garden."

It felt like a peaceful oasis, with all sorts of flowers, a fountain, and a big lawn space used to host events.

Guests can remember their stay with a souvenir from the gift shop

Before leaving, I had to stop at the on-site gift shop, which sells a range of fitting souvenirs and Madonna memorabilia to remember your stay.

My favorite items were the signature crystal goblets (used for drinks in the restaurants) and the postcards that showcase each different room.

The inn is located in a prime spot for those looking to explore San Luis Obispo

In addition to its fun decor and impressive amenities, this property is located in the ideal spot for exploring the beautiful San Luis Obispo area.

It's right off the 101 freeway near the downtown strip, which means guests have easy access to restaurants and local nightlife.

Even those who don't want to leave the property can experience guided horseback riding excursions up Cerro San Luis right next door. There are also hiking and mountain-biking trails up the mountain for those who would prefer to explore on foot.

Everything about my stay was magical, and I'd highly recommend booking a visit

While I was at the Madonna Inn, it felt like I was transported back in time to an old-fashioned fairy tale - with all the comforts and amenities of modern life.

It's an escape from the chaos of everyday life into a simpler (and more colorful) time.

That, paired with the exceptional outdoor spaces and friendly service from everyone on the property, made for a pretty magical stay.

Correction: A previous version of this story said that guests are assigned themed rooms at random, but guests get to choose which themed room they stay in.