Napa Valley
The top splurge for a no-holds-barred romantic weekend, Auberge’s hillside cottages are second to none. The view will very much define your lodging choice…
Must-see hotels in California
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Coastal Highway 1
Nestled within an old showcase home of the Goodyear Redwood Company – and with plenty of redwood paneling to show for it! – is this stunning 10-room hotel…
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Along Highway 101
What's not to love about this newly renovated 1890s-era hotel? It's got a full bar with curated cocktails, a tempting cafe, a handsome library and a pool…
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Yosemite National Park
Luxurious country chic sums up this fabulous family-friendly resort surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest and situated a half-mile from Yosemite's…
San Diego
This 11-stories high 1910 hotel was built as the fancy-city counterpart to the Hotel del Coronado and has hosted everyone from Albert Einstein to Harry…
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Along Highway 101
This beloved clothing-optional resort re-opened in 2019 after a devastating 2015 wildfire swept through its 1,700 acres of meadows and forestland. At the…
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Santa Barbara
Hotel Californian is the new kid on the once-run-down block that is the lower end of State St. Spearheading the area's rehabilitation, it would be worth…
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South Bay Beaches
Nature trails wrap this 120-acre property, skirt the wild coast and are open to the public at LA’s best five-star beach resort. Rooms are flooded with…
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Eastern Sierra
Soak in your own hot-springs tub and snooze beneath the moonlight at Benton Hot Springs, a small, historic resort in a 150-year-old former silver-mining…
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Yosemite National Park
The crème de la crème of Yosemite’s lodging, this sumptuous historic property (formerly called the Ahwahnee) dazzles with soaring ceilings and atmospheric…
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Yosemite National Park
Outside Yosemite National Park near the entrance to Hetch Hetchy, this classic, nearly century-old resort consists of lovingly decorated and comfy cabins …
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Hollywood
At the heart of the action, the Roosevelt heaves with Hollywood lore: Shirley Temple learned to tap dance on the stairs off the lobby, Marilyn Monroe shot…
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Santa Barbara
Triumphantly reborn in 2013, this 1908 icon of Santa Barbara style is a hilltop hideaway for travelers who demand the very best of everything. An infinity…
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Malibu & Pacific Palisades
This intimate, adult-oriented hacienda was recently given a four-star upgrade by Waldo Hernandez, celebrity designer who has done work for the likes of…
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The Peninsula
Starting life as a fog station in 1875, Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel is adjacent to the current lighthouse and has ramshackle yet beautiful Victorian…
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Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disneyland Resort
Soaring timber beams rise above the cathedral-like lobby of the six-story Grand Californian, Disney’s homage to the arts-and-crafts architectural movement…
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McCloud River Mercantile Hotel
Mt Shasta Region
Stroll into McCloud’s central Mercantile Hotel and try not to fall in love; built in 1897, this former lumber company store has been exquisitely restored,…
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Marin County
Hikers rejoice! Set amid redwood, spruce and pine trees on a ridge of Mt Tamalpais with trails spreading in all directions, this retreat is both modern…
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Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
This friendly, folksy place feels like a secret oasis tucked away on a forested hillside about 25 miles from Yosemite. A wide range of accommodations…
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Hollywood
Hip, affordable Mama Shelter keeps things playful with its lobby gumball machines, foosball table and live streaming of guests' selfies and videos…
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Big Sur
The last word in luxurious coastal getaways, this adult-only retreat ranch pampers guests with private hot tubs, wood-burning fireplaces, decks and a free…
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Greater Palm Springs
This hotel, opened in 2017, is literally tops in town. Palm Springs' tallest building (seven stories, but still...) offers unparalleled views of the…
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Santa Barbara
Wonderfully friendly Greg and Jennifer make sure all guests feel at home at their boutique motel, close to East Beach and the zoo. Landscaped grounds…
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Along Highway 101
The finest B&B at Clear Lake is an 1875 Carpenter Gothic with 10 impeccably furnished rooms, styled with a nod to the English countryside and with such…
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Lake Tahoe
This chic, environmentally conscious contemporary lodge aims at getting folks out into nature. It boasts countertops made from recycled paper, ‘rain…
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Fort Ross State Historic Park
A dramatic and quirky '60s-modern seaside inn that has been refurbished into a luxury lodge. The rustic architectural shell is stunning, and a duet of…
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Santa Ynez Valley
Forget Solvang's cheesy Danish side, the Landsby is all about slick contemporary Scandinavian style. The principal decorative themes in this new arrival…
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Napa
Carneros Resort & Spa’s contemporary aesthetic and retro small-town agricultural theme shatter the predictable Wine Country mold. The semidetached,…
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Along Highway 101
The centerpiece may be the smartly renovated historic hotel – tile bathrooms, warm lighting, thick linens – but the rest of the property, including the…
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Along Highway 101
Decked out in a contemporary American country feel with sea-grass flooring, pastel colors and fine linens, this historic hotel’s rooms and suites are safe…
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Monterey
Barely visible behind a shroud of foliage, this 1911 khaki-shingled Craftsman-style house hums a playful Alice in Wonderland tune through seven immaculate…
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Mammoth Lakes
Warm and cozy, oozing traditional ski-lodge appeal, and only steps from the base of the Panorama Gondola, this is the best address for skiers and…
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Los Angeles
This low-slung, sweet but not swanky resort feels much more intimate than its 71 units would suggest. Rooms have attractive rattan furnishings, comfy beds…
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Joshua Tree National Park
In an isolated, pin-drop-quiet spot, these two desert-chic suites are the ultimate romantic retreat. Each has a kitchenette and a private patio with…
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North Coast & Redwoods
Perched atop a grassy cliff, high above crashing waves and braying sea lions, this spacious, modern, light-filled B&B has stunning views out to the sea…
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Central Coast
Near downtown Paso Robles, this European-style boutique hotel has 16 rooms arrayed around a sheltered inner courtyard. Spacious guest accommodation…
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The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Fisherman's Wharf's top hotel was built as a cannery in 1908 and has century-old wooden beams and exposed-brick walls. Rooms sport an over-the-top…
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North Beach & Chinatown
San Francisco's original LEED-certified, all-green-practices hotel uses sustainably grown wood, chemical-free cleaning products and recycled fabrics in…
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Joshua Tree National Park
Owned by Kate Pierson of the band B-52s, this desert camp has a coin-sized pool (May to October) and half-a-dozen artist-designed Airstream trailers to…
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South Bay Beaches
This upscale beachfront inn epitomizes California’s laid-back lifestyle. Open the balcony door of your lofty ocean-view suite to let in the ocean breezes,…
