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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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San Francisco
Heads of state choose the Fairmont for its grand hotel swagger – magnificent marble lobby, opulent mosaic penthouse suite, bacchanalian brunches – plus…
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San Francisco
Imagine a Nob Hill socialite had a fling with English gentry: there you have romantic White Swan. Each room has its own eccentric English character –…
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The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Built in 1903 as bachelor quarters for army officers, this three-story, redbrick building in the Presidio was transformed in 2012 into a smart national…
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North Coast & Redwoods
This is the cream of dairyland elegance, an 1894 Queen Anne–Eastlake that's unsurprisingly the town’s most photographed building. And the inside is no…
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Lake Tahoe
Minutes from Northstar and the beach, this former motel has private rooms and single-sex dorms with hand-painted murals and gauzy hanging textiles. A…
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North Coast & Redwoods
Not only does this converted motor lodge have a collection of artsy rooms – all with kitchens and quirky wooden design touches – but there's also a…
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Kings Canyon National Park
A mile's hike deep into the Sequoia National Forest, this off-the-grid, all-inclusive resort is nirvana for those who don’t think luxury camping is an…
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Greater Palm Springs
Heed the call of the casbah at this drop-dead gorgeous hideaway where the scene is set for romance. Twelve exotically furnished rooms wrap around a pool…
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North Beach & Chinatown
Eclectic, historic and unabashedly romantic, this quintessential North Beach boutique hotel has jazz-era color schemes, wrought-iron beds, paper-umbrella…
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The Haight & Hayes Valley
With rooms named for San Francisco's grand dames, this 23-room 1883 Italianate Victorian retains gorgeous original details, including rose-brass…
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Santa Barbara
Ramp up the retro chic and bed down with vintage style in one of six shiny silver Airstream trailers parked next to a historic RV park near upper State St…
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North Coast & Redwoods
The Cape Cod–style architecture twinned with deluxe contemporary decor make Scopa the best reason to hang around in Crescent City. Furnished in warm earth…
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HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Trading downtown convenience for a glorious parklike setting with million-dollar waterfront views, this hostel occupies a former army-hospital building,…
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Death Valley National Park
Staying at this artist-run three-room B&B feels much like bunking with good friends. Using recycled materials whenever possible, Carlo and David have…
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Lake Tahoe
Bed down at this artsy boutique hotel in the village, where every room has mountain views and extracomfort factors like plush terry-cloth robes and…
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Santa Barbara
At this Spanish-style inn, casual elegance, first-rate service and a romantic central courtyard will have you feeling like the don of your own private…
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The Haight & Hayes Valley
The source of neighborhood gossip since 1892, this gilded and turreted mansion graciously hosted Isadora Duncan, Mark Twain and (rumor has it) the ghost…
