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 Northern 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…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…
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San Francisco
Make your gay getaway in grand style at this Edwardian estate, covering two sunny yellow mansions linked by secret gardens. Guest rooms hit the swanky…
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Lake Tahoe
Completely renovated and upgraded, these gorgeous cabins and rustic-themed lodge rooms across from the beach have pine paneling and new mattresses, and…
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Oakland
The East Bay's classy crème de la crème, this Fairmont-owned historic hotel is a glamorous white 1915 building with elegant restaurants, a fitness center,…
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South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
A truly delightful option in the Hope Valley, with snug pine cottages and cabins, decked out with fairy lights and hammocks. There's a wealth of…
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Lake Tahoe
The name pays tribute to this hostel's 19th-century incarnation as a brothel. With a mix of dorms beds, doubles and even a suite with kitchenette, this is…
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North Coast & Redwoods
The bright, sunny rooms inside this venerable, two-story former bank building (1890) are comfortably furnished with thick carpeting, period-style…
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North Coast & Redwoods
This gorgeous campground sits between 100ft cliffs and wide-open ocean, but there are some windbreaks and solar-heated showers. Look for sites closer to…
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Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Next door to the Sugar Pine Railroad, this friendly and comfortable 26-room inn has a seasonal hot tub and pool, a small bar and the finest restaurant in…
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Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
This 1875 former ranch encompasses 14 attractive acres. The homespun rooms are phone-free and pet friendly, with double doors that open onto shady…
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North Coast & Redwoods
A woodsy country lodge on bluffs overlooking the mouth of the Klamath, the creaky and bright 1914 Requa Inn is a North Coast favorite and – even better –…
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Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Casually sophisticated and designed with a mix of contemporary touches and vintage chintz, the Charlotte is the nicest spot in central Groveland. Some of…
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Historic Lookout & Cabin Rentals
Mt Shasta Region
What better way to rough it in style than to bunk down in a fire lookout on forested slopes? Built from the 1920s to '40s, cabins come with cots, tables…
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Sacramento
After an elegant, ultrahip upgrade, this long-vacant 1927 beaux-arts tower became Downtown's coolest place to stay. The details are spot-on: luxe linens,…
