Gold Country
Jackson’s historic hotel has had a serious upgrade from the gold rush era. While the restored building retains its historical details, all rooms are newly…
Must-see hotels in California
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
This woodsy cabin B&B wholeheartedly welcomes families, with free bikes, kayaks and snowshoes to borrow and evening s’mores and wine and cheese…
Napa
Smack downtown, the Andaz was constructed in 2009 and feels like a big-city hotel, with business-class-fancy rooms. It's walking distance to restaurants…
Santa Barbara
Family-owned since 1942, this whitewashed, one-story motor lodge that wraps around a grassy courtyard is worth a stay just for the location. Right by the…
Coastal Highway 1
Perched on an inland hillside beneath towering trees and surrounded by lovely gardens, the perks of this adorable place begin with the gregarious owner…
Russian River Area
Downtown Guerneville’s cheeriest resort, Fern Grove has vintage-1930s pine-paneled cabins tucked beneath redwoods and surrounded by lush flowering gardens…
Sausalito
Steps away from the ferry in the middle of downtown, this grand 1915 hotel has loads of period charm, paired with modern touches such as satellite TV, DVD…
Calistoga
Six immaculately kept, sunny-yellow cottages – with polished-wood floors, feather beds and sundeck – stand in a row beside flowering gardens. There's also…
Sacramento & the Central Valley
This 1904 building is the most luxurious place to lay your head in Chico, with high-thread counts and attentive room service. The sunny Diamond Suite,…
Coastal Highway 1
This is an impressive private campground with tightly packed campsites beneath enormous Monterey pines, a cooking pavilion, hot showers, a hot tub, bocce…
South Bay Beaches
This one-time motel turned boutique spans all four corners of Highland Ave and 34th St with luxurious, ocean-facing rooms on the west side, and nicely…
Point Arena Lighthouse Lodging
Coastal Highway 1
True lighthouse buffs should look into staying at the one- to three-bedroom former coast-guard homes at the lighthouse. They’re quiet, windswept retreats,…
Gold Country
With dramatic views of the Sierra Buttes, this USFS campground in the Tahoe National Forest is 2 miles north of Bassetts on Gold Lake Hwy, off Hwy 49. It…
Northern Mountains
This sweet 1902 Victorian house is two blocks north of Main St. Striking dark-wood antique headboards and armoires combine with rosebuds and frill. There…
West of I-5
This storybook-perfect 1877 mansion has a handful of pretty and bright antique-decorated rooms and a hikers' hut with dorm beds. It's right at the edge of…
Los Angeles
At this historic hotel a block inland from the beach, the 91 rooms were getting a chic, modern makeover as we went to press: dark wood furniture, silvery…
Marin County
In a spectacular shady nook near the entrance to the bay, there’s a small beach with the Golden Gate Bridge arching over the rocks nearby. At night you…
The Deserts
Popular with hikers, this campground is cradled by whimsically eroded volcanic rock walls and has 35 sites for RVs and tents available on a first-come,…
Gold Country
This long-established riverside campground with the feel of a summer camp is a good choice for RVs. It comes with wi-fi and a full range of activities:…
Sonoma
Each of these four colorful, inviting cottages has a bedroom, living room, kitchen and barbecue, with comfy furniture, stereo, DVDs and bicycles. It's 1…
Santa Ynez Valley
This revamped motel has luxuriously updated just about everything, except for its routine exterior. Inside, rooms are surprisingly plush, with flat-screen…
Santa Cruz
Colorful decor and bright artwork feature at this recently renovated motel that is the closest accommodations to the attractions of the Santa Cruz…
Coastal Highway 1
Dating from the 1970s, this is a simple yet lovely place to stay with beach access and extremely comfortable rooms with plush mattresses and nice artwork…
Greater Palm Springs
This posh resort highlights whimsical decor by Jonathan Adler in public areas and rooms that include a villa once owned by Gene Autry. Stroll the lovely…
Gold Country
The historic Fallon Hotel hosts the most professional theater troupe in the region, the Sierra Repertory Theatre. The (apparently haunted) building is…
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
Located along the Heavenly shuttle route, this family-run place perfects the balance of old Tahoe – all-fireplace rooms of knotty pine and river rock –…
Marin County
At this hotel, with its deck extending over the bay, tasteful rooms have an elegant minimalism that combines comfort and style. Rooms with rustic high…
Coastal Highway 1
Located inland from the Old State Hwy is this gorgeously maintained (though exceptionally pricey) private park where you can camp and do short hikes along…
Carmel-by-the-Sea
The luxurious Lodge at Pebble Beach includes a spa and designer shops where the most demanding of tastes are catered to. Even if you’re not a trust-fund…
The Deserts
This privately managed cluster of campgrounds has a lovely lakefront setting and offers more amenities than most sites, including outdoor play areas and…
Russian River Area
This quirky mid-modern entry is a bit away from the action in downtown Santa Rosa, but a good midrange alternative. The re-imagined motel builds on the …
Vallecito County Park Campground
The Deserts
This rustic campground has 44 tent and nonhookup RV sites in a cool, green-valley refuge set around a replica of the Butterfield Stage Station. Sites come…
San Diego
On four well-landscaped acres on the hillside above Old Town’s restaurant row, the Hacienda has 200 rooms over eight buildings, neatly decorated in…
Santa Cruz
This downtown courtyard B&B is an eco-conscious gem, with water-saving fixtures and renewable and recycled building materials. Refreshingly elemental…
Mt Shasta Region
Smack in the middle of town, under a stand of pines, this alternative B&B also sponsors group retreats. Creature comforts include an outdoor hot tub, a…
Sonoma Valley
Among the valley's most chic inns, Gaige has 23 rooms, five inside an 1890 house decked out in Euro-Asian style. Best are the Japanese-style ‘Zen suites,’…
Gold Country
Stay near the heart of Placerville at this leafy inn, built as a stamp mill in 1859. A creek runs through the lush garden; you stay in little wooden…
North Coast & Redwoods
The big, bright rooms here all have private balconies, fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers and phenomenal sea views. There is one apartment unit complete…
Eastern Sierra
Houses and cabins with kitchens sleep from two to 34, and range from rustic to ritzy. There's horseback riding, hiking and fishing in the area, and…
Santa Ynez Valley
This clean-lined hotel is a relief from all things Danish. Overpriced rooms may look anonymous, but they’re quite spacious. Amenities include an outdoor…
