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…
Must-see hotels in Northern California
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…
Gold Country
A former lumberjack bunkhouse that's every bit as creaky as you’d hope but with rooms that have been redone. The rates are a steal, especially on weekdays…
Eastern Sierra
Head to this property southeast of Bishop, off Hwy 395, for a modest version of glamping in safari-like tents with their own front decks. Each of the four…
San Joaquin Valley
A stylish update revived this exceptional historic hotel, adding an upscale restaurant and two bars that instantly became the places for cocktails in…
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,…
Blackberry Inn Bed & Breakfast
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
On a rural road right off Hwy 120, this stunningly converted yellow-and-white house offers sumptuous rooms with wraparound porches, stained-glass scenes…
Mt Shasta Region
Only antique on the outside, this bright Victorian 1904 farmhouse is all relaxed minimalism, bold colors and graceful decor on the inside. Each airy room…
Gold Country
This newly built B&B has glamorous rooms with claw-foot slipper tubs, sleigh beds and balconies. Some rooms have wood-burning stoves and balconies…
Coastal Highway 1
This gingerbread-trimmed B&B in the middle of town is an excellent way to dodge the chain motels for a good-value stay. The lovely family hosts are…
Gold Country
In the heart of Sierra City, the small Buttes Resort occupies a lovely spot overlooking the river and is a favorite with hikers looking to recharge. Most…
Northern Mountains
Staying in this beautifully renovated 1908 Clinch building, overlooking the small main drag of Quincy’s downtown, feels just right, like renting the…
Gold Country
Gorgeous gardens and inviting porch seats surround this four-room B&B, which emphasizes green living. With a two-person claw-foot tub, the Bradford Suite…
Mono Lake Region
One of the most scenic established campgrounds in the entire Sierra Nevada, Sawmill offers 12 sites on the edge of the beautiful Monroe Hall Research Area…
Gold Country
This six-room inn in the heart of town is a favorite because it keeps things simple. (No weird old dolls, no yellowing lace doilies.) The good-value rooms…
Along Highway 101
The facade looks like a mock-up of an Old West main street and each room has a theme, from the 'Stable' to the 'Barber Shop.' The decor is simple and…
North Coast & Redwoods
Sparklingly clean and attractively decorated rooms fill this upmarket, gray-shingled motel under tall trees. The accommodations vary considerably; some…
North Coast & Redwoods
Perched above tide pools teeming with starfish and sea urchins, the squeaky-clean rooms here offer excellent views (go for the mini suites on the 3rd…
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Campground
Sacramento & the Central Valley
Drive-in campgrounds aren't the most rustic choice, but there are good primitive campsites if you’re willing to hike or – perhaps the coolest feature of…
Napa Valley
Book in advance to secure this sought-after motel, with up-to-date rooms (quietest are in the back), attractive grounds, a heated pool, hot tub and sauna.
Along Highway 101
This spa resort offers a tranquil retreat if you can tune out shots from the gun club across the street. There are a choice of rooms and suites in an…
Sonoma Valley
This lovely property extends up a hillside off a Glen Ellen back road. Impeccably redeveloped following a brush with the 2017 fires, each room feels a…
North Coast & Redwoods
Formerly the Eagle House Inn, but reopened under new ownership in May 2017, this glorious Victorian hotel has been tastefully restored to combine…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
On the top 11 floors of SF's third-tallest building, Loews offers sweeping bird's-eye views from every room. There's nothing earth-shattering about the…
East Bay
Most Bay Area residents have never heard of this speck of an island off the East Bay city of Richmond, and even fewer know that the East Brother Light…
Along Highway 101
Tucked off the back of the Madrones Mediterranean-inspired complex, which includes a restaurant, apothecary and three winery tasting rooms, the spacious …
Mammoth Lakes
In business since 1924, this charming year-round resort on Lower Twin Lake has a cozy fireplace lodge, a bar and an excellent restaurant, 11 rustic-style…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Cleverly stylish Hotel Union Square adds soft touches like tufted headboards and down comforters to complement the original brick walls. The main…
Sequoia National Park
Backcountry experts who aren’t intimidated by a steep 6-mile, cross-country ski or snowshoe trek climbing 2000ft can enter the lottery (held in early…
Sequoia National Park
An 11.3-mile hike east of Crescent Meadow on the High Sierra Trail, this canvas-tent village at 7800ft is ideal for exploring the backcountry without…
Westport Hotel & Old Abalone Pub
Coastal Highway 1
Westport Hotel & Old Abalone Pub is quiet enough to have a motto that brags ‘You’ve finally found nowhere.’ The rooms are sumptuous – feather duvets,…
North Beach & Chinatown
San Francisco's smartest all-dorm hostel has a blue-and-white nautical theme, a fully equipped kitchen (free coffee, tea, and peanut butter and jelly…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
A block west of Union Sq and a half-century back in time, this trippy boutique stay is replete with throw-back details. A Gothic fireplace and mod…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Snazzy Marker gets details right, with guest-room decor in bold colors – lipstick-red lacquer, navy-blue velvet and shiny purple silk – and thoughtful…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
When your love interest or executive recruiter books you into the waterfront Vitale, you know it's serious. The office-tower exterior disguises a snazzy…
Coastal Highway 1
Bodega’s plushest option, this small oceanfront resort has an ocean-view swimming pool, a golf course, a whirlpool and a state-of-the-art fitness club. In…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Exuberant staff greet your arrival at this certified-green, recently renovated boutique, a 1911 hotel restyled with contemporary art and handsome…
Napa Valley
Hidden in a wooded dell with towering pines and miles of hiking, Napa’s grandest resort has cottages and rooms in satellite buildings surrounding a…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The 1906 landmark Palace remains a monument to turn-of-the-century grandeur, with 100-year-old Austrian-crystal chandeliers and Maxfield Parrish paintings…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Call the 1890 pink Victorian mansion of your San Francisco dreams home for the night. This exemplary Queen Anne was once a girls' boarding school and the…
