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…
Must-see hotels in California
Philo Apple Farm Guest Cottages
Along Highway 101
Set within the orchard, guests of bucolic Philo Apple Farm choose from four exquisite cottages, each built with rustic materials. With bright, airy spaces…
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…
West of I-5
This 1862 rambling, ramshackle hotel has small, rustic rooms with quilts, historic photos and river views – all have tons of character but none have…
Huntington Beach
Stow your surfboard (lockers provided) as you head inside HB’s hippest hotel, a stone’s throw from the pier. The Shorebreak has 'surf ambassadors,' a wet…
Coastal Highway 1
These elegantly renovated 1930s fishing cabins offer a simple, stylish seaside escape with a vanguard commitment to sustainability. The harmonious…
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 –…
Eastern Sierra
Bishop's most upscale lodging underwent a full-scale renovation completed in summer 2017. Woodsy art and Western-style leather armchairs outfit rooms that…
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…
La Jolla
Inspired by the architecture of Greene & Greene, the turn-of-the-20th-century arts-and-crafts masters who designed the Gamble House in Pasadena, the lodge…
Laguna Beach
Be it good feng shui, friendly staff or proximity to the beach, this 36-room courtyard inn feels right. From the surfboards in the lobby to colorful throw…
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,…
Coastal Orange County
Right across from the pier for amazing sunsets, the breezy B&B rooms at this delightful boutique hotel all have contemporary beachy design, private…
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…
Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey
This old motor inn has been dressed up, colored and otherwise funkified in retro style. Think eye-popping oranges, yellows and greens, framed photos of…
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…
Los Angeles
Built in 1910 by the Banning brothers, who owned the island at the time, this classic craftsman has been converted into an inviting B&B. All 12 rooms are…
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…
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…
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…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
We love the rustic wood-paneled exterior, the polished-concrete floor in the lobby, the elemental Thai massage spa, and the 32 contemporary rooms with two…
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.
Springhill Suites Oceanside Downtown
San Diego
This modern, six-story, ocean-view hotel is awash in summery yellows and sea blues in the lobby. Rooms have crisp lines and distressed-wood headboards,…
San Diego
Charming Crystal Pier consists of 29 breezy cottages from the 1930s built right on a wooden pier and flaunting dreamy ocean views from spacious decks. All…
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…
Disneyland Resort
Though built in 1955, the year Disneyland opened, the park’s original hotel has been rejuvenated with a dash of bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. There are three…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Built in 1958 in the heart of the Sunset Strip, the Andaz boasts a mod, urban aesthetic while paying tribute to the building's heritage as the Hollywood…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
This tranquil, 12-acre Spanish Colonial estate is a popular hideaway for royalty – Hollywood or otherwise. Leafy and low-key (we love the outdoor…
