California is arguably one of the best places in the United States for a road trip.
As the nation turns 250 this summer, some of the Golden State's historic hotels are being reborn and celebrating their own longevity, providing a chance to savor some sunshine along with a dose of nostalgia.
Get some weekend escapes on your calendar and visit them one by one, or plan an epic California road trip. Either way, it’ll be a summer to remember.
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
(Courtesy of Hotel del Coronado)
Affectionately referred to as “The Del,” this Victorian beauty has welcomed travelers since 1888. A National Historic Landmark, the seaside resort is fresh off a six-plus-year, more than $550 million, resort-wide restoration.
The property features 938 rooms, divided into five neighborhoods: The Victorian, Beach Village, The Cabanas, The Views, and Shore House, part of the Hilton brand’s luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts. (The Victorian is the original, iconic beachfront hotel.) No two rooms here are alike, but all feature abundant natural light and vibrant floral accents.
There’s an almost dizzying lineup of onsite eateries to choose from, including Nobu Del Coronado, seafood-focused Serẽa, and the casual Beach & Taco Shack steps from the Pacific.
More than 50 movies have been filmed at Hotel del Coronado, and the long list of famous guests includes Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Jennifer Garner, and Robert Downey Jr.
// 1500 Orange Ave. (Coronado), hoteldel.com
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica
(Courtesy of Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows)
There’s a reason the founder of Santa Monica, Senator John P. Jones, made his home on the beautiful oceanfront stretch where the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows now stand. In the 1880s, while hosting Susan B. Anthony and Mark Twain, his wife Georgina planted the Moreton Bay Fig Tree that welcomes guests today.
Set on five acres just steps from the surf, sand, and Santa Monica Pier, the Fairmont features 297 rooms alongside 31 striking bungalows with everything you need to enjoy your beach house dreams.
Fig is the place to be for breakfast; I recommend the lemon ricotta pancakes. Once a storage closet, Soko serves a memorable meal at its eight-seat sushi counter. Make reservations early.
// 101 Wilshire Blvd. (Santa Monica), fairmont.com
Hotel El Roblar, Ojai
(Gregory Goode)
Established in 1919, Hotel El Roblar is Ojai’s oldest hotel. A downtown landmark, its Spanish Revival-esque façade pulls you in, but cleverly keeps what’s waiting inside a secret.
The 50-room hotel comprises nearly a dozen charming bungalows with expansive garden patios, lush landscaping, and a resident pair of endangered Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea), on loan from nearby nonprofit the Turtle Conservancy.
Named Abra and Cadabra, the 20-year-old, 160-plus-pound girls enjoy light scratches on their shells, heads, and necks. They will likely top 300 pounds and live up to 200 years.
// 122 E. Ojai Ave. (Ojai), theroblar.com
Cavallo Point, Sausalito
(Stephanie Russo)
Gobsmacked by the views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and beyond, it’s easy to lose sight of the history at this one-of-a-kind hotel in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Up until the mid-1990s, Cavallo Point was the site of the Fort Baker military base. (The last soldiers left in 2000.)
Along with 142 accommodations split between officers’ quarters and contemporary rooms, there’s a pair of restaurants, a spa, and a cooking school. Myriad hiking trails and an eye-catching green lawn make Cavallo Point an excellent choice for weekend getaways with that pampered pooch in your life.
An added perk: the property holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification.
// 601 Murray Circle (Sausalito), cavallopoint.com
The Francis House, Calistoga
(Courtesy of @thefrancishouse)
This Napa Valley landmark served as the Calistoga Hospital from 1919 to 1964 before it was saved from the wrecking ball and turned into an eight-room inn.
Overnighting here is more like staying in a friend’s home than a hotel—albeit a friend with a gorgeous home on the National Register of Historic Places. Along with a heated pool, tennis court, infrared sauna, and salt room, on-site massages and guided yoga practice can be arranged.
// 1403 Myrtle St. (Calistoga), thefrancishouse.com
The Stavrand Russian River Valley, Guerneville
(Emma K)
Set on nearly six redwood-studded acres, The Stavrand is a registered historic landmark built for Guerneville banker Ralph “Rooster” Belden and his family in the 1920s. The 21 guest rooms boast luxe perks such as fireplaces, freestanding soaking bathtubs, and outdoor cedar hot tubs; the Sun Room, complete with a massive fireplace constructed more than a century ago with rock from the nearby Russian River, is a great spot to recharge.
Don’t miss the hotel’s Chef’s Meadow, which features a rainbow of fruit trees—apple, quince, fig, apricot, pear, and plum—many of which were planted by Belden back in the ‘20s.
// 13555 Highway 116 (Guerneville), thestavrand.com
Harbor House Inn, Elk
(Courtesy of Harbor House Inn)
This striking coastal property in the tiny town of Elk features 11 rooms and the only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Mendocino County. (It’s also been awarded a Michelin Key and a Green Star for sustainability.) Choose from six rooms in the main house and a handful of cottages.
Chef Matthew Kammerer’s tasting menus are hyperlocal and seafood-centric, relying on what’s growing on property and available from farmers and producers in the immediate area. If you don’t have the patience or stamina for a three-hour, multi-course tasting menu (know you are not alone here), in-room dining is a delightful alternative.
The inn was originally built in 1916 by the Goodyear Redwood Company to highlight the beauty of redwood milled nearby. All 11 accommodations are fresh off a redesign inspired by the Mendocino coastline. You won’t find any televisions, but classic board games are abundant. Cell service is delightfully spotty in these parts. Enjoy the disconnect.
// 5600 S. Highway 1 (Elk), theharborhouseinn.com
