The hardest part? Choosing between ocean, skyline, vineyard, mountain, or desert views.
(Courtesy of Four Seasons Embarcadero)
Four Seasons Embarcadero
We like the view from here. Taking up the top 11 floors of the 48-story California Center, every single room at the Four Seasons Embarcadero offers panoramic views of San Francisco. Perfect for a romantic staycation or celebration, will you find yourself donning your robe, sipping Champagne, and looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge? Coit Tower? The Transamerica? Or perhaps Alcatraz? In typical Four Seasons fashion, the rooms ooze luxury and you can even get cocktails from The Snug delivered right to your door. // 345 California Center (San Francisco), fourseasons.com
Hotel Caza
Play tourist for a few days at the new Hotel Caza, situated in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf and within walking distance to Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, the Cable Cars, and the Alcatraz ferry. Many of the rooms have stunning city and bay views and this spot is ideal for families thanks to a heated pool, game room, outdoor movie nights, and a lobby bar for the adults. // 1300 Columbus Ave. (San Francisco), hotelcaza.com
Moxy Oakland Downtown
True to its name, Moxy has moxie—honestly, we can hardly believe it's a Marriott. Case in point: the pink-purple neon sign that's framed by the futuristic entrance. It's all about the playful details here, like a bedtime story accessible by the in-room phone. Located at the gateway of Oakland's Uptown Arts & Entertainment District, Moxy offers a complimentary cocktail on check-in, doubles as a performance venue for entertainers of all kinds, and has an on-site restaurant opening this summer. // 2225 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland), marriott.com
Inn Above Tide
A quick getaway on the water is good for the soul and Sausalito's Inn Above Tide has three new ocean-view suites that are perfect for small reunions with your vaccinated friends and family. If you love sushi, we also recommend booking the new "Yoshi Tome's Sausalito" package, which includes a guaranteed reservation and $100 dining credit at the iconic Sushi Ran, where it's never easy to snag a table. // 30 El Portal (Sausalito), innabovetide.com
Montage Healdsburg has all the perks for leisurely summer days.
Bann at Oak Knoll Napa
There's truly no other spot like Bann in Wine Country. Inspired by owner Lalita Souksamlane's native Thailand (she's also the talent behind SF's Osha Thai restaurants), you'll enjoy tea time upon arrival and a traditional Thai breakfast each morning in a charming pagoda. Each large and luxurious room is uniquely designed in tribute to a different region of Thailand and filled with items from Souksamlane's antique collection. Bann also has a pool, hot tub, and vineyard views abound. // 2188 Oak Knoll Ave (Napa), bannnapa.com
The George
You'll feel like 19th century royalty at The George, a nine-room boutique hotel set inside an 1891 Victorian mansion that's been painstakingly restored to glory. While many of the original details have been preserved, the interior design and furnishings are decidedly luxe and modern for a stylish and most comfortable stay in Wine Country. Located in the heart of downtown Napa, you can easily walk to some of Napa's best restaurants, shopping, and wine tasting rooms. This summer, they're opening up a speakeasy. // 492 Randolph St. (Napa), thegeorgenapa.com
Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs
Calistoga's OG hot springs resort is unrecognizable after a major makeover that'll take you right back to the hotel's heyday. The rooms at Dr. Wilkinson's are totally refreshed and modern—with a big emphasis on wellness, there's even a Peloton king room available—and the resort added both a new spa garden to its spring-fed mineral pools (for chillin' post mud bath or CBD massage) and a restaurant called House of Better, led by chef Trevor Logan (formerly of San Francisco's Green Chile Kitchen). // 1507 Lincoln Ave (Calistoga), drwilkinson.com
Montage Healdsburg
Sonoma County is closing the gap against its neighbor and big brother Napa Valley in the race to be crowned Wine Country's top destination. The opening of Montage Healdsburg is certainly helping the cause. This ultra-luxe retreat among nature has it all: total seclusion, vineyard and mountain views, two pools, an amazing spa, Michelin-worthy dining, hiking, yoga, archery, the list goes on. It's also the perfect jumping-off point for a week exploring Sonoma's Alexander Valley, Russian River, and Dry Creek Valley wineries. // 100 Montage Way (Healdsburg), montagehotels.com
The Flamingo Resort
Santa Rosa's Flamingo Resort will debut a whole new look and feel in June. Its head-to-toe chic and mid-century modern makeover includes redesigned guest rooms, a new restaurant called The Lazeway Club, and a pool bar. While you're there, participate in a CBD-infused Tea Hour and try the Wim Hof–inspired cold water bucket experience. // 2777 Fourth St. (Santa Rosa), flamingoresort.com
(Courtesy of Mar Vista Farm + Cottages)
Mar Vista Farm + Cottages
Cozy up in a charming, ocean-view cottage on the coast. Set on a nine-acre farm in Gualala and under new ownership, Mar Vista Farm + Cottages is offering new experiences including star bathing and forest bathing, yoga, and meditation in the meadow. You can also meet and feed the farm animals and book private garden classes or tours. This is the place for a quiet weekend spent in nature—think, beachcombing, hiking, and watching the sunset from a soaking tub. // 35101 CA-1 (Gualala), marvistafarmandcottages.com
(Courtesy of Nobu Palo Alto)
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto
Downtown Palo Alto's Nobu got a major revamp that resulted in an utterly sleek and sophisticated Japanese-inspired look. If you're feeling fancy, book a room on the Ryokan level on the seventh and eighth floors, which comes with an array of exclusive amenities like 24-hour butler service. A stay here isn't complete without at least one meal at Nobu's signature restaurant to stuff yourself with all the sushi. // 180 Hamilton Ave. (Palo Alto), paloalto.nobuhotels.com
CordeValle
CordeValle, formerly known as Rosewood CordeValle, just completed a full renovation of their championship golf course nestled among stunning, oak-studded hills, making this the perfect place to tee off a post-pandemic staycation (see what we did there?). The golf course even has a winery adjacent to the sixth hole if your game needs a little, um, loosening up. Complete with a tennis center, hiking trails, spa and pool, CoredeValle also recently brought in a new chef to head up its three restaurants. Room renovations are also underway. // One CordeValle Club Dr. (San Martin), cordevalle.com
(Courtesy of Palihouse Santa Barbara)
White Water
Cambria's new cliffside lodge is true to its name, providing the perfect view of the white crests of waves crashing over the rocky coastline. Rooms feel positively coastal with light wood tones, fireplaces, and ocean views (the Premier Ocean View Suite has a soaking tub overlooking the sea), and a touch of bohemian style dials in the chill factor. White Water is a great stopover on a Highway 1 road trip and offers an opportunity to explore Cambria, a Central Coast hidden gem. Plus, it's just 10 miles from Paso Robles wine country. // 6736 Moonstone Beach Dr. (Cambria), whitewatercambria.com
Bee's Knees Fruit Farm
It doesn't get much more authentic than Bee's Knees, an utterly charming new farm stay in Los Osos where the rooms have a genuine country vibe and guests can pick their own veggies and fruit from the three-acre property. Bee's Knees is a great home base for wine tasting in Edna Valley or otter watching in Morro Bay. // 5840 Los Osos Valley Rd. (San Luis Obispo), beeskneesfruitfarm.com
Palihouse Santa Barbara
Located in the heart of Santa Barbara's historic Presidio neighborhood, Palihouse is a design lover's dream—think Ralph Lauren summering on the Amalfi Coast in the 1960s. Return from a day spent wine tasting to relax by the pool in a cabana, in the garden cafe, or at the cocktail bar. Centered around a tranquil, Mediterranean-inspired courtyard, each room is uniquely designed to create a space that's simply amore. Oh, and each afternoon there's a lemonade and candy bar. // 915 Garden St. (Santa Barbara), palisociety.com
Mar Monte
The 1930s beachfront Vista Mar Monte has been completely transformed, modernized, and rebranded as simply Mar Monte. The reincarnation is light, breezy, and colorful just as a beach getaway should be, and could almost be mistaken for a hotel in Barcelona. Mar Monte has several ocean view rooms and suites, a pair of new food and beverage concepts, and a pool for when you need a break from the beach. // 1111 East Cabrillo Blvd. (Santa Barbara), hyatt.com
Cuyama Buckhorn
Located about two hours from Santa Barbara, this 1952 roadside motel and restaurant has been transformed into a high desert oasis made for a relaxing, unplugged getaway. Cuyama Buckhorn has added new outdoor spaces for sunset lounging, fire pits, games (including an outdoor pool table), a heated pool, jacuzzi, and barrel sauna, an open-air cocktail bar, and garden. // 4923 Primero St. (Cuyama), cuyamabuckhorn.com
(Courtesy of Azure Palm Hot Springs)
Casa Cody
Established in the early 1900s, the oldest operating hotel in Palm Springs reopened this spring after a major restoration and renovation. Backed by the San Jacinto Mountains, Casa Cody blends modern design with its colorful Spanish Colonial Revival heritage and adobe architecture. The property has two pools, outdoor tubs and showers, lawns made for lounging, and Market, a mercantile serving Mediterranean fare paired with natural wines. // 175 S Cahuilla Rd. (Palm Springs), casacody.com
Azure Palm Hot Springs
Cleanse yourself from the past year at Azure, a mineral springs oasis that's all about wellness with yoga and juice fasting retreats. But if you don't want to go that extreme here, that's fine. Overlooking the Coachella Valley, Azure has healing mineral pools, a Himalayan salt room, yoga studio, and more than 30 spa treatments like the desert sage clay wrap or a green tea and seaweed facial. The rooms are designed to match Azure's overall feeling of zen. // 67589 Hacienda Ave. (Desert Hot Springs), azurepalmhotsprings.com
AutoCamp Joshua Tree
AutoCamp is set to debut its third California glampground (adding to Russian River and Yosemite) this fall in Joshua Tree. Set just outside the national park among the area's iconic Joshua trees and rock formations, the 25-acre desert site will feature 47 airstreams plus a handful of suites. Some premium units have outdoor showers and the property will have an outdoor bar, hybrid hot tub/plunge pool, and clubhouse. // autocamp.com
