#365 Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado has been the place to be and be seen since opening in 1888. It was the first beach resort on the west coast and was the largest hotel in the world at the time. This National Register of Historic Places property preserves stunning Victorian & Queen Anne architecture and is the second largest wooden structure in the United States.
Hollywood royalty have used this as their playground since the 1920's including Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and Rudolph Valentino. The Del became even more famous from the 1959 film 'Some Like It Hot' starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Enjoy exploring this stunning landmark with some of the finest sand on Earth.
#300 Coronado
Coronado, 'Crowned One' in Spanish, is a resort destination across the bay in San Diego. Usually referred to as an island, it is actually connected to the mainland by the isthmus, Silver Strand. The town built the iconic Hotel Del Coronado in 1888 and has been the place to be and be seen ever since.
Traveling the San Diego-Coronado Bridge is the perfect way to make a grand entrance with its sweeping views of Downtown and the bay. Beautiful Main Street is lined with galleries, shops and restaurants while the beach offers the finest in sand in California often making the top list for best beaches in the USA.
#273 Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a National Historic Landmark in the heart of Yosemite that has been providing visitors luxury since 1927. Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the hotel to blend in with the Sierra Nevada. The Great Lounge and Great Dining Room provide visitors with a space to relax while admiring original paintings, tapestries and rugs. Ahwahnee will take you back to a simpler time of National Park travel as you explore the surroundings where Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball and Judy Garland once stayed.
#243 Madonna Inn
The fabulous and quirky Madonna Inn is an iconic landmark on the Central Coast. Created by Alex & Phyllis Madonna in 1958, each room and suite features a new look and experience. Whimsical names like Safari Room, Cloud Nine and Irish Hills give an idea of what awaits the traveler. The lobby and restaurant continue to showcase the eccentric feel with its famous pink interior.
"Anybody can build one room and a thousand like it. It's more economical. Most places try to give you as little as possible. I try to give people a decent place to stay where they receive more than they are entitled to for what they're paying. I want people to come in with a smile and leave with a smile. It's fun." - Alex Madonna
#159 Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel
The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel at Salt Creek Beach is a gorgeous stretch of Orange County Coastline. The rolling hills that drop to the sea as well as soft, sandy beach are perfect for everyone's visit. Landscaped gardens surround the luxury hotel and make for postcard-perfect views of the sea. Relaxation is the key to enjoying this spot.
#108 Mission Inn
The Mission Inn is the grandest hotel in the west. Located in Riverside, once the richest city in the United States due to California's 2nd Gold Rush the Citrus Industry, Frank Miller envisioned the Inn so guests would have a luxurious place to stay while visiting. Mission-Revival is the architectural style and is the largest building of its type in the country.
Modeled after California's 21 Spanish Missions, the Inn contains more than 200 rooms that surround garden terraces, art galleries, decorated balconies, sculptures, ballrooms and one of the grandest staircases in the world. Celebrities and presidents have stayed and wed here including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, John Muir, Amelia Earhart, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, Barbra Streisand and Miss Piggy among many many more.
Today, the Mission Inn is a living museum that screams luxury and opulence. Ranked the best in the country year after year, the Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Celebration draws thousand of visitors each season. Whether touring the grounds or staying the night, the Inn will continue to delight.
#89 Furnace Creek Inn
“Would You Enjoy a Trip to Hell?...You Might Enjoy a Trip to Death Valley, Now! It has all the advantages of hell without the inconveniences.” -1907 April Fools Day Newspaper Ad
The Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort is an Historic Hotel in the heart of Death Valley National Park. In 1907, it may have been hard to imagine a luxury resort in the hottest, driest and lowest spot on Earth but it happened two decades later. The hotel was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company in order promote tourism after mining operations slowed. Tourism boomed and the resort was here to stay.
Today, the Inn is not just a hotel but holds the Four Diamond Award for its opulent luxury. Beautiful suites surrounded by Palm Groves with sweeping views of Death Valley can be seen in every direction. The nearby Ranch property is a more casual experience and contains the Borax Museum.
#76 Crystal Pier Pacific Beach
Crystal Pier, in San Diego's Pacific Beach Neighborhood, is a beautiful place to stroll and enjoy a sandy beach. Built in the 1930's, the cottages of the Crystal Pier Hotel rest peacefully on the pier and make for an unforgettable experience of sleeping over the ocean.
#62 Wawona Hotel
The Wawona Hotel is a Victorian Wonderland in Yosemite National Park. Built in 1876, the Hotel has been hosting guests for more than a century. It is one of the oldest mountain resorts in the Sierra Nevada. The most famous site near the hotel is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, one of the treasures of Yosemite. President Theodore Roosevelt stayed here while touring Yosemite with John Muir which would lead to the federal protection of Yosemite.
#26 Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel
The Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel is a luxurious downtown hotel that opened in 1923. At the time, it was the largest hotel west of Chicago. The architecture is a mix of Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival and Beaux Arts. Its interiors are jaw dropping with hand painted murals, marble columns, chandeliers, 24 karat gold accents, wooden carvings and tapestries. The ceilings were done by famed Italian artist Giovanni Smeraldi whose work can also be seen at the Vatican and White House. Opulence at its finest can be discovered in this glorious hotel.
