Los Angeles features a laid-back vibe and plenty of activities
America boasts a vast range of accommodation to host travellers, and practically nowhere has such a diverse, quirky and welcoming range as California. Few parts of Los Angeles have a cooler vibe than Santa Monica, whose lengthy, sun-kissed beach pretty much sums up the Californian idyll of ease and plenty.
America boasts a vast range of accommodation to host travellers, and practically nowhere has such a diverse, quirky and welcoming range as California.
Few parts of Los Angeles have a cooler vibe than Santa Monica, whose lengthy, sun-kissed beach pretty much sums up the Californian idyll of ease and plenty. In sight and sound of the Pacific Ocean, and hard by the historic Santa Monica pier, Shutters on the Beach's (shuttersonthebeach.com) 198 rooms and suites are spread over three separate buildings clad in iconic slate-grey shingles.
"Shutters is less a hotel than a residence masquerading as a hotel," general manager Gregory Day says.
"Many hotels have a great location, or unique offerings, but Shutters blurs the lines between luxury and familiarity to provide an experience that is quite singular. This is probably why our owners have never attempted to duplicate it; it would simply be too hard to do so."
North of LA, artsy Carmel-by-the-Sea is famous for its former mayor, movie star Clint Eastwood, and for its especially liberal attitude to dogs, who are welcomed in many hotels and restaurants, while store owners put treats and bowls of water outside their premises. The town's oldest boutique hotel, the Cypress Inn (cypress-inn.com), dates from 1929 and employs a director of pet relations, a multicultural pooch named Sadie. The 44-room enterprise is co-owned by veteran actress and animal activist, Doris Day, and is located in the heart of Carmel, allowing for easy exploration on foot - or four paws.
California is synonymous with films, and one of the state's best-known locations is the seaside town of Bodega Bay, which featured both in Alfred Hitchcock's spine-tingling 1963 horror flick The Birds, and, more recently, I Know What You Did Last Summer. This is also California's wine country, and just up the coast from Bodega the Timber Cove Inn (timbercoveinn.com) - which was designed by a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright - makes for an ideal base for oenophiles. Its 49 rooms and suites overlook the ocean, and the on-site restaurant, Alexander's, pays daily tribute to the culinary bounty of the immediate area.
On the doorstep of California's awesome redwood forests, and just outside the heroically named town of Eureka, the Victorian Inn (victorianvillageinn.com) stands in the quaint village of Ferndale. Built at the end of the 19th century, the inn combines historic accommodations with modern amenities such as a charging station for electric cars.
Each room is characterised by vintage furnishings and fittings, lofty ceilings and a private bath. Most visitors come to experience the nearby Avenue of the Giants, a 20km stretch of redwoods that are among the oldest and tallest living things on the planet.
"Whether you are searching for a romantic getaway, taking a family vacation, or travelling on business and expanding your horizons, Victorian Inn is privileged to accommodate you," says co-owner Jenny Oaks.
Naturally, California wouldn't be California without a healthy dose of green living. The Stanford Inn by the Sea (stanfordinn.com) is an eco-friendly resort on the Mendocino Coast; kayaking and bicycling head up the activity list, and the Centre for Living Well provides tips and strategies for leading a better lifestyle. The Ravens is one of North America's most well-regarded vegan restaurants, while the spa provides an enticing range of massages, facials and Ayurvedic treatments.
All the rooms and suites come with a wood-burning stove and a private deck.