Cambria Pines Lodge
The 26-acre woodland site provides a range of accommodations, from pine-paneled cabins to luxury suites; for the full floral experience, ask for one of the new bungalows with garden views. Stroll through the butterfly garden, organic kitchen plots, and the rest of the themed and unapologetically high-maintenance landscapes.
Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
Each of the very rustic cottages, which are grouped around a redwood-shaded ravine on a gorgeously untamed coastline, has a name—Grandpa’s, Faraway—and each contains a journal in which visitors have bared their souls, sometimes happily, sometimes not. But when the rains lash the redwoods, there’s no better place to snuggle and listen to the crackling of a fire in the woodstove.
Arcosanti
Designed as an experiment in low-impact, communal living (70 or so students and staff reside there full time), the rooms have no TV or mini-bar, but they have a monkish, peaceful quality. Better yet, the place gives you access to 860 acres of wilderness and the stunning Agua Fria Canyon nearby. It's no spa, but you'll come back feeling refreshed.
Treebones Resort
These gorgeous wood-floored yurts offer the kind of views that fetch major bucks elsewhere on this stretch of coast. Sure, there are only communal bathrooms and showers—but there are also barbecue dinners and complimentary morning waffles. And with a swimming pool and hiking trails that launch right into the heart of Big Sur, this is sleepover camp as it should have been.
Los Feliz Lodge
The two bungalows and two villas sit on a homey street between two of L.A.’s best shopping, eating, and people-watching neighborhoods. Plus they have kitchens and a retro chic look to inspire your vintage shopping.
L'Auberge de Sedona
Your hillside cottage comes with an indoor shower, outdoor shower, and a Jacuzzi tub where you can wash off your hiking dust. Later, wander over to the L’Auberge Spa for an indulgent lavender body wrap or opt to have your massage creekside, then kick back on your private deck with a bottle of local wine.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina
Book a cute cottage along Pacific Coast Highway. The resort is primarily for RVs, but there are also 24 studio or one-bedroom cottages with kitchenettes and bathrooms. When you’re not taking a dip in the pool, rent a bike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or two- or four-person pedal boat and explore the shore.
The Cottages of Napa Valley
Two rows of cheery Provençal-style cottages facing a shaded lawn and garden dotted with fountains outdo Napa’s famed luxury hotels on hospitality, throwing in complimentary wine, snacks, and a breakfast basket of Bouchon Bakery pastries delivered to your porch. They’re also affordable, as far as Napa prices go, providing the sort of privacy and personal touches you can’t find at larger resorts.
Briar Patch Inn
The gurgle of the stream, occasional bleats from mascot sheep, and rustle of leaves as breezes waft down Oak Creek Canyon provide the background music to these stone-and-wood cabins. Between trees, catch glimpses of Oak Creek Canyon’s ocher walls. Heap on the romance: Doze together in the large hammocks dotting the garden, or share a bottle of wine on the banks of the creek.
Healdsburg Modern Cottages
For a wine-country getaway that feels both homey and stylish, nab a stay at the Healdsburg Modern Cottages. The four mini homes clustered around a pool are just a stroll away from the shops and restaurants on the town square. Each has a sitting room (think Bertoia wire chairs and iconic bubble lamps) with a flip-switch fireplace, plus a private patio.
