When we plan a trip, there’s almost nothing I think about more than where I’m going to rest my head. Because the right accommodations make me feel like I’m truly escaping from my day-to-day life and living it up, even if it’s just for one or two nights, I’ve always felt that staying in a special place can make a trip extraordinary.
Over the years, we’ve stayed in a big variety of places of all prices, sizes and locations, from lodges and campgrounds to vacation rentals and hotels. Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite hotels and inns in Northern California with the hope that one of them might inspire you to plan a trip…
Napa River Inn, Downtown Napa
With more than a dozen downtown tasting rooms and many top-notch restaurants, all within easy walking distance, Napa’s downtown makes an easy base to explore the best of California wine country. The Napa River Inn fits right into the scene — its convenient waterfront location allows you to walk along the pedestrian-only Napa Riverfront to restaurants, cafes, boutiques and galleries, and wine tasting rooms are just minutes away. Plus, the hotel is located right next to a delicious bakery, jazz bar, Napa General Store, and the restaurants Celadon and Angele.
For me the best part of the Napa River Inn is its history. On the Historic Hotels of America registry, the hotel is located in the historic Napa Mill, which dates back to 1884. You’ll notice the building’s history as soon as you enter the lobby. The rooms in the oldest part of the hotel, each decorated with a unique historic look, reflect the property’s past. We stayed in a room in the newer Plaza building and loved having a a balcony and waterfront view. And a bonus: the hotel offers free parking and complimentary breakfast of fresh pastries from Sweetie Pie’s bakery.
Sustainability bonus: the Napa River Inn does not use single-size plastics for toiletries; instead, the shampoo and other products are provided in large refillable bottles.
Why go there: Downtown Napa is a walkable town with an ever-growing scene of world class food and drink. Just a short drive away are the vineyards and wineries of Napa Valley. Try a slow drive up the Silverado Trail with stops at the Stag’s Leap District wineries.
Read more: 30 things to do in Napa Valley
The Palace Hotel, San Francisco
If you’re a history lover like me, you must stay at the Palace Hotel! The hotel holds an important place in the history and culture of San Francisco. First built in the 1880s, it was destroyed in the fire following the infamous 1906 earthquake and then rebuilt and reopened in 1909. From this era is the hotel’s famous Garden Court where guests can dine under glass ceilings. This place just oozes opulence from turn-of-the-century San Francisco; experiencing a bit of this landmark hotel’s story is a treat for any guest.
Why go there: You probably don’t need much encouragement to visit San Francisco, but there’s always something new and exciting happening in the City. Visit the SFMOMA, which is just an easy walk away, and make it a weekend to remember by catching a show at one of San Francisco’s theaters.
Read more: The perfect San Francisco day trip
The InterContinental San Francisco
If you’re looking for modern luxury in San Francisco, the InterContinental is the place for you. With just 22 rooms per floor, the hotel feels a little more intimate and quiet than you might expect. Our room here was one of the nicest I’ve experienced with floor to ceiling windows that wrap around the the room, offering amazing views of the city day and night. The hotel also has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Luce!
Sustainability bonus: Lots of points for the InterContinental San Francisco. Besides being a LEED Gold building, which is a big deal in itself, the hotel offers electric zip cars for guests to use.
Read more: 30 things to do in San Francisco
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, San Francisco
Looking for the perfect place to stay in San Francisco? Check out the Clift Royal Sonesta hotel. Centrally located just a block from Union Square, this hotel checked all the boxes for us: unique design, a historic building, and a hint of luxury in our spacious room. What especially made me happy me was how quiet the room was. This is on a bustling street of theaters and cafes next to Union Square, but we heard no outside noise during the night.
As we walked into the Clift Royal Sonesta, we immediately noticed the unusual furniture collection. With quirky pieces like a giant-sized chair (above right), an apple stool, and a lamp designed by Salvador Dali displayed under the two-story ceiling, the lobby left no doubt that I was in a unique space. The century-old hotel was redesigned by the French interior designer Philippe Starck and reflects an interesting balance between old and new.
Sustainability bonus: because this is San Francisco, the hotel doesn’t miss the opportunity to work toward sustainability. The hotel is home to ten beehives and more than 10,000 bees on the roof, and the hotel offers guests free bikes to get around the city.
Beach House Half Moon Bay
The Beach House Half Moon Bay is one of our favorite getaways thanks to the family-friendly suites and waterfront location in the town of Half Moon Bay. While staying in one of the ocean view rooms, we could imagine that we were relaxing in our own beach cottage. From the balcony we could watch the surfers take to the waves from dawn to dusk. The hotel offers a nice complimentary continental breakfast of fresh baked pastries, fresh fruit and organic coffee as well as complimentary parking.
Sustainability bonus: the hotel’s location on a walking path means that you don’t need to drive during your stay; you can easily walk to the beach in one direction and a shopping center with restaurants and breweries in the other. Bikes are available for rent nearby.
Why go there: Half Moon Bay is one of our favorite places to spend a long weekend. The wide sandy beaches, outdoor activities and hillside farms make it a quintessential Northern California seaside getaway.
Read more: A Weekend in Half Moon Bay
Little River Inn, Little River (Mendocino Coast)
We stayed at Little River Inn during a long weekend trip to Mendocino, during which I fell in love with that area. We visited with our two boys and everyone at the inn made us feel welcome at all times. The spacious, cottage-style accommodations gave us a sense of privacy, and we loved sitting on our private deck and watching the sun rise and set over the ocean. Just a short walk outside our cottage and through the inn’s beautifully landscaped grounds is a path that leads to Van Damme State Park and miles of hiking trails.
The inn also offers a full-service restaurant with a bar that boasts a spectacular view of the ocean. One of these days I’m going to return to the inn, sit at that bar and watch the sun set with a local craft beer!
Why go there: If you’re looking to get away from it all, Mendocino is the place to go. It’s quiet, rugged, and mysterious but also incredibly beautiful. Expect to be blown away by the redwood forests, sea caves and cliff views.
Read more: 30 things to do near Mendocino
Brewery Gulch Inn, Mendocino
Brewery Gulch Inn (which looks like a giant treehouse perched on a hill overlooking Smuggler’s Cove) has been on many “best of” hotel lists. The inn’s devoted following love this place for its charm and amazing food. Executive Chef Scott Allen chooses organic produce and sustainably raised meat from local farms to prepare a light dinner buffet every evening. Like many places in Northern California, the emphasis is always on local — shortly after we arrived, beer and wine from Mendocino County were poured for guests in the Great Room before the buffet was served. And in the morning, we returned to the cozy main room for a breakfast of seasonal dishes, all cooked to order.
Sustainability bonus: the inn sources organic ingredients from local producers and a heritage garden, and it has an innovative in-house recycling program to address non-recyclable and non-compostable waste. And no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides are used on the inn’s grounds.
Quail Lodge & Golf Resort, Carmel Valley (Central California coast)
Carmel Valley is the sleepy neighbor of the nearby and much better known towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. In the center of the valley you’ll find a relaxing, welcoming resort hotel, the Quail Lodge & Golf Resort . And if you’re not into golf, don’t let the name steer you away — I have no interest in the sport yet loved our stay here.
The rooms resemble cottages with spacious interiors and private patios. The lodge, with views of the mountains that line this valley, is luxurious yet family and pet friendly. When we arrived, we borrowed mini golf clubs for our kids to use on the putting green outside our room and received a pet welcome kit for our two dogs. And best of all, the resort doesn’t charge for extras — parking and WiFi are complimentary, and there’s no “resort fee.”
Do you have any favorite hotels or inns in Northern California? I’d love to hear!
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