Bed and Breakfast

11 Great California Bed and Breakfasts

Story Published on June 5, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Spend your next vacation exploring the Golden State. California offers everything from relaxing sunset walks along the beach to museums and art galleries to fine restaurants and some of the world’s best wineries. But to truly immerse yourself, stay at a bed and breakfast and you’ll enjoy the best in hospitality, as well. Here are some of the best bed and breakfasts in California to help make your trip perfect.

If you are planning a trip to Southern California, these two inns offer the best combination of the amenities of a hotel and the charm of a bed and breakfast. Situated on a bluff above Dana Point Harbor, the Blue Lantern Inn is new, but looks like a rambling Victorian. Its guest rooms include fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. The inn is within walking distance of several popular restaurants and just a few minutes from the galleries and shops of Laguna Beach. If you are heading to Los Angeles, the Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica is a perfect spot to enjoy the city yet stay by the sea. The guest rooms are beautifully decorated and many have a fireplace or jetted tub. The famous boardwalk is nearby, as well as many restaurants and boutiques. The museums and famous shopping of Los Angeles are just a short drive away.

Pacific Grove, a stunning seaside town along California’s Central Coast offers two of the state’s great bed and breakfasts. The Green Gables Inn has to be in the top 10 most scenic bed and breakfasts in the world. The restored Victorian is just a few feet from Monterey Bay, and several of the inn’s beautiful guest rooms boast an ocean view. The Gosby House Inn, also located in a restored Victorian, offers two dozen guest rooms, each with a fireplace. Guests can walk to the shore, as well as restaurant and shops. Both bed and breakfasts are just a short drive from all of the attractions of Monterey Bay.

Santa Cruz, with its famous boardwalk, beautiful coast and university, draws thousands of visitors each year. The West Cliff Inn is a perfect spot from which to enjoy all the area has to offer. The Victorian gem overlooks Cowell’s Beach and offers guest rooms and suites with king-size beds and fireplaces. Many also have a jetted tub in the spacious bathroom. Drive up the coast to Half Moon Bay, and you’ll find the Seal Cove Inn. Just 24 miles from San Francisco, this relaxing retreat is set among trees and gardens, offering guest rooms with king beds and fireplaces, as well as full breakfasts and afternoon tea. Whale watching and horseback rides along the beach are just two of the nearby activities available to guests at this idyllic California bed and breakfast.

Wine country offers not only some of the world’s finest vintages; it also boasts some of the best bed and breakfasts in California. These three Napa Valley inns offer close access wineries, shops and restaurants, as well as the Napa Wine Train and scenic balloon rides. A stay at Maison Fleurie in Yountville is like a trip to the French countryside. A half-acre with gardens pleases the eye, as does the romantic French Country dcor in the inn’s guest rooms. For a touch of Provence, Lavender is another great choice, also located in Yountville. This inn is slightly more contemporary, but with plenty of romantic ambiance. The rooms are spread among four different buildings and all include a fireplace and king-size bed. The Blackbird Inn is right in the center of it all, located in Napa’s downtown historic district. The impressive Craftsman-style bed and breakfast features beautiful rich woodwork throughout, as well as spacious guest rooms, many with a fireplace or private deck. Each of these three Napa-area inns offers full breakfast and afternoon refreshments. There are even home-baked cookies available throughout the day.

The Sonoma area, another wine country hotspot, offers several of the best bed and breakfasts in California. Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza was built in 1901 and features all the historic charm you might expect, as well as a superb location in Healdsburg. Guests can pop out the door and are just seconds away from summertime concerts, shops, galleries and restaurants. The Inn at Sonoma is close to many area wineries and a popular cooking school where guests can book a lesson or cooking demonstration. The guest rooms include fireplaces and many have private balconies where you can enjoy morning coffee and the view. Relax in the rooftop hot tub or borrow bikes and ride around town. Full breakfasts are served in the morning, and in the afternoons, come back for wine and snacks.

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