Boutique Hotels of California

10/15/2026

The monarchs are returning to Butterfly Town, USA! 🦋

Every fall, Pacific Grove welcomes thousands of monarch butterflies to its sheltered groves of eucalyptus and pine trees to spend the winter. It’s one of the Monterey Peninsula’s most magical seasonal traditions—and a beautiful reason to plan a coastal getaway this fall.

Make a weekend of it with a stay at one of Pacific Grove's charming boutique hotels:

📍Gosby House Inn, A Four Sisters Inn
📍Green Gables Inn, A Four Sisters Inn
📍The Charles Pacific Grove

🍂 Save this for your next escape to Monterey.

10/13/2026

Vineyard strolls, poolside lounging, and little dolce vita in Sonoma w**e country.🍷

Set amid 92 acres of vineyards, Vinarosa Resort & Spa is a romantic escape filled with courtyard gardens, bubbling fountains, and paths through the vines. Spend your days relaxing poolside, unwinding at the spa, and savoring farm-to-table cuisine at the celebrated John Ash Restaurant.

Downtown Healdsburg and Sonoma’s most celebrated w**eries are just minutes away.

10/08/2026

What do an auto repair garage, a lighthouse, a courthouse annex, a World War II Coast Guard lookout, and a riverboat have in common?

You can spend the night in all of them. ✨

Across California, several historic buildings have been transformed into boutique hotels, preserving pieces of the past while creating something unexpected for today's travelers.

Swipe through the photos and tell us where you would most like to stay.

1. The Butler Hotel
2. The Darling Hotel
3. East Brother Light Station
4. Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel
5. Presidio Lodging
6. Inn at Schoolhouse Creek & Spa
7. McCloud River Bed & Breakfast
8. Queen Anne Hotel
9. The Delta King

10/06/2026

While the Golden State is famous for endless summers, fall ushers in unexpectedly dazzling displays of color. 🍁

Golden aspens glow in the high Sierra, fiery dogwoods and maples speckle evergreen forests, and rows of w**e country vines turn to ribbons of crimson and gold.

And thanks to the state’s dramatic range of elevations and climates, the show unfolds over several months—beginning in the high Sierra in September and lingering at lower elevations into early December.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to catch fall color in California, along with scenic drives, leaf-peeping stops, peak-season tips, and boutique stays along the way.

Discover the best places for fall color in California. Plan a road trip to enjoy the state's extended fall season and the dazzling show.

10/01/2026

Set among the rolling, oak-studded foothills just outside of Sacramento, The Murieta Inn and Spa pairs hacienda-inspired style with the relaxed elegance of California horse country.

Spend the day at the spa or by the heated pool, then settle in for dinner at The Gate. Make it a weekend getaway with w**e tasting in the neighboring Shenandoah Valley and Lodi AVAs and exclusive golf packages that offer rare access to the private Rancho Murieta Country Club. The renowned Murieta Equestrian Center is just a half mile away, making it an especially inviting home base for horse shows and other equestrian events.

Traveling with your four-legged companion? Select patio rooms open onto a dedicated dog park—one of the many thoughtful touches that make this foothill retreat exceptionally pet-friendly.

09/29/2026

Just 30 minutes south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay feels a world away.

The Coastside destination moves to a relaxing small-town rhythm, with rugged beaches, rolling hills, a working harbor, pumpkin farms, and a charming downtown.

The town’s boutique hotels add to the sense of escape. Choose from intimate harbor retreats, historic hideaways, and spacious suites overlooking the Pacific.

Explore our guide to the best boutique hotels in Half Moon Bay and plan your trip.

Visit Half Moon Bay
The San Francisco Peninsula

Discover the best boutique hotels in Half Moon Bay, from romantic inns and oceanfront retreats to distinctive stays along the scenic Coastside.

09/27/2026

Immerse yourself in the creative spirit of the Hi-Desert. 🌵🎨

This October, the HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours celebrates its 25th anniversary, inviting visitors inside the working studios of 220+ artists across Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, and the surrounding desert communities.

Plan a fall getaway to Los Arboles Hotel in Palm Springs and spend a day or two exploring the Hi-Desert’s thriving arts scene.

The free, self-guided tours take place October 3–4, 10–11, and 17–18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

09/24/2026

The MICHELIN Guide recently unveiled its 2026 MICHELIN Keys, and we were thrilled to see so many Boutique Hotels of California members among this year’s honorees.

🔑🔑🔑 Three Keys
Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection

🔑🔑 Two Keys
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Milliken Creek Inn
The Stavrand

🔑 One Key
Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel
El Encanto
Hotel Drisco
Hotel San Luis Obispo
La Bahia Hotel & Spa
Palihouse West Hollywood
San Luis Creek Lodge
San Ysidro Ranch
The Aster
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Collection

A special shout-out to this year’s first-time recipients: El Encanto, La Bahia Hotel & Spa, San Ysidro Ranch, and The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. ✨

Click through the gallery to see all 14 member hotels awarded MICHELIN Keys—and discover a few more reasons to start planning your next California getaway

09/20/2026

Discover McCloud’s scenic wonderland. 🍂

Beneath the slopes of Mount Shasta, a historic lumber town opens onto a landscape of rushing waterfalls, legendary trout waters, forest trails, volcanic scenery, and brilliant fall color.

Explore the three waterfalls of the McCloud River, cast a line in its clear, cold waters, follow the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway to Burney Falls, or wander through a town that looks like a postcard from a bygone era.

Stay in one of McCloud’s beautifully preserved historic hotels and spend a weekend—or longer—exploring this scenic corner of California.

McCloud Hotel
McCloud Mercantile and Hotel
McCloud River Bed & Breakfast

McCloud Chamber of Commerce
Discover Siskiyou

Explore historic McCloud near Mount Shasta, with waterfalls, fly fishing, scenic drives, seasonal adventures, and charming boutique hotels.

09/18/2026

Tucked among the redwoods of Sonoma County, fall feels especially inviting at the Inn at Occidental. 🍂🍷

Spend the day wandering beneath towering redwoods, discovering Sonoma w**eries, or exploring the coast. Back at the inn, relax on the porch or by the fire with a glass of local w**e and soak in a jetted tub before drifting off to sleep.

This fall and winter, stay two nights and receive a complimentary third night—giving you one more day to settle into the slower rhythm of Sonoma w**e country.

And beginning in November, the inn’s monthly Winemaker Dinner Series brings local w**emakers, growers, and chefs together for intimate multi-course dinners and w**e pairings through April.

📍Inn at Occidental | Occidental, California