"National Geographic" lists a California Pacific Coast road trip as a Drive of a Lifetime. If you want to take a trip along the coast to explore this stunning landscape, a slew of big-city and small-town hotels provide some mesmerizing ocean views.
The Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel is situated in San Francisco’s most sought-after neighborhood. It boasts a heated outdoor swimming pool and living area with fire pits. Major attractions such as Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and the cable car line are a short stroll away. Choose from three accommodation types: traditional, PURE and suite. PURE gives you a hypoallergenic room with a 99.9 percent allergen-free environment. The tranquil Seal Rock Inn rests next to Sutro Heights Park. All rooms come equipped with wood-burning fireplaces and stunning ocean views. Rooms with kitchenettes are also available. The inn’s public facilities include a sun deck, sheltered patio, outdoor heated swimming pool, badminton court and table tennis. The hotel has its own restaurant. The historic Cliff House, Golden Gate Park and Sutro Bath Ruins are nearby attractions. Writer Hunter S. Thompson used the hotel as his office base for a while during the 1970s.
The Comfort Inn overlooks Ventura Beach, close to River Ridge Golf Club, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds and the Harbor Village. San Buenaventura State Beach park and the Ventura Pier are within walking distance; both Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios Hollywood are just an hour’s drive away. The hotel provides free breakfast vouchers at nearby Denny's restaurant. In downtown Ventura, the Best Western Inn is a favorite with both tourists and civil servants thanks to its proximity to the Ventura Government Center. Each morning, a complimentary deluxe hot breakfast is served along with fresh fruit, cereals and yogurts. Rooms are large and cool, and high speed internet is included. The hotel has a pool and is moments from the beach, harbor and fairground. Ventura Pier and Surfing Point is a brief drive away.
The idyllic Post Ranch Inn rests atop the cliffs of Big Sur, its 1,200-foot-high site providing stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The exclusive resort is home to 39 rooms and the Sierra Mar restaurant, a “Wine Spectator” Grand Award winner. The gourmet breakfast buffet is free, and further amenities include a pool with an ocean view, spa treatments, yoga classes and guided hikes. Lexus vehicles are available for guests to use around the resort, and there’s a shuttle to Big Sur. Lucia Lodge, built on a cliff-side in the shadows of the Santa Lucia Mountains, was constructed in the 1930s. It was founded by the Harlan family, now into their fifth generation of ownership. There are 10 cliff-side and ocean view rooms, along with a gift shop that sells works by local artists. No other hotel in the area is as close to the ocean. Lucia Lodge’s restaurant is renowned for its traditional home-inspired cooking, with meals served on the ocean-view deck or next to the indoor fireplace.
The resort-style Best Western Lighthouse Hotel has its own restaurant, cocktail lounge, outdoor heated pool, hot tub and gym. Ocean-view rooms provide stunning sunset views. All rooms come with a host of amenities. The hotel has special access to Rockway Beach. Several amenities are also included at the Pacifica Beach Hotel, a building listed as an Architectural Landmark. Guests can take advantage of an indoor heated swimming pool and the Puerto 27 restaurant, which serves signature Peruvian dishes. Both room service and the front desk are open 24 hours; all rooms have either full or partial ocean views.
The boutique Beach House on Los Angeles’ Hermosa Beach is about a half-hour drive from many of the city’s major attractions, such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and Beverly Hills. It's straddled by Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, overlooking miles of white sand. Beach House was named, “One of the 100 sexiest people, places or things to do in LA” by “LA Magazine.” There are 96 studio suites with amenities that include oversized bathrooms and a fitness center. As of 2014, all rooms at the Venice on the Beach Hotel have been remodeled, boasting features such as large beachfront patios and memory foam mattresses. The Venice Pier and volleyball courts are just a few steps away. Santa Monica Pier is 3 miles from the hotel. Other nearby attractions include the Ocean Front Walk, Washington Boulevard and the Pacific Park fairground.
