It’s a big state—but you’ve got options, no matter where you are.
BY MAXWELL WILLIAMS
California is wide and expansive, with 840 miles of coastline, mountain ranges on either end, and a host of noteworthy wine regions in between. If you’re feeling the need to get out of town, but don’t cross state lines, you’re in luck. There are plenty of places you can go to get away—places that feel far, far away even though they aren’t. Here are 15 hotels and resorts in California that we recommend to do the job.
Rosewood Miramar Beach
Montecito—just to the east of Santa Barbara—is as tony as California gets, and the Rosewood Miramar fits right in. Miramar Beach, in front of the resort, is lined with dramatic bluffs leading out into Half Moon Bay, where the water is blue and clear. The resort sits on the 16-acre grounds of the legendary Miramar Hotel. The ghosts of that historic wellness retreat—which was open in one form or another for more than 100 years—have been excised, and the vibe now is swank, with a clean and subtle color scheme with lots of whites, soft blues, and sandy and gray natural tones. The rooms and bungalows are chic as are the food options. Try the produce-centric, locally sourced menu at the outpost of Malibu Farm, Italian food at Caruso’s (run by Massimo Falsini, formerly of Harry’s Bar in Rome), and the Miramar Beach Bar, which looks out over the ocean.