guest post by Sherry Gray

Hotels have the magical power to transport us away from our humdrum everyday world to some magical realm of beauty and style. Even a local hotel can offer relief from the mundane, as long as it has three things: comfort, service and an incredible view. For some of the finest views the U.S. has to offer, you can’t go wrong with the ocean (over or under), the mountains or, just for fun, the neon lights of a major city.

These hotels offer spectacular views unique to their locations.

Adobe Grand Villas

Adobe Grand Villas

Located at the base of Thunder Mountain in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, the Adobe Grand Villas offer ultimate luxury starting at $400 per night. Amenities include spacious floor plans, in-room fireplaces and such meticulous attention to detail that guests are greeted by fresh bread baking in their room when they check in. But the main attraction lies outside your cozy room, when the last rays of the sun wash over the red rock formations, creating one of the most spectacularly colorful displays of natural beauty on Earth.

Post Ranch Inn

Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur

Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, CA is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the entire Pacific Ocean….or at least it seems that way. Lush landscaping, deluxe accommodations, and even the uniquely rustic elegance cannot eclipse the endless, breathtaking panorama of the Big Sur coastline. Alternate view rooms put you in the treetops with a glorious view of the forest and mountains.

Embassy Suites Niagara Falls Hotel

View of Niagra Falls from Embassy Suites

Embassy Suites Niagara Falls Hotel in Fallsview, Canada overlooks an awe-inspiring view of one of the most incredible sights in the world. The timeless attraction of the rushing waters needs little embellishment, but fireworks and illumination shows light up 50 nights a year, and you’ll have the best view in the house. Starting around $260 per night for a suite with a whirlpool bath built for two, the Embassy Suites Niagara Falls delivers a memorable stay for a relatively reasonable price.

The Overlook Inn Bed and Breakfast

Overlook Inn Bed and Breakfast

The Overlook Inn Bed and Breakfast in Chatsworth, Georgia fits as organically into its surroundings as if grown there. Warm woods and natural stone dominate the construction, giving the inn an atmosphere of homey ambiance, if home was a luxurious mountain lodge. High on Fort Mountain, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Overlook offers an unparalleled view of nature at its very best, and with prices starting at just $139 a night, you can rough it in grand style without even a tinge of guilt.

Hotels featuring jaw-dropping views exist in every corner of our beautiful land, and narrowing the choice down to just four wasn’t easy. Your idea of the hotel with the best view might be quite different from mine, but wherever you choose to stay, get comfy, put your feet up, and lose yourself in a flight of fancy. Being dumbstruck by the wonders of nature once in a while is good for the soul.

Photos by: Virtual Ern, Steve Newcomb, Embassy Suites, The Overlook Inn

Soho Grand site

Soho Grand NYC front entrance

The SoHo district in New York City is one of the major hot-spots to hang out if you’re looking to see the celebs while in the Big Apple. Known for its diverse artistic community, Soho is also the tops when it comes to glamour, shopping, dining, partying…it’s THE place to be seen, and for good reason.

David Boreanaz

Smack dab in the center of Soho is The Soho Grand, located at 310 West Broadway, and if you can’t find celebrities there, your eyes are closed. A favorite luxury hotel for such names as Heidi Klum, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brad Pitt, and Susan Sarandon, the Soho Grand treats them all like kings and queens. And they’ll treat you that way, too. You know, if you can cough up the green.

The Soho Grand boasts eclectic chic throughout the space; in fact, its design is world-renowned. There’s the infamous glass-bottle staircase, lots of cast iron and concrete, warm woods, and the whole thing was designed to be memorable beyond belief by William Sofield.

Soho Grand Stairway

Being located on the very pulse of NYC shopping doesn’t hurt, either. You’ll find Prada, Chanel, Bloomingdale’s, and the Apple store (aka Heaven) all within walking distance. The Soho Grand is surrounded by amazing places and sights, lined with charming cobblestone streets, some of the hottest restaurants in NYC, including the exclusive Nobu. And with the subway withing spitting distance (not that any celebrities spit, mind you), you’re just a heartbeat away from the Theater District, Greenwich Village, and the Museum of Modern Art. LOVE New York’s transit system!

Soho Grand Loft in NYC

Josh Hartnett & Susan Sarandon at Soho Grand

But what specifically about the Soho Grand itself makes it a preferred stay for Jennifer Lopez and David Boreanaz? Every one of the 363 luxury guest rooms are simply amazing, offering stunning views of the NYC skyline.

Lots of neutrals in the decor, with copious amounts of wood, clay, and leather in every room. This, mixed with top-of-the-line tech, make the Soho Grand a must-stay. Flat-screen televisions, wifi, DVD players, even iPods are yours for the asking. And I swear I’m not making this up, you can get a complimentary free pet goldfish. I have no idea what the heck I’d DO with a goldfish if I was visiting New York City and had to carry it around with me all weekend, but still. Clearly, the Soho Grand is on the leading edge of the Free Hotel Goldfish Revolution.

Those are the Guest Rooms. The Superior Queen rooms are cheapest at $355/night, but it’s the penthouse lofts that the stars love. The Lofts start at (gulp) $4,500/night and go over $5,000/night. But one look at these photos and you can see why. Over 1,600 square feet indoors AND a 1,200 square-foot terrace, with some of the most amazing views of NYC you’re going to find. Fireplace, custom furniture, mohair upholstery, “Masai” pillows, glorious chandaliers, THREE plasma TVs with full surround-sound…yeah, I know, I’m drooling, too.

Loft Balcony View at Soho Grand

And the restaurant in the hotel – the Grand Bar and Lounge – is a major draw in its own right. Very intimate environment for gathering with friends, whether it be for drinks or dining AND drinks. Can you tell the drinking is one of my favorite things? Ahem. You can do appetizers or 3-course meals (or maybe just the desserts, which I hear are bloody phenomenal) made by the Grand Bar’s executive chef.

The Loft at Soho Grand

When I win the lottery or land my major book deal, you can be sure I’ll be staying at the Soho Grand myself. If I’m lucky, I’ll run into Will Arnett at the bar and tell him how much I love “Arrested Development.” And maybe his wife.

Love to hear from you if you’ve ever stayed at the Soho Grand. Also, feel free to email me if you have some unwanted lottery money.

NEARBY RESTAURANTS

Nobu

Kredens

Pen Top Bar & Lounge

Fresh Restaurant

Pepolino

Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington D.C.

Like Eloise at the Plaza, Malia and Sasha Obama get to make a hotel their home, at least for their first two weeks in Washington D.C.

The girls started their new school, Sidwell Friends, this week, so the family needed a place to stay until the inauguration on January 20th. The Hay-Adams hotel, just across the street from the White House, was selected as their interim lodgings.

Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington D.C.

The Hay-Adams is a beautiful property with a long and storied history. The hotel gets its name from Secretary of State John Hay, and presidential descendant Henry Adams. The close friends built their homes on the original site in the 1880s and their families lived there for many years.

In 1927, developer Harry Wardman bought both homes and replaced the original structures with architect  Mirhan Mesrobian’s Italian Renaissance-style apartment-hotel. The luxurious hotel boasted many modern conveniences, including steam heating, circulating ice water and Washington’s first air conditioned dining room, which must have been packed during those humid summers!

Hay-Adams Hotel View

In 2001 the Hay-Adams went through a major renovation, emerging as one of Washington D.C.’s premiere luxury boutique hotels. There are 145 guest rooms, 20 suites, and some of the best views in the city. You can select from rooms with a White House view, St. John’s Church view, Lafayette Park view, or an “interior” view, which is is just as lovely as the other rooms, but as the name implies, no view. All 20 of the suites have stunning views, including the Federal Suite from which you can watch the entire panorama of the neighborhood.

Hay-Adams Hotel Room

In terms of amenities, travelers will not be disappointed. The Hay-Adams provides guests with exclusive Etro toiletries, custom Italian bed linens and bath towels, and robes and slippers for adults and children, which I’m sure Malia and Sasha are enjoying right now. Every room has wifi, and a Bose CD system — with assorted CDs, in case you forgot to bring any. Thoughtful!

Of course, this kind of luxury comes at a price. Depending on availability, interior rooms start around $400 per night. Suites are upwards of $1,000 — in some cases well upward! Hay-Adams does offer special packages, which start at $399 and include breakfast, valet parking and local attractions.

Probably the Obamas are spending their time at the Hay-Adams getting used to a new school routine, doing homework, and working on a special speech. But it’s a good thing they don’t have a dog yet, because it doesn’t seem like the kind of place that takes pets!