Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, California
The dramatic architecture of the Hyatt Regency balconies, with the iconic Transamerica Pyramid in the background, makes them a part of the view on a rare fog-free day in San Francisco.
Photo credit: C. Lincoln
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
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 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.
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.
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
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!
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