Big Sur, CA

Ventana Inn & Spa

It's a good thing the Ventana Inn & Spa is on more than 200 acres of pristine California coast, because something has to lure you out of your plush room.

As soon as you step outside, you're rewarded with heart-stopping views of the Pacific (or an equally beautiful sea of fog), the unmistakable smell of coyote brush and coastal sage, and access to 300 miles of hiking trails through the Ventana Wilderness.

The inn also has a hiking concierge service to help find just the right route. —Samantha Schoech