If you looked up glamping in the dictionary, there might as well be a picture of Alila Ventana Big Sur, a hotel and tented camp nestled across 40 wild acres of a Redwood Canyon. In fact, there’s so much to do on site—including hiking trails, Japanese hot baths, as well as two separate pools— you may find yourself not wanting to leave the property. Although the splendor of Big Sur that lies just beyond is well worth exploring.

Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn

Deetjen’s is magically rustic: built in 1937 by Helmuth and Helen Detjeen, the hotel and its quaint long cabins, intertwined between creeks and Redwood trees, have since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The lodgings are somehow both idyllic and no frills: there’s no cell service, internet, or television, although most do offer wood-burning stoves. (Unsurprisingly, Detjeen’s has become something of a haven for artists looking to hone their creativity without distractions from the outside world.)The restaurant, famous for their breakfast, is a must-stop for Highway 1 roadtrippers—order their buttermilk pancakes or breakfast burrito.

La Playa Hotel

Photo: Chris Mottalini

For those seeking an in-town stay, look no further than La Playa Hotel in the charming Carmel by The Sea. Once a mansion owned by an artist and his wife, a Ghirardelli chocolate heiress, in 2023 it re-opened after an extensive $20 million dollar renovation, complete with interiors by Post Company. Rooms feel like those in an unpretentious but elevated California beach home, many of them boasting ocean views. Inside there’s a dark and moody interior: the lobby, with its floral carpets, nude statues, and Spanish-style architecture looks like the home of an eccentric heiress (because, well, it was), whereas the dark-wooded Bud’s Bar is a place one could drink for hours without realizing what time it was. Outside, there are gardens as well as an expansive pool to enjoy—although the beach is only a short walk away.