Hey Kids, Let's Go to LA

Los Angeles: A surprisingly great place for a quick family getaway. Three days is all you need to see a little bit of everything.

LOS ANGELES – Looking for a great warm-weather getaway that includes sun, sand, sea, and a James Beard Award-winning taco truck or two? Search no further than Los Angeles, one of my favorite spots for kids and grown-ups alike. And remember: No matter what the weather is where you are right now, it's always summer in LA.

SETTLE IN

Los Angeles is usually an easy place to get to with frequent flyer miles, which saves a nice penny. Once you've landed at LAX, with its Jetsons-esque control tower, head straight for the Fairmont Miramar in seaside Santa Monica. Less well known than nearby Shutters and Casa del Mar hotels, the Miramar offers the perfect mix of old Hollywood (bungalows and industry types taking meetings on the patio) and proximity to the beach. The property is off Ocean Boulevard, just five minutes from the Santa Monica Pier (aka Kid Heaven) and the hotel's fully-staffed beach cabanas, where you'll feel secluded amidst tall palms and relative calm.

DAY 1: The Warm-Up

If you're living large, book a bi-level bungalow. They're perfect for families and offer multiple terraces for swimsuit drying and picnics of decadent room service pancakes. The pool area is, of course, key for any kid, and the Miramar's amorphous version — complete with hot tub — doesn't disappoint. Ditto Fig Restaurant, which is twenty feet from the pool area. Hotel restaurant haters out there, stop your eyerolling and prepare for foodie greatness. Chef Ray Garcia's creative take on the classic California chopped salad features only fresh, organic, locally grown ingredients from the nearby Santa Monica Farmers Market. Everyone will love simple grilled cheese (gruyère or cheddar with tomato jam), pasta-less lasagna, and BLTs that are beyond compare.

After idling and eating, you'll want to take it off-campus. I find the best days with children include a mix of culture, playgrounds, and delicious food. Head up shop-lined Montana Avenue to the outdoor mini-mall Brentwood Country Mart. "Mini-mall" may be a stretch: Reese Witherspoon buys her trendy cover-ups and artisinal ice cream cones here. Kids will love pony rides in the parking lot on weekends and fish tacos and fries in the "food court." I stock up on tiny Tretorn tennies at Poppy Store, possibly my favorite children's store in the United States. A one-stop shop for toys, gifts, and basics, Poppy carries a perfectly edited mix of tasteful European brands (like England's Caramel Baby and Child) and American originals — all perfectly packaged, too. Kids will be distracted by the 25-cent ride-on toys outside the shop's window (talk about a throwback), allowing parents time to shop in peace.

Finish your day at Pizzeria Mozza, Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton's Hollywood hotspot with the best pies on the planet. Top the killer crust with the basics (margherita for beginners) or squash blossoms and speck for more sophisticated palates. This spot packs quickly, so book online if possible or suck it up and endure the line. If you have room for dessert, swing by Menchie's on the way back to the hotel for DIY frozen yogurt creations, complete with 40 colorful candy toppings.

DAY 2: A Malibu Mindset 

Start with breakfast at Cora's Coffee Shoppe, a sweet local hangout with Illy cappuccino, blueberry-banana-orange smoothies, and burrata caprese omelettes. Once you're appropriately fortified, head north up the Pacific Coast Highway for a day in picturesque Malibu. Make reservations at the kid-friendly Getty Center and Villa and roam the endless gardens that overlook the Pacific Ocean. All ages will be mesmerized by the museum's Greek and Roman treasures and collections of armor, coins, and beautiful photography by Atget and Walker Evans, among others.

After so much fresh air and light, you'll want to pack it in early. The best, old-school supper in town is at Ivy by the Shore (1535 Ocean Avenue; 310-393-3113) in Santa Monica. Ask for patio seating and feast on American classics with a SoCal flair: more chopped vegetable salads, pizzas, and decadent sundaes. Added bonus: The kitschy Hawaiian theme provides built-in entertainment for kids while parents people-watch. Stroll over to the twinkling Santa Monica Pier, which comes alive at sunset, before heading back to your hotel oasis.

DAY 3: Go Glam

When in LA, give in to its twin cultural pillars: celebrity and sunshine. A perfect third and final day includes breakfast to go from Huckleberry Cafe and Bakery. Who knew that star sightings pair so perfectly with prosciutto-stuffed croissants and Niman Ranch bacon-maple biscuits? (Huckleberry's new offshoot, Milo + Olive, serves delicious wood-fired pizzas, locally sourced everything, and great wines by the glass.) Head up Wilshire Boulevard to the eclectic Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), so kids can explore the Boone Children's Gallery before hitting the Page Museum and its oozing, prehistoric La Brea Tar Pits.

That's enough looking and learning. Time to repair to the Beverly Hills Hotel for a little lunch and Polo Lounge-ing. The pink landmark has verdant grounds, secluded spots for hide and seek, and one seriously glamorous pool scene. Your biggest decision here will be where to eat, and you'll want to let the kids tiumph with their choice: The Fountain Coffee Room, a 1950s gem of an old-fashioned soda fountain with bar stools, great burgers, malts, and floats. The only things missing are Bogey and Bacall and Lucy and Desi.

If you have energy to burn, make your last stop Griffith Park, a massive play space that is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Observatory, pony rides, a miniature train system, the Greek Theatre, and much more. Rent bikes to reach the merry-go-round built in 1926 near the Los Feliz entrance, where all 68 horses are jumpers wearing bejeweled bridles. How can you not love LA?

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Fathom's Los Angeles Guide: For hotels, restaurants, shops, sites, itineraries, and more.

MAP IT

See all the locations in this story. (Google Maps)

Photos: Courtesy of Poppy Store; Christina Ohly.

Zen Out in Paso Robles, California

Low-key and lovely, the Central Coast region of California is being hailed as the new Napa for its undulating hills and vineyards, proximity to the ocean, and stunning scenery. From food and wine galore and landmarks like Hearst Castle to the spectacular rocky beach at Morro Bay, this is a relatively undiscovered gem of a destination — though probably not for much longer.

Paso Robles ("Pass of the Oaks" in Spanish), in San Luis Obispo County, is located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which makes it a great side trip from either, as well as a destination in its own right. The prices are lower and the vibe is more laid-back than Napa and Sonoma. The area feels authentic, a total mix — farm workers and fancy types, gay and straight — which make everything feel inclusive and interesting. Unwind while you sip varietals, lounge by the pool, and hang with genuine cowboys. By all means, bring the kids.

WHAT TO DO

Morning Fuel

The name doesn't scream "breakfast," but locals line up out the door at Hoover's Beef Palace (401 N. Main St., Templeton; +1-805-434-2114) for homemade sausage patties with eggs and enormous biscuits with gravy. This place is so legit that a) they don't have a website, but b) they do have their own slaughterhouse out back. If Hoover's is good enough for area ranchers and farm hands, it's good enough for you. Bonus: You'll banish that teensy weensy hangover you might have sustained from a wine tasting or two (or four) the day before.

Play

If you're in Paso Robles on the weekend, stop at Templeton Farmer's Market for the crazy bounty: artichokes the size of bowling balls, fresh berries, and baked goods. Kids will love the on-site playground and pony rides. For further running around, Barney Schwartz Park has a one-million-gallon lake, pavilions for picnics, and endless playing fields. See how olive oil is made at Pasolivo farm and mill. Their oils make for great souvenirs. 

Eat

McPhee's Grill in downtown Templeton serves a delicious bistro lunch with no-fuss attitude. Ancho duck and cheese quesadilla and pulled pork sandwich with shoestring fries are unparalleled. Follow up with a trip to Powell's Sweet Shoppe for dessert. If you're with kids, show them exactly how ancient you are when you buy candy by the decade. Everyone should know Wax Lips, Fruit Stripe gum, and Gobstoppers.

For a casual picnic, stock up on made-to-order sandwiches at Farmstand 46. Of special note, the Calamity Jane: roasted pork, cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots, and rooster aioli on a crusty baguette.

For dinner, go to the lovely Artisan Restaurant, where gouda and porter fondue with andouille, broccolini, and garlic bread is a little slice of heaven. Thomas Hill Organics serves lunch and dinner, with much on the plate coming from their family-run organic farm.  

At 15 Degrees C Wine Shop and Bar, you can taste and buy small-production Central Coast wines. Il Cortile Ristorante serves terrific Italian at lunch and dinner.  

Drink. A Lot.

When in Rome...Great soil conditions, proximity to the ocean, and mixed microclimates: That's the secret behind the hot new wine region's great products. Winemakers around here like to think outside the box, and they're producing interesting and great wines, especially in Rhône varietals. There are more than 200 Paso producers, and many of the best are small, family-owned wineries. Pace yourself. There's a lot to taste. 

- Venteux Vineyards (pictured above): Don't miss their incredible Farmhouse Cuvee. Here's a head start on your tasting notes: "I sense hints of lavender, black cherry, fig preserves, and sage."

- Halter Ranch Vineyard: Make for the hills for Côtes de Paso and a fine cabernet sauvignon. The spectacular 900-acre ranch historically produced its wines in an old airplane hangar but recently moved operations to a swanky new gravity-flow winery.

- AmByth Estate: The only certified biodynamic winery in the region.

- Saxum Vineyards: You can't visit the vineyard, but you can buy their noteworthy Syrah, as well as grenache and mourvèdre blends.

- And a few more good ones: Bella Luna Estate Winery, Booker Vineyard, Villa Creek Cellars (they have a restaurant in Paso Robles)

As for the well-known wineries, the ones to visit are: 

- Turley Wine Cellars: Their big, bold zinfandel has a serious cult following, so be prepared to pay up: Bottles often trade at two to three times suggested retail prices. At Turley, you can sample many old-vine zinfandels from all over California, as well as from three local vineyards. The estate and the beautiful tasting room are on the old Pesenti Vineyard, which has zinfandel vines that are more than 85 years old.

- Justin Vineyards and Winery: Located down the road from Halter Ranch. Come on Saturdays and Sundays to feast al fresco at Deborah's Room, before hitting yet another tasting room for a sip of their "Left Bank, Bordeaux-style" blend, Isosceles.

- Tablas Creek Vineyard: The terroir in Las Tablas is similar to that of Châteauneuf du Pape. The estate's signature wines are Esprit de Beaucastel and Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc. 

If you don't want to drive, call Lush Limo for a full-service tour. (This is a great idea for non-tacky bachelor/bachelorette weekends, though, please, avoid the white stretch at all costs.)

Be Merry

Paso Robles loves itself a party.

- Anytime: Happy Acres Family Farm is a goat farm with more than 200 goats, alpacas, and miniature horses, where kids can milk the animals and make cheese. 

- March, May, October: The third weekends of the month are wine festivals. See calendar.

- July: The Fourth of July parade features floats and flags galore. Mid-State Fair combines musical acts, horse shows, and olive oil competition. "The Great American Road Trip" is the theme for 2012. 

- October: Pioneer Day is a festival of kindness and community spirit (how refreshing!). Harvest Wine Weekend celebrates a good old-fashioned grape crushing.

- December: Christmas Light Parade: For pure holiday kitsch.

Go Coastal

Make time for a scenic drive through the vineyards and over the mountains to the majestic San Luis Obispo Coast, where enormous elephant seals stage epic battles and their young pups bob in the surf. Just down Highway 1 is Mediterranean-inspired Hearst Castle, with its dazzling 165 rooms, endless gardens, and shimmering pools. Finish up any day in nearby seaside town Cayucos with a meal in the back garden at Hoppe's Garden Bistro, followed by brown-butter sea salt cookies at Brown Butter Cookie Company.

WHERE TO STAY

- Hotels: Hotel Cheval is a lovely 16-room boutique hotel with a European vibe and a welcoming pet program. Centrally located Paso Robles Inn has hot springs, a low-key spa, and a heated pool.

- B&Bs: Small, family-run inns are the name of the game here. One of the best for local color is the two-room guest house at Venteux Vineyards. If that's full, ask about their Red Barn next door. Both offer a farm-stay feel, and kids will love the pool, sport court, and tractor rides. Orchard Hill Farm is an elegant — and much beloved — English-style manor house. Cass House Inn and Restaurant in Cayucos is convenient to Hearst Castle and the cute seals in San Luis State Park.

- Homes: Rent a house through Paso Robles Vacation Rentals.

HOW TO GET THERE

Fly: San Luis Obispo Airport (SLO), located 24 miles from Paso Robles, is a complete delight in today's travel terms. It's small, manageable, and has several rental car agency options, as well as taxis. Fly United Airlines from Los Angeles and San Francisco or US Airways from Phoenix.

Drive: San Francisco is about three hours away; Los Angeles about three and a half. Depending, as ever, on traffic. 

WEATHER

Come prepared for California's highest swing between daytime highs and nighttime chills.
- Average high/low temperatures in Farenheit: 87/50 in summer, 60/34 in winter.
- April-October: highs from mid-70s to mid-90s.
- March and November: highs in mid-70s.
- December-February: highs in low 60s.

MAP IT

See the locations on this trip. (Google Maps)

BEST OF THE WEB

- The Complete Guide to America's Hottest New Wine Country (Details, April 2011)
- Paso Robles Celebrates Harvest Weekend (Travel + Leisure, October 2011) 
- Planning Your Trip to Paso Robles (Los Angles Times, January 2010) 
- Robert Parker on the Promise of Paso Robles (Food & Wine, October 2007)

LOCAL COLOR

- City of Paso Robles: official website
- Paso Robles Official Visitor Site 
- Paso Robles Wine: winery information, maps, and events calendars from Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
- Paso Robles Winery Map 
- Hoot 'n' Annie: wine blog
- The Tribune/SanLuisObispo.com: news and information

Everything You Need to Know to Have a Perfect Beach Vacation in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay

While Jose Ignacio is hardly a travel secret anymore, it's still low-key enough to feel like an insider's destination. Contributing editor Christina Ohly reveals everything Fathom readers could ever need to know about how to have a perfect beach trip to Uruguay.

JOSE IGNACIO, Uruguay – Old Montauk meets Malibu in Jose Ignacio and the coastal towns surrounding Punta del Este in Southeastern Uruguay. Here you'll find everything from surf shacks to gauchos in traditional garb, not to mention delicious communal asados (barbecues) set on wide Atlantic beaches. Punta del Este serves as an entry point to a series of lovely fishing villages and quieter inland destinations such as Garzón, the Deco throwback set amongst verdant, rolling hills that is home to famed Argentine chef Francis Mallman's hotel and restaurant, Garzon.

The iconic lighthouse.

THE SCENE

For beach chic with an artisanal vibe, this area is impossible to beat. Jose Ignacio is hardly a travel secret anymore, but the destination is only going to get more and more popular. So magical is the entire scene that you should just book your trip now.

And although this gets tossed around like a bad travel brochure cliche, there truly is something for everyone in this part of the world. For the avid, athletic types, there's horseback riding, biking, and invigorating swims. For the chaise lounger, there's poolside capriroskas (a cocktail borrowed from neighboring Brazil), endless massages, and long lunches at La Huella (as seen in Michelle Lehman's Just Back from Jose Ignacio, and I agree wholeheartedly with her ringing endorsement of this special spot by the sea).

Kids of all ages are enchanted, too, by the rugged mix of cowboy culture (horseback riding is accessible to all), polo ponies (in the high season which lasts the few, short weeks between Christmas and mid-January), and swims in the 20-meter Absolute Nero stone pools that have twinkling under water "constellations" (an added bonus at all Vik hotels.)

Lunch at Fish Market. Photo by Christina Ohly.

LAY OF THE LAND

After landing in either Montevideo or Punta del Este, head straight for the laid-back village of Jose Ignacio. You'll pass the picturesque 1877 lighthouse and the stunningly simple mid-century modern beach homes owned by the likes of Shakira and Argentine hotelier Alan Faena.

Drive along the coastline (preferably in an open-top Jeep) through the villages of La Barra, El Chorro, Punta Pedras, and Manantiales. Plan on spending a few hours in Manantiales to visit Atchugarry Foundation, the workshop of master sculptor/local hero Pablo Atchugarry and also to stock up on beach gear at the many great surf stores in the area and house décor with playful prints at Roberta Roller Rabbit. Try to come hungry, so you can have delicately fried cod sandwiches and fresh gazpacho on the whitewashed patio at stylish Fish Market (Ruta 10, km 163.5; +598-42-774-431).

Word to the wise: Before you set off on any expedition, you should know that there aren't many petrol stations or cash machines in this part of the world. You'll want to stock up on gas and pesos at the Ancap at the roundabout in Jose Ignacio before heading too far off the beaten path.

Ride on. 

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING

Go Horseback Riding
I hadn't been on a horse in 20+ years and had no interest in saddling up again. Yet the charming gauchos (who smile sweetly and speak no English) and the spectacular scenery made this a memorable activity for our entire family — my husband, myself, and my tween son and daughter.

An excursion is easy to arrange because riding is included at many hotels — Estancia Vik, Casa Suaya, and Garzon among them. Horses are typically kept on property and thus don't have to be booked days in advance. The docile breed of Uruguayan horses seem comfortable with riders of all (read: zero) ability, which made for relaxing trail rides through diverse, meadow-filled terrain.

The impressive architecture at Playa Vik. Photos by Christina Ohly.

WHERE TO STAY

You'll notice a lot of Vik hotels in this list. For good reason: Team Vik excels at creating innovative, cool, stunning places you'll never want to leave.

Estancia Vik
Camino Eugenio Sainz Martínez; +598-94-60-5212 / +598-94-60-5314
Set on 4,000 stunning acres of pasture and gently rolling hills, this is a house stay unlike any other. Each of the 12 suites were designed by a contemporary Uruguayan artist, giving the estancia the feel a modern museum housed in a stunning, authentic villa. No detail is overlooked, and the kind staff — including the resident gauchos — look after restaurant bookings, trail rides, and spa treatments. An eco-friendly emphasis and a killer Saturday night asado are but a few of the many lovely bonuses.

Playa Vik
Calle Los Cisnes and Calle Los Horneros; +598-94-60-5212 / +598-94-60-5314
The Vik group's original beach property has an extremely modernist feel, all glass facades, fire pits, and artwork, most notably a James Turrell light installation and a Zaha Hadid-designed table in the main house. Especially impressive is the 75-meter cantilevered swimming pool that seems to jut out over the sea, to say nothing for the grass-topped villas designed by starchitect Carlos Ott. In other words, the entire place is nothing if not striking and unique.

Bahia Vik
+598-94-60-5212 / +598-94-60-5314
Set to open in winter 2014 in time for high season, the hotel features contemporary Uruguayan art, separate swimming pools for kids and adults, and environmentally friendly casitas that are understated yet luxurious at the same time. Located directly on the beach, Bahia guests can horseback ride at the nearby Estancia property or stroll down the dunes for a perfectly grilled hamburger or fresh sushi at the Vik's La Susana restaurant.

Posada del Faro
Luis E. Schickendantz and Del Timonel; +598-44-862-110
A relatively affordable option with rooms facing a small pool and Jose Ignacio bay in the distance.

Vintage rules. Photos courtesy of Casa Zinc.

Casa Zinc
Calle 9 and Carlos Gardel, La Barra; +598-99-620-066 / +598-42-773-003
A small hotel in the village of La Barra that will appeal to lovers of vintage furniture and intimate environments. Owner Aaron Hojman has amassed a charming collection of local finds mixed with flea market treasures from the UK and beyond.

Casa Suaya
Ruta 10, km 185.5; +54-11-4771-1667 / +598-44-862-750
A lovely and simple boutique bolthole with a charming boho feel. Accommodations include two bedroom suites (bonus for families), Butia restaurant, a large pool, and horseback riding.

Garzon
Costa Jose Ignacio and La Capilla, Garzón; +598-44-102-811
An incredibly special inn (one of Fathom's World's Most Romantic Hotels) run by chef extraordinaire Francis Mallman that draws an international foodie crowd for meals and overnight stays in the give guest rooms centered on an open courtyard and pool. Diners feast outside or in the intimate dining room on beautiful meat, fish, and vegetables prepared on a massive iron grill using a traditional infernillo technique. (Mallman is world-renown for his grilling style.)

Lunch is served at La Susana. Photos courtesy of La Susana.

WHERE TO EAT

The question is where not to eat, as the food – all kinds of cuisines and at all price points – is just so good.

La Caracola
Address emailed after booking; +598-94-223-015
A beach club on a small island from the folks behind local favorite La Huella. You have to take a private boat to get here, and your just rewards are wonderful snacks, light seafood meals, and cleric, a white wine sangria. The fee is $180 per day, and you need to book well in advance.

Marismo
Ruta 10, km 185; +598-42-486-2273
A special, candle-lit spot that can be difficult to find in the dark but is worth the journey for braised lamb and the grilled catch of the day. The atmosphere is magical. Book well in advance.

La Susana
Ruta 10, km 182.5; +598-44-862-823 / +598-95-192-555
A casual beach club and restaurant that serves everything from grilled snapper and pizzas to Norwegian vodka produced by the Vik family. A festive bamboo bar in the sand draws all kinds. Children frolick freely, larger groups spread out, and the party lasts well into the night.

La Olada
Ruta 10, km 181.5; +598-44-862-745 / +598-99-337-908
Soft candlelight sets the stage for a delicious meal of fresh salads, pastas, and grilled meats at this quiet spot inland. Ubiquitous wood-fired pizzas make for delicious appetizers, and the whole place feel very homey in the best possible way. (Those are the owner's dog and cat meandering about.)

Everyone is happy at La Huella.

La Huella
Calle de Los Cisnes; +598-44-862-279
Widely regarded as a gastronomic mecca, the beachside spot deserves its reputation and should be everyone's first stop. The setting is magical — soft music, neutral colored wood decks, and candlelight set the scene by night — as are the crispy octopus and line-caught sea bass. Creative sushi dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and housemade dulce de leche ice cream were other consistent winners And I should know, because I literally ate seven meals in a row here.

Almacen el Palmar
Plaza de Jose Ignacio; +598-44-862-102
One of my favorite meals in Uruguay. From delicious poppy seed rolls with tapenade to perfectly grilled fish and Provençal pastas by gregarious chef Jean Paul Bondoux, who wanders freely around the patio and dining room. Almacen is an all-day affair, with freshly baked croissants and breads available in the morning and wonderful cheeses in the adjacent deli throughout the day. Dinner, served indoors on the lovely, canopied outdoor patio, is a must.

Namm
Ruta 10, km 185; +598-486-2526
I am ever the fan of Japanese food, and this place serves the freshest sushi (and grilled meats) I've had anywhere. The wooden bungalow setting adds to the overall experience.

Beach chic. Photo courtesy of El Canuto.

WHERE TO SHOP

Santas Negras
Camino Eugenio Saiz Martinez and Los Lobos; +598-44-862-262
The mid-century modern, two-story boutique just outside town has been lovingly curated by Paula Martini (wife of La Huella owner Martin Pittaluga) and Patricia Torres, who filled it with vintage furniture, decorative objects, featherweight cashmere sweaters, and playful jewelry that works well at the casual, evening barbecue parties they host out back. Don't miss the atmospheric café patio for delicious cappuccinos, capirinhinas, and panini.

Mutate
Café de la Place (in front of Plaza Jose Ignacio); +598-44-862-703
Stocks great vintage and designer clothing for men and women.

El Canuto
Calle de Los Cisnes; +598-44-862-028
The place for caftans, lingerie, and other beach basics.

Alium
Costa Jose Ignacio, Garzón; +598-99-128-672
A great design-led shop further inland in Garzón.

Talabarteria Benitez
Calle Maldonado and Calle 25 de Agosto, San Carlos; no phone.
The old-school gaucho supply shop in the village of San Carlos is the place to source a wide assortment of leather chaps and silver adornments.

The Jose Ignacio Supermarket
I love to go to the grocery store to take in the local color, and this one sells everything: beach basics (chips and salty snacks), refined deli fare, meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables.

WHAT YOU'LL KNOW ON THE LAST DAY THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN ON THE FIRST

Bring Cash — and Lots of It
This is not neighboring Argentina where everything is cheap. It's a relatively pricey area with very few cash machines. US dollars are generally welcome.

Pack Light — Really Light
Think haute-hippie hideaway, where high season temperatures can soar past 100 degrees and there is no need for anything fancy. I overpacked by a wide margin and could have made do with a bathing suit, sarong, T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers (mandatory for horseback riding).

Take Great Care When Booking Restaurants
You don't want to miss a meal in Uruguay. The restaurants and cafes are fantastic — at all price points. Area specialties include delicious grilled fish, sushi and ceviches, steak (of course), and housemade helado (ice cream). Places book well in advance — especially hotspots like La Huella, Garzon, and Marismo. Not that you're at risk of going hungry, considering how many under-the-radar gems you'll find everywhere. Among my favorites were La Olada, Parador al Almacen, Namm, and La Susana — all casual and festive, serving traditional, often wood-fired fare. This is the kind of food and drink that makes everyone happy, so book in advance if you can.

HOW TO GET THERE

It's very easy from the United States, with direct flights to Buenos Aires International Airport (EZE) on both American Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas. You'll have to transfer to BA's smaller airport, Jorge Newbery (AEP),which can be a pain, especially if there's traffic, to catch a flight to Punta Del Este (PDE) on Aerolineas Argentinas, Pluna, or Buquebus. The drive to Jose Ignacio from Punta Del Este is approximately 45 minutes.

Another option is flying into Carrasco International Airport (MVD) in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, via Miami on American Airlines. The drive to Jose Ignacio is approximately 90 minutes, and rental cars must be booked well in advance.

VISAS

While there are no visa requirements for either Argentina or Uruguay, you will need to pre-pay a reciprocity fee if you travel through Argentina.

WHEN TO GO

I can't imagine there is a wrong time to go to Uruguay, but spring and fall — shoulder seasons leading into winter and summer — are completely delightful. With bright blue skies, temperatures averaging in the mid-70s, and an absence of crowds, March and April are the perfect times to explore — and to secure bookings at all of the area's stellar restaurants.
The winter holidays bring throngs from Argentina and Brazil, but nothing feels over-run, as there are no glitzy mega hotels catering to the St. Tropez club set. That said, these people like to party — very late into the night — so it's all about invitations to house parties and elaborate asados feasts of local beef (the best I've ever tasted — period), assorted vegetables, and locally caught corvina negra (white drum fish).

Maine at Its Beachy, Old-School, Down-Home Best

Sometimes you need an escape from the mundane — and sometimes that escape can bring you back to another decade. The Black Point Inn is the perfect New England getaway when you're feeling nostalgic for the 1930s. Fathom contributing editor Christina Ohly shows us why this little-known Maine town is the perfect chill spot for any age.

PROUT'S NECK, Maine – I was in Prout's Neck, a scenic part of coastal Maine, for a brief summer getaway from NYC, and it might just be my new New England favorite spot. First and foremost is ease of use: Prout's Neck is exactly eleven miles — a twenty-minute drive — from the manageable Portland JetPort (PWM) which is served by Delta and JetBlue, among other airlines. While Maine is, by definition, "wicked far" from virtually anywhere, this bucolic area is easily accessible and feels an entire, old-school world away.

CHECKING IN

Overview

Black Point Inn is a throwback to another era — one when dark and stormy cocktails were savored on sweeping porches overlooking a rugged Atlantic coastline. Time has stopped here — in the best possible way — and the historical 25-room inn still feels like someone's grand guesthouse — albeit one straight of out an Edith Wharton or Henry James novel.

The shingled beachside escape was built in the 1870s and continues to be a central meeting point for locals and visitors alike. It is now owned by a consortium of the town's residents and is overseen by the Migis Hotel Group, a local Maine management company, and balances a classic, intimate atmosphere with a few state-of-the-art updates (WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and an unexpectedly well-equipped gym). The rooms and suites are spacious, and many have breathtaking views of the beaches on three sides of the property, as well as the lushly landscaped gardens. The shingle-style hotel has been lovingly restored, right down to the sun porch, where guests gather for afternoon tea (with freshly baked cookies), traditional board games, and The New York Times. This is the quintessential Down East inn, and one where kind and attentive service make for a truly delightful stay.

Claim to Fame

The Inn has several claims to fame, but chief among them are the spectacular sunsets overlooking Sand Dollar Beach. From a perch at one of the outside tables at the Chart Room, you can sip local Shipyard Summer Ale or a glass of rosè and feast on twin lobsters and plates of Damiriscotta oysters and watch the brilliant orange and red hues yield to a starry night sky.

Another special touch that Black Point Inn affords is access — to everything. Kind concierges will arrange a round of golf at the nearby Prout's Neck Country Club or a morning of tennis — on clay, natch. Guests at the Inn have unique access to Winslow Homer's studio just up the road. A stay here makes one feel like a well-connected insider.

The Food

Breakfast on the porch overlooking the sea is a total highlight, and the helpful servers are happy to provide everything: real oatmeal with brown sugar, blueberry pancakes, healthy egg white omelets. Delicious, red bliss potato hash browns and thick-cut bacon make this feel like a total holiday. The warm sun at your back only adds to the overall idyllic effect.

Dinner in The Chart Room is casual, with offerings like wedge salads, shrimp cocktail, and perfect burgers, or slightly more formal in The Point Restaurant. I love a restaurant with traditional white tablecloths, fresh seafood chowder, and just-picked corn and tomatoes that serves supper between six and eight p.m. nightly. You're so relaxed, that's bedtime anyway.

Room with a View

There are 25 rooms in various categories located in the historic shingle-style building, many with ocean or bay views, terraces, and sweet wicker furniture. Inter-connecting rooms work well for families, while Spinnaker Suites and Commodore's Chambers offer enormous, well-appointed bathrooms and separate sitting areas. The furnishing are Ye Olde New England — a mix of antiques and replicas — that are comfortable and in keeping with the overall aesthetic. This is not a minimalist's dream scenario, but it makes for a cosseting stay. Room 215 was particularly lovely and featured an enormous living room, a bedroom with two queen beds, and unparalleled views of July 4th fireworks in the distance.

This Place Is Perfect For

A huge dose of New England charm. It's also perfect for anyone who can't tolerate long car rides, but wants to feel transported to another, more quaint place and time. For anyone who likes to play Scrabble, read by a roaring fire, and eat oyster crackers, the Black Point Inn is pretty much your Nirvana.

But Not So Perfect For

Modernists, minimalists, or anyone that doesn't appreciate a bit of old-school, chintzy cool. Black Point Inn could be construed as fusty, but I prefer to think of it as old-world glamorous.

CHECKING OUT

Neighborhood Vibe

Prout's Neck is comprised primarily of the beautiful weekend homes of Boston, Philadelphia, and New York contingents, so it feels quiet and insular, but in a good way. Children ride their bikes to the Yacht Club for Opti sailing lessons, and everyone knows each other at the sweet post office and the general store. Be sure to take one of the Inn's complimentary bikes for a cruise around the larger area of Scarborough and the lilac- and hydrangea-lined lanes.

What to Do Nearby

Don't miss the one-and-a-half-mile Cliff Walk that starts just steps away from the inn and takes you along the dramatic, craggy rocks that were painted by area resident, Winslow Homer. The walk culminates at the simple studio where he lived and painted most of his life and from which you can see the changing colors of the blue-green sea.

Nearby Portland is a happening town, and the Old Port District is worth a detour for the cute shops and galleries that line the cobblestone streets. The world-class Portland Museum of Art houses many of Homer's great works, and the historic Wadsworth-Longfellow House makes for a great afternoon as well.

Foodies will be in heaven at the Eventide Oyster Co., where exquisite lobster rolls with brown butter vinaigrette and a clam bake-for-one (steamers, mussels, lobster tail, salt pork, and hard-boiled egg served within seaweed) are pure bliss.

Good to Know

Make time for both the saltwater pool (restorative) and sea kayaking. In-room massages are another plus. The upscale sandwiches at the General Store just down Black Point Road make for a refined picnic.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

How to Get Here

Fly: Prout's Neck is a twenty-minute drive from the Portland International JetPort (PWM), which is served by Delta and JetBlue, among others.

Find It

Black Point Inn
510 Black Point Road
Prout's Neck, Scarborough, Maine 04074
+1-207-883-2500
info@blackpointinn.com

Three-Day Weekends from Boston

Contributing editor Christina Ohly sends us packing for two peaceful weekend spots just a short drive from Boston. When can we leave?

BOSTON – Maybe, just maybe, you can put away the snow shovel. It's springtime in Boston, and everything's coming up roses. Take off on a Friday in the near future to explore and enjoy a quainter, quieter side of New England.

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT

If you're in the mood for: green mountains, picture-postcard covered bridges, and white clapboard church steeples.

Route to take: I-89 North for two-and-a-half hours.

Your agenda: Woodstock Inn — recently revamped to include LED-everything — has a serene spa and delicious farm-to-table cuisine in its casual Red Rooster restaurant. Head across the quaint village green outside your front door and make stops at the old-school Gillingham's general store and Yankee Bookshop before a lovely dinner-a-deux at The Prince and The Pauper, a town institution.

Avoid the Sunday blues: Do not skip town without a stop for black raspberry ice cream cones at the White Cottage Snack Bar. Open only in summer, this low-key spot is worth a serious, deep-fried detour.

WATCH HILL AND WEEKAPAUG, RHODE ISLAND

If you're in the mood for: a gorgeous beach escape with excellent cuisine to match.

Route to take: I-95 South for two hours.

Your agenda: Nest at the recently revamped Weekapaug Inn where sail boats, fishing gear, and a discreet, black-bottomed pool are all at your disposal. A meal of locally caught lobster, Matunuck oysters, and native beets is as memorable as the sunsets overlooking bucolic Quonochontaug Pond. Killer Swedish massages at Relais & Chateaux sister property The Ocean House are a Zen bonus.

Avoid the Sunday blues: One the way back to civilization, stock up on freshly baked chocolate chunk and molasses cookies at gourmet emporium The Cooked Goose.

Read more on Fathom: Summer with the Kids in Watch Hill.

Coming in for The Landing at Harbour Island

HARBOUR ISLAND, Bahamas – If Talitha Getty had taken a wrong turn in Marrakech, she would've landed on Harbour Island. Part funk, part fabulous, and always down-to-earth and welcoming, this special island in the Bahamas has the perfect hi-lo mix for any family vacation.  

But I come to visit the nexus of the foodie action: The Landing, a sweet little boutique hotel and restaurant on the bay in Dunmore Town. Every day gets off to the right start, with lemon-ricotta pancakes. Sit by the tiny pool or under the porch to watch passersby heading for the ferries on the dock. 

Come evening, you'll want an outdoor table — complete with twinkling lights strung in the trees overhead and soft votive candlelight throughout the fragrant gardens. Bored young kids can get up and explore the terrace without upsetting the formal balance. Show up early for a drink at the cozy bar, and you'll inevitably find a Rolling Stone (Ron Wood is a regular) or India Hicks, the ever-stunning island doyenne/face of Ralph Lauren/part owner of the establishment. 

In case I’ve been underselling my love for this place, let me be clear: Dinner at The Landing would be my Death Row Meal.

The contemporary menu places a heavy emphasis on fresh produce and locally caught seafood. Mind you, fresh produce is no small feat around these parts: There are no green markets, no soil for growing, and only tiny markets that take delivery of goods from the mainland every few days. Fancy greens are at a premium, yet The Landing always manages to have the crunchiest haricots verts, the most perfect, peppery arugula salad. The "briland" (that's local speak) staples include grilled grouper fillet with roasted tomatoes, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, and pesto or local lobster with green beans, potatoes, and melted butter.  

The Landing is all about superb simplicity, from crisp, white tablecloths and laid-back atmosphere to the slight British vibe. And because the owners are parents, they just get it. That means that your child's simpler (but still stellar) pasta and homemade chocolate gelato will appear in a timely fashion and that you'll be able to enjoy your appetizers (spicy crab capellini with romaine, lime, ginger garlic, and mild jalapeno chili oil; lobster dumplings with sweet chili dipping sauce) at a leisurely pace. I’d finish off my feast with Belgian chocolate pudding — served warm with vanilla bean ice cream — or the signature Afro Head tiramisu, made of Afro Head coffee and Afro Head rum — and call a golf cart to whisk me home. Worst case scenario — or maybe best case? — you can crash upstairs in one of the twelve chic, minimalist guestrooms. It's not like you have anyplace better to go.

FIND IT

The Landing
Bay Street
Dunmore Town, Harbour Island
Bahamas 
+1-242-333-2707

Pretty Little Secret: A Chic Bahamas Retreat

When contributing editor Christina Ohly discovers the Dunmore, she realizes that Harbour Island in the Bahamas is the destination that keeps on giving.

HARBOUR ISLAND, Bahamas – Harbour Island is the three-mile long haven of powder-fine pink sand and crystal clear turquoise waters that's remained relatively unchanged over the years. The Landing (which I wrote about on Fathom) serves as the epicenter for delicious meals and local gossip. The Rock House is the stylish spot for feasting poolside on locally caught lobster. Service around here is reliably slow, and that's actually part of the charm. And because the only way to get to the island is through a series of planes, cars, boats, and golf carts, only truly committed travelers end up here. Everyone else stays away. In short, the island is a little slice of heaven where you can truly escape the pace of modern life.

One thing has changed since my last visit in 2010: the revamping of The Dunmore, a beach club-cum-boutique hotel. Founded as a members-only club in 1963, it opened to the public in the 1980s and was renovated and reopened under new management in 2010. The stylish oasis is comprised of a laid-back communal sitting area, sixteen cheerful guest cottages designed by Nassau-based Amanda Lindroth, lovely dining and bar areas, and a glamorous pool deck that just screams, "Slim Aarons in Palm Beach."

As I walked around, captivated by the bougainvillea and night jasmine lining the lush walkways, I couldn't figure out why I had never heard of this special place. (All I do when I travel is look for cool things.)

It's because no one who visits wants to talk about it. They want to save it for themselves.

Being at Dunmore feels like being at someone's elegant island house party. The scene is a sea of white and aqua cabanas, billowing curtains, vintage rattan, and gently swirling ceiling fans. It's all best enjoyed with a fruity cocktail in hand.

The holiday crowd is a colorful mix of gay, straight, and Southern types drawn to the genteel pace. Children are tolerated at lunch, but this is most definitely a spot for discerning couples looking for peace and quiet.

I followed a friend's recommendation to have drinks at the Dunmore and was thereafter hooked for almost every meal. The patio dining area can be accessed from the beautiful beach below, and I walked over every day from my perch at the Pink Sands Resort (also covered on Fathom — clearly, we have a thing for Harbour Island) for a small escape into another era. Lunches are served in an airy outdoor setting. The menu is filled with exactly the kind of food I love to eat after a strenuous morning spent doing nothing at all: enormous salads with grilled grouper, local ceviches with citrus and ginger, delicate conch fritters, breadfruit fish tacos, and mountains of crispy French fries. (Why do fries taste better at the beach?)

Dinners are no less fantastic, set in an intimate dining room with vintage sailing photographs, decorative shells, and simple hanging lanterns. The food is slightly more refined in the evening but no less delicious. Sautéed red snapper with sweet plantain-bonito mash, roasted West Indian Cornish hen with Jamaican rice ‘n' peas, and other Caribbean-inflected dishes are all incredibly fresh and creative, as were house-made chocolate doughnuts and sorbets that capped the meals.

It's the details — the John Robshaw textiles, the Celerie Kemble wicker settees, the bright pink conch shells and sea fans that add touches of color — that make Dunmore so unique. If you're looking for an understated yet elegant beach escape with a bit of history and the kindest staff both thrown in for good measure, this retreat on Harbour Island's eastern shore is just about as good as it gets.

Next time around, I'm checking in.

FIND IT

The Dunmore
Dunmore Town, Harbour Island
Bahamas
+1-242-333-2200

MORE ON FATHOM

Harbour Island Essentials with Kids
Love Letter: The Landing
See the full Caribbean Guide

Eccentric bespoke spectacles from a Japanese duo

Nackymade specialises in unusual arms and hosts pop-ups across the world

Husband-and-wife team Naoki “Nacky” Nakagawa and Tomoko “Mocky” Nakagawa create quirky bespoke glasses under the name of Nackymade. Their company is based in Kobe, Japan, but stages pop-ups across the world (including several each year at The Armoury in New York and Hong Kong), and their sculptural spectacles have drawn a discerning clientele from London to Paris to Shanghai.

Nackymade glasses at The Armoury

One of Nackymade’s signature touches is eccentric arms: from dinosaur-shaped tips that tuck behind the ears, to eggplant-inspired arms (made for an ardent vegetarian) and a pair with wine-bottle-shaped sides – a bordeaux on one, a burgundy on the other – for a collector of French vintages. No request is too bizarre for the couple, who delight in working directly with their customers. “It’s rare and refreshing in this day and age to sit down across from the person who will actually be wearing your product,” says Naoki.

Nackymade glasses are renowned for their eccentric arms

No request is too bizarre for the couple, who delight in working directly with their customers

Commissioning a pair (from $900) with the gregarious duo is a fun process, and takes approximately four months from ordering to delivery.  While most of Nackymade’s orders tend to come in acetate (allowing for more inventive designs), other materials such as bamboo or various metals are available, in shapes anywhere between oval and rectangular. At an initial client meeting, measurements are taken and a style is selected. Frame width, height, lens shape and width are all taken into consideration, as are the hinges, which can range from vintage silver to cherry red.

When the finished product is ready, the Nakagawas like to perform the fitting themselves. Every pair also comes with a hard case that is a sculptural work of art in itself. “We want to provide exactly what the customer wants,” Naoki adds… even if that is a pair of panda-like specs inspired by a pair worn by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing.

In a League of Its Own: Rome's New Boutique Hotel

Rome can be a total onslaught of beauty and chaos. Fathom contributor Christina Ohly finds peace in the middle of it all at a design-driven hotel near Piazza del Popolo.

CHECKING IN

Overview

Set in a stunning 19th-century villa in the heart of Rome, Palazzo Dama is the newest (and possibly best) addition to the city's chic, boutique hotel scene. Located just steps from the bustling Piazza del Popolo, and in striking distance of the Tiber River, Spanish Steps, and gardens of Villa Borghese, the 30 rooms and suites are soothing, zen oases in the middle of the city. Designy touches courtesy of architect Antonio Girardi abound. In addition to beautifully appointed, light-filled spaces — many featuring crystal chandeliers mixed with mid-century sofas, crisp white linens, and state-of-the-art bathrooms — there is also a lovely back garden with a refreshing swimming pool. This extremely rare feature puts Palazzo Dama in a different league. As does the clubby L'Autre Dame bar, which is decorated with lithographs by Andy Warhol and Picasso and serves some of the meanest aperitivos in town.

Honey, I'm home.

Lush, cozy interiors in a junior suite.

What's New

The hotel just opened in January so everything is technically new, but there are several recent additions worth noting. While not a spa hotel per se, you'll find that every kind of massage and treatment is available in-room with just a quick phone call. Fitness facilities, an afterthought at most hotels, is nicely done with high-end, air-conditioned gym machines.

The members-only club downstairs looked positively sultry when I was there, but the real claim to fame has to be the petite swimming pool. I am still marveling at how the hoteliers got city approvals for this special feature.

Best of all: endless food and beverage options. This isn't like hotel dining, but rather like dining at an extremely aristocratic friend's house. Enjoy an Aperol spritz on the stunning rooftop terrace before a meal in L'Autre Dame downstairs.

What's on Site

Resting in the lush garden, nibbling club sandwiches served by the pool, and rubbing elbows with glamorous people in the lounge makes Palazzo Dama a sybarite's dream. In addition to the L'Autre Dame bar, the refined hotel restaurant of the same name serves beautiful pastas and wonderful fresh juices in a pristine white space. The basement gym, something of a rarity in central Rome, is impressive. The WiFi is fast and free, well-stocked minibars are free, too, and the most knowledgeable, kind front office/concierge team in town (Andrea and Gianmarco in particular) will cheerfully book you in at the the best restaurants, arrange car transfers, organize cooking classes, and reserve after-hours tours of nearby churches and museums.

Wish you were here.

The Food

Breakfast is served in the exquisite L'Autre Dame restaurant, which takes on a more relaxed atmosphere and soundtrack in the morning hours. It truly feels like eating in a laid-back, Michelin-star restaurant — and one with an expansive buffet that includes meats, cheeses, fruit and cereals, as well as an endless array of healthy juices and eggs made to order.

Lunch is outstanding as well — especially when served under an umbrella at one of the bistro tables by the pool. Simple sandwiches, burgers, and elaborate pastas are all possibilities. The kitchen will gladly make you whatever you'd like to eat, 24/7.

In the Room

Designer Antonio Girardi left his mark at the ultra-hip D.O.M. Hotel Roma (for the same owners). It has a similar feel: midcentury furnishings swathed in tasteful fabrics in hues of navy and sea green by Loro Piana. Other touches pay homage to the palazzo's original art nouveau finishes and marble mosaics, but the rooms also incorporate clean lines, Venini glass fixtures, and modern luxuries. Tasteful flat-screen TVs, well-stocked minibars, and vintage objets d'art in rooms overlooking the pool area all make this feel like a lived-in escape, a home away from home. Some of the street-facing rooms reportedly have more noise, but I didn't notice this on my tour — immense shutters are pulled at night so that visitors can't hear a thing.

Respite from the splendid chaos of Rome.

Room with a View

My junior suite faced the pool and garden and I loved watching the afternoon crowd (a few tourists) morph into a chic cocktail set by 8 p.m. 

This Place Is Perfect For

The 12+ year-old set. Palazzo Dama doesn't have a "kid" feel; it is intimate, sexy, and spare. It would make an ideal stopover on the way to a honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, and is also perfect for a long weekend away.

But Not So Perfect For

Anyone on a budget, young travelers, or families with multiple (3+) children. There are rooms and suites that join nicely for families with older children, but this is an old, historic building that isn't well-suited to crying babies or families needing several adjoining rooms. It's ideal for teenagers who need to be in proximity (by law, I suppose), but also want separate space.

Try out the unforgettable brunch and breakfast options at the restaurant and bar.

Making it hard to leave.

CHECKING OUT

Neighborhood Vibe

The Piazza del Popolo area has everything a visitor could want: great restaurants, bars, shops, the Villa Borghese for long walks and great art, the Ara Pacis for culture, and some of the best straciatella gelato in Rome at Gelateria dei Gracchi.

What to Do Nearby

Take a short stroll from the hotel and you'll find national treasures, including the beautifully baroque Santa Maria in Montesanto church and the Museo dell'Ara Pacis, the Altar of the Augustan Peace that dates from 13 B.C. and is now housed in a sleek Richard Meier-designed space.

The area has wonderful shops including those of the larger luxury brands (the Hogan sneaker store here is the world's best; ask for things not on display) and niche Roman finds as well. One of my favorites, Artisanal Cornucopia on the sweet Via dell'Oca, is the ultimate Mediterranean-inspired concept shop and features beautiful, beachy bags by Istanbul-based designer Misela, statement-making/uber-cool jewelery by Roman designer Benedetta Bruzziches, and much more. Ask owner Elif Sallorenzo for tips — she is a font of information about not only the store's curated collections, but also about the best hidden bars and under-the-radar restaurants.

On the food front, you'll be spoiled for choice in this area of town. You can do no better than a dimly lit dinner at the hotel's L'Autre Dame. For something a bit less formal, try Da Bolognese or Rosati (Piazza del Popolo, 5a), both frequented by well-heeled tourists — but I love them anyway for solid pastas and waiters in crisp, white jackets. Best of all, however, might be drinks at the elegant Hotel Locarno. Be sure to ask for seating in the magical garden. A drink or a light lunch in the Hotel de Russie garden just around the corner runs a very close second.

Good to Know

The hotel is just nine miles from Rome's Ciampino Airport and it was, I swear, the most scenic ride I've ever had to an airport. The trip takes you over cobblestone streets, under viaducts, and through lush neighborhoods. I felt like Hadrian.

Dressed to the nines.

Suite view of Roman architecture and blue skies.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

How to Get There

Rome Fiumicino Airport is 45 minutes from the hotel and is served by American Airlines, Delta, and Alitalia. In-country flights also depart from this airport, and many to the rest of Europe (British Airways) as well.

BOOK IT

Rates start from $348. Click here for reservations.

Where to Go from NYC: Haute Hippie Rhinebeck

One of the best escapes 100 miles from midtown Manhattan is the village of Rhinebeck, New York — a "haute hippie" sort of place situated near the Hudson River. The town features an eclectic mix of architecture, sustainable dining, and residents (and weekenders) from all walks of life. It's a great place year-round, but summer features some of the best farmers' markets, antiques shows, and country fairs you'll find anywhere. 



HOW TO GET THERE

Amtrak runs from Penn Station to Rhinecliff-Kingston in Rhinebeck, and you can call for cabs to get around. But the best move is getting your hands on a steering wheel and driving the scenic Taconic Parkway.

WHERE TO STAY

You're not going to find a lot of five-star establishments in Rhinebeck, and that's what keeps the area feeling small and special. Get a room at the centrally located Beekman Arms (the oldest inn in America, by the way) where you'll be in striking distance of morning coffee and croissants from Bread Alone, newspapers galore, cute shops full of antiques, and Stickles, a good ol' five-and-dime store that kids adore. If you're looking for a more boutique feel, head north to Tivoli, where the Madalin Hotel has eleven newly renovated rooms by the designers of NYC's Chelsea Hotel. Old-school touches (nice innkeeper, no key cards) mix with new-school style (flat screens, WiFi), not to mention Madalin's Table, a tavern and dining room with awesome grass-fed beef burgers, seared cod, grilled vegetable pizzas, and kid's pastas du jour. There's also a wide porch where you can savor a little Sauvignon blanc and watch the world pass — very slowly — by.

WHERE TO EAT

Food (in every form) is the biggest game in town. Balance a high-end dinner at Le Petit Bistro with killer ice cream cones from Del's Dairy Creme (7775 Albany Post Road) where $2 still buys an enormous swirl of soft-serve goodness. Everything in town is kid-friendly, but the highlight for all ages is Gigi's Trattoria, where a bustling outdoor patio, homemade butternut squash gnocchi, and "skizzas" (thin-crust pizzas in unique combinations such as porchetta with fennel salami, red onion, tomato, and mozzarella) make for a mellow evening.

More Italian goodness happens at Mercato Osteria & Enoteca in nearby Red Hook. There's a vaguely Tuscan ambiance and a blackboard of the day's farm fresh specials. Meals are lovingly prepared by seventh-generation pasta man Francesco Buitoni, who incorporates wild leeks and sweet sausage from nearby Northwind Farms with spectacularly fresh fish and risottos (wild mushroom, smoked salmon, asparagus). Save room for the flourless chocolate cake.

Other great foodie bets in the vicinity: The Local, chef Wes Dier's latest "eclectic New American" addition to the community (high marks for the phyllo-wrapped Coach Farm goat cheese with Sky Farm lettuces, fig jam, onions, and crostini); Osaka, for steaming steak terikayi dinners that will delight kids; and Garden Street Cafe at Rhinebeck Health Foods (24 Garden Street), for a picnic of "Avocado Supreme" sandwiches and a serious vegan vibe.

WHAT TO DO

Bard College's SummerScape series offers a fantastic mix of opera, dance, theater, and film. Kids will love the sometimes freaky acts (acrobats, aerialists) in the glittering Spiegel Tent.

Spend a Saturday or Sunday checking out the bi-planes at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (June through October 16th). Peep automobiles and motorcycles from the golden "barnstorming" era of aviation, and watch an air show of sky-high twists and turns — complete with flying aces and billowing neck scarves. After watching planes swoop, you'll want to head to Wilderstein, an immense Queen Anne style country house-turned-museum surrounded by walking trails. If possible, plan your trip around the Dutchess County Fair, an extravaganza of fried dough and rides that happens in late August. Little kids can go nuts with bumper cars and livestock competitions, strolling performers and live bands.

WHERE TO SHOP

There are a lot of stylish ex-city folk around, and Rhinebeck doesn't disappoint in the retail arena. No Sugar has sweet separates for little kiddies from brands like 3 Pommes and 7AM, as well as unique pieces for grown-ups. For a carefully edited selection of things for the home visit Hammertown (conveniently located next door to Gigi's Trattoria). Peruse reading material and music at Oblong Books, a classic book shop hub with meaningful staff picks and readings by local authors. Paper Trail stocks cards and gifts by small letterpress printers from across the country. There will be no shortage of souvenirs.

FOR YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE


Edible Hudson
Hudson Valley Magazine

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: The Caribbean

All Great Romances start with setting and end with action. Throw in a beach and let the sparks fly.

Jump to: Antigua | Bahamas | Cuba | Jamaica | St. Barts | St. Lucia | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Turks and Caicos

ANTIGUA

Carlisle Bay
Where: St. Mary's, Antigua
What's to Love: There is a European vibe here that makes it feel far away. Very good spa, beach barbecues, and minimalist, tasteful rooms add to the overall Zen aesthetic. For true romance, book dinner on the jetty — just the two of you, delicious tuna tartare, and a lot of votive candles.

Curtain Bluff Resort
Where: Curtain Bluff, Antigua
What's to Love: It isn't immediately apparent, but this place will grow on you in a huge way. There are limitless activities, tennis, squash, a killer spa with masseuses from the Aman Resorts. There are no in-room TVs and it's slightly hokey — communal cocktail parties, everything is included — but somehow it all really works. The snorkeling excursions are the best anywhere. Just you and two personal guides who know every ray, fish, and coral in the sea. No need to pre-book, just show up at the dock.

Jumby Bay
Where: Jumby Bay Island, Antigua
What's to Love: It's. A. Private. Island. In. The. Caribbean. Just you and 300 car-free acres off the Antigua coast on an island discovered by Christopher Columbus. Newly renovated in post-Colonial style. Water is everywhere. The treatment to get at Sense, A Rosewood Spa, is the one where you're in the hammock and the therapist fixes everything.

BAHAMAS

The Dunmore
Where: Harbour Island, Bahamas
What's to Love: It's in the details, the textiles, the wicker settees, the glamorous pool deck that screams, "Slim Aarons in Palm Beach." Bougainvillea and night jasmine line the lush walkways leading to the sixteen cheerful guest cottages. The patio dining area can be accessed from the beach below. If you don't live here, at least go for a meal.
Read More on Fathom: Pretty Little Secret: A Chic Bahamas Retreat

The Landing
Where: Harbour Island
What's to Love: I found this house very charming and romantic. There wasn't a particular reason, but the whole experience made my weekend unique. The pink-sand beach, the vintage hotel bar, the music they were playing, the rain at night, the book I was reading, the horseback riding on the beach. It was all very special.

Laid-back luxe. Photo courtesy of The Other Side.

The Other Side
Where: Eleuthera, Bahamas
What's to Love: A romantic compound of exquisite tented structures (think Out of Africa meets Mustique), this is the place to truly disconnect from the outside world. Accessed by private launch, the property has a chic house party vibe; guests wander in and out of the great house for simple meals of grilled fish before retiring into the stunning pool that juts out over the turquoise bay, with views of Harbour Island beyond. Proprietors Ben Simmons and Charlie Phelan have thought of every understated detail so the food is delicious, the honor bar well-stocked, and morning yoga is available for those who don't sleep in. Low-key luxury at its very finest.

CUBA

Casa Vitrales
Where: Old Havana
What's to Love: I love, love, love this boutique guesthouse in Old Havana where Carla and I spent six days this Christmas. The six-room guesthouse is charming and well-located, and you are looked after like royalty.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Havana meets Palm Beach. Photo courtesy of Playa Grande Beach Club.

Playa Grande Beach Club
Playa Grande, Dominican Republic
What's to Love: Once you arrive you will not sign a single check, you will not see a single plastic lounge chair, you will not wear your shoes again. You will, however, be immersed in an enchanted beach hotel that is half Old Havana, half Palm Beach, all laid-back luxury. What to bring: your book, sundress, and lover. What not to bring: your iPad. Put that shit down.

JAMAICA

GoldenEye Hotel and Resort
Where: Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica
What's to Love: Originally the private retreat of Ian Fleming, it's where he wrote all his James Bond novels. A lush and fragrant jungle setting, you'd have to be a rock not to feel the romance of this sexy place. Prepare for midnight swims in the calm, warm lagoon. Pack a white bikini for full effect.

Jakes
Where: Treasure Beach, Jamaica
What's to love: Each Gaudi-inspired tiny bungalow is crazy in a different way, but most open directly onto the water. Take a boat out to the lunch shack, raised above a beautiful ocean sandbar, that only serves lunch until the fresh fish runs out and the chef heads home in his skiff. The glass bottle bottoms set into the walls of the outdoor shower reflect the light off the water for a magical effect. And once a year, 5,000 Jamaicans converge here for the most fabulous literary festival in the world. Reggae all night.

Round Hill
Where: Montego Bay, Jamaica
What's to Love: A gorgeous estate with incredible gardens, it's like a lush location from a 1960s James Bond film come to life. There are not one, but two bars along the beach. Past guests have included JFK and Jackie on honeymoon and the Babe Paley set.

The Caves
Where: Negril, Jamaica
What's to Love: Another of Chris Blackwell's pretty incredible Island Outpost chain. Chic whitewashed rooms, great food, even better service, and incredible views Don't be surprised if you jump off the cliff. Everyone does.

ST. BARTS

Hotel Isle de France
Where: Flamands
What's to Love: So many great things about it, not least of which is its idyllic location on the beach, one of the best on the island. Nearby Colombier Beach is a hike or a boat ride away, and the hotel will pack you a picnic lunch.

Le Sereno
Where: St. Barts
What's to Love: Le Sereno attracts the loveliest of rich bohemians and filters out the island's tres gauche (think: Nikki Beach). But none of that really matters because you're too busy kissing your dreamy lover, tossing off your Missoni bikini top, and melting into the latest French Vogue to notice anything but your nonstop, pinch-me-now, inner-bliss at this gorgeous paradise of a hotel. Ask the hotel to arrange a motorbike (if you have any biking skills whatsoever) and use it. Grab baguettes and fromage at the local grocer and discover St. Bart's ultra beautiful beaches.

Le Toiny
Where: Anse de Toiny
What's to Love: The bungalows are one-bedroom houses with spectacular views of ocean, mountains, and rugged terrain — everything but other buildings or people. Rooms have a palatial bath and a private pool surrounded by a terrace large enough to accommodate couples massage tables. It's not cheap, but summer rates are half what Larry Ellison pays in January.

ST. LUCIA

Ladera Resort
Where: St. Lucia
What's to Love: None of the rooms have a fourth wall, so you wake up every morning with the sun rising over the Piton Mountains. Get a room with a plunge pool so you never have to leave.

Sugar Beach
Where: St Lucia
What's to Love: The low-key, high-budget combination of intimate villas in an informal setting. A recent $100 million+ redo has resulted in minimalist, tasteful cottages with plunge pools and features both modern (WiFi, flat-screen TVs) and low-tech (ceiling fans and atmospheric mosquito net canopies). It's not easy to get to St. Lucia is a haul, and Sugar Beach whisks guests from the airport straight to their suites — no check-in or paperwork necessary — where cold drinks, a butler await, unpacking, and laudry services await.
Read more on Fathom: Paradise Found in Sugar Beach, St. Lucia

Photo courtesy of Sugar Beach.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Cotton House
Where: Mustique, The Grenadines
What's to Love: This place is tough to get to, so it keeps other people away. Rooms are utterly simple — billowing linens and soothing, neutral tones — with tasteful plunge pools so you never really have to leave your suite. Dinner is freshly caught lobster on the veranda; there's a weekly island cocktail party in case you feel like socializing. Bring lots of sunscreen. The rays are seriously strong here.

Firefly Mustique
Where: Mustique, The Grenadines
What's to Love: Location, location, location. This hard to access island is a couple's paradise with crystalline waters, white sand beaches, and killer cocktails. Add to that chic simple rooms with views of spectacular sunsets, and Firefly is about as close to nirvana as it gets.
Good to Know: Book a table on the cliff-hanging terrace for fresh, imaginatively prepared seafood. Local barracuda, Caribbean crab backs, and delicious curries are all wonderful. Star sightings often include the likes of Mick Jagger and the odd royal, which adds to the overall mystique of this magical place.

Petit Saint Vincent
Where: Petit St. Vincent, The Grenadines
What's to love: The 115-acre private island was developed in the 1960s, with 22 free-standing Blue Bitch (that's really the name) beach chic stone cottages. It has always attracted a moneyed, famous, and infamous crowd who seek a tropical hideaway where they can check in and be left alone. Ask for #117, the most secluded cottage at the southernmost tip of the island, for its private beach and (perhaps) a clothing-optional frolic-filled stay. (Allegedly, it's a favorite of Daniel Craig.) If you're feeling antsy, charter Beauty, the property's wooden sloop, to sail to Tobago Cays for snorkeling and turtle-watching or a jaunt to Union Island for lunch.

TURKS AND CAICOS

Amanyara
Where: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
What's to Love: Gorgeous private oceanfront cabins with sexy decor, private pools, and outdoor showers. It's a cool, low-key celeb scene. And at Amanyara, the answer is always yes.

COMO Parrot Cay
Where: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
What's To Love: Timeless colonial vibes on your own private island with fresh, healthy, gourmet food. The holistic COMO Shambhala Spa is on-site, and service and attention to detail are impeccable. Sitting by the powdery beach is out of the Corona commercial; the water is that clear. Great scuba diving and private partner yoga on the beach at sunset. Bring home hard-to-find COMO products and get your chakras in check.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Ingrid Bernstein, Malika Dalamal, Kate Donnelly, Christina Ohly Evans, Nancy Hunt, Kerry Kane, Steven Learner, Jonathan Mir, Dana Hazels Seith, Alyssa Shelasky, Margaret Spencer, Rima Suqi, Terese Svoboda, Rett Wallace, Sheri Warshaw.

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: The Northeastern United States

Honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, make-ups — there are plenty of reasons to be amorous. Find love in all the right places with this list of romantic destinations in the northeast United States.

Jump to: Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New York | Rhode Island | Vermont | Washington, D.C. | Canada

CONNECTICUT

The Mayflower Grace
Washington, Connecticut
What's to Love: Set on 50-plus unspoiled acres in rolling Litchfield Hills, this is the spot to snowshoe, read by the fire, and languish in the hotel's gleaming, serene spa.
Good to Know: Don't miss a meal at their soothing restaurant, which serves hyper-local everything, like upscale cinnamon doughnuts with housemade cinnamon ice cream.
Read more on Fathom: The Hotel Is Great, But You Should See the Spa

Photo courtesy of Mayflower Inn and Spa.

MAINE

White Barn Inn
Kennebunk Beach, Maine
What's to Love: : Located in coastal Maine, which is by definition wicked far, the hotel is part of the luxurious yet laid back Relais & Chateaux hotel group. No detail is overlooked, from the names of the private cottages (such as Gull and Loon) to the fireplaces, sumptuous linens, and every imaginable amenity.
Good to Know: Foodies pilgrimage here for chef Jonathan Cartwright's inventive takes on New England cuisine served in a reimagined barn setting, complete with flattering candlelight and impeccable (read: unobtrusive) service. This is one of the most romantic meals you'll likely ever share. And local lobster on fettucine is a must.

MASSACHUSETTS

Blantyre
Lenox
What's to Love: One of a dozen Gilded Age "cottages" left in the Berkshires, the country resort and estate just outside cute-as-can-be Lenox is now under new ownership, but the important things haven't changed. Namely, the beautiful Tudor House is still perfectly appointed, with crystal carafes set out for wine in the lounge, elaborate chandeliers, overstuffed sofas, huge and beautiful rooms with four-poster beds and fireplaces, and an excellent restaurant.
Good to Know: Make sure to meet the in-house historian, David Pupo, who tells great stories about former owners (including filmmaker D.W. Griffith) and the antics the house has seen. 
Read More on Fathom: The Gilded Age Fantasy Is Alive and Thriving at Blantyre

Old Inn on the Green
New Marlborough
What's to Love: The pre-Revolutionary restaurant and candlelit inn was a popular stagecoach stop in 1760. The antique decor is streamlined and sophisticated. And incredibly cozy.
Good to Know: There are several intimate dining room nooks with roaring fires and exceptional (local, seasonal) tasting menus.

Red Lion Inn
Stockbridge
What's to Love: The old-fashioned birdcage elevator, a wraparound porch, a tavern that serves hearty stews, and the Lions Den for pints.
Good to Know: Bonus charm: It opened in 1773 as a stagecoach stop and has been welcoming guests ever since.

Wheatleigh Hotel
Lenox
What's to Love: Very romantic year-round, but especially during the winter months when you can make the most of your in-room fireplace. The gardens were designed by Frederick Olmstead, and the restaurant is incredible.
Good to Know: Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is just down the road. Pack and a picnic and enjoy sonatas under the stars.
Read More on Fathom: See our Berkshires Itinerary for tips on what to do, eat, and see.

NEW YORK

Buttermilk Falls
Milton
What's to Love: Low key but high-end and cool, with a fabulous spa, nice food, and lots private room options. The Pony Pad is a little house with a fireplace.
Good to Know: Take a hike around Minnewaska State Park for views of the Shawgagunk Mountain Ridge and Lake Minnewaska at any time of year (don't forget a thermos of hot chocolate in winter). Revive après-hike at The Village Tearoom.
Read More on Fathom: See our Hudson Valley Itinerary for tips on what to do, eat, and see.

Crosby Street Hotel
New York
What's to Love: The design-driven hotel mixes eclectic art, bold contemporary interiors, and a plethora of daring colors and fabrics that, in a rare occurrence, doesn't detract from its homely charm.
Good to Know: That this is all in the middle of busy SoHo makes it even more charming. The neighborhood is all quiet cobbled streets, artisan shops, street stalls, hidden bars, and amazing eateries that span from high-end restaurants to hole-in-the-wall burger joints. It's definitely a place you can lose yourself.

The Lowell
New York
What's to Love: Evoking everything that's wonderful about old-school, discreet uptown, the intimate boutique hotel feels so timeless that it would be so easy to ignore Central Park and Museum Mile (mere steps away) and lose yourself inside.
Good to Know: Make sure to have a meal there, even though there are many options within a short walk, to make it an extra sumptuous experience. Start with cocktails at Jacques Bar, followed by a Mediterranean-infused French meal at Majorelle. Settle for a nightcap in the deep sofas in the Club Room, then wander upstairs, where the fireplace is roaring at the foot of your bed. Wake up, have room service on the terrace, and do the whole thing all over again.

Glenmere Mansion
Chester
What's to Love: All the Gilded Age trappings needed for a night of romance — grand cortile, marble staircase, garden terraces, and formal gardens for indiscreet canoodling.
Good to Know: All that European elegance (and a full-service spa), just 50 miles from Manhattan.

Photo courtesy of Glenmere Mansion.

Ham House
Tivoli
What's to Love: Gorgeous restored mansion on a hill in the perfectly picturesque upstate hamlet of Tivoli. The bridal suite has views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, and the extensive vintage decor was done by a former antiques dealer.
Good to Know: Feels like staying in a palace, and you can take a hike right out your door. Saul Bellow wrote Herzog and Henderson the Rain King while living here. Also, this is a small operation. If the website isn't working, you can always call them:  +1-845-757-3424
Read More on Fathom: See our Hudson Valley Itinerary and Catskills Itinerary for tips on what to do, eat, and see.

Inn at Windmill Lane
Amagansett, New York
What's to Love: Classically modern cottages and suites with ridiculously lavish amenities: Duxiana beds, private exercise rooms, rain showers, preferred tee times at Montauk Downs Golf Club.
Good to Know: Prices go way down off-season, and it's very quiet and cozy.

Kayak Camping
Saranac Lake
What's to Love: Not a hotel but rather an experience. Each of the dozens of tiny islands in the Saranac lake chain has individual campsites you can rent. Like having your own private island for $15. The only way to get to the islands is by boat, so you rent a kayak to get there.
Good to Know: Don't forget firewood, a cozy tent, lots of wine, and great food. Make a weekend of it. Beyond blissful, and super cheap.

Lafayette House
New York City
What's to Love: A narrow brocade-and-chandelier-filled boarding house conjures fantasties of urban living circa 1880. The place feels like a find — there is no signage, front desk, or hotel lobby.
Good to Know: Rooms vary in size and style. Ground floor suites share a backyard patio.
Read More on Fathom: See our NYC Guide for restaurants, sites, shopping, and nightlife ideas, as well as our list of Most Romantic Restaurants in NYC.

Monteverde at Oldstone Manor
Cortlandt Manor
What's to Love: Two-room inn and new seven-room garden house with gorgeous views of the Hudson River Valley, which doesn't have as many nice hotel options as it should. Great on-site spa and restaurant.
Good to Know: It's the best place to stay when you're making a trip out of dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a short drive away.

The Pierre
New York City
What's to Love: Old-world glamour and service and location, location, location. All that New York has to offer is steps away and the hotel's perch on Central Park offers some of the best views in the city.
Good to Know: The high tea is delightful, and the hotel's complimentary BMW makes quick junkets to the theater or a downtown restaurant effortless.
Read More on Fathom: Go Big and Opulent at This Old-World Central Park Hotel

The NoMad Hotel
New York City
What's to Love: The Beaux Arts show-stopper designed by Jacques Garcia has a cozy library, swanky drinking dens, and several dining alcoves — meaning there's plenty of places to show off your hot date. The dining atrium is run by the exceptional team from Eleven Madison Park.
Good to Know: Clawfoot bathtubs, Sferra bathrobes, and antique writing desks channel romantic notions of Paris.

Photo courtesy of NoMad Hotel.

RHODE ISLAND

The Chanler
Newport
What's to Love: Imagine Americana wallpapered in luxury and plastered in WASP. The Chanler is the only hotel on Newport's breathtaking, crazy romantic Cliff Walk. It's surrounded by rugged nature, endless ocean, and OMFG mansions — and has an exquisite food program has all the fancy (and wannabe fancy) New Englanders aflutter.
Good to Know: Every room has a jacuzzi which can be filled with rose petals upon request. Yes, really. And with ongoing series like "Scotch & Cigars" and "More Bubbles," it seems that every hour is cocktail o'clock. Here's to that.

The Ocean House
Watch Hill
What's to Love: Gorgeous hotel overlooking the beach and the quaint, picturesque seaside village. Ideal for summertime seaside fun and indulging in pure Americana at its baronial best.
Good to Know: The couple's room at the spa has a private hydro-soaking tub and deluge shower.
Read More on Fathom: A Few Days In: Watch Hill

The Weekapaug Inn
Weekapaug, Rhode Island
What's to Love: The old-school yet updated Relais & Chateaux property sits on scenic Weekapaug Pond and offers a respite from reality: no TVs (unless requested), sumptuous rooms, low-tech games (remember shuffleboard?), as well as sailboats for sunset cruises. Excellent cuisine including local lobster and organic vegetables of sizes/colors you've never seen before.
Good to Know: Guests can use the fantastic facilities at the nearby Ocean House, including the spa, squash courts, and dinner on the porch overlooking the Atlantic.

Photo by Geri Abdoo / Courtesy of Weekapaug Inn.

VERMONT

The Pitcher Inn
Warren
What's to Love: Only eleven rooms, each with its own design theme and decor. Of special note, Mountain and Ski rooms. The restaurant is outstanding, and the downstairs bar/game lounge is great, especially after a day on the slopes.
Good to Know: The country store across the street is just as postcard-perfect — and serves great sandwiches. You're only a short drive from the Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas. American Flatbread, a very special pizza restaurant found in a barn, is also nearby — and an absolute must.

Twin Farms
Barnard
What's to Love: Tastefully appointed everything, smack in the middle of nowhere. Super private, homey, and, even when full, feels like you have the place to yourself. Individual cottages are decorated with the owner's incredible art collection. Hushed, darkened dining room is set up so that all parties face the fireplace and kitchen sticks to local goods even in the depths of winter. Meals are made to order according to a pre-arrival food questionnaire; you never see a menu.
Good to Know: Go here instead of the nearby ski resorts: There are a half dozen downhill trails on the property and the most fun thing ever is that they cart you around the mountain on snowmobiles. Hit the furo (Japanese soaking tub) on a cold snowy night — a car service brings you to and from the tiny shack which is hidden in the woods.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Hotel Tabard Inn
Washington, D.C.
What's to Love: There's little that's truly romantic in the nation's capital. But this quirky inn has so much Americana charm, it almost makes up for the lack everywhere else.
Good to Know: Every room is different and some have shared baths. Room 26 has a grand piano, but book ahead because it's often used for events.

CANADA

Note: Sorry, Canada. We don't have a guide for you yet. But we're working on it!

Clayoquat Wilderness Resort
Tofino, Canada
What's to Love: At the stunning Vancouver Island eco-safari, they craft bespoke expeditions in the remote wilderness of British Columbia, like mountain river kayaking, hot spring hiking, and bear and whale watching, to name a few. When you're in the temperate rainforests of Pacific Rim National Park, you and boo are snug between the covers in one of twenty luxury canvas tents furnished with old-world rugs, antiques, and heirloom china.

Fogo Island Inn
Newfoundland and Labrador
What's to Love: The island is remote and rugged, but the retreat is a hyper-modern salt box with solar panels and steel stilts that rise up from craggy mores and Arctic Ocean ice floats. Every textile and piece of furniture is made locally by hand; the kitchen scours the island for every meal. The characters at the bar (woodworkers, fishermen, foragers) are priceless.
Good to Know: Beyond the rooftop sauna and your personal wood-burning stove, you can get cozy on a skiff as it heads out to the magical offshore Little Fogo Islets.

Photo by Alex Fradkin / Courtesy of Fogo Island Inn.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Becca Bergman Bull, Scott Conant, Eric Demby, Kate Donnelly, Christina Ohly Evans, Stephanie March, Erin Murray, Alyssa Shelasky, Beth Silverman, Lockhart Steele, Angela Tribelli, Sheri Warshaw.

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: Africa

Burning sands, epic sunsets, majestic mountain slopes — there are a million ways to fall in love with Africa. Start with this list of romantic hotel destinations.

Jump to: Botswana | Congo | Egypt | Kenya | Morocco | Mozambique | South Africa | Tanzania | Tunisia | Uganda | Zambia | Zanzibar

BOTSWANA

Jack's Camp
Makgadikgadi Plains, Kalahari Desert
What's to Love: An over-the-top 1940s-style safari camp set in a palm grove. Explore archeological sites on quad bikes, then regroup at the lavish tea tent. It's pricey. But the service details are incredibly special (i.e.: tours are led by a group of passionate academics, anthropologists, and bushmen).

Jao Camp
Okavango Delta
What's to Love: A true camp experience — al fresco showers, outdoor beds for afternoon naps, dining under the stars — upgraded with massages, plunge pools, and refreshing Stellenbosch between game drives. It's best to visit in March or early spring for the best weather and Big Game sightings.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Odzala Camps
Odzala-Kokoua, Republic of Congo
What's to love: Channel your inner primate in the largely unexplored Odzala-Kokoua rainforest in the Congo. Choose between two lodges — Lango on the edge of the savanna or Ngaga deep in the Marantaceae forest. The treetop suites at Ngaga Camp are raised about ten feet above the ground, giving you the same perspective as the 20,000 resident gorillas at your doorstep.

EGYPT

The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
Red Sea Coast
What's to Love: Spacious and secluded suites have private heated swimming pools, walled gardens, and 48 acres of white sand beach. Do not miss scuba diving in the Gulf of Aqaba.

KENYA

Giraffe Manor
Nairobi, Kenya
What's to Love: Staying at the ten-suite safari estate is like stepping into an old Colonial fairy tale, where resident Rothschild giraffes reach through windows and rouse you with loving licks at sunrise and join you for supper at sunset.

Hippo Point
Great Rift Valley, Kenya
What's to Love: You're the king of the jungle in a wildlife conservancy, gazing down on hungry hippos, grazing zebras, and howling hyenas from your 120-feet high perch at the top of Dodo's Tower. Invite the couples you love to swing with: The beautiful, European-antique filled suite can accommodate three couples.

Olarro
Maasai Mara
What's to Love: It's exclusive and intimate. Take a scenic helicopter flight into the Maasai Mara at dawn from the hotel's private helipad. After an exhilarating flight into the reserve, take the rare opportunity to float over the million-strong wildebeest and zebra migration in a hot air balloon, followed by breakfast in a remote part of the Maasai Mara.

Peponi Hotel
Lamu, Kenya
What's to Love: Checking in feels like stepping into a different century. Lost colonial Casablanca vibe, low-key Swahili culture, and beautiful beaches all come without posh jet-set pretension in this ancient Muslim enclave on the Kenyan coast.

Sanctuary Olonana
Maasai Mara
What's to Love: The boutique tented camp overlooks the flowing Mara River (perfect for hippo watching). There's a wonderful spa and pool to refresh after game tracking. Hot water bottles are placed in your four-poster bed at night along with bedtime stories. Book tent 14 or 15 for ultra luxury. Request Joseph as a guide (though all are amazing). Have a sun-downer on the escarpment where the movie Out of Africa was filmed. Get married amongst the Maasai. Plant a tree on the property and leave something behind to grow.

MOROCCO

Beldi Country Club
Marrakech
What's to Love: Beautifully decorated private villas with fireplaces and outdoor bathtubs in your own private garden. This is a great place for romance but an awful place for business. There is no internet in the rooms.
Read More on Fathom: The Garden of Eden Is in Marrakech

Kasbah Tamadot
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
What's to Love: 27 suites and nine luxurious Berber-style tents filled with Moroccan antiques in the mountains an hour outside Marrakech. This is Sir Richard Branson's retreat, the one he discovered while ballooning in the area. Try to tear yourself away from your room to explore the Atlas Mountains on one of their mules and to visit nearby village Asni for the weekly Saturday market.

L'Heure Bleue Palais
Essaouira
What's to Love: An ultimate one-time romantic getaway. Many rooms have open moucharabieh woodwork onto the courtyard, ask for a room on the top floor. The rooftop pool overlooks the smashing sea. Plenty of private corners in which to snuggle. The best table in town is in the hotel restaurant, ask to be seated in front of the fireplace.
Read More on Fathom: A Naughty Weekend in Essaouira

La Mamounia
Marrakech
What's to Love: A gorgeous 2009 renovation caters to your design fetish. You'll find Moorish and Deco glamour, lush gardens, a marble mosaic hammam, and gleaming Jaguars in the driveway. The Baldaquin Suite is particularly stunning. Two of their four restaurants are led by Michelin-star chefs.
Read More on Fathom: A Berber Jewel Box, and I Have the Keys

Madada Mogador
Essaouira
What's to Love: A French-owned hotel with ocean views and balconies that back up to the city's ancient sea walls. Cross your fingers for a power outage, because the fishing village is even lovelier by candlelight. For the breeziest breakfast, order from the roof terrace.

Riad El Fenn
Marrakech
What's to Love: Vanessa Branson's (yes, one of those Bransons) charming contemporary boutique hotel has three courtyards, swimming pools, mint tea and cake every afternoon, and an excellent hammam near bustling Djemaa el-Fna square. Riad Vanessa is the especially lovely and private suite to book. If you fall for the brightly striped Turkish cotton towels by the pool, you can pick some up at Atelier Moro (114 Place de Mouassine; +11-212-24-39-16-78), along with other non-touristy souvenirs.

Photo courtesy of Royal Mansour.

Royal Mansour
Marrakech
What's to Love: The scent of jasmine wafts through the air at the beautiful oasis within the historic city walls. Nest in your very own riad, complete with intricate plasterwork, carvings, and sumptuous silk embroideries. Relax on personal, colonnaded patios, swim in plunge pools, and marvel at the exotic Andalucian and Moorish elements within the compound. As it is owned by the royal family, service at the Royal Mansour is totally next level: You'll never see a bellhop, and fresh mint will miraculously appear before you knew you even wanted any.
Read more on Fathom: Girls Gone Wild in Marrakech

Villa Maroc
Essaouira
What's to Love: Imagine the Chateau Marmont relocated to a small medieval Moroccan town with camels wandering the beach and sea spray sweetening the evening breeze. The nearby dock is the essential destination for al fresco lunches.

An Arabian Nights fantasy. Photo courtesy of La Sultana.

La Sultana Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco
What's to Love: If Marrakech is famous for its many charming riads, La Sultana dazzles the senses by offering several differently themed riads in one. The interconnecting buildings feel like an elaborate warren where no detail is too ornate or too fantastical. Yes, you have just stepped into the pages of 1,001 Arabian Nights. Just don't forget to spend at least one of them having dinner on the rooftop and another in the steamy hammam. If you want add even more to love, spend a few days at its beachfront sister property, La Sultana Oualidia.

Lunch for two in the oasis. Photo courtesy of Dar Ahlam.

Dar Ahlam
Skoura, Morocco
What's to Love: All the world’s a play at this magical North African Kasbah, French hotelier Thierry Teyssier’s fever dream of an escape. Twenty eight guests are tended to by a staff of over 100 who service every wish and make each day a different, theatrical, unexpected experience. Stargazing in a desert oasis, dining in a secret garden, taking a bath next to the fireplace, walking the Berber trails — whatever you fantasize can be done, and it will be special and sumptuous and laid-back in that cool French-Moroccan way. For a few days, you’ll feel like the only people who exist in the world.

MOZAMBIQUE

Azura
Benguerra Island
What's to Love: The hotel consists of 16 private villas on a semi-private island accessible only by helicopter. Most of them have their own infinity pool. All of them come with two full-time butlers who make it their job to surprise you throughout the day. You can have lunch served on a desert island off-shore one day and in an abandoned old fishing boat another day. The snorkeling nearby is world-class. The accommodations are perfect and the service is warm. Splurge for a luxury villa with private pool, and be sure to take advantage of the exceptionally well curated activities offered

Vamizi Island
Quirimbas
What's to Love: Palatial villas, white sand beaches, crystal clear water, just-caught seafood. You are completely disconnected from the world in the best possible sense.
The diving — in some still uncharted reefs — is incredible.

SOUTH AFRICA

The owner's lodge. Photo courtesy of Delaire Graff Estate.

Delaire Graff Estate
Stellenbosch
What's to Love: If it's privacy, good wine, and a beautiful setting that you're after, look no further than the intimate, villa-only estate. Nestled in the Cape Wineland's scenic Helshoogte Mountain pass, amid the area's many vineyards, the view from your private plunge pool is one to savor. A state-of-the-art winery, two outstanding restaurants, and a world-class spa make it ideal for a romantic getaway.

Babylonstoren
Simondium
What’s to Love: If you’ve ever longed to turn back time to an era where people lived on farm estates and grew their own food, this is the spot for you. The charming 500-acre Cape Dutch farm is straight out of a magazine spread, with bountiful fruit orchards and vegetable patches, friendly farmhands in matching uniforms, and simple but elegant white-washed guest cottages. Upon arrival, a general feeling of peacefulness and well-being will descend. This is how life should be, you’ll think to yourself, and for a few days that is. You’ll be immersed in the world of a working – albeit highly stylized – farm, where mornings start with an epic breakfast spread of fresh produce, homemade breads, cheeses, and yogurts, and eggs from the resident free-roaming hens. A state-of-the-art winery, serene spa, two swimming pools, hiking trails, mountain bikes, and farm shop offer plenty to see and do, but it’s dinner at Babel, the estate’s award-winning restaurant, that will be most memorable.

Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
What’s to Love: If it’s an adventure you’re after, look no further than this secluded twelve-suite lodge on a private concession adjacent to South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Set along the wildlife-rich banks of the Sand River, the impressive safari lodge offers some of the best service we’ve ever experienced in one of nature’s most primitive environments. Days revolve around early-morning and late-afternoon game drives with a personal safari guide and tracker. Your goal: spotting Africa’s Big Five (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros), along with other native species like hippos, zebra, giraffes, impala, and the elusive wild dog. Both exhilarating and utterly relaxing, each excursion feels like its own journey with a surprise ending. Come afternoon, you’ll retire to your private suite, a tranquil standalone villa that looks like it was carved out of the earth: Stone walls and large glass windows make it difficult to tell where your room ends and nature begins. A private plunge pool and outdoor shower will tempt you to hole up in your suite, but the rest of the lodge, with its swimming pool, spa, fitness center, and boutique, is worth exploring. We’d be remiss to not mention the delicious food, which is overseen by award-winning chef Liam Tomlin, and the lodge’s extensive wine cellar.

Atlantic House
Cape Town
What's to Love: A blissfully secluded guesthouse perched on a sea cliff. It is so private that staff departs every evening to leave you to your own devices. Take a dip in the heated saltwater pool or stargaze on a chaise with a digestif from the honesty bar. Head down to the Camps Bay strip for beachfront breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For a breath of fresh air, stroll the nearby Table Mountain natural reserve.

Ellerman House
Cape Town
What's to Love: The home-away-from-home feeling wrapped up in a stately, manicured Cape Edwardian mansion. Considered to have the most spectacular view in Cape Town, overlooking the Atlantic, yet only ten minutes from the action of the city.

Royal Malewane
Kruger National Park
What's to Love: Amazing meals and walking safaris in the bush. Rooms with soaring ceilings, canopy beds, fireplaces, and cozy outdoor showers. Traveling with another couple? Book The Royal suite for the private chef and massage therapist.

Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
What's to Love:Fifteen suites with private outdoor showers overlookng the N'wanetsi River, fireplaces, sweeping decks, and expansive views. Private tours, chefs, and butlers are at your service. No children younger than ten are allowed.

Tswalu Kalahari
Kalahari Desert
What's to Love: Nestled at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains, subtly luxurious lodgings and top-knotch guides come together to perfectly redefine "safari." Get flown in on their luxurious Pilatus plane from Johannesburg airport. Stay in one of the eight spacious legae, little houses, with outdoor showers and big open fireplaces.
It's intimate, only twenty guests stay at a time.
Read More on Fathom: Safari Redefined: Wildlife and Low-Key Luxury in Tswalu

TANZANIA

andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Arusha
What's to Love: It's tribal meets luxury with rich, velvety curtains, a heated bed, French crystal glasses (for a fireside glass of sherry, and a view of the crater that would make even the most heartless brute weep. After a day on safari, you'll come home to a rose-petal strewn hot bath and chilled champagne. Is there any better prequel to a romantic romp?

Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Zanzibar
What's to Love: There's nothing quite like standing on a pier overlooking the Indian Ocean. The grounds are undeniably stunning, and it's easy to feel like you're truly getting away from it all.

Mwiba Lodge
Southern Serengeti
What's to Love: Romance is a cocktail of ambiance, privacy, and comfort, made even better in a dramatic setting far away from everyday life. The hotel feels like something out of Architectural Digest, set against the soothing sounds of an Arugusinyai River rushing below and the lions roaring in the midnight bush.

TUNISIA

Hotel Sidi Driss
Matmata, Tunisia
What's to Love: An ordinary room this is not. You may recognize the twenty-room, five-cavern hotel located in a Berber settlement (which by some accounts was founded in 146 B.C.E.) as Luke Skywalker's childhood home on Tatooine from Star Wars. There is no dark side: It's only $16 per night.

UGANDA

Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
What's to Love: Eight thatched-roof bandas with picture-perfect jungle views from broad verandas, and the chance to spend your morning flirting with mountain gorillas.
Bring a bathing suit for the lodge's private swimming hole. And hiking boots, long pants, rain gear, and gloves for the gorilla treks. Save the massage for after your hike with 500-pound apes amid the slopes' tangled vines.

ZAMBIA

Luangwa Safari House
South Luangwa
What's to Love: A super chic blend of creature comforts — Neil Rocher-designed architecture, designer furniture, a private chef — surrounded by vast savannah wilderness. With some of the healthiest populations of elephants, giraffes, and hippos on the planet, South Luangwa is one of the wildest (and most remote) corners on earth. An excellent way to ease into a Zambian adventure.

Sindabezi Island
Just upriver from Victoria Falls
What's to Love: Five open-sided thatched cottages on a private island on the Zambezi River. Take an alfresco bubble bath in an antique claw-foot tub. Enjoy the flickering candle light of antique lanterns. Wake up to hippos bellowing in the water. Request Trega, the best personal butler you'll ever know. You can combine a stay on this island with one on the sister property, a short boat ride away.
Read More on Fathom: Our very own Zambiana Jones takes the trip of a lifetime.

The Bushcamp Company
South Luangwa National Park
What's to Love: Six distinct bushcamps are set up in the remote south of the park, where wildlife experiences are out-of-this-world. The resort also supports two local schools and runs eco initiatives (tree-planting, solar cookers, honey production).
Good to Know: Go in November when resident elephant families near Mfuwe Lodge are on the search for succulent wild fruit. One particular wily old matriarch (named Wonky Tusk) takes the most direct route to the mango trees, which means walking through the reception lounge.

ZANZIBAR

Mnemba Island Resort
Mnemba Island, Indian Ocean
What's to Love: A private island resort with ten very stylish free-standing bandas, outdoor living rooms, fantastic food, and world-class snorkeling. You can be active or do nothing. How else to know how Robinson Crusoe would have felt as a Zanzibari sultan?
Good to Know: There are no real roads, phones, or TVs (though there is wifi). You will be barefoot all the time. You will hear doves along with rare (and tiny!) Suni antelope. Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper — those doves melodically coo all day and night.

GIMME MORE LOVIN'

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Josh Abramson, Erinn Bucklan, Larry Burnett, Kym Canter, Caryl Chinn, Ondine Cohane, Sonya De Castelbajac, Melanie Dunea, Erin Hartigan, Rachel Kahlon, Devorah Klein Lev-Tov, Lanee Lee, Kelley McMillan, Christina Ohly, James Sturz, Rima Suqi, James Truman, Jess Teutonico.

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: France

Honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, make-ups — there are plenty of reasons to be amorous. Find love in all the right places with this list of romantic destinations in France.

Jump to: Paris | Côte d'Azur | Provence | Champagne-Ardenne | Poitou-Charentes | Haute-Savoie | Corsica | Courchevel

CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE

Les Crayères
Reims
What's to Love: A sumptuous 20-room chateâu in the heart of Champagne. Feels like a mini-Versailles with romantic four-poster beds, vintage wallpaper patterns, oil paintings, and enormous marble bathrooms. Surrounded by seventeen acres of private park, so you might not want to leave the property.
Good to Know: The Michelin-starred restaurant Le Parc serves more than 400 Champagnes, many of which can only be found locally. After dinner, tuck into the cozy La Rotonde Bar for a nightcap.

Royal Champagne
Épernay
What's to Love: Opulent hotel overlooking the Marne Valley with an outstanding restaurant. Ideally situated for tours and tastings in twin Champagne meccas Epernay and Reims. Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Dom Pérignon: oh yes.
Good to Know: Accessible from Paris by train, but you'll want to have a car to explore the local vineyards and sights.

CORSICA

Domaine de Murtoli
Where: Sartène
What's to Love: A stay in your own painstakingly renovated 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by 5,000 acres of natural farmland and miles of private beach is the best expression of rustic luxury I have ever experienced. You can order meals to your cottage for complete privacy, dine under an arched rock roof in a cave for a touch of society, or dig your toes into the sand at a beach restaurant made entirely of driftwood for an unforgettable moonlight dinner.

CÔTE D'AZUR

Château Eza
Èze
What's to Love: Perched (literally) atop a well-preserved medieval town that is itself perched on a Tolkein-esque mountain outcropping above the French Riviera. Ridiculously romantic tiny hotel with shockingly good views that extend all the way to St. Tropez and Corsica.
Good to Know: Confirm that your room has a balcony. And unless you have a fear of heights, insist on the balcony table in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

COURCHEVEL

Hotel Les Airelles
Where: Courchevel
What's to Love: You will aways greeted very warmly and wonderfully. The furniture and decoration in a home-y local style suit the hotel's secluded atmosphere.

HAUTE-SAVOIE

L'Abbaye de Talloires
Talloires
What’s to Love: Seventeenth-century abbey surrounded by grape arbors on extremely romantic Lake Annency in the French Alps. Not far from Geneva, but less obvious and more secluded. Resist the temptation to dine at the precious and stuffy Auberge du Pere Bise and hit the charming Café de la Place in the center of the village.
Good to Know: Get a room in the front of the hotel facing the lake. The rooms on the side are small and monk-like.

PARIS

Auberge du Jeu de Paume
Chantilly, France
What’s to Love: The chateau, originally a medieval fortress inhabited by many French families, is in the heart of horse country just outside Paris. The hotel complex includes the Condé Museum, home to the second largest collection of Master paintings after the Louvre. Rooms are decorated like a French mansion fantasy and overlook the Grand Stables, an 18th-century racecourse that still sees plenty of horsey action today. Ride on.

Haven
Paris
What's to Love: Feel like a local in your own Parisian pied-à-terre. Cute, well-decorated apartment rentals in prime locations throughout the city. It's nice to have the option of going to the market and preparing your own meals.
Good to Know: Apartments come with a computer and wifi. Use the Haven staff to help plan your visit; they make good suggestions.

Hôtel Bourg Tibourg
Paris
What's to Love: Sumptuous décor by Jacques Garcia that makes you feel like you're living in a jewel box. The small spaces are endearing and cozy; every detail is a delight. 
Good to Know: Request a room with a balcony and start the day with your flaky croissant and espresso outside in the morning. Have a drink in the the lounge and browse their extensive library of French authors. 

Hôtel Costes
Paris
What's to Love: If you have money to live like a rock star or supermodel, this is the place to do it. From hidden corners in the lobby to the bordello-inspired guest rooms, each space is suffused with a warm glow perfect for a rendezvous. Wear your sunglasses to breakfast in the courtyard, and people will wonder who you are.
Good to Know: Call ahead and have your room filled with flowers from the on-site florist.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Paris
What's to Love: Night views of the twinkling Eiffel Tower: It never gets old. Al fresco dining in the garden courtyard is one of the many brilliant touches.
Good to Know: Bring your chic. The Avenue Montaigne location means you're surrounded by beautiful shops, beautiful people, and beautiful food.
Read More on Fathom: Love Letter to the Plaza 

Hotel Sezz
Paris
What's to Love: Tucked away on a quiet residential street in the tony 16th arrondissement far from the tourist throngs, you can live your Parisian fantasies in total privacy. Sleek rooms are made for amour, with centerpiece beds, glass-walled bathrooms, and deep tubs.
Good to Know: The Veuve Clicquot Champagne bar doubles as a breakfast room; every guest is assigned a personal assistant for the duration of their stay.

Photo courtesy of La Reserve.

La Reserve
Where: Paris
What's to Love: Absolutely everything. This brand new, ultra-luxurious boutique bolthole has light-filled suites, surrounding gardens, and a relaxing spa with pool (a rarity in the City of Lights).
Good to Know: The restaurant is an intimate Belle Epoque experience with exquisitely prepared fish, decadent, artisanal cheeses and a killer chocolate souffle. The challenge here will be leaving the property to explore the neighboring Grand Palais and the culture at your doorstep.

Le Bristol
Paris
What's to Love: Everything. Period, full stop. Start with the low-key yet incredibly efficient stable of concierges that recommend interesting restaurants and score hard to come by reservations (at Yam'tcha and Spring, to name but two). Next up, the peaceful, traditionally appointed rooms which make you want to stay inside and revel in the luxuriousness of it all. Mind-numbingly expensive but so worth it.
Good to know: Ask for a corner room on a higher floor which affords beautiful light as well as substantial sitting and bath rooms. The latter are outfitted with Hermes toiletries, enormous bathtubs, and steam showers the size of an average NYC apartment. Added bonus: The hotel's chef, Eric Frechon, is a three Michelin-starred chef. A meal here is a must.

L'Hotel
Paris
What's to Love: Cozy, historic hotel in the middle of St. Germain.
Good to Know: Use the concierge to secure restaurant reservations in advance of your trip and don't forget to check out the hotel's Michelin starred dining, L'Restaurant.
Read More on Fathom: L'Ultimate Hotel

Le Pavillon de la Reine
Where: Le Marais
What's to Love: Low-key hotel with an amazing location on Place des Vosges. Beautiful and picturesque courtyard and vine-covered facade. The staff is fantastic. 
Good to Know: Request one of the newly renovated rooms.

Radisson Blu Le Dokhan's Hotel
Paris
What's to Love: The Champagne bar, the extremely knowledgeable staff, and the ridiculousness of having a Louis Vuitton leather-lined elevator. Lovely rooms — they're small, but what room in Paris isn't? 
Good to Know: Request a room with views of the Eiffel Tower. Visit the market down the street to stock up on water, wine, and other drinks.
Read More on Fathom: My Parisian Fantasy

POITOU-CHARENTES

La Baronnie Domaine du Bien-Etre
St Martin de Ré, Il de Ré
What's to Love: Hidden hotel with a walled garden run by an ex-model and her osteopath husband. Very charming and quite chilled out at the same time.
Good to Know: There are few cars and you can bike the whole island in an afternoon.

Le Senechal
Ars en Ré
What's to Love: Sun-bleached pastels of an old fishing town given a relaxed contemporary finish.
Good to Know: Down the road you can hire bikes to use on the myriad of cycle-only paths around the island. Ile de Ré is where most of France's fleur de sel is produced.

PROVENCE

Baumanière
Lex Baux de Provence, France
What's to Love: A boutique hotel in the heart of picturesque Provence with luxurious surroundings — gardens, pools, and five distinct buildings with chic simple rooms — and one of the most wonderful restaurants anywhere. Sit outside in summer and savor fresh vegetables from their garden or sip Petrus in the 50,000-bottle wine cellar. Whatever the case, you need never leave this picturesque property. A weekend here feels completely restorative.

Hotel des deux Rocs
Seillans
What's to Love: The authentic French feel that's very grandmère meets contemporary. Wonderful on-site restaurant with traditional Provençal cuisine.
Good to Know: Don't build a to-do list — live without it. This is an authentic small town experience; those looking for amenities like wifi and bellhops will be disappointed.

La Bastide de Marie
Ménerbes
What's to Love: Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, this place exudes authentic Provençal charm without being twee. Spend your afternoon watching the chef harvest lunch and dinner from the potager.
Good to Know: The manager has a pug named Sushi.

Baumanière
Where: Les Baux
What's to Love: A magical retreat that's all about sumptuous finishes, lounging by the pool, and eating and drinking. For a couple, there is really no reason to leave — except to possibly do some antiquing in nearby St. Remy.
Good to Know: People pilgrimage here for the haute cuisine and meals can take hours. Prepare to sip Chateau d'Yquem and stare lovingly into your partner's eyes as you lull through your food coma.

Photo courtesy of L'Oustau de Baumaniere.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Ingrid Bernstein, Rory Brownlee, Becca Bull, Anna Watson Carl, Caryl Chinn, Mark Colodny, Sonya de Castelbajac, Nicole Dunn, Christina Ohly Evans, Steven Learner, Kamal Mouzawak.

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: The Western United States

Honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, make-ups — there are plenty of reasons to be amorous. Find love in all the right places with this list of romantic destinations in the western United States.

Jump to: Alaska | Arizona | California | Colorado | Hawaii | New Mexico | Utah | Washington | Wyoming

ALASKA

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Judd Lake

What's to Love: A multimillion-dollar revamp by thrill-seeking owners (Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe and Alaskan heli-ski pioneer Mike Overcast) takes the heart rate to new heights at this five-star, multi-sport wilderness lodge. A 40-minute floatplane flight from Anchorage lands guests in the remote Tordrillo Mountains, where stylish digs, fancy chefs, a lakeside sauna, and in-room massages round out helicopter-based adventure experiences all year long. An accomplished guide team leads guests in skiing and snowboarding through steep gullies and powder fields. Summer calls for glacier hiking, wake surfing, waterskiing, wildlife viewing, and catching the Northern Lights at night.

ARIZONA

Adobe Grand Villas
Sedona
What's to Love: Wagon Wheel Room, an incredibly homey and imaginative villa that immediately transports you to another time. Red sandstone landscape panoramas. Masseuse on staff.
Good to Know: Great short day-trip stopover if headed to Grand Canyon via Flagstaff.

Royal Palms Resort and Spa
Scottsdale
What's to Love: An intimate 1929 Spanish Revival villa at the foot of Camelback Mountain. Outdoor fireplaces, winding walking paths, and tranquil fountains cover the grounds. Guest rooms are decorated in lovely Mediterranean style. The on-site restaurant, T Cook's, prepares rustic cuisine like rotisserie in a 1930s fireplace. There's no reason to leave this kind of serenity.
Good To Know: Book a room with a fireplace and soaking tub. The Arizona air is very healing, and the Alvadora Spa does outdoor treatments in their lush garden.

CALIFORNIA

Northern California

Auberge du Soleil
Rutherford
What's to Love: Built as if it grew out of the hillside with an unobstructed view of the Napa Valley. Quiet elegance, privacy, very peaceful.
Good to Know: The service is immediate and understated. There's no reason to leave you thoughtfully stocked room, but you should for a magical dinner at the restaurant up the hill. Atmospherically, again, the intersection of nature and elegance.

Calistoga Ranch
Napa Valley
What's to Love: Romantic bungalows right out of Williams-Sonoma Home with incredible bedding. Fireplaces and wine. Just so, so much wine.
Good to Know: Be sure to have a nibble at the Lakeside Lounge. It's only open to hotel guests, which, considering the clientele, turns it into a Napa version of Soho House.

Duchamp Hotel
Healdsburg
What's to Love: This is a modern design fanatic's dream come true: private villas in the middle of wine country.
Good to Know: Return from a day at the vineyards to sip your purchases poolside.

Farmhouse Inn
Russian River Valley
What's to Love: Tucked away in the backwoods of beautiful Sonoma, the dreamy hotel has a fireplace in every room, fluffy feather beds, and huge soaking tubs. In the lobby, there are different kinds of homemade bath salts and soaps to squirrel away, and they hand you warm chocolate chip cookies and cold milk when you check in.
Good to Know: Rent a car. The Michelin-starred restaurant is amazing and there are several low-key wineries within a short drive. Take the on-site wine class taught by the restaurant's sommelier.
Read More on Fathom: Learning to Sit Still in Sonoma

Nick's Cove
Point Reyes
What's To Love: The waterfront cabins, which actually sit in the water on stilts, are as eccentric as they are delightful. Go for Nicolina, a reclaimed 1930s boat, and dream of the ocean.
Good To Know: The hills you'll gaze at across the water, Point Reyes Park, make for one of the most beautiful hikes in California.

The Carneros Inn
Napa
What's to Love: Cozy private cottages with secluded patios and outdoor showers. Breathtaking vineyard views at the infinity pool. Spa treatments take cues from wine country's harvest and terroir.
Good to Know: The Boon Fly Cafe's hearty breakfasts and FARM's elegant Cali cuisine make it hard to leave the rolling property.

Hotel Les Mars

Healdsburg, California

What's to Love: It's a good time to give Napa and Sonoma a little love, as the area emerges from the fires that raged last fall. But there's no tragedy at this intimate nine-room hotel in the charming small town of Healdsburg. Evocative of 17th-century French chateau, the dreamy rooms have rich textiles, wood-burning fireplaces, deep marble bathtubs, and four-poster beds.

Central Coast

Glen Oaks Cabins
Big Sur
What's to Love: A nature lover's swoon spot. Luxury mid-century cabins, outdoor fire pits, fragrant Redwoods in absolute serene Big Sur beauty.
Good to Know: Worth the splurge for the Big Sur Cabin to fall asleep to sounds of the river after a soak in the outdoor claw-foot soaking tubs.

Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur
What's to Love: Everything — from the infinity pool overlooking the Pacific surrounded by Redwoods to the fact that they don't allow kids or visitors around the property. It's perfectly tranquil. Some ocean suites have their own hot tub sitting on the cliff. Oh, and no televisions.
Good to Know: There's no need to leave the compound, but if you do, try Big Sur Bakery and Café for fresh pastries and breads as well as rock star pizzas.

Southern California

Hotel Bel-Air
Los Angeles
What's to Love: The residential feel, the beautiful outdoor spaces, the pool, the small bungalows furnished with fireplaces, and the fact that you're hidden away but still close to the action.

Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills
What's to Love: Old-school glamour, secluded bungalows, and the best chopped salad and fries in the world. Along with the occasional Reese Witherspoon sighting.
Good to Know: It has just had a massive renovation, so it's very old-meets-new.

Hope Springs and Miracle Manor
Desert Hot Springs
What's to Love: Very small ex-motels (about ten and six rooms, respectively) done in perfect mid-century style (Hope is mid-century; Miracle is a bit more Zen). The natural hot springs are incredibly restorative, with beautiful mountain desert views that make for magical sunrise and sunsets. Interesting industry hipster types go there.
Good to Know: No children under 14 allowed and allegedly clothing is optional at Miracle Manor . The best time to go is February; any later than April is scorching.

Peninsula Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
What's to Love: What isn't? Sumptuous suites in lush gardens are pure old Hollywood glamour, just updated with every electronic gadget imaginable. The hotel is the kind of escape from reality where no detail is overlooked, from the silent spa (try the Duet Moonlight Massage, which is also available in a poolside cabana) to incredibly high thread counts to delicious breakfasts in the sun at the Roof Garden restaurant.
Good to Know: Feel no pressure to be cultural — or engaged in the world in any way. You're in LA, and this is a hotel to be checked into and thoroughly enjoyed. Besides, the room service is so excellent, you don't even need to leave to eat.

San Ysidro Ranch
Montecito, Santa Barbara
What's to Love: We're talking an outstanding experience. A 12 on a scale of 1-10. Laid-back atmosphere, scrupulous attention to detail, a hilltop pool, scenic hiking trails surrounding the sprawling, 500-acre spread. You're greeted in the driveway, and whisked straight to your lovely yet low-key cottage. No pesky paperwork. The bungalow-style cottages are individually designed, with big sitting rooms, peaceful terraces, and soaring ceilings in the bathrooms.
Good to Know: For dinner, try the wood-fired pizzas and sashimi at Plow & Angel. Or the Stonehouse is a more formal option.
Read More on Fathom: History, Hollywood, Heaven in San Ysidro Ranch

Shutters on the Beach
Santa Monica
What's to Love: Those huge bathtubs and comfy beds just spell romance. Plus cozy lobby bar and two good restaurants (one fancy, one casual).
Good to Know: Northern-facing rooms have view of Santa Monica Pier and Ferris wheel. A five-minute walk puts you on Main Street, a trove of funky shops and good food.

The Willows
Palm Springs
What's to Love: Lavish yet private yet warm and friendly B&B tucked into Mt. San Jacinto where Albert Einstein, Shirley Temple, and Clark Gable once frolicked (presumably not together).
Good to Know: The O'Donnell House, a sister property up the hill used for weddings and events, affords some of the region's best views, as well as a stone-walled "grotto" that's oddly profound.

COLORADO

Taylor River Lodge
Crested Butte
What's to Love: Open from late May through mid-October, the off-grid locale deep in Taylor Canyon is a woodsy wonderland perfect for families. There are private cabins with various set-ups — lofts, bunk beds, kitchens, and a teepee lounge. The all-inclusive rate includes not only food and drink (and an awesome mini bar), but activities like river rafting, axe-throwing, fly fishing, mountaineering, shooting BB guns (you'll shoot yer eye out, kid), and access to the beautiful pool cabin.

HAWAII

Four Seasons Hualalai
Kailua-Kona
What's to Love: Totally dreamy. (And totally pricey.) Rooms are buried within leafy foliage, producing a manicured jungle feel. Individual outdoor showers burst with orchids.
Good to Know: The pond is meant for snorkeling, and swimming among jewel-colored creatures without fear of hungry sharks or rogue waves is a singular experience.
Read More on Fathom: See our Hawaii Big Island itinerary for tips on what to do, eat, and see.

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows
Kohala Coast
What's to Love: One of the rare independent hotels on the island. The amazing beach is a private crescent of powdery sand lapped by calm turquoise water frequented by sea turtles.
Good to Know: The staff, many of whom have been there forever, provide indispensable advice for exploring the island like an insider.
Read More on Fathom: See our Hawaii Big Island itinerary for tips on what to do, eat, and see.

Volcano House Hotel
Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
What's to Love: While it won't be the most elegant and traditionally romantic place you'll ever stay, your love here will feel extra, er, explosive: The hotel is located on the caldera rim of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and that's Halema'uma'u crater bubbling lava a short distance away.

NEW MEXICO

Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe
Santa Fe
What's to Love: Sit around the circle fire pit with a hot toddy and soak in the magic of the distant Jemez Mountains and the warm, soothing scent of pinion wood.
Good to Know: If you're there during opera season, have the hotel set up a Champagne tailgate and sit under the stars.

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe.

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi
Santa Fe
What's To Love: A warm, cozy spot nestled in the heart of Santa Fe, with Navajo rugs, hand-carved doors, beamed ceilings, and sandstone walls. A pinion wood fire burns in the lobby, making for an intoxicating scent of the Southwest. The lighting is low; the mood is relaxed. You will feel exceptionally cozy.
Good to Know: Book a superior room with a balcony for the an enticing kiva fireplace. Yes, you'll feel like you're on fire in the best possible way.

UTAH

Amangiri
Canyon Point
What's to Love: Perhaps one of the most romantic spots on earth due to the surrounding dramatic canyons and plateaus, spare aesthetic (starchitect Annabelle Selldorf designed the adjacent villas), and lovely, understated swimming pool. Enormous soaking tubs, rain showers, and all kinds of stone, leather, and wood finishes make it an ultimate oasis.
Good to know: The setting 600 acres overlooking Escalante National Monument makes for all kinds of guided hiking and biking options. And since this is an Aman resort, the Zen spa with its flotation room is not to be missed.

WASHINGTON

The Willows Inn
Lummi Island
What's to Love: In a quintessential Pacific Northwest setting, cozy rooms and quaint activities (bocce! bike riding! puzzles!) offer ideal complements to renowned farm-and sea-fresh dining experience.
Good to Know: Come for the food, stay for the views. Weather permitting, sit on the deck for the best sunset perch.

WYOMING

Amangani
Jackson Hole
What's to Love: The spectacular Grand Tetons steal the show at the spare, elegant retreat where massive suites in neutral hues will make you never want to leave.
Good to Know: A spectacularly sleek, outdoor pool is available for use in all seasons, and bespoke trail rides and trips to nearby Yellowstone are not to be missed.

Eyes drawn upward at Amangani. Photo courtesy of Aman Resorts.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Cassandra Barry, David Bernahl, Ingrid Bernstein, Becca Bergman Bull, Eve Epstein, Christina Ohly Evans, Emily Fiffer, Nikole Flores, Laura House, Justin Kazmark, Sally Horchow, Stephanie March, Carrie Molay, Lanee Neil, Karen Palmer, Margaret Spencer, Bridgette Thom, James Truman.

A Cradle for Culture and Good Food: Seville

Enough culture to please the parents, enough parks to please the kids, enough laid-back living to please the whole family. Seville is a totally charming family getaway.

SEVILLE, Spain – It's hard to find the perfect place for families with kids of all ages and varied interests, but I came pretty close to Nirvana on a recent trip to Seville, Spain. The surrounding region of Andalusia ticks off so many of the boxes for the ideal trip: lovely streets, bright sunlight, calm pace of life, endless gardens, kindest people, and lots of fried food. Throw in the cultural highlights like mezquitas, cathedrals, and royal palaces, and, well, stop looking for other places to go.

An off-peak visit during winter, spring, and fall is ideal, as temperatures soar to 110+ degrees in the more crowded summer months. Orange trees abound, as do parks, play spaces, and casual restaurants at every turn. The one thing you'll have to adjust for is the eating schedule with kids. Spain marches to its own beat, even within Europe, and dinner is still not served before 9 p.m. Don't fight it: Just push the whole schedule back — late breakfast, late lunch, tapas around 6:30, then dinner as the locals do it. Andale!

La Giralda, the symbol of Seville.

WHAT TO DO

Go to Church
Where to begin? With an UNESCO World Heritage Site: the city's central Cathedral, Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, and its bell tower, La Giralda. Set on what was once a 12th-century mosque, the Gothic beauty is a wonderful mix of Moorish architecture and Christian elements (ornate chapels, golden altars, elaborately carved tombs.) Kids will love the climb to the top of the bell tower that was once a minaret and affords views over sprawling Seville and the Patio de los Naranjos below.

The entrance to Real Alcázar.

Keep it Real
Head practically next door to Real Alcázar, the royal residence that is a wonderful mix of grand halls and endless gardens. Fountains, flowering plants and trees, and places to run free all work for families, and you'll appreciate just being able to sit and take in the beauty of the surrounding patios and porticos. Much of the plasterwork was created by artisans from neighboring Granada, and the honeycomb structures and horseshoe archways make it feel very much like the Alhambra in Granada. Head inside the apartments for glittering domes, ornate tapestries, and Spanish tile work.

All three photos taken in the semi-circular Plaza de España, which features Venetian-style canals and Mudejar tilework.

Park It
Maria Luisa Park, the largest in Seville, and is the perfect place for children to run free after exploring Plaza de España.  Considered one of the most beautiful public spaces in Europe, the park was redesigned by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, landscaper of Bois de Bologne in Paris. Rent quad bikes and explore allees of palm trees with fragrant roses, or simply park it on a bench with an ice cream cone and watch the slow pace of Seville life pass by.

Culture Club
For a Mannerist museum experience, visit Museo de Bellas Artes where even non-art-lovers (AKA nine-year-olds) will be wowed by enormous artworks by Francisco de Zurbaran, Juan de Valdes Leal, and Bartolome Esteban Murillo, not to mention El Greco and Goya. Sprawling altarpieces fit beautifully into the museum's soaring spaces and cupola.

The Archaoelogical Museum, designed for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition, is full of treasures from the 15th century and earlier. You'll find exquisite examples of Roman marble statuary, tombs, funerary urns, and the Treasure of El Carambolo, a collection of gold armor and assorted pieces dating from the 7th and 8th centuries. A short and sweet gallery exposure for those who would rather be back exploring the parks, plazas, and tapas bars.

La Mezquita de Cordoba is just spectacular.

An interior courtyard of the Great Mosque.

Day Trip to Cordoba
The high speed train makes nearby Cordoba an excellent excursion. The main attraction: The Great Mosque of Cordoba (la Mezquita), which is now functions as a Roman Catholic cathedral. It's easily one of the most spectacular buildings on earth, a dazzling Moorish and Renaissance architectural feat, with colorful horseshoe-shaped arches and columns of jasper, onyx, and marble. The city's other delights include bell towers, orange groves, and a honey-combed dome.

It's all about the easy living. At every turn.

WHERE TO EAT

Lunch is a pleasure in this town on so many fronts. Since it's sunny most of the time, you'll want to eat outside on the wide avenues teeming with cafes. Watching the locals stroll and taking their leisurely time reminds you that a harried pace of life is, well, unhealthy.

Makekosa 
Calle San Fernando 23; +34-954-047-371
Great for festive lunches of wood-fired pizzas and huge local salads (always served with tuna, white asparagus, and corn). 

Bar Giralda
Calle Mateos Gago 1; 34-954-563-702 
An old school Sevillana tapas bar complete with delicious sangria and stunning views of La Giralda. Go early and preferably off-season, as this one gets packed in high summer.

El Rinconcillo
Spinach with chickpeas and cod fritters were outstanding, as was, of course, the Iberian cured ham, which we devoured with simple, crusty bread.

Restaurante Modesto
A bustling Andalucian restaurant spread over two floors and with a vibrant terrace that serves local specialties like fried grouper, mussels, and enormous trays piled with ham, cheeses, salami, and more. Wash it all down with Marqués de Villalua, the local white wine.

Photo: Courtesy of Gran Meliá Colon

WHERE TO STAY

Gran Meliá Colón
The perfect starting point for Seville, and the staff couldn't be friendlier. Set in the heart of the old city, you'll be within walking distance of everything from the cathedral to El Corte Ingles (a mega store with great groceries). Book RedLevel, the boutique hotel within the hotel, for a separate sitting area and views over the whitewashed city. Added bonus: Each floor is dedicated to a Spanish artist (El Greco, Goya, etc.) and every room door is painted with that artist's work. Coming home to Velázquez's Las Meninas was a slightly campy hoot for everyone involved. Kids will love visiting the entire "art collection" throughout the hotel's seven floors. I won't lie: I liked the lobby sightings of Rafael Nadal, in town for the Davis Cup. 

Hotel Doña María
Located next to the Palacio Arzobispal, overlooking La Giralda, with a small swimming pool, which makes a great escape for kids in the extremely hot summer months.

Hotel Alfonso XIII 
The best five-star, neo-Moorish hotel game in town just had a multi-million dollar renovation, making for luxe comfort in the best location. Ornate ironwork, Andalusian frescoes, soaring archways and ceilings, not to mention endless pleasant patio settings. Feels  like you’re living in a museum. 

EME Catedral Hotel
If you're looking to up your hip factor, look no further than EME, a collection of 18th- and 19th-century houses in the midst of Seville that have been integrated into one stunning 70-room property. A rooftop pool (serious rarity), beautiful views of the Cathedral, a spa, and four on-site restaurants make this minimally chic spot a complete treat.

The bull ring in Plaza de Toros.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Fly: Seville Airport (SVQ) is just ten minutes from the city center. It is small and relatively manageable, though you'll want to leave plenty of extra time for check-in and security screening. Fly direct from London on Easyjet or Ryanair, or connect in Madrid on Iberia for more flight options.

WEATHER

The sun shines on this part of the world, literally and figuratively. Spring and fall months are ideal for touring with warm days and just slightly chilly evenings.
- Average high/low temperatures in Farenheit: 95/66 in summer; 61/42 in winter
- April-October: highs from mid-70s to mid-90s
- November-March: highs in mid- to low-60s

MORE ON FATHOM

A Few Days in Formentera
The Dying Art of the Bullfight

A True Epiphany for the Silicon Valley Hotel Scene

You can now visit your kids at Stanford or your friend at Google in style. With the opening of The Epiphany, the Silicon Valley hotel scene is no longer a wasteland. Contributing editor Christina Ohly takes a look around.

CHECKING IN

Overview

PALO ALTO, California – You're lucky if you actually get to check into a hotel in Silicon Valley, as it is one of the most underserved hotel markets in America. With the explosion of tech, the draw of Stanford University, and lovely weather year-round, the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula is a huge draw for business people and tourists alike, many of whom have to travel south toward San Jose to score a good night's sleep.

No longer. The Epiphany, the new addition to the hotel scene, is perfectly placed in downtown Palo Alto just steps from incubators, investment banks, yoga studios, and the most excellent chopped salads ever.

At just a year old, The Epiphany is the luxury boutique hotel for the tech crowd. Located in the heart of Palo Alto just off University Avenue with its bustling restaurants and VC chatter, The Epiphany is a design-led, sleek spot with no airs whatsoever. The parent company, smart Joie de Vivre hotel group, has struck a series of partnerships with emerging tech companies — Jawbone and New York-based Master & Dynamic audio among them — to introduce guests to the latest in Fitbit and headphone technology. Rooms have sleek furnishings with natural wood finishes, flat screen TVs, and lovely terraces overlooking downtown.

Claim to Fame

The hotel is just over a year old and is already drawing an innovative, SURFACE-magazine-loving design crowd. There are lots of unique touches — kitted out minibars and fridges, activity trackers and sleep measurement devices — and an enthusiastic staff that are truly eager to please.

Quite the tech-savvy looker. Photo courtesy of The Epiphany.

The bar at Lure + Till. Photo by Aubrie Pick.

Colorful plates from Lure + Till. Photo by Aubrie Pick.

What's on Site

The WiFi is excellent (natch) as is all of the technology (from TVs to bathroom lighting). The rooms and suites on the 7th and 8th floors have outstanding views (room 802 is a winner) and there is a focus throughout on natural light. The hotel restaurant, Lure + Till, is an excellent, standalone draw. Vivre gym across the street offers a full-service program, including classes, for those in search of a comprehensive workout. A Project Edison chandelier — a kinetic light sculpture created with tech company IDEO — pulses and retracts in response to various data streams and makes sitting in the lobby a complete joy. And it should probably go without say that if you're in town for meetings, the hotel has great facilities if it's your turn to host the team.

The Food

Lure + Till is a winner — for the after-work drinks crowd as well as for business lunches and for more refined dinners. Chef Patrick Kelly creates everything from approachable California staples like Cobb salad and roasted chicken wraps with harissa to elegant mains like Sonoma duck breast and grilled seafood a la plancha. All locally sourced and foraged, of course. The bar is a huge draw as well, not only for the craft cocktails, but also for the outdoor seating and vibrant, ideas-filled scene. Breakfast is similarly well executed, with a focus on fresh, somewhat healthy favorites, including homemade granola and excellent spinach and mushroom omelets.

In the Room

The custom Smeg mini bars deserve a standalone review, but let's just say you won't leave The Epiphany hungry. In addition to standard chocolates, artisanal potato chips, and Project Juice drinks, The Epiphany's versions are tailored to the guest, with offerings of market greens, seared albacore tuna tarts with olive tapenade, and housemate pickles.

This Place Is Perfect For

The business traveler, the coder, the venture capitalist, and anyone in touch with their inner geek. In addition to being well located for meetings with bankers and developers, the hotel is also in striking distance of Stanford.

But Not So Perfect For

Anyone in search of a bucolic, country experience, a swimming pool, or a spa. The Epiphany is a lovely, urban vibe.

Room with a View

I stayed in room 802 and found the experience sublime. A sprawling terrace with tables, chairs, and sunbrellas made working outside heavenly. That lovely California light streamed throughout my high-ceilinged sitting area and made 802 feel more like an apartment than a cramped hotel room.

Rooms are spacious and serene. Photo courtesy of The Epiphany.

Bedroom with meeting space. Photo by Aubrie Pick.

Custom Smeg mini bar. Photo courtesy of The Epiphany.

CHECKING OUT

Neighborhood Vibe

You'll be one block from University Avenue, which has everything from the basics (CVS, Starbucks) to great, relatively inexpensive cafes. Local Union is a new lunch spot that serves enormous salads and sandwiches in a rustic, airy setting. Hanahaus is the new coffee communal workspace for networking and absorbing the incredible energy in the Valley. Other foodie highlights include Tamarine for excellent Vietnamese dishes, Evvia for mezzes and chicken souvlaki, and Oren's Hummus Shop for delicious pitas stuffed with chicken, tahini, and a secret sauce. Be sure to arrive early — lines start forming at Oren's at 11:30 a.m. The new kid on the block is Sushirrito, a maki roll meets burrito concept where the Satori (a kampachi yellowtail, cucumber, pickled red onion, sweet corn, red tobiko, avocado, and wasabi mayo combo) has people waiting for 30 minutes or more. Those excellent chopped salads, by the way, are at Pluto's.

What to Do Nearby

Don't miss the relatively new Anderson Collection at Stanford University where modern and contemporary artworks by Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and Louise Nevelson are displayed in spare, soothing spaces. Continue on to the Cantor Arts Center before visiting the iconic Hoover Tower at the center of campus. An easy hike to the Stanford Dish at the edge of town leads to excellent views of the Valley, the Bay, and its bridges in the distance.

Good to Know

Book as far ahead as you can, and take into account Stanford football games, parents' visiting days, and major tech conferences. With just 86 rooms, The Epiphany books up well in advance.

BOOK IT

Rates start at $269. Click here for reservations. 

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Fathom's Guide to San Francisco

How to Raise World-Curious Kids

Around here, we think it's never too early to become a traveler. But it's one thing to say you're taking the toddlers to Tokyo; it's another thing to figure out how to do it — and get them to like it. Contributing editor Christina Ohly has been taking her kids around the globe for almost a decade. She knows how it's done.

It's a tough balance: your love of a faraway casbah vs. your child's love of the hotel entertainment system. How can you show your kids the world — and create curious, flexible, well-rounded individuals in the process? I've been figuring this out as I go and I've picked up good tricks on the way. Let's start with ground rules and move on to techniques.

Ground Rules

As with everything, moderation is the way to cultivate a world traveler. Go for a hi-lo mix when exposing them to new places: The latest installation at the Tate Modern in London works best when juxtaposed with a day trip to Legoland in nearby Windsor.

Never let them see you sweat. If your child senses your fear of jet lag or new cuisines or the immigration line in Buenos Aires, she will pick up on it and be anxious, too. Teach kids from a young age (and I mean really young — as soon as they've had their first immunizations) to board a plane, a train, and sit in a car and go with the flow. Resilient people are made, not born, and seeing different cultures, places, and perspectives will only make them stronger in the long run.

There is great value — and lots of humor — in travel disasters. Remember this as you tour the globe and your child experiences everything from foreign bug bites and unidentifiable foods to rubbish removal systems (my kids still talk about Rome's fascinating setup). The best part of traveling with kids is the bonding you'll do on the road, second only to seeing the world in a whole new way through their eyes.

For now, focus on fun, and a love of travel will surely follow. They'll have time to scale the peaks of Nepal and explore the Guggenheim in Bilbao when they're older.

On to techniques.

Set the Stage

The first step in creating a great global adventure is setting them up to succeed. Get kids excited about the places they'll see and the smells and tastes they'll experience by introducing books, films, and apps that highlight specific destinations.

Books: Series such as Miroslav Sasek's This is ... and Tim Egan's Dodsworth in ... series bring yeoman warders and Notre Dame to life for little people.

Films: Ditto atmospheric films like The Red Balloon, the story of a French schoolboy. Even Disney's Madagascar get kids asking about the plains of Africa.

Apps and Websites: Get kids interacting with the world around them with the best online resources: National Geographic for Kids, Travel for Kids, and Abercrombie & Kent's app with videos of everything from gorilla trekking in Uganda to birding in Galapagos.

An old sugar mill, Cotton House, Mustique, the Grenadines.

Perfect Packing

A happy child is an amused, well-fed child. For kids who are old enough to carry their own backpacks, include an assortment of toys, electronic devices, and snacks that will stand up to the long haul. Granola bars, nuts, fruit leather, and the occasional sweet (M&Ms travel well) won't get squashed or stale on an arid airplane. As for hand-held devices, skip the donut-making/Angry-Birds time sucks, and opt for Travel Bingo, National Geographic's National Park Maps, and PicPocket Books where you can download favorite books. 

Successful travel toys are reusable and won't roll off tray tables: triangular crayons, mini Lego sets, washable markers and drawing pads, and digital cameras for the over fives. Travel activity books like Rand McNally's Are We There Yet? and Mad Libs on the Road will get them excited about explorations both large and small.

Want more tips like this? Sign up for our newsletter.

Outside Galerie Tatiana Tournemine, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris.

Fly Right

The flights you pick can make the difference between joyful travelers and jet-lagged disasters. Depending on the age of your child, an overnight flight when traveling from west to east can be a friend or a foe. Babies generally do well, as they sleep through noise and movement, but older kids have a tougher time missing a proper night's sleep. Sitting upright, falling asleep for a few hours, and being rudely awakened makes for one seriously cranky kid. If time allows and you don't want to ruin your first days of vacation, opt for a day flight. Flights leaving major US east coast cities for Europe leave early in the morning and land after dinner local time, just in time for a good night's sleep.

If you take a red-eye, hit the ground running. Napping will only further throw off schedules, so keep kids moving, out in the natural light, well fed, and hydrated to reset their clocks.

A few other jet lag tips when flying from west to east: start resetting kids' internal clocks three days in advance with earlier bed times, opt for carbs in-flight to induce sleep, and go for a protein-laden snack upon landing. As a general rule, allow one day per time zone crossed for a full jet lag recovery. Flying east to west is much easier on kids, as the body adjusts to the new time zone more easily and there isn't as much lost sleep.

When booking long-haul flights, opt for bulkheads with bassinets for babies and consult Seat Guru for the low-down on everything from legroom to in-flight snacks. And always pack a change of clothes for the flight. There is nothing like a cold night flight with a juice spill (or worse) down junior's front. Eight hours feels like an eternity when you're soggy.

Beekeeping in Rhinebeck, New York.

Start at the Gift Shop

Seriously. It holds true for many ages and stages that if you get the souvenir, tchotchke, and postcard-buying out of the way at the beginning of the trip, you will have a more focused traveler on your hands. For little people (as for big people) it is often about the get. I've found that if I let everyone score a little something early on, the group is less preoccupied for the entire day.

Encourage kids stock up on their souvenir collections. An Alhambra key chain and a snow globe from Shanghai make great bedroom mementos. In my house, Christmas tree ornaments that get pulled out yearly serve are especially reminders of faraway places.

The Louvre in Paris.

The Culture Club

If you want an excited explorer, don't take her on the Bataan Death March of culture. Travel is supposed to be fun, and four expansive museums in a day just isn't fun. Remember that art is everywhere — on street corners, in cafes, in parks — and keep the structured gallery-going in check. Again, this is all about personal thresholds, but I've found targeted cultural forays — a particular show at a museum, seeking out the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (and catching other treasures en route) is an effective strategy for engaging but not overloading.

If your child is old enough to have an opinion, let them do some of the planning. By encouraging your child's inner Vasco de Gama, he'll be even more invested in a good outcome.

Eating Ramen at Wagamama in London.

Pleasing Picky Eaters

One man's tapas are another kid's tater tots. It is all about the sell. That many foods are universal — bread, rice, fruit, fish — holds great appeal for young kids who respond well to "this risotto is just like the pasta you eat at home" or "calamari fritti are a lot like fish fingers." Dumb it down if you have to — who cares? They will try new foods, they will savor them, and they will learn to love a whole new range of things. From bagels in New York City to freshly baked naan in New Delhi, encourage them to expand their palates in ways that they might not at home. The jamón ibérico that gets no play on your dinner table will be devoured when served in a bocadillo in a café in Seville.

As with jet lag, the key is to power through and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE cave and go for American chain food. Unless you're stuck at a water park.

Finding starfish on Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Go for Local Color

My kids now roll their eyes at me when I bang on about the importance of local color, which I consider to be the real life of a place: coffee shops, food markets (more fun and educational than museums any day), buses and subways, busy playgrounds. These settings allow kids to observe how a place really operates. Let them find something to buy so they can use the local currency. A Euro, a Turkish lira, and a colorful Jamaican dollar are endlessly fascinating to kids — and they make for great souvenirs.

I am also a fan of foreign TV — cartoons in other languages somehow translate, and global news coverage is just different outside the US. You'll be amazed to see a kid with no understanding of the rules of cricket be transfixed by a match on holiday.

In markets and in nature, let them find and indulge in creatures and gross things. The leech vendor was by far my son's favorite thing of Istanbul.

La Mezquita, the mosque of Cordoba, Spain.

Little Linguists Love Learning Languages

This is where apps come in handy again. Introducing children to new languages via the web and hand-held devices is effective because it turns the learning process into a game. LinguPingu introduces basic Mandarin; First Words: Spanish will have toddlers chatting en español in no time. From Romance to Semitic to Continental West Germanic languages (that'd be Dutch, Afrikaans), help your kid develop an ear for the languages they will hear before you land.

Even if all they come away with is "please" and "thank you," it's so important to show cultural sensitivity and good manners wherever you go. Por favor and efharisto will carry any kid traveler a long way. And you might find that once they get home, they have an easier time saying it in Spanish and Greek than English.

Eating gelato in Piazza Navona, Rome.

Celebrate Difference

Muslim women wear burqas, Russian kids wear Valenki felt boots. The world is a massive, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic mix, and the sooner your child sees that, the more intrigued he or she will be to explore further. I tend to position things around other kids — the sports they play, how they go to school, what they eat, and how they worship. Kids are kids, and differences dissipate when soccer, Selena Gomez, and the local version of pizza (every culture has one) are involved.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Keep the Spirit Alive

Long after you've returned home, and you are craving new and different adventures, you'll want to find ways to incorporate what you've seen, heard — and eaten! — back into your lives. Kids will be the guides here — from particular pasta dishes they loved abroad, to TV shows they've learned about elsewhere, to favorite Swiss chocolates that are available at your local high-end market.

My kids often note wherever we go that life moves at a different pace than it does where we live. People take time for really long lunches (Italy), or they stay out late at night (Spain), or they are very helpful to each other when opening doors or lifting bags (Bahamas). They notice subtle differences in the way people live their lives — from St. Petersburg, Russia, to St. Petersburg, Florida. And this makes them kids who are curious about the world around them.

Get More Tips Like This

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

Keep Exploring Family Travel

What Kind of Family Reunion Are You?
Eye Candy: Family Road Trip in the Andes
10 Tips for Road-Tripping with Toddlers

The World's Most Romantic Hotels: Italy

Honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, make-ups — and that's just a typical afternoon for the average Italian love affair. When cupid is on the mind, check into our favorite hotels where la dolce vita meets la vita amorosa.

Jump to: Aeolian Islands | Amalfi Coast | Apulia | Liguria | Lazio | Lake Garda | Lake Como | Molise | Sicily | Treviso | Tuscany | Veneto | Umbria

AEOLIAN ISLANDS

Hotel Raya
Panarea
What's to Love: Small, impossibly chic inn run by the same eccentric proprietress for years. The hotel is built into a hillside on Panarea, the most fashionable of the seven Aeolian islands, overlooking Stromboli. The islands are remote and beautiful and locals cling fiercely to their culture.
Good to Know: On a clear night, you can see the volcanic flares from your room.

AMALFI COAST

Don Alfonso
Sant' Agata sui due Golfi
What's to Love: A love nest in the hills between Sorrento and Positano. You'll be tempted to stay in your colorful room all day, but the Michelin-star restaurant is unmissable.
Good to Know: Sign up for cooking classes while you're here, and learn to recreate the culinary magic, minus the sunshine, anytime. For added privacy, rent the private poet's house on the property.

Hotel Caesar Augustus
Capri
What's to Love: Stunning vistas and an infinity pool that seems to stretch to the sea. This place takes al fresco dining to a whole new level with tables overlooking the cliffs of Capri and Ischia in the distance.
Good to Know: You can't stay in Capri without hiring a small boat to take you around the island to swim in the coves.

Hotel Caruso
Ravello
What's to Love: Set in a former palace that dates from the 11th century, the romantic Caruso in the heart of medieval Ravello is a beautiful escape from busy Amalif Coast towns like Positano and Amalfi, with enormous rooms covered in restored frescoes. Caruso is a step back in time: The lush gardens, the small but stellar spa, and al fresco dining are simply magical.
Good to Know: The infinity pool overlooking the Amalfi Coast and surrounded by arbors of bougainvillea is one of the most beautiful in the world. It's the perfect place to perch for an afternoon meal of wood-fired pizzas and Prosecco.
Read more on Fathom: A Breathtaking Bird's Eye View of Ravello

Hotel Punta Tragara
Capri
What's to Love: It's perched atop the cliffs at the very end of the lovely, flower- and tree-ensconced pedestrian-only road and was sculpted out of the rock face and designed by Le Corbusier. The cavernous, arched ceilings create a tranquil and elegant space where modern and old world pieces are smartly combined. The terrace overlooks the famous Faraglioni rocks and the impossibly blue Tyrrhenian Sea.
Good to Know: October is a perfect time to go, tourist season would down, but the weather is still perfect.
Read More on Fathom: Love Letter to Hotel Punta Tragara

Hotel Santa Caterina
Amalfi
What's to Love: A cliffside hotel that may as well have been built for honeymooning. It's packed with couples who come for the breathtaking views, outdoor dining with live music, and a roof made from sprawling lemon trees.
Good to Know: You're on the main drag of the Amalfi Coast but will feel removed from the crowds. Elevators connect the hotel to the private beach and pool.

J.K. Place Capri
Capri
What's to Love: Oh sweet bay of Naples laid out before me, how lovely you look from this chic and serene perch on the hill. How far I feel from the crowds of Capri, how smart I feel that I found this vantage point.
Good to Know: As beautiful as the rooms are, get out of bed in the morning. The hotel's breakfast spread is a sight to behold.
Read more on Fathom: Love Letter to J.K. Place Capri

La Minerva
Capri
What's to Love: Fresh and affordable accommodations in pricey Capri. Signore Esposito, the owner, runs this sparkling gem with stunning sea views. Many rooms have grand terraces.
Good to know: Have breakfast on the rooftop patio for spectacular views. For a modest fee, you can use the pool at the neighboring hotel, which is owned by Mr. Esposito's aunt. So Italian.

Le Sirenuse
Positano
What's to Love: Everybody adores this classic hotel. Is it the effect of drinking a bottle of rose while sitting in your bathrobe on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean? The epic views from this hillside hotel? The breakfast on the terrace followed by a lazy day in a shaded pool cabana?
Good to Know: If you're squeamish, don't drive. Get a driver, and schedule a stop in Pompeii. Take the boat to Capri and enjoy drinks in a cave on the beach.

Palazzo Avino
Ravello
What's to Love: The former Palazzo Sasso is truly divine — like you died and went to Amalfi heaven. The best part is the service: truly impeccable. Discreet and exactly what you'd expect when you're spending a month's salary on four nights. Be careful with the room you reserve: Cheaper rooms aren't worth the savings.
Good to Know: Breakfast on the terrace is lovely. Be sure to bring along a Hermès or Etro bikini so you fit in at the swimming pool.

Parco dei Principi
Sorrento
What's to Love: Giò Ponti designed the hotel and swimming pool. The garden is one of the most romantic and mature in all of Italy. Beach is sophisticated and quiet with great food.
Good to Know: Bring a camera and meet the owner to visit the old palazzo.

Villa Tre Ville
Positano
What's to Love: If you've ever fantasized about dating — or being — Marcello Mastroianni, you can take dolce vita dreams to the next level by checking into the Amalfi Coast cliffside estate that was the home of legendary Italian director Franco Zeffirelli (yes, the one who did Romeo and Juliet, speaking of romance...). He spent decades restoring and designing the cliffside property so every striking detail is infused with drama, resulting in spaces that look like Italian and Moroccan stage sets and rooms named for pals like Maria Callas and characters like Tosca. Aperol spritzes appear out of nowhere, the swimming is fabulous, and the hotel's skiff will whisk you off to Da Adolfo for lunch or to Positano for a pizza at the drop of a hat.

APULIA

Masseria Torre Coccaro
Apulia
What's to Love: A sexy boutique hotel with major amenities — a great beach club; a nice spa; olive groves; sun-drenched, white-washed love nests; it's like staying on an old olive plantation mere steps from Bari's scenic towns.
Good to Know: As for the room with the private hot tub and patio: It's the sexy business. Order pasta at the beach club. So delicious.

Your own private villa. Photo courtesy of Villa Feltrinelli.

LAKE GARDA

Lefay Resort & Spa
Gargnano
What's to Love: It's a fantasy place to relax. You'll love their amazing spa with their super treatments, the view from the outdoor warm water pool over the Garda Lake, and the restaurant's very efficient and friendly staff.

Villa Feltrinelli
Lake Garda, Italy
What's to Love: Lake Garda may not be as well known as Lake Como, and that's all the better for you if your idea of amore involves a sumptuous, 19th-century lakefront villa with a long (and at times notorious) history. Much as you'll want to gaze into each other's eyes, you might be distracted by the restored antiques, the centuries-old lemon trees, and the Michelin-starred meal on the pergola. Don't fight it. You're in Italy: You're supposed to be in love with everything you see.

LAKE COMO

Il Sereno
Lake Como
What's to Love: Set on the shores of Lake Como, this Patricia Urquoila-designed property is all stone and glass — elements that won't compete with the surrounding natural beauty. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalist furnishings to maximize the views. The infinity pool is a thing of beauty, as is the hotel's fleet of classic boats that were handcrafted by local artisans and boat-making legend Daniele Riva and feature the old-school aesthetics of classic lake boats updated with Urquoila's chic fabrics and finishes.

LAZIO

La Scelta di Goethe
Rome
What's to Love: Three still under-the-radar apartments in a restored historic building in the heart of the city feel like the home of a Roman royal than the usual luxury hotel. Rich tapestries and Florentine artwork merge seamlessly with the latest technologies like loaded iPads in every guest room.
Good to Know: The suite Trinita dei Monti has sweeping terraces, a well-stocked library, and a rooftop soaking pool. The very recipe for romance.
Read more on Fathom: Rome's Hot New Hotel Is a Poet's Old Home

Photo courtesy of La Scelta di Goethe.

LIGURIA

Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi
Camogli
What's to Love: Simple and charming with a wonderful view and the freshest fish.
Good to know: Ocean facing rooms are more expensive, but that's what you're here for.

Hotel Splendido
Portofino
What's to Love: The brilliant pink bougainvillea that blooms just off your terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. They don't tolerate diving or splashing at the pool, so you're guaranteed a peaceful time.
Good to Know: Spend a day following the path on the nature reserve behind the hotel. You'll emerge in a nearby cove, have a refreshing aperitivo, the take a boat back.

Monte Pù
Castiglione Chiavarese
What's to Love: An agriturismo hideaway on a coastal mountaintop. You're in the middle of nowhere, staring at Elba and the fields around you.
Good to know: It's modest — no WiFi, no spa, no frills. But you'll immediately realize how beautiful simplicity can be. Rates, by the way, start at 40 €. You could move in.

MOLISE

Dimora Del Prete
Venafro
What's to Love: A grand private home tucked into the middle of the countryside. You'll feel like you took a trip back in time.
Good to Know: This is a clever, if unlikely, place to perch for excursions in the Abruzzo National Forest or en route from Northern to Southern Italy.

SICILY

Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea
Taormina Mare
What's to Love: A 19th century former has been transformed into a series of luxurious rooms and suites but still feels like an intimate home where every wish and detail is attended to. Linger over elaborate breakfasts of meat, cheeses, freshly baked breads, and delicious juices on the tropical terrace. The gardens afford secret spots to linger and watch spectacular sunsets before heading uphill to Taormina for cocktails at sister property Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo.
Good to Know: Complimentary boat trips — complete with snorkeling guides — are a wonderful way to explore the coastline and the crystal-clear Ionian Sea.
Read more on Fathom: Zone Out on the Beach in Sicily

Photo courtesy of Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea

Monaci delle Terre Nere
The slopes of Mt. Etna
What's to Love: A boutique hotel set on an old vineyard estate with about ten rooms. The pool is cut into steppes in Mt. Etna, and olives from the nearby trees bob in the pool. You can hike through their organic farm, getting lost under orange trees, or just sit on the mountain by the pool, staring off to the ocean in the distance.
Good to Know: The double deluxe Floreale has a terrace and a very cool modern bathroom with a big tub. Definitely eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel. The orange and grape juices, pressed from the estate's orchards, are fantastic.

TREVISO

Hotel Villa Cipriani
Asolo
What's to Love: The verb asolare means to pass time in an agreeable and purposeless way. Combined with the mountain air and delightful surroundings, what more could you hope for from a romantic weekend? Despite being tucked away north of the Veneto, the views from Villa Cipriani rival that of any hill town in Tuscany. The breakfast on the terrace of room 102 is especially great, if you arrive in the dark the night before.

TUSCANY

Castello di Casole
Casole d'Elsa
What's to Love: The hotel is sincere, rich in heritage and modern comforts, and not in the least bit pretentious. The pool deck, carved into a hillside, is a great perch from which to sip Prosecco and enjoy sweeping views of the countryside, a beautiful tapestry of greens and taupes. In the restaurant, flavors are proudly local and the staff is superbly attentive. All of which make the perfect backdrop for pressing the pause button and cherishing each other.

Castiglion del Bosco
Montalcino
What's to Love: A working wine estate owned by Massimo Ferragamo and the definition of a luxury resort. From suites in the borgo to the restored rustic villas in the countryside, the design and attention to detail is impeccable. You could check in and never leave, as the estate has everything: several delicious restaurants, a luxurious day spa, and extensive grounds.
Good to Know: Rent a car to explore the breathtaking countryside, unless you only want to soak up the Tuscan dolce vita full time at the estate.

J. K. Place
Florence
What's to Love: On Piazza Santa Maria Novella and a few blocks from the Duomo. The façade may not look like much, but you'll find the best of old-meets-new world inside. Great DVD library, helpful staff, gorgeous rooms, and a selection of warm tarts, tea, fruit and orange juice in the lobby.
Good to Know: You're a few steps from Garga, one of the best restaurants in Florence.

La Bandita
Val D'Orcia
What's to Love: You drive through the Tuscan countryside and finally make it to the top of a hilltop. Your destination: a modern farmhouse with stunning views, a pool, and hipster touches like a great library and music collection. This is isolation at its best.
Good to know: The charming American owner, John Voigtmann, is a former music exec who runs this place like a country getaway for friends.
Read More on Fathom: John Voigtmann's Innkeeper's Tales

Locanda Dell'Amorosa
Sinalunga
What's to Love: The name translates as "the inn of the lovers" for good reason. The cypress-lined drive, the amazing restaurant, the countryside setting amid gently rolling hills. In the 1300s the space was largely stables. Today, it's your basic Tuscan fantasy come true.
Good to Know: Bring a bathing suit for the pool.

Poggio Etrusco
Montepulciano
What's to Love: An adorable, inexpensive B&B in the Tuscan countryside with a kitchen garden to get lost in. Guests are free to pick anything they desire and each room comes with a stocked pantry.
Good to know: Arrange a cooking class with the owner and cookbook author, Pamela Sheldon Johns, and have her plan your Tuscan food adventures.

St. Regis Florence
Florence
What's to Love: The location overlooking the Arno. The 15th-century building designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The antique furniture, art, and fixtures. The authentic Italian grandness that isn't at all stuffy.
Good to Know: The beds are pretty inspiring, too.
Read More on Fathom: Love Letter to the St. Regis Florence.

Villa San Michele
Fiesole
What's to Love: Set high on a hillside overlooking the red roofs of Florence. Have a leisurely lunch at their Loggia restaurant and try not to faint while passing by the giant blue and lavender hydrangeas spilling out of the potted plants near the entry. Yes, they're real.
Good to Know: You ge the far-away Tuscan feel with the benefit of being close to Florence's museums, restaurants, and shops.

VENETO

Aman Canal Grande
Venice
What's to Love: The 24-room hotel inside Palazzo Papdopoli dates back to 1555, home to the count and countess who now live on the top floor. The opulent palatial interior features a labryinth of elegant rooms, neo-baroque library, reading nooks, and a vast salons in a variety of styles.
Good to Know: Have dinner on the piano nobile, the most elegant floor in the palazzo home.
Read More on Fathom: Cinderella for a Night in Venice

Ca Sagredo
Venice
What's to Love: If you could go back in time and be the Venetian noble — with the masks, the illicit affairs, the incredible home overlooking the Grand Canal — this is what your life would look like. Check in to live the fantasy.
Good to Know: The hotel, which has always been a noble family's palazzo, is a master class in Venetian art. Those paintings are by Nicolò Bambini, Giambattista Tiepolo, and Pietro Longhi.

Il Palazzo
Venice
What's to Love: Yes, the Danieli is divine, but we prefer the more private — and ridiculously sumptuous — charms of this canal-front hotel that's at once in the middle of the Venice insanity yet totally removed from it.
Good to Know: The rooftop bar has outstanding views. Make breakfast last for hours.

Relais La Magioca
Verona
What's to Love: Beautiful country house with cozy, tasteful rooms. A morning walk through the surrounding terraced vineyards is magical.
Good to Know: There's a tiny ivy-covered Romanesque chapel on the grounds — should nuptial thoughts cross anyone's mind.

The Gritti Palace
Venice
What's to Love: One of Venice's most incredible places, now a Luxury Collection Hotel, with striking views, an esteemed history, an incredible Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Spa.
Good to Know: It's not all classic Venice: The massive Donghia suite sets the mood with black-and-white snapshots of disco days and boogie nights, dramatic chandeliers, groovy '70s sconces, a massive marble bathtub, and, of course, a butler.
Read More on Fathom: In Love and in Venice

Villa Feltrinelli
Gargnano
What's to Love: Gorgeous lakeside villa lavishly restored in 1997. Modern and traditional at the same time. Beautiful antiques, Wi-Fi, and an unbelievable view.
Good to Know: Heated marble floors to keep your feet toasty in the cool weather.

UMBRIA

Eremo delle Grazie
Umbria
What's to Love: In an monastery in the hills, crooked hallways are filled with furniture, framed maps, and drawings collected over the centuries. Ten frescoed monk cells have been converted into suites named after Italian friars. There's a library of old books, a parlor, and a walking path in the woods.
Good to Know: You can rent out the entire place as a retreat or couple up and pretty much have the place to yourself. Umbrian specialties are served on a terrace overlooking the town of Spoleto below.
Read more on Fathom: You Can Have Your Birthday Party at This Ancient Italian Monastery, But First You Have to Find

Photo by Jeralyn Gerba.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

The World's Most Romantic Hotels

Contributors: Caryl Chinn, Sonya de Castelbajac, Harold Dieterle, Christina DiLaura, Deirdre Dolan, David Feige, Julia Herr, Olga Katsnelson, Stephanie March, Lorenzo Merlo, Christina Ohly, Annie Ojile, Jill Paris, Nathalie Sann, Kerry Saretsky, Alyssa Shelasky, Sharon Thomas-Counce, Angela Tribelli, Brette Warshaw.

A Hotel Renovated with Ultimate SoCal Vibes

In the City of Angels, the name of the game is maxing and relaxing. Look no further than the newly renovated Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, where there's a world-class fitness center, excellent restaurant, killer views of the Pacific, and good vibes.

CHECKING IN

Overview

Set at the edge of Santa Monica — with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean in the distance — the Fairmont Miramar Hotel feels like a real Hollywood hideaway due to its unique bi-level bungalows and leafy surroundings. You'd typically have to stay much further inland, in Beverly Hills or Bel-Air, to achieve this kind of blissful seclusion.

Upon arrival, I was whisked past a truly enormous fig tree and into a world of manicured gardens, Exhale spa treatments, and delicious meals at the light-filled FIG — the hotel's destination-worthy restaurant where LA power brokers do deals over breakfast. The Miramar is an ideal spot for a romantic rendezvous, families who want beach proximity, or anyone doing business in West LA. I left feeling completely rested and refreshed after just two days.

What's New

The hotel's 32 bungalows — four being bi-level suites suitable for families — have just seen a complete renovation courtesy of LA-based interior designer Michael Berman. Past the amorphous swimming pool, these soothing spaces are tucked away at the back of the hotel property and have a minimalist, modern aesthetic, offering every possible amenity. Built in 1938, the bungalows have stood the test of time and are still incredibly cool: a new, lightly colored palette, natural wood finishes, and mid-century modern furnishings and light fixtures make each of these bungalows feel like a comfortable home away from home.

What's on Site

The Miramar is a self-contained campus that you'll likely never want to leave. Between an expansive fitness center, excellent chopped salads, and the spacious accommodations complete with private terraces and balconies, a stay here feels like a sweet escape.

A shaded swimming pool area offers a lively scene in the summer months and all of the sun umbrellas feature festive Villebrequin patterns. The fitness center deck overlooking the pool is an ideal spot for stretching and morning sun salutations. Anyone in search of an exercise class will be spoiled for choice at Exhale on the ground level. Starlets flock here for the rigorous Core Fusion Barre + Cardio classes, but there is something for everyone. I highly recommend Flow Yoga for less committed types.

The parking valets are top-notch, which is everything in car-centric LA. The concierge team is happy to facilitate hard-to-score bookings at Bestia, the hopping Tower Bar, Gjelina in Venice, or Brentwood brunch staple Farmshop.

You'll never want (or have) to leave the premises.

Curl up with a good book with the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

The Food

There is nothing hotel-like about the food at Miramar. Head to FIG for Chef Yousef Ghailani's creative, Lebanese-inspired fare. I became a particularly big fan of the hearty breakfasts. The Santa Monica special with an egg white scramble, chicken-apple sausage, and fresh berries was delicious, as was the frittata packed with farmer's market vegetables and a piquant tomatillo-avocado salsa. Say yes to a bountiful California breakfast.

How's this for a nice dining option: heated terraces overlooking the property. Because my room was so cossetting, I once opted for a room service dinner and was delighted by the delicious simplicity of a seared tuna Niçoise salad with a side of perfectly crisp fries. There are so many excellent culinary finds within walking distance of the hotel that it's absolutely necessary to get out and explore, but one could happily subsist on the excellent fish tacos and well-executed hamburgers for at least a week without leaving the hotel.

In the Room

The Miramar is comprised of 302 rooms but it somehow manages to feel intimate and not the least bit chain-like.

The Bungalows feature enormous king-sized beds swathed in crisp white linens, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and bar carts. As the iconic bungalows were just redone last summer, everything is spotless — the wood floors, neutral carpets, even the comfortable Danish modern-inspired chairs sprinkled throughout the living room areas. All of the rooms are set up for people who work: easy Internet access, multiple power sources, and good task lighting.

In addition, it should be noted that the Bungalows are attended to morning, noon, and night. I stress-tested the system when I locked myself out of the top floor bathroom at 3 a.m. As it has a heavy door with a dead bolt lock that I somehow managed to click in the wrong direction, I worried that I wouldn't be able to gain access to my contact lenses, valuables, and assorted toiletries for hours. One call to maintenance and two workers were at my doorstep in a matter of minutes. Problem solved.

Room with a View

I was upgraded to the spectacular Bungalow 24 — a bi-level room (a house, really) — complete with a sitting room and bathroom downstairs, and a bedroom, bath, and outdoor terrace upstairs. This patio, with its wicker and bright canvas couches, proved difficult to leave, as my views of swaying palm trees and the sea were so relaxing. Bungalow rates range from $900 to $5,000 per night, with the Presidential Suite being the swankiest of the inventory. I toured this space — a 3-bedroom combination — and it is also perfectly set up for families, with plenty of doors, separate bathrooms, and no stairs in sight.

I also stayed in the main part of the hotel on a separate visit, in one of the 400-square-foot Palisades rooms. The spaces offer great value for money, as well as little wet bar/kitchen areas that are perfect for extended stays. As with all of the rooms at Miramar, they are quiet. The hotel seems to draw a mellow, early-to-bed crowd. But be sure to request one of the freshly updated rooms in this newly updated hotel.

This Place Is Perfect For

Families, business travelers who want peace and quiet as well as excellent Wifi, couples looking for a romantic escape, and anyone in need of a good workout/detox.

But Not So Perfect For

Anyone looking to rage, although you can find a party scene at the adjacent Bungalow lounge and bar at the far edge of the hotel property. This indoor/outdoor club has a SoCal vibe and is hopping from 5 p.m. onward, but doesn't create noise or impact hotel guests in any way. The Chateau Marmont this hotel is not!

Tiki party anyone? Grab a drink at the bar and chill out on the patio.

CHECKING OUT

Neighborhood Vibe / Natural Surroundings

The Santa Monica Pier has easy bike rentals (making it great for families), and people-watching in nearby Venice Beach. The Santa Monica Farmer's Market is a hit, too, with pony rides and insanely tasty tacos.

The 3rd Street promenade area has all of the basics: a mega-plex movie theatre, bookstores, and chain restaurants. There are also smaller, niche shops — Fred Segal, for one — that shouldn't be missed.

I still love Ivy by the Shore for upscale pizzas, the best chopped salad in town, and ice cream sundaes that remind me of my youth. At Shutters on the Beach just down the street, the lively bar and cafe are great places to get a drink and watch the scene-y LA world go by. If you're feeling like something simple, Joan's on Third makes an excellent, affordable breakfast as does the iconic Cora's Coffee Shoppe across Ocean Avenue. Be sure to sit outside under the trellis and sip one of the best ice coffees ever. Cora's huevos rancheros deserve a shout-out as well.

Huckleberry remains a lunch favorite for excellent salads and inventive sandwich combinations and nearby Montana Avenue is full of great takeaway options. Menchies — the ultimate DIY frozen yogurt bar — brings out the kid in everyone, while dinners of hamachi crudo and housemade pappardelle at Aestus are to be savored by an adult crowd. Gjusta in Venice — the bakery and deli from Gjelina chef Travis Lett, is completely worth the wait. The homemade buttermilk biscuits, breakfast mushroom bowls, and the porchetta melt are to die for.

Worth traveling a bit further afield: Shoppers will love The Elder Statesman for exquisitely hip cashmere in a bungalow-like setting, as well as the funky-chic RTH — a hybrid shop full of one-off leather goods, ceramics, and incense that wafts down La Cienega Boulevard.

Brentwood Country Mart is another favorite, with delicious lunches at Farmshop a must. Jenni Kayne sells beautiful sweaters and suede boots, while Poppy Store offers a carefully curated selection of hip kids clothing. Edelweiss Chocolates is always a good idea, too!

There is so much happening on the cultural front in LA right now, it is making New York and London look tame. Don't miss the Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium exhibit at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art that will be co-curated with The Getty. The Broad is worth the hype to see the Diller Scofidio + Renfro-designed spaces. Recharge at Otium next door for a delicious meal by French Laundry vet Timothy Hollingsworth.

Pamper yourself in this plush bungalow space.

Good to Know

You might end up saving money by just using Uber vs. renting a car and paying for all of the parking. Uber is incredibly affordable in LA and they're everywhere, instantaneously. If you're doing serious distance driving, then hire one from the affordable Midway in Santa Monica. They'll pick up and deliver to your hotel, no hassle.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

How to Get There

Los Angeles International Airport is 20 minutes away with no traffic. Be sure to hit the In-N-Out Burger that is literally feet from the airport runway because nothing says "Welcome to Cali!" like a double burger, no bun.

Getting Around

This is LA — a car of some kind is essential.