Califorina a Memorable Holiday

Quirky California Lodging Makes For A Memorable Visit

Sometimes a hotel is a place for weary travellers to rest their heads, at other times the humble hotel can be a holiday highlight. California has a wealth of unconventional and sometimes slightly eccentric accommodation options where the hotel is as much an experience as the destination.

About five hours north of San Francisco is the scenic Mount Shasta and visitors can really get amongst nature at the Fire Lookouts. These historic guard stations and work centres are located in remote areas and are occasionally used to house Forest Service employees. As the need for these accommodation declines, they are made available to the general public for just US$35 per night.

Memphis Tennessee may have Graceland, but Palm Springs has Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway. Visitors can stay in this quirky, mid-century modernism estate where Elvis and Priscilla Presley celebrated their honeymoon in May 1967. Or spend a night at Frank Sinatra’s glamorous estate Twin Peaks. In its day, the home was host to some of the valley’s most glamorous parties with Hollywood’s brightest stars, including Bob Hope, Joan Crawford, and even the reclusive Greta Garbo attending.

Campers looking for something a little out of the ordinary will love the floating campsite on Lake Oroville. The campsites are only accessible by powerboat and can accommodate up to 15 people and docking for three boats. All the regular campsite amenities are included such as a restroom, BBQ and picnic table.

In Long Beach, the historic Queen Mary makes for some unusual accommodations with its 307 original staterooms that span three decks, along with eight full suites, and room embellishments that vary to include rich wood paneling, Art Deco built-ins, original artwork and portholes for outside cabins. Those easily frightened should know the Queen Mary is said to be haunted.

Crackling fires, backcountry skiing, gourmet meals and local Californian wines…winter bunnies will love Rock Creek Lodge in the High Sierras. About five hours north of Los Angeles, the lodge is only accessible by snowmobile or cross country skies during the winter months. It provides easy access to 25-kilometres of cross country track, hiking trails and fishing.

Some of the best views of Big Sur are from the yurts at Treebones Resort. Yurts are a cross between a tent and a tepee – essentially they offer a camp-like experience with homey comforts. Treebones Resort has sixteen yurts perched on a ridge above Highway One with magnificent views over the Pacific Ocean

Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside brings a whole new meaning to falling asleep in church. Visitors to this historic landmark, built in 1798 and the largest of the California missions, not only experience this key part of California’s history, but are welcome to spend the night in the simple, yet peaceful rooms.

Travellers can spend a night aboard the longest-serving aircraft carrier in Navy history, the USS Midway, in downtown San Diego, two hours south of Los Angeles. The youth and family sleepover program includes tours, simulators, meals on the mess deck and sleeping in enlisted crew berths.

The Freedom Rose House Bed and Breakfast in Watsonville is a favourite with gourmands. The Queen Anne-style, 1880s-era inn boasts four ornate rooms and one suite. But the real treasure lies in the private onsite library, where guests with a passion for cooking can browse more than 10,000 cookbooks. These culinary tomes include recipes from the 1850s and books with titles such as Cooking for Nitwits and A Salute to cheese