6 Best Hotels in North County and Around, California

Owners Laura and Mike Wieters opened the most romantic private winery estate in Temecula to bring exclusivity, perfection, and a splash of Burgundy to the heart of Temecula. A variety of award-winning estate wines produced on-site by Mike, large soaking tubs, posh decor, marble walk in showers, and a full organic breakfast (delivered to your room) await guests. Enter the impressive front gate and prepare to be awed with manicured gardens and a stone mansion connecting their main residence to three private guest suites, ranging in size from 400 to 600 square feet. While there’s no shared common area, privacy is pinnacle with each room having its own large walled garden with endless vineyard and mountain views. Bathroom amenities include an organic line of products infused with lavender and other herbs from the onsite garden. As an interior designer, Laura curated every inch of the elegant property, right down to the hand-painted floors; while Mike, an architectural designer and landscape architect who designed Domaine Chardonnay from the ground up, is also one of the top wine makers in the valley. Each morning, hot air balloons gently float by above the vineyard, meaning you capture the moment in the comfort of your bathrobe with a Nespresso in hand. A behind-the-vines tour and other tasting experiences are available upon request.

On a hill above town, this true country inn experience with a lodge and 12 Craftsman-style cottages offers luxurious accommodations decorated with antiques and original art complemented by sweeping views of the countryside; some of the cottage suites have fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, sitting areas, and private patios or balconies. Within the main lodge are slightly more affordable rooms with a coffee station shared between each floor. A library with games, books, movies, and a recreation area is great for young travelers. Guests gather in the late afternoon for wine, cookies, and hors d'oeuvres in the Great Room, where a fire blazes in the stone fireplace. A daily $30 credit can be applied to breakfast and cocktails. Surrounding the main lodge is a koi pond and meadow with a small creek, where wild turkey and deer come to graze. The hotel offers such activities as apple picking, biking, yoga, and horseback riding.

Built in 1897 by freed slave Albert Robinson and his wife, Margaret, this old hotel is Julian's only designated national landmark and the oldest continuously operating hotel in Southern California. The hotel offers antique-filled rooms with American period pieces, canopy beds, and handmade quilts. Cottage accommodations have private entrances, claw-foot tubs, and cast-iron fireplaces. Owners Steve and Gig Ballanger brought the old place into the 21st century, but it still feels thoroughly Victorian—afternoon tea is served and guests are invited to linger on the porch and watch the world go by. Complimentary full breakfast is served 8–9:30 in the parlor.

Coastal luxury meets Cape Cod practicality at this warm and friendly inn near the beach. Large, well-appointed guest rooms are furnished with king-size pillow-top mattresses, HDTVs, refrigerators, coffeemakers, and microwaves; the amenity fee ($22) includes underground parking, Wi-Fi, fitness center, a breakfast buffet, beach and pool amenities, and milk and cookies in the lobby. The attractive pool keeps kids happy, as does ping pong and playing board games in the library.

Best known for its herd of llamas and goats, this cedar-and-brick inn is decorated with romantic furnishings and offers themed guest rooms with fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs for stargazing. In 2020 a new owner stepped in and renovated rooms with hardwood floors, antique furnishings, footed tubs, and king-size beds. A nod to nature are manzanita handrails along garden pathways and sustainability efforts to make the hotel completely off-grid. From the "Dreamcatcher" room with Navajo decor, to "Shady Lady" designed burlesque style, take your pick from a variety of styles. For more space, request "Willow," which sleeps up to four people.