There are few things more comforting than watching the Pacific Ocean from the warmth of a crackling fire. At The Stephanie Inn, that simple pleasure becomes reason enough to visit.

Set along the quieter southern end of Cannon Beach, the inn enjoys one of the area's most beautiful views, with Haystack Rock rising from the shoreline just beyond your window.

Some historic hotels preserve the past. Dromoland Castle allows you to step inside it. From the moment I arrived, I couldn't shake the feeling that this place had been quietly collecting stories for centuries.

Some hotels are a place to sleep after a day of sightseeing. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the destination itself. Perched along one of the most coveted stretches of Lake Como, the hotel feels almost suspended between the mountains and the water.

Some places are beautiful. Others feel as though they were created for romance. San Ysidro Ranch has quietly welcomed some of history's most notable guests—from Winston Churchill, who spent time writing there, to John and Jacqueline Kennedy, who chose it for their honeymoon.