
It's the summer of the motel. An epic guide to the best roadside havens in California
The motel, a word born in California, turns 100 this year. And for road trip adventurers, there have never been more options.You might stay at the legendary pink palace that is the Madonna Inn. Or Surfrider Malibu, where you can borrow a Mini Cooper and cruise along PCH. There's Sea & Sand Inn, which clings to a breathtaking Santa Cruz clifftop. And Pioneertown Motel, a charming desert outpost with Old West vibes.In this guide, we jangle our room keys to explore the greatest motels across the state. Along the way, we stop to discover cool vintage history, iconic restaurants and essential roadside attractions.
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Forbes
10 hours ago
- Forbes
Colorado: The Best State To Feel The Wild West, New Study Says
Horseback riders watch as aspiring ballet dancers frolic on a corral fence at a theater school in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which, a new study says, is the nation's No. 1 Wild West destination. (Photo by Dean Conger/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Colorado is the No. 1 state for travelers looking for the best Wild West experience, a new study says. Three cities and one town in Colorado finished in the top 5 of Wild West destinations, according to a study done by InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison website. The study analyzed 50 cities and towns in seven states that were once part of the Wild West and compared them based on various criteria, including average cost of ranch-style accommodations, number of hotels with horseback riding and number of nature and wildlife parks. Steamboat Springs, a small skiing town in Yampa Valley about 155 miles northwest of Denver, ranked first. It has 142 hotels that offer horseback riding and about 20 nature and wildlife parks in its small town, according to the study. Steamboat rated highly for ranch-style accommodations but at an expensive price: Nightly lodging averages $579 during high season. The town also has an average summer temperature of 63.9 degrees, which can be ideal, InsureMyTrip says, because horses prefer exercising in 53.6-66.2 temperatures. Tourists take a covered wagon ride in Durango, Colorado. (Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Colorado cities in the top 5 are No. 2 Durango, No. 3 Estes Park and No. 4 Colorado Springs. The non-Colorado locale in the elite five is No. 5 West Yellowstone, Montana. Besides Colorado and Montana, the study evaluated cities and towns in Arizona, California, Idaho, Texas and Wyoming. 'With more travelers looking to tap into their inner cowboy and explore the Great West, we wanted to make it easier to find the best spots for a true Wild West experience,' says Sara Boisvert, InsureMyTrip's marketing director. 'These destinations offer something special for anyone chasing that frontier feeling: horseback riding, ranch stays or just soaking in the scenery.' Durango, about 335 miles southwest of Denver and 220 miles north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, scored highly for number of lodgings with horseback riding, average cost of ranch-style accommodations and average temperature. The city is among the most affordable for lodging. It is known for its Victorian-era architecture and the scenic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The city has been a backdrop in more than 145 Western films, including The Revenant , The Mask of Zorro and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid . Estes Park, about 65 miles north of Denver and the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, scored highly in the study because of its ranch-style accommodations, affordable lodging and 10 nature and wildlife parks. Following No. 4 Colorado Springs and No. 5 West Yellowstone in the rankings are No. 6 Tucson, Arizona; a 7th-place tie between Granby, Colorado and Harrison, Idaho, and an 8th-place tie between Douglas and Cody, Wyoming. The Garden of the Gods attracts tourists year-round to Colorado Springs, one of the best cities, according to a new study, to experience the Wild West. Gary Stoller According to a March story in Vogue , 'a renaissance' of Western fashion and a Wild West travel trend have emerged. The magazine said the emergence can be atributed to Beyoncé's Grammy-winning Cowboy Carter album, the popularity of Western melodrama Yellowstone, Netflix's Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders docuseries and other factors. 'Dubbed cowboy-core, an increasing number of travelers are saddling up to visit destinations where 10-gallon hats are as common as caps and where ranches and rodeos reign,' the Vogue story said.


Los Angeles Times
25-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Aspen Anderson
Aspen Anderson is a summer intern reporting for the Los Angeles Times features desk. She recently graduated from the University of Washington with a double major in journalism and psychology. Anderson has worked as a statehouse reporter covering the 2024 Washington legislative session and interned with the news and lifestyle desks at the Bangkok Post in Thailand. She has also freelanced for the Seattle Times features section, contributing to the How-to-Seattle beat. She comes to The Times from the Everett Daily Herald, where she reported on breaking news and public safety. Her work has appeared in papers across Washington state, including Cascade PBS, the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber and more.


American Military News
17-05-2025
- American Military News
Yosemite National Park won't be opening its coveted High Sierra Camps this year. Here's why
The highly coveted High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park that have been closed since 2018 will remain closed this summer because potable water and toilets won't be available, according to park officials. 'This decision was made in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the utilities necessary to run the camps,' according to the park's website. 'Impacted guests have been contacted and can book alternate accommodations within the park and will be offered priority booking for next year's lottery.' Every year, more than 13,000 people stay at the Yosemite camps — five separate locations that offer various glamping amenities such as high-end meals and access to running water. Waste is recycled and composted and guests have access to either flush or solar-powered composting toilets, according to the park. Showers are available at May Lake and Sunrise Camps, depending on water availability. The cabins fully reopened for the last time in 2018 and opened on a limited basis during the summer of 2024. Only three of the camps welcomed guests and the camp's 56 tent cabins have mostly stayed closed because of COVID-19 restrictions and extreme weather. The Yosemite camps are spaced 6 to 10 miles apart along a loop trail and are open seasonally from June to September. Dates are heavily dependent on weather. Park visitors can book guided and unguided trips between the cabins. Guided trips are either five or seven days and include a guide and all three meals at each camp. Unguided trips are self-guided and include two meals, with sack lunches available for an additional fee. Visitors can enter a lottery for the 2026 season, which will open Nov. 1 and close Nov. 30 at the end of the day. Winners are notified by email. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.