Hotel at a Glance: Olympia Lodge

This old-fashioned lodge on California’s Monterey Peninsula feels secluded, yet it’s within walking distance of almost everything that draws vacationers to the area. It’s adjacent to the West Coast’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse and a five-minute walk from the beach and coastal walking trails. A half mile to the north is an 18-hole golf course, and a half mile to the southeast are downtown Pacific Grove’s galleries, shops, and restaurants.

• Where you’ll stay: guest rooms feature hypo-allergenic comforters, refrigerators, and coffeemakers.
• Wooden furniture and exposed beams lend charm to rooms.
• Distance from the coast: about half a mile

Pacific Grove, California: Sleepy Coastal Town Next to Monterey

The oceanfront town of Pacific Grove shares its central California peninsula with the city of Monterey, but is far more serene than its cosmopolitan neighbor. Rows of Victorian houses line the streets, deer wander through residential areas, and thousands of butterflies congregate here during their southerly migration. Travel + Leisure named Pacific Grove one of America’s Best Little Beach Towns, noting that the beach is better suited for surfing and kayaking than swimming. Stroll the pathway that winds along the rocky shore, taking in the many native plants and bird colonies that make their homes on the 3-mile stretch.