My husband and I often visit places that might not otherwise interest us, because a hotel, inn, or b&b really captures our imagination. (Favorite example: Pollywogg Holler in NW New York state) We have quite a few on our "must visit" list, but are always looking for more suggestions for unusual, quirky, memorable, and generally fabulous accommodations that don't get much press or that we might have missed. Both rustic and luxurious ideas welcome. A spot that combines both: even better. Your thoughts...?

The Sagamor on Lake George in the Adirondacks,NY is my favorite for being luxurious with a rustic setting.We stay in the lodges with fireplaces,a terrace and a view of the water,in fact,if you fell off the terrace and rolled downhill, you would land in Lake George! not that anyone has done this~Also, the Auberege Hatley is pretty great. C

The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California. Each room has a different theme. Great fun for a night or two (but change rooms if you stay for more than one evening). The cave room is a popular one.

I also have to mention the Hana Maui Resort. Remote - yes. Romantic - yes. The sea cottages have hard wood floors, kitchenettes and a hottub on your private deck overlooking the ocean.

Kara,
The Railway Inn in Yountville (Napa Valley) Calif.

Old railcars turned into hotel rooms. Large enuff to keep 2 bicycles (for cruising thru the vineyards and over the rolling hills) stored in them without tripping over them. And no phones! Ahhhhhh!

Kal

Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Beautiful place, right on the water with interesting history - mostly related to rock bands!

The Skywatcher's Inn in Benson, AZ comes with top-notch astronomy equipment, private astronomy lessons, a great area to explore, a really neat atmosphere (it's like a private house), and a good home-cooked breakfast.

The Chalfonte in Cape May, New Jersey.

It is a national landmark and the kind of place where families probably spent the whole summer. It has a wide verandah on two sides, with many many rocking chairs on it. It is Southern and Victorian in feeling. The price of a room includes a giant southern breakfast and a pleasant dinner served family style.

In its off season, it holds work weekends where people can sign up to help maintain the hotel--sewing curtains, painting walls, etc.

It had the same cook well into her nineties, and her cookbook is available there. It has eccentric southern charm.

The Inn At Ormsby Hill, Manchester, Vermont......try the Tower room. Check out the web site!!!

Ventana Inn in Big Sur. Very romantic with giant rooms, king size bed, fireplace, hot tub on deck. Great breakfasts, walk through the redwoods to get to great restaurant. Very pricey, but it's the best in my book.

For unique I'd have to say, The Big Sur Inn. Very funky and original and WoW on the breakfasts. The location is awesome.

The Cottages on Crystal Pier in San Diego. You stay in individual cottages right there on a pier. You can hear the waves under your room as you sleep.

The Inn at Depot Hill in Capitola-By-
The-Sea, California. An old train station - fabulous rooms with private outdoor tubs. Great breakfast.

The Graham Inn and Adobe Casitas in Sedona, Arizona. Not sure what the rooms in the inn look like, but the casitas are amazing. We stayed in the Purple Lizard this past September and thought it was one of the best, most romantic rooms we've ever been in.

I know this is the US board, but also have to mention Ladera in St. Lucia. Talk about memorable. Wow.
KathyH

The Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island off the southern coast of Georgia. It is the only place to stay on the entire island. Private beaches, great food, bicycles to tour the island, wild horses and colonial housing ruins.

The Monmouth Plantation in Natchez, Miss. One of the best places I've bever stayed. www.monmouthplantation.com

My wife and I enjoy the Motel 6 at exit 142 off of I-80 in Urbana, Illinois.The sheets are almost always clean and the McDonalds across the street oozes with interstate atmosphere.

The most quaint place we have ever stayed was The Chanticleer Guest House B&B in Door Co., Wisconsin.

It is an old farmhouse and barn built in 1915 and converted into 8 (I think) rooms.

They have beautiful grounds with walking/hiking trails and wildflowers. There is an outdoor inground pool and a sauna.

Breakfast is delivered to your room at the time that you choose. While we were there it was fresh coffee and juice, fresh baked muffins, yogurt with fresh blueberries--all WONDERFUL.

http://www.chanticleerguesthouse.com/

Check it out!

Door County is just lovely!

The most luxurious place that my husband and I have stayed at in North America is the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, BC (the west side of Vancouver Island). It is on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, is right beside a beach, has the nicest rooms I've ever been in and is terrribly romantic. Each room has a two person soaker tub that is up against a glass wall over looking your private deck and the ocean, there are candles with matches places beside them in the room, high power binoculars to whale watch with, a fireplace and a CD player complete with romantic CDs. The restaurant at the Inn was amazing. Other amazing places on Vancouver Island include the Aarie and the Sooke Harbour House. Check out www.wickinn.com

Wickaninnish Inn is in a beautiful setting and a luxurious facility. But if you don't like seafood, the restaurant is going to be a disappointment. I paid nearly $10 for a small bowl of soup - vegetarian. The restaurant is expensive for what you get.

xxx,

I'm surprised that you found the Wick's restaurant overpriced. We ordered the vegetarian fixed price dinner and, with the dollar exchange rate, found it to be pretty reasonable. However, if you were using Canadian dollars, I can understand the concern.