LAND’S END RESORT
Homer, Alaska
Aptly named Land’s End sits at the tip of Homer Spit, a sliver of shore that cleaves through salt water for four miles. Seafood dives, frontier-style saloons, RV parks, T-shirt shops, and fishing charters line Homer Spit Road to the inn’s front door—but no matter. Your eyes will latch onto one of nature’s most awesome settings: the towering Kenai Mountains, glacier- and iceberg-strewn alpine lakes, and the rich fjords and high tides of Kachemak Bay. The inn’s Chart Room Restaurant and its deck showcase the panorama (and serve yummy halibut tacos). The tour desk arranges wilderness-adventure experiences, and the hotel’s Raven’s Nest Spa offers restorative treatments. You can walk to the Kachemak Bay Ferry for day trips to quaint Halibut Cove and its artists’ exquisite creations.
• Rates: $69–$220 for the 86 guest rooms; up to $400 for the 22 one- to four-bedroom lodges; 800/478-0400 or lands-end-resort.com.

BOARDWALK COTTAGES
Long Beach, Washington
After many vacations on the Long Beach Peninsula, Washingtonians Pat and Bill Turner bought run-down motel property here and transformed it into a travelers’ comfort zone. Two blocks from the beach, their 10-unit inn keeps getting better. A half-mile-long boardwalk parallels the stretch of “ocian” that dazzled Lewis and Clark 200 years ago. Inn guests can walk to beachside horseback-riding stables, the waterfront Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail, the peninsula’s lone movie theater, and many other attractions. All guest rooms have queen beds, and four units feature living areas, fireplaces, and full kitchens. Rooms include coffees from Long Beach Coffee Roasters, whose WiFi café sits behind the inn. Each morning, Pat bakes pumpkin scones, cinnamon buns, or other yeasty starters for guests to enjoy in their rooms.
• Rates: $69–$189; 800/569-3804 or boardwalkcottages.com.

CANNERY PIER HOTEL
Astoria, Oregon
Breathtaking water views dominate this port city’s newest boutique lodging. The lobby’s exposed beams and wide expanses of glass underscore waterfront drama the moment a guest walks in—or sits down to the complimentary Continental breakfast. Extending 600 feet into the Columbia River, the hotel stands atop century-old pilings where the Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Co. once processed salmon. The hotel’s design recalls that heritage, and the interior decor showcases local history. In contrast, 38 rooms and seven suites offer modern accommodations. The Pilot House penthouse guests enjoy two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area, private deck, and expansive river views. An on-site day spa, Finnish sauna, and exercise room keep guests relaxed.
• Rates: $149–$525; 888/325-4996 or cannerypierhotel.com.

L’AUBERGE CARMEL
Carmel, California
This oasis of comfort, privacy, and five-star cuisine may be the Pacific Rim’s best-kept secret. Surely not for long. Checking into one of 20 welcoming yet refined rooms, with hinged windows inviting sea-pine breezes and huge tubs atop a heated marble floor—what more could you ask for? Nothing, but if you can think of it, you’ll get it. It’s as though you’re the occupant of a fully staffed private estate. In L’Auberge’s 12-table restaurant (closed Mondays), Chef Walter Manzke presents an eclectic progression of gems from the land and sea, accompanied by impeccable tasting wines and top-notch service.
• Rates: $295–$545; 831/624-8578 or laubergecarmel.com.