Ledson Hotel

"Remarkably, this hotel in California’s wine country feels as historic as its nineteenth-century neighbors—the landmark Sonoma Plaza, which it fronts, and the Sonoma Mission, one block away. From the inlaid-walnut floors to the ornate dentil molding, every painstaking detail recalls the era of Edith Wharton. Hotel owner Steve Ledson, known locally for the lavish 16,000-square-foot Gothic castle he designed and built for his winery’s headquarters, cut no corners in this six-room inn. The brick-thick beveled-glass doors to your private balcony hermetically seal out street noise, and pulling back the weighty silk drapery and duvets actually takes some muscle. Touches of modernity include in-room whirlpool tubs, chandeliers on dimmers, and the Zina Hyde Cunningham tasting room, where you can load up on some premium vino."