California: Check in on autumn colors

California’s fall colors don’t get enough respect. As a traveler, that can work to your advantage, keeping rates reasonable and traffic to a minimum. In fact, October might be the most beautiful time to visit the state’s rustic retreats.

Looking for lodging that suits the season? The California Assn. of Boutique & Breakfast Inns offers these suggestions:

Sorensen’s Resort, south of Lake Tahoe, offers 165 acres of prime aspen and pine forest for fishing, hiking and bicycling. Most of the cabins have wood-burning fireplaces and kitchens and some cabins are pet-friendly. The resort also offers a traditional wood-fired sauna and a full service restaurant serving its signature cool-weather dish: beef burgundy stew. One of the best drives showcasing the golden foliage is from the top of Carson Pass on Highway 88 to the top of Luther Pass on Highway 89.

Donner Lake Inn in Truckee, also near Tahoe, is nestled in over an acre of pine, maple and aspen trees. Guest rooms feature forest views with window benches or decks overlooking the trees. All rooms also feature gas fireplaces. The inn serves hot spiced apple cider and homemade pumpkin spice cookies or breads each afternoon and there is an outdoor hot tub for soaking up the forest views.

At El Colibri Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paso Roles, large, modern guest rooms feature fireplaces, luxury linens, deep soaking or Jacuzzi tubs, HDTV, complimentary underground parking, Wi-Fi, daily spa access, and continental breakfast. For the fall season, guests of the hotel can enjoy 20% off their choice of spa services and a complimentary bottle of wine.

The Tudor-style Benbow Historic Inn, in Garberville, is another Humboldt County option. It features golf, fine dining, an extensive wine list and an Autumn Temptation Special for enjoying the fall colors a little longer. Stay two nights at the inn and get the third consecutive night free when booking select historic rooms.

The cottages at Nick’s Cove, at Tomales Bay, 50 miles north of San Francisco, feature plush down comforters, wood-burning stoves, and burnished wood and leather accents. The bay is flanked by rolling hills of golden grasses and dotted with fir trees, mossy oaks and redwoods. To experience the fall colors from the water, Nick’s Cove has created two packages incorporating either a morning kayak paddle or a sunset sail on a private catamaran.

In the rural Sierra Foothills near Placerville, Eden Vale Inn is an ideal destination for enjoying fall colors and the harvest season of the Apple Hill Growers Assn. Apple Hill has more than 50 ranches, farms, wineries, and bake shops that are just a short drive from the inn. The foliage in the area begins to turn in October and peaks within the first three weeks of November. The inn features acres of gardens, an outdoor firepit, spa room, gourmet breakfasts, and luxurious guest rooms with fireplaces.

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chris.erskine@latimes.com