Advertisement

Travel & Experiences
Advertisement
Photo collage of a car moving fast in front of a motel and an inset photo of an array of photos and brochures for a motel

I went on a 2,500-mile search for the greatest motels in California. Here’s what I found

The roadside motel, an innovation conceived in California, turns 100 this year. Travel writer Christopher Reynolds went looking for its birthplace — and its future.

Photo collage of a California mountain and sea view, dinosaur sculpture and mural art
For Subscribers

8 essential roadside attractions in California — giant dinosaurs, a mystery spot and more

A man (actor Eugene Levy) sitting in a plastic chair against a brick wall outside of a motel

5 fascinating facts about motels, from murders and movies to Magic Fingers

photo collage of a motel sign reading "Trixie Motel" near a pool with chairs, and two women loading their SUV
For Subscribers

The 34 coolest, kitschiest, most fascinating motels in California

Animated type reading "HIKE L.A." floats against wispy clouds and blue sky above a rocky hilltop.
For Subscribers

The 70 best hikes in L.A.

Collage of motel keys in door locks and door hangers with small line illustrations of various things like a cactus and plane

It’s the summer of the motel. An epic guide to the best roadside havens in California

New Airbnb offerings include its reimagined Experiences program and a redesigned app that lets customers book services, experiences and homes in one place.

Dance with a K-pop star? Wrestle a luchador? Airbnb to offer 22,000 experiences

LOS ANGELES -- APRIL 27, 2025: The crowd building at the Outfit Repeater LA popup outside LAMILL Coffee on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Inside the buzzy closet sale for L.A. fashion ‘it’ girls

Early Disney Imagineering maps show the ‘lost lands’ of Disneyland, new book reveals

Meet the hiker bringing off-roading wheelchairs to L.A.

Neighborhood Guides

For Subscribers

This must be downtown L.A.

Elysian Valley title typography
For Subscribers

This must be Elysian Valley (a.k.a. Frogtown)

Venice handwritten typography
For Subscribers

This must be Venice

West Adams title calligraphy
For Subscribers

This must be West Adams

Culver City title
For Subscribers

This must be Culver City

Burbank in calligraphic script
For Subscribers

This must be Burbank

Compton illustrated typography over a mural of Nipsey Hussle
For Subscribers

This must be Compton

Eagle Rock written in typographic script

This must be Eagle Rock

Santa Monica title in handwritten scrawl
For Subscribers

This must be Santa Monica

typographic treatment of 'Beverly Hills' title
For Subscribers

This must be Beverly Hills

West Hollywood written in typographic style
For Subscribers

This must be West Hollywood

For Subscribers

This must be Larchmont

For Subscribers

This must be Topanga Canyon

Chinatown in handwritten script
For Subscribers

This must be Chinatown

For Subscribers

This must be the Arts District

handwritten typography: Pacific Palisades
For Subscribers

This must be Pacific Palisades

Mid City title typography
For Subscribers

This must be Mid-City

This must be Silver Lake
For Subscribers

This must be Silver Lake

This must be Manhattan Beach
For Subscribers

This must be Manhattan Beach

This must be Monterey Park
For Subscribers

This must be Monterey Park

Los Feliz title
For Subscribers

This must be Los Feliz

For Subscribers

This must be Atwater Village

Newsletters

Things to do this weekend

Advertisement

The Latest

West Coast Experiences

Advertisement

Where to go

Advertisement