Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort

What the classifiers highlight

Founded by writer Lawrence Spector with profits from Easy Rider, Big Sur's original luxury resort was reimagined in 2017 across 243 acres, adults-only and built from weathered cedar into fifty-nine suites and villas. Wood-burning fireplaces, a Japanese bathhouse and Spa Alila fill in the gaps, and Sur House cooks with Central Coast ingredients. MICHELIN awards it two Keys.