New Year, New Travel Options: Exciting Hotel Openings and Developments Along the West Coast
A Beachy La Bahia
Santa Cruz’s newest beachside hotel, La Bahia, is set to open this summer on Beach Street near the wharf. The hotel features 155 guest rooms, a Champagne lounge, and a surf culture-meets-luxe resort vibe. Guests can enjoy chaises and umbrellas on the beach, a "beach butler," a spa complete with sauna and views, and four new restaurants including the Pacific Rim-inspired High Tide, Low Tide Bar & Grill, Pearl bar, and Plunge, a poolside cocktail bar.
Details: 215 Beach St. in Santa Cruz; https://labahiahotel.com and @labahiahotelandspa.
Columbia River Glamping
The Pacific Northwest is getting its own upscale Under Canvas resort this summer. Set on 120 acres of land in Washington’s White Salmon River Valley along the Columbia River Gorge, the new resort will be about an hour’s drive from Portland, Oregon. The resort features safari-inspired tents with king-size beds, private decks, and en-suite bathrooms with hot running water. Guests can enjoy West Elm furniture in the main lobby tent, daily yoga sessions on the patio, s’mores by the firepit, and an "adventure concierge." A cafe serving location-specific fare and picnics to go is also available.
Details: Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge will open May 29, and reservations (starting at $299 per night) are now open for the inaugural season; www.undercanvas.com.
Palm Springs’ Newest
The distinctive new Thompson Palm Springs hotel, which opened in October near the city’s Design District, will go even more glam in the new year. The 168-room hotel is a natural fit with this oh-so-mid-century-mod city in architecture, with bungalow-inspired rooms boasting views of the San Jacinto Mountains and cityscape. Throughout the complex, guests will find art by Indigenous artists, including a glass-tile mosaic on the hotel facade by Indigenous artist Jeffrey Gibson, whose appearance in the 60th Venice Biennale held earlier this year, was a first for the U.S. Pavilion.
The hotel’s Lola Rose Grand Mezze restaurant has been joined by Napa Valley’s HALL Wines, which opened a tasting room and wine lounge in November. A new Mediterranean restaurant, Bar Issi, will open in early 2025.
Details: Thompson Palm Springs rooms start at $550 per night. 414 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; www.hyatt.com and @thompsonpalmsprings.
A Chef’s Kiss Hotel — or Four
Hotel MOHI by Appellation, and its new sister property in Healdsburg, may be the exception, as they are run by a chef, Charlie Palmer. The hotel features 76 rooms and a 215-seat Charlie Palmer restaurant and bar, with ingredients sourced from the hotel gardens, small-batch coffee roasted on site, and wines from local vineyards. Other attractions include a bakery cafe, flower shop lounge, Terroir Spa, and craft classes.
Details: Appellation Healdsburg will open this summer at 165 Foss Creek Circle. Hotel Mohi is set to open this fall at 17490 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill; appellationhotels.com.
A Rebuilt Boat Shack in Marshall
West Marin’s much-loved Nick’s Cove restaurant and cottages are entering the new year with a new executive chef, Matt Alfus, and good news about the property’s historic Boat Shack. The Tomales Bay establishment dates back to 1931, when Nick and Frances Kojich moved several buildings – by barge – from their ranch on the west side of the bay to its eastern shore to create cottages and a seafood restaurant. The Boat Shack, which was destroyed by a fire at the end of the pier last January, will be rebuilt with vintage items courtesy of community donations.
Details: Nick’s Cove Restaurant is open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 23240 Highway One, Marshall; www.nickscove.com.
A Tunnel Top Mess Hall
A market hall, bar, and all-day cafe are coming to Presidio Tunnel Tops, the newest national park site in San Francisco, in 2025. Dubbed The Mess Hall, this will be the most ambitious food-related project to date for the popular park. Housed in a 6,200-square-foot building that dates back to 1897, the food hall will offer casual fare, takeaway-friendly picnic items, and craft cocktails to enjoy on an expansive patio with views of the Bay.
Details: The Mess Hall will be located at 201 Halleck St. at the Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco; www.messhallpresidio.com; @messhallpresidio.
Luxe Glamping in Guerneville
The Russian River will be getting a new luxe glamping resort this summer, when Shelter Co. unveils River Electric in Guerneville. The company is known for its luxury event production and is bringing its outdoorsy take on lodging to Guerneville. The resort features 40 glamping tents, two swimming pools, a bar, and restaurant.
Details: 16101 Neeley Road, Guerneville; @riverelectric
A Sunnyvale Treehouse
The U.K.’s five-year-old Treehouse Hotels will be opening its first U.S. property in Silicon Valley in March, bringing its outdoorsy take on lodging to Sunnyvale. No actual tree climbing required. Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley will offer 111 guest rooms when it opens – 254 by the time the hotel has been fully realized – with an emphasis on natural materials, cozy, rustic furnishings, and playful touches, such as colorful quilts and whimsical, embroidered pillows made by Coral & Tusk.
Details: 1100 N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale; www.treehousehotels.com/silicon-valley
Seattle’s RailSpur Sensation
This new microdistrict – dubbed RailSpur – in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square is transforming three historic brick-and-timber warehouses and surrounding alleys into a mixed-use community that includes offices, retail, and in 2025, a new boutique hotel and restaurants. The 120-room Hotel Westland will include a restaurant and rooftop bar with Puget Sound views. Death & Co is opening a new bar. And prolific Seattle chef and restaurateur Renee Erickson will open a trio of RailSpur eateries that include Lowlander Brewery, Un Po Tipsy Pizzeria, and a higher-end, as-yet-unnamed European-style restaurant.
Details: Seattle’s Hotel Westland is at 100 S. King St.; www.hotelwestlandseattle.com. Find more information about RailSpur at https://railspurseattle.com/.
Conclusion
The West Coast is offering a plethora of exciting new hotels, resorts, and dining experiences in the new year. Whether you’re looking for a beachside retreat, a luxurious glamping experience, or a trendy city hotel, there’s something for everyone.
FAQs
Q: What is the estimated opening date of La Bahia hotel in Santa Cruz?
A: The estimated opening date is this summer.
Q: What is the approximate cost per night of Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge resort?
A: The approximate cost per night is $299.
Q: What is the theme of the Thompson Palm Springs hotel?
A: The theme of the hotel is mid-century-mod architecture.
Q: What is the estimated opening date of Appellation Healdsburg hotel?
A: The estimated opening date is this summer.
Q: What is the capacity of Nick’s Cove Restaurant in Marshall?
A: The capacity is 215 seats.
