USA TODAY 10Best
Best Destination Resort: Readers crown C Lazy U Ranch
Best Destination Resort (2019)
Sometimes a hotel is simply a place to lay your head at night, and sometimes it's a destination in its own right. Each of these 10 U.S. resorts is totally travel-worthy, complete with plush accommodations, world-class dining, relaxing spa treatments and a host of indoor and outdoor activities – a complete vacation in a single package.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Destination Resort are as follows:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay - Half Moon Bay, Calif.
- Brush Creek Ranch - Saratoga, Wyo.
- Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina - Ko Olina, Hawaii
- The Resort at Paws Up - Greenough, Mont.
- The Broadmoor - Colorado Springs
- Stephanie Inn - Cannon Beach, Ore.
- Hidden Pond - Kennebunkport, Maine
- Brewery Gulch Inn - Mendocino, Calif.
- Ocean House - Watch Hill, R.I.
- C Lazy U Ranch - Granby, Colo.
Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
No. 10:
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay sits atop an oceanside bluff just 30 minutes from San Francisco. Guests enjoy access to two championship golf courses, an award-winning spa, hotel terraces with open fire pits (perfect for roasting s’mores), an indoor swimming pool, six lighted tennis courts and a kids program for young guests.
Photo courtesy of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
No. 9:
Award-winning Brush Creek Resort sits on 30,000 private acres of Wyoming's Platte River Valley and blends the allure of the American West with the sophistication and comfort of one of the world's best resorts. Activities include horseback riding, shooting sports, fly fishing, yoga, lawn games and an indoor arcade.
Photo courtesy of Christian Horan / Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
No. 8:
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, a five-star beach resort on Oahu's western coast, features 371 guest rooms, a Ted Robinson-designed golf course, full-service day spa, Hawaii's only deep-draft marina, tennis center, swimming pools and a beach where guests can go stand-up paddleboarding or take an outrigger canoe ride.
Photo courtesy of The Resort at Paws Up
No. 7:
Pristine wilderness and thoughtful luxury join forces to create an exquisite guest experience at The Resort at Paws Up. This Montana resort sits on a 37,000-acre working cattle ranch with a range of accommodations (from luxe private homes to glamping sites) and activities. Horseback riding is the signature experience, but guests can also mountain bike, fly fish, geocache or partake in an authentic Montana ranch activity.
Photo courtesy of The Broadmoor
No. 6:
The history of The Broadmoor — an iconic hotel in Colorado Springs — dates back to 1918 when it welcomed its first guests. John D. Rockefeller was the hotel's first celebrity guest, staying the night of June 1, 1918. Today, the 5,000-acre resort offers a full-service spa, three golf courses and a stellar hotel restaurant, The Penrose Room.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Inn
No. 5:
According to the folks at the Stephanie Inn, the 41 luxury guest rooms are just 28 steps from the beach. The exact number may vary, but Cannon Beach's iconic Haystack Rock looks like it's just outside the windows. Bonus amenities include gas fireplaces in every room and Jacuzzi Pure Air Baths, some of which enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean.
Photo courtesy of Kennebunkport Resort Collection
No. 4:
Hidden Pond, a resort nestled amid 60 acres of birch groves and balsam fir trees on the southern coast of Maine, invites guests to kick off their shoes and relax by the pool, the fireplace or an al fresco bar. Travelers who just can't stay still can go stand-up paddleboarding on Goose Rocks Beach, chat with the resort gardener, take a mixology class or hop on a shuttle into Kennebunkport for further exploration.
Photo courtesy of Brewery Gulch Inn
No. 3:
Brewery Gulch Inn sits on a bluff overlooking the dramatic Mendocino coast. Built from salvaged redwood, the Arts and Crafts style resort offers guests included meals made from locally-sourced, organic ingredients, an enormous great room with a glass and steel fireplace and guest rooms with ocean views and gas fireplaces.
No. 2:
Set atop a bluff overlooking the sea in Watch Hill, Ocean House offers an iconic New England seaside experience, complete with a full-service spa, Forbes Five Star-rated restaurant, a private beach with butler service, croquet lawn and squash courts. Daily resort activities include classes at the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts, movie screenings, sports clinics, morning fitness programs and guided tours of the resort property.
Photo courtesy of C Lazy U Ranch
No. 1:
The traditions of the American West are alive and well at C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado. This luxury guest ranch offers 43 rooms of varying sizes, including three bedroom cabins ideal for families. Visitors to this four seasons property can go horseback riding, practice cattle pushing, hike, mountain bike, cross country ski or go snowshoeing between hearty, family-style meals.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning resorts!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and... Read More
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pursuitist, one of the world’s most influential luxury lifestyle and travel guides. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today 10Best, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ 2023 list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.” In addition to Pursuitist, Christopher is a contributor to numerous travel and luxury publications and TV shows, including being the host of Travel Tuesday on CBS. Follow along on Twitter.
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pursuitist, one of the world’s most influential luxury lifestyle and travel guides. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today 10Best, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ 2023 list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.” In addition to Pursuitist, Christopher is a contributor to numerous travel and luxury publications and TV shows, including being the host of Travel Tuesday on CBS. Follow along on Twitter.
Eileen Ogintz
Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family... Read More
Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family travel, is the author of the Tribune Interactive syndicated column Taking the Kids that appears around the country, creator of the popular website TakingtheKids.com and co-chair of the TMS Family Travel Conference which draws top family travel influencers and major travel brands. She is the author of the 11-book Kids Guideseries; The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park is being released in April 2019. The Kid’s Guide to NYC is now in its 3d edition and The Kid’s Guide to Washington, DC the second edition.
Eileen Ogintz
Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family travel, is the author of the Tribune Interactive syndicated column Taking the Kids that appears around the country, creator of the popular website TakingtheKids.com and co-chair of the TMS Family Travel Conference which draws top family travel influencers and major travel brands. She is the author of the 11-book Kids Guideseries; The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park is being released in April 2019. The Kid’s Guide to NYC is now in its 3d edition and The Kid’s Guide to Washington, DC the second edition.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel... Read More
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music... Read More
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
