Claremont Club and Spa, A Fairmont Hotel 41 Tunnel Road • Berkeley • California 94705

The brilliant white, castle-like Claremont Club and Spa, A Fairmont Hotel has been a Bay Area landmark since 1915 when it debuted. Spread over 22 acres, the hotel is set high in the Berkeley Hills and commands one of the best views in the Bay Area. Along with its panoramic vista, the hotel’s grand design, fragrant rose gardens and luxurious amenities have made it a perennial favorite, drawing admirers from around the globe. A long list of presidents, Hollywood stars and other famous guests have stayed here. Among them was architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who proclaimed the Claremont “one of the few hotels in the world with warmth, character and charm.” We tend to agree. After all, could the esteemed Mr. Wright be wrong?

The Claremont boasts a 20,000-square-foot fitness center, Pilates studio, and lap pool. You’ll definitely want to spend some time being pampered at Spa Claremont, which offers packages that include various types of massage, facials, hairstyling, manicures, pedicures and makeup application.

You’ll find an atmosphere of relaxation in the Claremont’s guestrooms. All feature plush bathrobes and slippers, cable TV, video-game consoles and high-speed Internet access. Many also provide exceptional views of San Francisco Bay.