Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort

Accommodations along California's gorgeous Big Sur can have a hard time living up to the spectacular natural surroundings, but not Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort. Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines routinely rank it among the world's finest hotels. The resort specializes in thoroughly rewarding incentives, corporate retreats, and other intimate meetings for 8 to 20 executives.

Each of the 59 guest rooms and suites features a deck or patio; most have fireplaces. The rustic low-slung cedar exteriors of the accommodations belie a world of luxury within, including Egyptian cotton bedding, plasma TVs, and Bose surround-sound systems.

Hiking takes center stage at Big Sur, with hundreds of miles of world-class trails. (The Coast Ridge Trail begins right behind Ventana's fine dining restaurant, Cielo.) A hiking concierge even matches hikes to guests' abilities.