Luxe List | America the Beautiful: 250 Years of Iconic Stays
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of people came together around a shared hope that a place built on freedom, possibility, and the pursuit of happiness could exist. What grew from that moment is a country of staggering contrasts and beauty: volcanic coastlines in Hawaii, mossy marshlands in South Carolina, the electric skyline of Manhattan, and the humbling peaks of Montana. Through all this country has been and is still becoming, it has always had something worth discovering. And this anniversary feels like the perfect moment to do exactly that. To explore it, appreciate it, and find wonder in it.
We believe the best way to honor a country is to truly experience it, and that means going beyond the familiar and leaning into the remarkable. So, in the spirit of this historic milestone, we've curated a collection of twelve extraordinary American properties that capture the soul of this nation in the most luxurious way possible.
These are places that go beyond offering a room and a view. They tell a story. They reflect the landscape they're set in, the history they carry, and the exceptional hospitality that makes American travel genuinely world-class. Consider this your passport to the best the USA has to offer.
The Boca Raton
📍 Boca Raton, Florida
Originally envisioned by legendary architect Addison Mizner in 1926, The Boca Raton has been captivating guests for nearly a century, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Nestled along Florida's stunning coastline between Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, the resort's rich Mediterranean Revival architecture and impeccably landscaped gardens create an atmosphere of historic opulence that feels entirely fresh following a remarkable recent renovation.
Spanning 200 waterfront acres, the property features five distinct hotel experiences, each with its own personality but unified by the resort’s signature elegance. The spa alone is worth the journey, and the overall property radiates what we'd call "great vibes" with full conviction. It's a resort where the walls genuinely could tell stories of decades of celebrations, quiet retreats, and moments guests never forget. For a list rooted in American heritage and excellence, The Boca Raton is a gem the East Coast can be proud of.
Recent Accolades: Recognized with Forbes Travel Guide’s coveted quadruple Five-Star distinction for its accommodations, spa, golf, and dining. They are one of only seven resorts worldwide and the only property in the Americas to earn the honor.
The Dunlin, Auberge Collection
📍 Johns Island, South Carolina
Opened in 2024, The Dunlin sits on a scenic island along the Kiawah River, deep in South Carolina's enchanting Lowcountry. Spanish moss drapes ancient oak trees, and 20 miles of waterfront, marshlands, trails, and biking paths unfurl in every direction. It’s a landscape that feels like it was painted rather than discovered. The property brings a fresh, refined sensibility to Southern hospitality, pairing simple elegance with a genuine warmth that never feels forced. Its take on Southern cuisine is equally thoughtful, rooted in the region's rich culinary heritage while feeling entirely of-the-moment.
As one of the newest entries in American luxury hospitality, The Dunlin has already made an impressive mark. For those drawn to the natural beauty of the American South, this is an utterly compelling reason to visit. It belongs on this list not just for its accolades, but for the way it honors the land it calls home.
Recent Accolades: Named the #1 Resort in South Carolina and #7 Resort in the Continental U.S. by Travel + Leisure, and awarded One Michelin Key.
Edgewood Tahoe Resort
📍 Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Perched on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Edgewood Tahoe is the kind of place that makes you exhale the moment you arrive. The George Fazio-designed golf course rolls toward one of the most pristine alpine lakes in the world, and the resort's backyard reads like a greatest-hits of the good life with fire pits, a small beachfront, year-round hot tub and pool, and an events lawn made for lingering. Rooms carry a warm cabin character, grounding guests in the mountain setting without sacrificing comfort.
In summer, explore the lake in a clear-bottom kayak. In winter, the slopes await. It's a property that wears its lakefront charm without pretension, which is exactly what makes it so appealing. On an anniversary celebrating the vast, breathtaking terrain of this country, Edgewood Tahoe is a natural fit.
Recent Accolades: Awarded One Michelin Key and recognized by USA Today as both Best Golf Resort and Best Public Golf Course.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
📍 Scottsdale, Arizona
Sprawling across 65 sun-drenched acres in the Sonoran Desert, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess holds a distinction no other property in North America can claim. It is the continent's first and only wellness-focused Forbes Five-Star resort. Its 45,000-square-foot, award-winning spa is the centerpiece, featuring an aerial yoga studio, rooftop pool, and extensive hydrotherapy facilities that turn a weekend stay into a full reset. Six pool complexes, including a 9,000-square-foot white sand beach area and waterslides, mean there's no shortage of ways to spend a sun-soaked afternoon.
World-class golf adds another dimension to an already layered property. And come December, the resort's legendary Christmas programming transforms it into Arizona’s own little North Pole. This is American luxury on a grand scale, delivered with precision and genuine flair.
Recent Accolades: Named the Best Resort in the Southwest by Condé Nast Traveler readers for three consecutive years, earned AAA Five Diamond status for 35 consecutive years, and recognized among Golf Digest's Top 75 Golf Resorts.
Four Seasons Hualalai
📍 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
A personal favorite of Cadence CEO and founder, Wendy Burk, Four Seasons Hualalai is, quite simply, Hawaiian heaven. Set along the stunning Kona-Kohala Coast, the resort blends seamlessly into its natural environment. Charming bungalows are carved into the volcanic rock, and eagle rays glide through the waters just steps away.
The Hualalai Sports Club is in a league of its own, offering a world-class gym, yoga studio, tennis pavilion, fitness pool, bocce ball court, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. There's a glamorous adults-only pool for those who want tranquility, and a cultural center for those who want connection, offering star navigation, ukulele lessons, and lauhala weaving. The award-winning spa and restaurant programming are equally exceptional, completing a resort experience that touches every sense. Hawaii has always carried a spirit of aloha that feels uniquely American, and Hualalai delivers it in its purest, most extraordinary form.
Recent Accolades: Named the #1 Hotel & Resort in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for a second consecutive year, awarded Two Michelin Keys, and recognized with Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star rating for 17 consecutive years.
Hotel del Coronado
📍 Coronado Island, California
If any property on this list embodies the spirit of American history, it's Hotel del Coronado. This sprawling Victorian resort, completed in 1888, has maintained its iconic character for nearly 140 years, and a landmark $550 million restoration has ensured it will captivate guests for generations to come. One of the few hotels in California with a private beach, "The Del" has attracted celebrities since its earliest days and continues to draw those who appreciate the rare combination of history, elegance, and beachfront bliss. A National Historic Landmark in Southern California, its red-turreted silhouette against the Pacific is one of the most recognizable images in American travel.
The recent launch of Nobu Del Coronado adds a thrilling contemporary chapter to a storied legacy. And with a Beach Village Host to curate your stay before you even arrive, the service is as thoughtful as the setting is spectacular. On a list celebrating 250 years of American greatness, this is an icon among icons.
Recent Accolades: Named one of TIME's World's Greatest Places and recognized by Esquire and Town & Country among the world's best new hotels following its landmark restoration. Recipient of Good Housekeeping's Best Family Travel Award.
Mandarin Oriental New York
📍 New York City, New York
No collection celebrating America would be complete without New York City, and no New York hotel captures the city quite like Mandarin Oriental. Sitting 35 floors above Columbus Circle, floor-to-ceiling windows frame Central Park, the Hudson River, and one of the most dramatic skylines on earth. The 14,500-square-foot spa is complete with an amethyst steam room, vitality pool, and a lap pool with river views, offering a rare urban retreat above the city's pulse.
What truly distinguishes this property, however, is the quality of its service: the thoughtful touches, the impeccable attention to detail, and the way it honors its Asian-inspired heritage while feeling distinctly and unmistakably New York. Steps from Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and the city's greatest museums, the location is equally part of the offering. For a milestone birthday celebration of a nation built on ambition and reinvention, New York (and this hotel) feels entirely right.
Recent Accolades: Named the #4 Best Hotel in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and recognized with dual Forbes Five-Star ratings for both hotel and spa for 20 consecutive years, the longest-running double Five-Star distinction in the world.
Montage Deer Valley
📍 Park City, Utah
Perched on Empire Pass in the Wasatch Mountains with ski-in/ski-out access, Montage Deer Valley is the dream mountain escape, and not just for winter. Yes, the resort will warm your boots and help you into them, and yes, the après-ski experience is exceptional, but this is a property that earns its reputation across all four seasons. Hiking, biking, golf, and fly fishing fill the warmer months, while Spa Montage's fabulous sundeck and indoor-outdoor pools with mountain views provide a year-round retreat from the world.
Dinner at the five-star Apex restaurant, followed by a private balcony fireplace, is the kind of evening you plan a trip around. And if you're very lucky, you'll meet Murphy, the resort's beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, a detail that somehow perfectly captures the warmth of this extraordinary place. The American West has always called to those with a spirit of adventure, and Montage Deer Valley answers that call with extraordinary style.
Recent Accolades: Recognized by USA Today readers as Best Ski Hotel, Best Après-Ski Bar, and Best Cross-Country Ski Resort. Awarded One Michelin Key and consistently ranked the #1 Resort in Park City by U.S. News & World Report.
One&Only Moonlight Basin
📍 Big Sky, Montana
Brand new and absolutely breathtaking, One&Only Moonlight Basin marks the debut of One&Only Resorts in the United States. And what a debut it is! Perched at 7,000 feet elevation and surrounded by 8,100 acres of pristine Montana wilderness, this is a property where you don't just admire the landscape, you become part of it. From cozy cabins to elegant suites, the architecture takes mountain living to new heights, and the state-of-the-art spa offers the kind of restoration that only true wilderness can inspire.
If we had to describe the vibe? It's where rugged Montana charm shakes hands with refined luxury, and probably shares a whiskey afterward. A true four-season paradise, it's designed equally for adventurous spirits and those who simply love the good life. For 250 years, the American West has represented possibility and wonder; One&Only Moonlight Basin is that spirit made tangible.
Recent Accolades: Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler, Town & Country, Travel + Leisure, and TIME as a top new mountain destination and standout hotel opening. Also named one of the World’s Best New Hotel Spas by Condé Nast Traveler and featured on Cadence's Most Anticipated New Openings of 2026.
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
📍 Carlsbad, California
Set amid 250 acres overlooking the protected wetlands of the Batiquitos Lagoon, Park Hyatt Aviara captures Southern California's relaxed sophistication with quiet confidence. Just north of San Diego and minutes from Carlsbad State Beach, the resort blends coastal charm with refined seclusion, with Pacific views, golden light, and ocean air that invite genuine stillness.
In-room details like oversized marble baths, Frette linens, Le Labo amenities, and private terraces with lagoon views set a tranquil tone, while suite options offer a deeper level of indulgence. Fine dining, world-class golf, and an award-winning spa complete a picture of leisure elevated to an art form. It's the kind of place that lets California do the talking, and California, it turns out, has a great deal to say. For a country as gloriously diverse as this one, Aviara represents one of its most serene and beautiful faces.
Recent Accolades: Recognized among Southern California’s Top Four Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler readers, the World’s 44 Best Hotel Bars by Forbes, Golf Digest’s 75 Best Golf Resorts, and Tennis Resorts Online’s Top 25 Tennis & Pickleball Resorts.
Pendry Natirar
📍 Somerset County, New Jersey
Just one hour from New York City, Pendry Natirar feels like a world apart. Anchored by a historic 1912 Tudor-style mansion and set on 500 rolling acres of New Jersey countryside, this is a getaway where nature leads and the pace of the city simply falls away. Rooms are artfully designed, blending traditional and contemporary country style in a way that feels both refined and genuinely livable. The world-class spa stands out for its signature mud bathing ritual, a grounding, deeply indulgent treatment that feels as restorative as it is unique.
Beyond the spa, one-of-a-kind country experiences like cooking schools, flower and art workshops, and beekeeping lessons give this property a depth that goes well beyond a typical retreat. As America marks 250 years, Pendry Natirar reminds us that some of the country's most extraordinary escapes are hiding in plain sight.
Recent Accolades: Awarded One Michelin Key and named one of TIME's World's Greatest Places, Esquire's Best New Hotels in the World, and Travel + Leisure's Best New Resorts in the United States. Also recognized by Forbes Travel Guide as North America's first wellness-focused Five-Star resort.
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC
📍 Washington, DC
There is perhaps no more fitting place to close a collection celebrating American history than Washington, DC, and the Waldorf Astoria's home says it all. Originally built between 1892 and 1899 as the headquarters of the US Post Office, this remarkable building sits between Capitol Hill and the White House, carrying more than a century of American story within its walls. Period detailing, a functional bell tower, original wooden doors, and finishes of lush velvet, marble, and gold create an atmosphere of historic grandeur, while rooms offer a modern take on classic DC elegance (and are among the largest in the city).
Michelin-starred dining at Sushi Nakazawa and the beloved Peacock Alley restaurant ensure the culinary offering matches the setting. For something truly unique, the hotel is home to DC's only Himalayan salt chamber for detoxification and restoration. As the nation turns 250, this is where history sleeps exceptionally well.
Recent Accolades: Consistently recognized with Forbes Travel Guide's Four-Star rating and home to one of the nation's most acclaimed hotel bars, earning recognition among the Best Hotel Bars in the United States by Forbes Travel Guide.
